The Wall Street Journal today carried an article about the increasing number of hotels that are charging $25 - 75 fees if guests check-out earlier than scheduled. I have seen these charges at Hyatt (who started them according to the article), Hilton (who uses these charges all over the place!), and Westin, but have never seen them at Marriott. Has anyone seen these at any Marriott properties?

I am (generally) surprised by this news.

Even my latest online-reservations with Hilton, Hyatt, InterConti and Marriott (all not in resorts) for this sep-dec-98 ask for (free) cancellation before 6PM (one 5PM). And I guess (and I think my guessing would be legally backed), if I announce my early departure before check-out-time, the hotel will let me go for free (not in Resorts and not for Congresses etc.).

am I wrong?

Rudi, I should have been clearer. The charges apply in situations where, for example, you plan to stay for 3 days but check-out after the second day. It has nothing to do with the time (hour) of the check-out. Not all properties of the hotel chains I listed have these fees but many do. The front desk is supposed to inform you of these charges when you check-in. Hilton, for instance, has little stickers that they slap on the room key sleeve they give you at check-in.

Those hotels that Rudi Mentioned all let me
know of early checkout fees. I believe that
Marriott would have the same rule.

Speaking of Marriott, I had to pay my one
night stay at the one in Albany the end of the month when I go to a wedding there. Marriott says it's because of the Saratoga
festival and it has a 72 hour cancellation
rule.

ONly once did I have to check out early, at
the Holiday Inn in New Orelans. They put me
in a smoking room (I asked for non smoking)
I got a very bad respiratory illness from the
smoke and cigars and needed to leave a day early. THey wanted to charge me for the full
stay (even as a Priority CLub member) and
after a fight they relented.

In cases like that (illness) I think the hotels should wave the fee. CATMAN

MileKing

You are correct, Hyatt has charged me for leaving early, but I left a day early from the Marriott last week and had no problem (charges). The thing that really ticks me off is that we arrived at a Hyatt back in July at 11 p.m. We had guaranteed reservations, but they were oversold and told us that they had no room. During the ensuing argument, they admitted that they would have charged us for the room if we had not turned up even though they were sold out.

I remember reading that Westin doesn't charge Burgundy or Gold members for checkirng out early. But everyone else is charged $25
for an early departure.

Neal

I have not heard of any of early check-out fees at any of the major chains around the Asia Pacific nor have I had any experience personally of hotels attempting to impose this charge.

When I checked in to the Westin Singapore last month, there was a big red sticker that they put on my check-in wallet that said I would be charged ??? if I checked out prior to my reserved date of departure.

Why are are the hotels geting fees for early departure. are they tring to get more money out of us.