Late checkouts
 

I have searched on Marriott.com, all I can find is that Silver, Gold and Platinum Reward members can get "priority late checkouts". It does not state whether there will be a charge for the late checkout, but I was sure that there was no charge, particularly for Platinums. The latest I have ever managed to get has been 3pm, with no charge, however I stayed in one of the Newcastle Marriotts a couple of weeks ago and asked if I could have a late checkout, till 2pm and was told that there was a charge of £20 per hour for this. When I asked if this applied to Platinums, I was told it applied to everyone. I stated that I had never been charged at this hotel before and was told that this was a new rule (yeah, right). Other hotels in the UK (especially Birmingham) just give me the "no problem" reply.

Does anyone else have any experience of late checkout charges/problems???

Yes. When you really need it, it will not be given and the excuse of "we're full tonight" will be offered. Has happened to me at least 5 times, usually on a Sunday when all I'm trying to do is have the opportunity to take a 1-2 pm shower after a 11 or 12pm hockey game.

That is my experience, I'm sure I'll be in the minority of future commenters as usual!

I guess I've been lucky. I find Marriotts to be very accomodating about late check-outs. Once I got an 8pm late check-out. Not bad.

Same here...including back during my days when I had no Marriott status whatsoever. (Perhaps a moral to staff & management....you never know when perhaps you're being "auditioned".)

They will give you later check outs, you just have to ask....

I've never had a problem with late checkout requests, although during my last stay (4th of July weekend) I was only able to push checkout back by one hour -- not a big deal, since we only really wanted to sleep in and lounge around before heading home. :-P The only other time I've requested it was when I had a 4pm train to catch and didn't want to carry luggage around with me while I went back into the city for a while -- I probably could have just asked them to store it until I came back for it, but they graciously accomodated us anyway.

A more relevant question, for me anyway, is how often people have success with early check-in, instead!

I was most interested in hearing about whether people are being charged, particularly as Platinum Reward members.

I don't want to sound rude, but Northern Traveller's comment that you only have to ask: that is precisely what I have done and I have been told that it is a new policy to charge EVERYONE, regardless of status, £20 an hour.

Any comments on charging for late checkout?

In my experience, an early check-in is a non-issue. I don't even bother requesting one when I make a reservation. In the past several years, I've checked in as early as 8am. Literally, the only times I have had any issues is when the hotel gives me a great upgrade and the room isn't ready. When that happens, I have been given another room and a phone call when the better room is ready. Not exactly something to complain about.

Last time I asked I was with my DH. He is PLT. The hotel said we were gauranteed 4pm for FREE. Cant find that on the website but worked for me :)

Somewhat OT, but have you guys also found that even with a late checkout, your room key will stop working at noon? Seems like this is the case with me. I've even checked with the front desk before going up to my room when coming back from lunch and being told the key would work, only to get up to the room and get the Red Light of Death (tm). :mad:

Well sounds like you've been lucky on both counts. I've found overall that I can get an early check-in, but I also know that short of reserving the room the night before it's not guaranteed. I was in London last month & couldn't get into the room until noon because it wasn't ready, even though I was there by 9am. It was not an upgraded room, just a regular one, and I'm Plat. I've had pretty good success w/ airport properties on early check-in.

Re: later check-outs. I've had mixed success w/ this as well. Sometimes it's no problem, sometimes it's just 2 hours, and sometimes it's begrudgingly 1 hour. However, in those instances I have not been charged. Also I haven't seen a definitive time on the late check out. The few times a charge has been mentioned it's been we can give it to you until XX, but after that a day rate applies. Since I'm usually out of there sooner than that, it's not been a problem.

Re: 20GBP/hour. What a rip-off. Hopefully the OP won't stay there again.

Cheers.

I've been able to check in extra early and check out extra late on countless occasions, but only if the hotel had the room available. If a room wasn't available, I was always given the option of leaving my bags and returning later.

Twenty clams per hour is a very unsettling policy.

That's twenty POUNDS - 40 clams!!

Late Checkout - No difference for Platinums?
 

The official Platinum benefit is "Priority Late Checkout" - but I've tested the late checkout policies recently in a number of international Marriott's and compared them to the results of non-status/non-MR members, and there seems to be no difference.

I was in the JW in Phuket with a friend (under separate reservations), and we both separately asked for late checkout. He's not in MR, and I'm a Platinum - we both got 2pm. I tried to extend mine further, but was told I could not without a fee.

I spent last night in the Renaissance Harbor View Hong Kong - this time with a colleague that has no status (again - separate reservations). We both requested late checkouts, both got 2pm. I asked for later (I could have used 3pm, as I had a meeting until 1:30) - but was again denied.

What's the point of posting this "perk" of being platinum if there's no difference between what you get and a standard member receives?

I'll continue testing my theory at the JW Bangkok later this week.

This is one of my(many)compaints with MI.I have had to BEG for a late checkout-and let the chimp on the other end of the line have their fun with me by playing a little war of wills.I ask for 2pm they counter with 1pm,I ask for 3pm they counter with 2pm-If I am lucky.

SPG usually takes it for granted that I will be a late checkout-4pm.I have never been denied although some other folks in the SPG forum have said they did have a hassle with this I have not.