Marriott Rewards (including Ritz-Carlton) - Early check in

I am traveling to Hong Kong in Dec, and I booked Sky city Marriott hotel. My flight arrive at 8AM, but my check in time is 2AM. I requested early check in already, but what is the earliest time I can check in my room? I want to leave all my baggage in the hotel, so I can go visit the city.

seems like you are arriving extremely early.

Many people won't even be checked out yet and they have to have time to clean the rooms.

If you get to check in before noon, I would consider yourself lucky. Even though you have already requested early check in, it's upon availability day of check in; and still, quite often, early check in is not available.

You might want to consider upgrades as well. If you are hoping for an upgrade, early check in seems more unlikely (because many of these same rooms are requesting late check out). Just a thought.

I have checked in at 8am before with no problem and been unable to. Depends on avail. from the night before.

Early check in is never guaranteed. If you want a guaranteed room, book the night before and inform the hotel that you are arriving when you are.

If you just want them to hold your baggage, the bell desk will hold you bags until the room is ready. You are free to explore with no worries.

I have checked in at 8am before with no problem and been unable to. Depends on avail. from the night before.

Early check in is never guaranteed. If you want a guaranteed room, book the night before and inform the hotel that you are arriving when you are.

If you just want them to hold your baggage, the bell desk will hold you bags until the room is ready. You are free to explore with no worries.



Wow! really? arriving at 8am for early check in.
I must say that I am not an international traveller. I know it's different in different parts of the world, but 8am seems extremely early even for early check in.

I am aware bell hop can watch your luggage. But, that would make me extremely nervous. If the OP is okay leaving his luggage with the Bell Hop service, they may be a good option if the 8am check in request cannot be honored.

Wow! really? arriving at 8am for early check in.
I must say that I am not an international traveller. I know it's different in different parts of the world, but 8am seems extremely early even for early check in.

I am aware bell hop can watch your luggage. But, that would make me extremely nervous. If the OP is okay leaving his luggage with the Bell Hop service, they may be a good option if the 8am check in request cannot be honored.

It was an arrival in Rome. It actually may have been 9. My memory isn't as good as it used to be. :D We didn't want to pay for an extra night. We would have been ok checking the luggage, but the room was ready.

Ive been in the same boat many a time, I usually will make at least 2 reservations, the 1st for the night before Im to arrive and the 2nd for the rest of the time I will be there.

Then before the last time period for CXing passes I check and see whats what, if it looks like theres tons of rooms available I CX the res for the night before I arrive, if it looks like its filling up I keep it and let them know I will be arriving 6-7-8 am

Dont have enough fingers and toes to count the # of times I check-in and the lobby is full of angry folks who werent able to check-in due to no rooms being available. A few times some of them started yelling why am I getting a room when they have been there for a few hrs already. I LUV the look on their faces when the person checking me in tells them simple he paid for the room last night and we held it for him so this way he can go right up and relax.

I'll assume you meant 2PM as hotel policy check-in time (vrs. 2AM written).

Depending on availability from the night before you may or may not be accomodated, however even if your room isn't ready you should have no problem leaving your baggage at the hotel and then going out to explore the city (since your hotel is not located anywhere near the CBD)

As an aside to other posters on this thread that are "surprised" by your early arrival - yes, int'l flights actually do arrive in the early mornings in asia and props like the SkyCity are very attuned to these early flight arrival times.

I am traveling to Hong Kong in Dec, and I booked Sky city Marriott hotel. My flight arrive at 8AM, but my check in time is 2AM. I requested early check in already, but what is the earliest time I can check in my room? I want to leave all my baggage in the hotel, so I can go visit the city.

Most hotels will have a room available if they weren't fully booked the night before. They'll simply give you an unoccupied room.

Most hotels will have a room available if they weren't fully booked the night before. They'll simply give you an unoccupied room.

+1

8 am or 6 am or 10 am, the above stands true, in any part of the world.

Good luck!

a common sense response and thought, but unfortunately not always implemented by various props..........

Most hotels will have a room available if they weren't fully booked the night before. They'll simply give you an unoccupied room.

a common sense response and thought, but unfortunately not always implemented by various props..........
Yep. There's a European chain where I refuse to stay that makes a practice of denying all early check ins and then shortly after 3:00 pm, all of their rooms magically become clean and available simultanteously. Even if they have empty rooms from the night before, they refuse to give them to guests even at 2:30 pm as a matter of policy; in response, as a matter of policy I refuse to ever stay in their hotels willingly.

and would that unnamed chain be a formerally (partly) owned by LH?

BTW, try early checkins at some Korean props, inc. Marriotts, that likewise rigidly enforce the checkin rules.........

Yep. There's a European chain where I refuse to stay that makes a practice of denying all early check ins and then shortly after 3:00 pm, all of their rooms magically become clean and available simultanteously. Even if they have empty rooms from the night before, they refuse to give them to guests even at 2:30 pm as a matter of policy; in response, as a matter of policy I refuse to ever stay in their hotels willingly.

+1

8 am or 6 am or 10 am, the above stands true, in any part of the world.

Good luck!

While I am not sure about international travels, I disagree with the 'any part of the world'.

This is making many assumptions. Timing of the year, busy seasons for certain parts of the U.S. (and I'm sure many other parts of the world), events, conferences, etc.

I have seen many hotels sold out. This statement implies hotels do not sell out. It is simply incorrect and an assumtion. Def. not a mistake I would care to make if traveling internationally.

However, the idea listed above to book a separate reservation and cancel based on room availability is a great idea.^

if it looks like its filling up I keep it and let them know I will be arriving 6-7-8 am.

A few times some of them started yelling why am I getting a room when they have been there for a few hrs already. I LUV the look on their faces when the person checking me in tells them simple he paid for the room last night and we held it for him so this way he can go right up and relax.



+1^
Gotta love it!:D;):D^

have done exactly that............
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-rewards/1331566-renaissance-seoul-claims-full-occupancy.html

However, the idea listed above to book a separate reservation and cancel based on room availability is a great idea.^

I am traveling to Hong Kong in Dec, and I booked Sky city Marriott hotel. My flight arrive at 8AM, but my check in time is 2AM. I requested early check in already, but what is the earliest time I can check in my room? I want to leave all my baggage in the hotel, so I can go visit the city.

Why don't you leave your bags by the Marrriott hotel's counter at HKG when you arrived? What you can do is that you can go to the counter once you have arrived, and then ask the people there if a room is available for you. If not they can store the bags for you at the counter or maybe even ship it to the hotel for you.

It's MUCH easier to get into the city from HKG than Sky City Marriott, there are more A buses available and they are faster than they E buses that leaves from the Asia Expo (5 minutes walk from the hotel).

I am traveling to Hong Kong in Dec, and I booked Sky city Marriott hotel. My flight arrive at 8AM, but my check in time is 2AM. I requested early check in already, but what is the earliest time I can check in my room? I want to leave all my baggage in the hotel, so I can go visit the city.

if you really want to check in at 2am you'll need to reserve a room for the night before (would help if you informed the agent making the reservation that you'll be a red eye arrival)

I'll assume you meant 2PM as hotel policy check-in time (vrs. 2AM written).

Depending on availability from the night before you may or may not be accomodated, however even if your room isn't ready you should have no problem leaving your baggage at the hotel and then going out to explore the city (since your hotel is not located anywhere near the CBD)

As an aside to other posters on this thread that are "surprised" by your early arrival - yes, int'l flights actually do arrive in the early mornings in asia and props like the SkyCity are very attuned to these early flight arrival times.

Agree with the above; well, I'm not familiar w/ the area, but the rest of what BKKLEE said.

And it's not just Asia that int'l flights land early - LHR, AMS, FRA are 3 others that come to mind. But even domestic flights can, if you're taking the red-eye west to east or the 1st flight out in the morning east to west.

If someone wants to guarantee a room for early check-in they need to pay for the night before (although isn't there a thread about someone having problems w/ that??); otherwise, it's based on availability.

I've had plenty of early a.m. arrivals, both domestic & int'l. Sometimes I'm able to check in right away; other times I have to wait for the room to get turned. Usually in the latter instance they give me a key/access to the exec lounge to wait.

Cheers.

Many international flights arrive in the early hours, whether they be in Asia, Europe or South America. I always request early check-in, but also understand that it is subject to availability.

If you are flying into HKG early in the morning and have access to the Arrivals lounge at the airport, I would use that lounge to take a shower and have breakfast. I believe premium cabin passengers flying on Cathay Pacific get access. That is what I did when I arrived in HKG early in the morning. I took my time in heading out to the JW and when I got there around 11am, I was able to check-in at that time.

most int'l arrival lounges that I've used will only allow access if you are departing or transiting that airport (especially true of TK in IST), but I guess you can always try............... good luck..........

Many international flights arrive in the early hours, whether they be in Asia, Europe or South America. I always request early check-in, but also understand that it is subject to availability.

If you are flying into HKG early in the morning and have access to the Arrivals lounge at the airport, I would use that lounge to take a shower and have breakfast. I believe premium cabin passengers flying on Cathay Pacific get access. That is what I did when I arrived in HKG early in the morning. I took my time in heading out to the JW and when I got there around 11am, I was able to check-in at that time.

most int'l arrival lounges that I've used will only allow access if you are departing or transiting that airport (especially true of TK in IST), but I guess you can always try............... good luck..........

But then why would it be called an "Arrival Lounge"?

incorrect term...........should have been Departure/Transit........THXs for pointing it out.........I stand corrected............

But then why would it be called an "Arrival Lounge"?

most int'l arrival lounges that I've used will only allow access if you are departing or transiting that airport (especially true of TK in IST), but I guess you can always try............... good luck..........

That is true of most airport lounges in general.

However there are also specific "Arrivals lounges" at certain airports for passengers who are terminating at that airport. At HKG, I know Cathay Pacific has an Arrivals lounge for passengers arriving in First Class (not sure about Business Class). It is not advertised at all and I had to ask a CX employee as to its location.

LHR is another airport that maintains Arrivals Lounges for several different airlines.

good to know new info as we use HKG quite often...........THXs for your input........ don't know why CX would keep it unadvertised as it is basically a perk for F flyers.....

However there are also specific "Arrivals lounges" at certain airports for passengers who are terminating at that airport. At HKG, I know Cathay Pacific has an Arrivals lounge for passengers arriving in First Class (not sure about Business Class). It is not advertised at all and I had to ask a CX employee as to its location.

LHR is another airport that maintains Arrivals Lounges for several different airlines.

good to know new info as we use HKG quite often...........THXs for your input........ don't know why CX would keep it unadvertised as it is basically a perk for F flyers.....

I think one of the reasons CX doesn't really advertise the Arrivals Lounge at HKG is because it is very small and can't accomodate more than about 15-20 passengers at a time. It is good enough for a shower and a quick breakfast, but I wouldn't want to spend a lot of time there. There is really minimal space for storing luggage and there is no space in the lounge to wheel your bags around.

again THXs for the info............... since my flights into HKG eminate in Thailand I usually get a noon+ arrival time so not much impact there unless I'm on another RTW leaving CONUS to BKK via HKG which might come in handy the next trip thru.........

I think one of the reasons CX doesn't really advertise the Arrivals Lounge at HKG is because it is very small and can't accomodate more than about 15-20 passengers at a time. It is good enough for a shower and a quick breakfast, but I wouldn't want to spend a lot of time there. There is really minimal space for storing luggage and there is no space in the lounge to wheel your bags around.

I've used arrivals lounge in both LHR (UA) & FRA (LH). They especially come in handy if you have a meeting shortly after landing/won't have time to get to your hotel. Or if you want to freshen up after early morning arrival & then by the time you get to the city, you're able to check in.

But getting back to the hotel. Think we're all agreed that the only way to confirm room available for early morning arrival is to book one for the night before. Otherwise, it's based on availability. Sometimes you'll get lucky & get in right away; othertimes there's a wait, although usually if you have elite status they'll let you access the exec lounge while you wait.

Cheers.

But getting back to the hotel. Think we're all agreed that the only way to confirm room available for early morning arrival is to book one for the night before. Otherwise, it's based on availability. Sometimes you'll get lucky & get in right away; othertimes there's a wait, although usually if you have elite status they'll let you access the exec lounge while you wait. Cheers.

I thought that the main purpose for OP to check-in early is to drop off the bags, and head into the city. Since the hotel has a counter at HKG Airport she could just drop her bags there and then check-in at the hotel later.

Book a room for the night before is a great idea if you need a room to sleep or relax after arrival.

Very common for locations where early arrivals for people to book the night before. Same thing for locations with late night departures and booking a late stay. Many places simply don't believe in the concept of early/late check.

Real question is how important is the 8:00 AM check-in? Want to chance it, go ahead. Want to be sure, book the night before (and note that you won't be there until 8:00 AM).

Wow! really? arriving at 8am for early check in.
I must say that I am not an international traveller. I know it's different in different parts of the world, but 8am seems extremely early even for early check in.

I am aware bell hop can watch your luggage. But, that would make me extremely nervous. If the OP is okay leaving his luggage with the Bell Hop service, they may be a good option if the 8am check in request cannot be honored.

this wasn't at a Marriott property, but back when I traveled to Los Angeles very regularly, I would get to the hotel at about 9:00 AM. Most times, I was able to check in and get a room, go up to the room, drop off my luggage, use the bathroom, then head to the office. In the cases where I wasn't able to check in, I left the bags with the bellman. Never a problem. I do this all the time when I can't check in when I arrive, or I am not leaving the hotel until well after the checkout time. It's never an issue.

this wasn't at a Marriott property, but back when I traveled to Los Angeles very regularly, I would get to the hotel at about 9:00 AM. I used to travel to San Jose, CA some and would usually get to the hotel around 10am or so. When the hotel couldn't give me a room then, they would give me a ticket to the Great America amusement park. I'd leave my bags there, go to the park for a few hours and come back to my room and bags later.

I really liked that San Jose Marriott. ^

I used to travel to San Jose, CA some and would usually get to the hotel around 10am or so. When the hotel couldn't give me a room then, they would give me a ticket to the Great America amusement park. I'd leave my bags there, go to the park for a few hours and come back to my room and bags later.

I really liked that San Jose Marriott. ^

Is it their standard practice? If it's then it's really awesome ^