Does Marriott offer late checkout?
 

I'm thinking about leaving Starwood. For me the best feature about having Starwood Gold status is the 4pm late checkout. Does Marriott rewards offer this benefit to their Silver or Gold members?

Thanks!

As a Platinum, I have always been able to get late check-outs whenever I wanted them. I suspect that Gold and Silvers can, too, but I don't believe it's guaranteed.

Bruce

I don't think it's guaranteed either ("subject to availability"). However, if you let them know ahead of time, you can usually stay until 4 PM. Also, some Marriott hotels have a "linger longer" rate that is a reduced rate if you need longer time i.e. redeye flight or something. I think it's a % of the room rate or a flat $50 or $100 -can't remember.

Priority Late Checkout for all MR elite members
 

Travel schedules can be unpredictable, so we offer you priority for late checkout. Simply call the front desk the morning of checkout and let them know your planned departure time. Available at all Marriott hotels except Marriott Vacation Club International and Horizons by Marriott Vacation Club. Time limits vary by location.

Elite membership benefits

AAJunkie,

Marriott does offer "Priority Late Checkout" as a benefit to all elite levels. Simply call the front desk the morning of checkout and let them know your planned departure time. This benefit is available at all Marriott hotels except Marriott Vacation Club International and Horizons by Marriott Vacation Club. Checkout time varies by location.

In practice, I have found that all hotels will fight you on this - almost every time. MR, HH, and SPG - I'm Gold in all three, and have the same experience with all three. If you want a 2PM check-out, ask for 4PM and you will probably be able to haggle down to 2PM. Don't make the 2PM request your opening gambit or else you'll get stuck with 1PM. The whole process of getting a late check-out always feels like buying a used car (including the "I need to talk with my manager" part), even on days where the hotel is obviously not sold out the following night.

Don't mean to burst anyone's bubble...I think Marriott has a fine rewards program...but I wouldn't make a switching decision between any of the big three programs based on late checkouts. It's simply too random and very subject to your own ability to negotiate with the particular staff on that day.

While I agree with pinniped, my experience has been very pleasant in this area. I have received the late check time that I requested every time, with out the negotiations. I'm sure however, that it was always dependent on the property and how booked they were the next night.

I don't strongly disagree with pinniped, but my experiences have been more relaxed than that. When I need a late checkout, I ask for what I need and usually can get it. Once in a while I get into a negotiation, but there seems to be a good reason for it -- like the hotel has a big convention arriving or something like that. It's never arbitrary, as far as I can tell.

Bruce

In fairness to Marriott, I'll add this:
(1) I always login to Marriott.com and check to see that the hotel is not actually sold out before I ask for a late checkout. (Yes, I know they can oversell hotels, but most of the time I'm doing this on either a Sunday or a Friday and it's pretty obvious that the hotel is not oversold.)
(2) The end result is typically good: I hardly ever get fully denied the late checkout. I usually talk to the manager, ask for what I need plus an hour, and end up getting what I want "as an exception for you, this one time only, even though I'm not supposed to do this."

I have had really bad luck with late checkouts and marriott. I was in Key West at a Courtyard and they would not allow it at all. Not even an hour. I was in NYC at the Marquis and they also would not allow it. Those are the only 2 I have requested.

Late Checkout
 

Great idea checking the following night's availability before asking for late checkout ^ . That is a huge factor in the front desk decision to give you the time you need. In my experience, being Diamond at Hilton gets me 2pm, no problem about 80% of the time, although I rarely ask for/receive later than 3pm. As a Silver with Marriott, I bat about about 50% with getting my preferred 2pm time.

Always start at 3pm, and it makes the desk seem like we are compromising....I agree, never START with the time you really desire :) .

The other factor involved is the size/brand of hotel. Your typical CY, FI or RI has limited housekeeping abilities. Also, in the case of a suite/full kitchen brand, more details to freshen and clean. If a hotel has housekeeping staff 24/7 it should be a no brainer to get a mid afternoon checkout (ie a Renaissance or Marriott). If sometimes I get flak, I will jokingly mention that there were housekeepers on my floor when I checked in or were doing turn down service.

Again, from my glorious front desk Hampton Inn days, our owner wanted housekeepers GONE ASAP, so we were never to give later than 1pm, even if you were 5X Diamond :D . If we were slow, and you had a room type that was popular, I could go to 2pm....again if I was certain we could just leave the room unrented and just clean it the following day. Believe me, that was rare, but I tried....(popular = many in room inventory)....

6PM checkouts to Everyone!!

When its coming to Late Check-out courtesy, InterContinental Ambassadors have the benefit as they are entitled to a late check out time of 4:00 pm.

On the other side of the coin---
A couple of years ago in Bangkok---A young couple checked in late, shortly after midnight, when we also arrived. I observed them 'negotiating" for nearly two days with every associate in the hotel that they should not pay (ANYTHING) for the first night because they didn't get into their room until after 12:00 a.m. Numerous flights from NRT don't arrive in BKK until around 11:00p.m.

"Late checkout", who needs a "Late check-out"??? :confused:
What everyone really needs is an "early-late check-in"!!! ;)
Or would that be a "late-early check-in"??? :confused:

Nice vacation for the dude's "main squeeze" though, listening to him cry for 4 or 5 days!!!

Automatically? Guaranteed? (Is Ambassador a high-elite level in Priority Club?)

Check out as late as 4 pm is a published IC Ambassador benefit (only valid in ICs). The initial fee of $ 150,--/ year goes with a complimentary weekend night certificate and give you basic status (= Ambassador) within IC and mid tier (= gold) status within PC. IC top tier is Royal Ambassador (by invitation only).