I just returned home from a 7 weeks long trip.
Several hotels I needed very early check in due to my flights arrived 6 to 7am.
London Hyatt Regency Blackfriars let me check in at 11am even though at first they said would chargd 40gbp in our email exchange, but at check they waived the fee, even gave me an upgraded room. BTW if anyone going to London and would stay at a 4 star full service hotel, I highly recommend Hyatt Regency Blackfriars. It is relatively new except the facade. Super convenient location with Blackfriar station across street. Easy access to South Bank just walk across the Blackfriars bridge with Tate the next one. Train to / from Gatwick airport stops at Blackfriars. You dont need to purchase ticket in advance, just tap on and tap off at the gate. I love this hotel despite it does not have a real club lounge but use the lobby lounge for benefits, the staff were super friendly and helpful. They remembered my name and preference after first night. They even queried me they did not see me on my 3rd night... So nice.
Muscat Sheraton told me the earliest they could do was 11am, no charge. They sent me to the buffet breakfast when I arrived hotel just after 9:30am even I opted to take the bus from MCT versus a taxi due to the flight from Milan arrived at 6am. When room was ready they took my carryon bag to the room then went to the breakfast restaurant to fetch me. As some mentioned already, arrival day's breakfast usually is not counted in the stay's benefits. However some hotels are generous and just give it to you when room isn't ready and you arrive early.
JW Marriott Marquis Doha City Center sent me to the lounge when I arrived at 1pm. When the room (upgraded to a 900 sqft suite) was ready they went to the lounge to give me the room key, with my bag already being sent to the room. Because my flight leaving Doha is not until 2:45am! JWM extended my check out time to 6pm and told me I could use the lounge for as long as I saw fit. I had dinner at the lounge. Lounge closed at 12am. I left at 10pm to catch the metro at the station connected to the hotel thru the City Center shopping mall with a covered walkway. Direct metro to the airport then headed to the lounge after checked in for my flight.
Grand Hyatt Macau I arrived just after 12pm. They took me to the lounge though breakfast already closed at 11am but there were soft drinks, coffees and small selection of snacks/fruits available all day long. After the lounge front desk finished all their papers for the check in, a staffer took them to me for my signature, and of course the CC for authorization on incidentals.
Among the above 4 hotels, 2 are 5 stars and the other 2 are just a 4 stars.
I mean. MOST if not all, international chain hotels would allow some type of early check in and late check out. 2pm almost is a given. Quite often when needed you get 4pm or even 6pm like JWM Marquis at Doha gave me. They generally are accommodating. Of course if you have status in the program or lounge access, you get better treatments.
Just the above benefits are enough to make me staying with international chain hotels and not the BnB set up. One of the most annoying thing with BnB type is how to coordinate the check in and checj out time. You hardly have such issue with intl chains.
