Originally Posted by jn in ca

If you really believe that, you have never worked in a hotel. Let me explain: If you ask for a minimal late checkout, that is no problem. The hotel simply moves that room to the end of the list of rooms to be cleaned. However, if you ask for more, then you put the hotel staff in a position of requiring a housecleaning employee to sit in the break room waiting for you before she can finish her day and go home. It would be uncustomary for a hotel to leave spare inventory dirty overnight.

The last time I had a checkout late enough that an employee had to sit around waiting for me, I went by the front desk on my way out to let them know I understood/appreciated the inconvenience.