Can you stay past the reserved checkout date in a US hotel?

Can you stay past the reserved checkout date in a US hotel? - Two Man Sitting on Pink Flower Field

I recall reading (a long time ago) that if you are checked into a hotel and need to stay past the reservation date, they are not permitted to throw you out.

I ask because I was about to make a Thursday - Sunday reservation and see that Saturday night is blocked out. I'd like to know if I check in Thursday, but try to stay past Saturday checkout, if the rules for hotels allow me to stay. This is a US question, and of course, I'm paying for the room.

Update - The North Carolina law states -

A written statement setting forth the time period during which a guest may occupy an assigned room, signed or initialed by the guest, shall be deemed a valid contract, and at the expiration of such time period the lodger may be restrained from entering and any property of the guest may be removed by the innkeeper without liability, except for damages to or loss of such property attributable to its removal.

So, yes, it's by state, and no, I can't stay. Will book hotel a few blocks away.



Best Answer

They can ask you to leave, and have the right to enforce it, as you are overstaying your agreement with them. It is however completely at their discretion. Because hotel cancellations are frequent though, there may be a room available by the time your arrive or before your scheduled departure date. The best is to ask politely the reception every evening until you get a yes.

Usually rooms are held for reservations until a certain time, say 10 PM for example, so if you get to know what the time is, ask just after since this is when there is the most likely for a room to become available. Some rooms are usually held by consolidators who book blocks of room to rent out for a profit, those not rented simply become available when the reserved day arrives.

Some hotels will let you extend your stay even if no room is available. They may move you to another type of room or move the displaced guest elsewhere, possibly to another hotel. This has happened to me once when I had a reservation, already paid in full, and the hotel had let guests overstay. They booked me a room in another similar category hotel a few blocks away, paid my taxi there and gave me a voucher for a rather expensive meal at a nearby restaurant. They also got the other hotel to give me free WiFi.




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Can you extend your check out time at a hotel?

Every hotel sets its own rules on late check-out fees. Some (including mine) will give you so much extra time for the asking, some will let you stay into mid-afternoon for an extra twenty to fifty bucks, others will bill you for another night if you overstay check-out by five minutes.

Can you be late for a reserved hotel reservation?

You can probably check in any time you like as they have a desk clerk 24/7, but if you are going to be as late as you indicate you should call ahead and make a reservation with a late check in using a credit card, that way they will hold the room for you until you arrive.

Do hotels allow late check out?

A hotel late check out gives a guest flexibility and added value as part of the hotel's overall service. It can typically be agreed for 2 p.m., or in some cases, even later such as 6 p.m. Many hotels now offer this service, if a guest requests it in advance.

What happens if you forget to check out of a hotel?

If you just disappear, the staff may take extra time to contact you with a copy of your bill. And while I've never had it happen to me, it's always possible some hotel manager will accuse you of staying past check-out time because you never checked out, and that's a bunch of trouble you don't want.



Hotel reservation - Check in \u0026 out | English lesson




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