Late check out: why you should implement it in your vacation rental

Carrying out a registration of people staying in a hotel or vacation apartment is a legal obligation. Just like registering upon arrival, we must also record the departure, and it is around this operation that the concept of late check-out has emerged.

What is check-out

It is the opposite action to check-in, a process in which the guest completes their stay. They pay the cost of the stay, if they haven't done so before, hand over the keys, and leave.

A vacation apartment that has been occupied for a few days has to go through a process of cleaning and preparation before the next guest arrives, which could be on the same day that the previous guest leaves. Therefore, to have time to prepare the house, the check out is usually done in the early morning hours.

Late check-out

The late check-out is also a process of confirming the end of the stay, the difference is that it is done at a later time with respect to the usual schedule for leaving the apartment.

For example, if the check-out time you have set for your guests is 10 am, late check-out could allow them to leave their accommodation a couple of hours later, at 12.

This implies that, as the owner of a vacation rental, you have less time to prepare it for the next guest. Therefore, it is normal to demand compensation in return. Hence, late check-out and its prices are a bit higher. In their accommodation rate, the guest is charged a bit more if they wish to leave the apartment at a later time.

Reasons to offer late check-out in your vacation rental

The main reason is to improve the customer experience, as there are many reasons why they may be interested in leaving the apartment a little later:

• They can use the morning to prepare their luggage, so they don't have to spend part of the last afternoon packing their bags.
• It allows them to sleep a little longer.
• It gives them time to make a last visit to a point of interest and then return for their luggage.
• It's a good option for them if their flight doesn't leave early.

How to incorporate late check-out

Offer it in your ads

In the listings for your accommodation, highlight the possibility of hiring this option and its price. You will be surprised to see the number of people interested in it.

Adjust schedules with your cleaning team

If guests leave the apartment later, this affects the work of the cleaners, so you may have to make adjustments to the schedules.

Install an electronic lock

The check out (in its late or normal version) will be easier for you and your guests if you install a smart lock system, like the one we offer at Raixer. This way you won't have to depend on each other, they will be able to access the apartment comfortably when they arrive without waiting for someone to hand over the keys, and they will also be able to leave on time, without having to look for someone to return the keys to.

The late check out is a growing trend in both hotels and tourist accommodations. If you want to be up to date, don't hesitate to offer it to your guests.

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