I've done countless early arrivals to hotels - Starwood and others. I figure that, if I arrive early, what's the harm in asking to check in early? Sometimes I'm told yes, and sometimes I'm told that there isn't a room ready for me.

Imagine my surprise when I arrived at 10AM to the Westin at DTW, and was told that there would be a CHARGE to check in before 3PM. I asked the agent if it was because there were no rooms available....something like a bump rate...and she said NO, there were unoccupied rooms, but there was an "early check-in chage". When I asked how much, the desk agent told me, "$180.00", which was actually higher than the rate I'm paying for my one-night stay. Since the agent was not the least bit pleasant in the first place, I knew she wasn't just "joking around". I asked if this was standard practice, and she said yes.

So, I politely asked her if she would get the hotel manager for me. I wanted to ask why such an unfriendly policy existed. She left, and came back a minute later. She said nothing to me, and then a woman appeared around the corner and said, "XXX, just go ahead and do it". I was checked in to a king room and sent on my way.

At the same time, two other gentlemen were at the desk, and we all walked to the elevator at the same time. I asked them if they had just checked in, and they said yes. I related my experience, and they both said that they were zipped right in, no questions asked. One was a Gold, and the other was platinum.

I have never heard of a hotel charging a full-night equivalent for checking in five hours early. Has anyone else experienced this? It's certainly within the hotel's rights to refuse check-in prior to 3PM, though I'm not sure what purpose it serves if the room is ready to be occupied......or to say no if there are no rooms available or clean. But a charge like this? Come on, Starwood - this is either a rogue agent or just a silly policy. Say yes....say no....but don't insult me.