Weeks/points-owners and checkout times

[suenmike32]

Is there a difference in "check-out" times for weeks owners and points owners?
I have a tough time understanding people checking out at 3-4 & 5PM...while owners/guests etc (that haven't checked in yet), wait by the pool...hoping that they can get into their room by 6PM (or later).
I understand that there are always "extenuating circumstances"....but I've never seen so many.
Perhaps someone can fill me in on "all these circumstances"....and if people have a late flight....why can't they sit by the pool?...and let people get into their rooms (at least by 4). Marriott usually offers to store bags and offer the facilities etc.
Mike

 

[dioxide45]

Checkout time is the same if you book on points, with your week, or on Marriott.com with cash. It is 10:00am for all guests. I suppose there are some situations where someone could book a rate on Marriott.com that provides a late checkout, but I don't think I have ever seen one.

I can't provide any insight in to situations where people are checking out a t 2:00, 3:00, 4:00 or 5:00pm though.

 

[Pompey Family]

Checkout time is the same if you book on points, with your week, or on Marriott.com with cash. It is 10:00am for all guests. I suppose there are some situations where someone could book a rate on Marriott.com that provides a late checkout, but I don't think I have ever seen one.

I can't provide any insight in to situations where people are checking out a t 2:00, 3:00, 4:00 or 5:00pm though.

As platinum status we have the option of a late checkout but this is usually until 12. I've never known anyone to have a checkout later than this.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

I have see people wait by the pool until their room is ready, but never because someone is checking out at 5pm. It takes a while to clean all the rooms that were checked out. Check-in isn't until 4pm.

 

[jme]

not at all due to late check-outs, only due to whatever pace the cleaning staff can get the villas cleaned and ready for check-ins.

some areas have staffing/maid shortages

 

[Passepartout]

not at all due to late check-outs, only due to whatever pace the cleaning staff can get the villas cleaned and ready for check-ins.

some areas have staffing/maid shortages

It isn't easy to get people to work as hard as the housekeepers do for minimum wages. I just can't imagine how hard that is, making beds, cleaning toilets, re-washing and putting away dishes, vacuuming and window washing for wages well below poverty level. There would be less-or no- staff shortages if housekeepers thought there was a living wage waiting in their envelope, or the tips were better or there was a chance they would be working behind the desk instead of making beds.

I'm sorry for the rant. I'm as guilty as the next person wanting MF to be as low as possible and still wanting my rooms to be ready whenever I arrive. And by the way, can I have a late check out next week?

Jim

 

[dioxide45]

Also realize, that even though people have checked out of a unit, that unit may not get touched for several hours. It probably takes about 2 hours to clean a 2BR villa, so they can't clean them all as soon as people check out. If everyone is out by 10:00, they will still be cleaning up till 5:00 or 6:00pm.

 

[Quilter]

There are times when the person "checking out" isn't leaving the resort, just moving to another location on the same property. At OP those guests are allowed to stay in their room until their next room is clean. Then, after they move, housekeeping cleans their room and it can be made available for those checking in.

 

[suzannesimon]

They told me at Frenchman's Cove that it takes 4-5 hours to clean a 3-bedroom.

 

[SueDonJ]

There are times when the person "checking out" isn't leaving the resort, just moving to another location on the same property. At OP those guests are allowed to stay in their room until their next room is clean. Then, after they move, housekeeping cleans their room and it can be made available for those checking in.

All eight of the Hilton Head resorts have this type of agreement, where if you're checking out of one and checking in to another they let you stay in the first until the second notifies you that it's ready. We've done it a few times and the latest we "checked out" of the first was 1:15.

They do ask you to be ready to leave almost immediately when the phone call comes. We pack up the suitcases, bag all the groceries, strip all the beds and turn on the dishwasher as if we're checking out at the normal time, but we leave everything in the unit including the bags of cold stuff in the fridge. While waiting at the pool we'll also leave a change of clothes handy. Then when the call comes we're out of there in ten minutes.

It's a great service. We can only hope that folks don't abuse it (by not being ready to leave quickly) so that they don't take it away.

I've found that the housekeepers don't always know it's happening - invariably they start knocking at 8 and we have to remind them that we're waiting until the call comes in.

 

[BocaBoy]

As platinum status we have the option of a late checkout but this is usually until 12. I've never known anyone to have a checkout later than this.

The platinum status late checkout option applies to Marriott hotels but not to the timeshare resorts.

 

[rthib]

The platinum status late checkout option applies to Marriott hotels but not to the timeshare resorts.

Staying on a points reservation, I was able to flash my Platinum Premiere status and get a later checkout. Was low season, so I think that had more to do with it.

 

[Wolfpacker]

Until this year, I've always been able to check into my room on HH by 4:00. This year at 3:15 when I arrived, I was told that 4:00 was just the beginning of check-in. They pointed to some sign that says "Check-in begins at 4 PM" as evidence that they were not trying to have all rooms available by 4:00 - only "some" so check-in could begin. Believe me, I understand extenuating circumstances can cause some rooms to be later than 4 PM, but to use this wording as an excuse was to me, well, inexcusable. If they had just explained what was going on, I'd have been fine, but they acted as if "any idiot" would know that "begins at 4 PM" meant that I shouldn't really expect my villa to be available then. I've just never gotten that run around before. BTW, I finally got in at 4:45 which is really fine if I hadn't gotten their run-around.

 

[rpgriego]

Call the front desk

Most clubs allow a complimentary one hour check-out delay. And will extended, if possible, a later check-out for those willing to pay.

 

[Quadmaniac]

Is it possible that some of these people are actually checking out "late in the day" but earlier than the end of their week ? I've had to leave before my week was up due to flights and checked out at all different times as a result. Otherwise I check out at 10 AM as specified.

 

[Pompey Family]

The platinum status late checkout option applies to Marriott hotels but not to the timeshare resorts.

When we checked into Playa on Friday we were asked if we required a late checkout and for every MVCI we've stayed at as well as hotels since we've been platinum we've been offered a late checkout for no additional cost.

 

[bazzap]

Well done, you must have that certain je ne sais quoi!
We have occasionally requested and only very occasionally received a late checkout at Vacation Club resorts, we have never ever been offered this though with our Platinum status.

 

[suenmike32]

I've never asked for a late checkout at any Marriott timeshare. I always try to be out at least by the check out time and if I'm leaving far earlier, I notify the staff that the room is ready to be cleaned when I'm out.
Perhaps people were leaving a day earlier....but if they are...there's quite a few of them. I've seen about 1 a day leaving at 2-3 in the PM. I hope they notified the staff.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

If people leave a day or more earlier, it should have zero effect on the check-in/out schedule. Those rooms are not on the list to be occupied, and if late they should be the last ones cleaned, if they are even cleaned that day.

 

[Superchief]

I have experienced rooms not being ready by 4pm in three of my past four MVC vacations. I think the shorter stays resulting from the DC program have caused major problems with villa assignments and housekeeping. There also appears to be very little coordination of villa cleaning with the scheduled check-outs/ins.

I don't agree that 'wages' are a driving problem. I have owned MVC timeshares since Royal Palms opened several years ago. Housekeeping costs have far outpaced inflation and most other MF components. My check-out times keeping getting earlier and check-in gets later. I now only receive 6 1/2 days of vacation for my original 7 days.

 

[ronparise]

If people leave a day or more earlier, it should have zero effect on the check-in/out schedule. Those rooms are not on the list to be occupied, and if late they should be the last ones cleaned, if they are even cleaned that day.

I routinely book an extra night, so I can check out whenever I want. And of course that doesnt impact the cleaning staff, they dont even know I left

But I can understand that the guy waiting to check-in, that sees me loading the car at 3 or 4 pm wonders why he had to wait while I checked out so late. He has no way of knowing I was actually checking out early

 

[Wolfpacker]

All eight of the Hilton Head resorts have this type of agreement, where if you're checking out of one and checking in to another they let you stay in the first until the second notifies you that it's ready. We've done it a few times and the latest we "checked out" of the first was 1:15.

They do ask you to be ready to leave almost immediately when the phone call comes. We pack up the suitcases, bag all the groceries, strip all the beds and turn on the dishwasher as if we're checking out at the normal time, but we leave everything in the unit including the bags of cold stuff in the fridge. While waiting at the pool we'll also leave a change of clothes handy. Then when the call comes we're out of there in ten minutes.

It's a great service. We can only hope that folks don't abuse it (by not being ready to leave quickly) so that they don't take it away.

I've found that the housekeepers don't always know it's happening - invariably they start knocking at 8 and we have to remind them that we're waiting until the call comes in.

I've heard of this and IMO, it should only be done if there is NOT a check-in scheduled for that specific unit or if they're sure they can get it cleaned by 4:00. I agree with a previous poster that my 7-day vacation is at 6.5 days and falling! I'm always out by 10!

 

[MabelP]

I will quite often take the red eye back to California the night before I am supposed to check out. So people could assume I've had a VERY LATE checkout!!!

 

[Saintsfanfl]

I routinely book an extra night, so I can check out whenever I want. And of course that doesnt impact the cleaning staff, they dont even know I left

But I can understand that the guy waiting to check-in, that sees me loading the car at 3 or 4 pm wonders why he had to wait while I checked out so late. He has no way of knowing I was actually checking out early

That is a good point. We often book cheap getaway's or XYZ's and only use part of the week. Sometimes we use both ends of the week but go home in between. Booking an II short stay cost the same whether you book 1 night or 6, so with that option I will always try and book an extra day for checking out late unless I really need 6. Either way, we often check out early (but late in the day).

 

[SueDonJ]

I've heard of this and IMO, it should only be done if there is NOT a check-in scheduled for that specific unit or if they're sure they can get it cleaned by 4:00. I agree with a previous poster that my 7-day vacation is at 6.5 days and falling! I'm always out by 10!

The way I figure, if they have 10 units turning over that day there probably aren't 10 cleaning staff teams to get into each of those units at exactly 10:00AM. (The two resorts where I own use cleaning teams instead of sending just one or two housekeepers to each unit.) Plus, I'd guess that there aren't very many guests checking out of one resort and into another on any given day. As long as the two resorts coordinate things so that the units which those guests are checking INTO are the first cleaned, then it's not going to cause ridiculous delays to let them stay in the first resort's units for a few extra hours.

I've never had to wait beyond 4:15PM for a Marriott check-in and despite the fact that I didn't have a problem with it and didn't lodge any type of complaint about it, that GM made a point of apologizing over and over for the delay. If late check-ins are happening consistently at any resort I'd question whether its staffing levels are sufficient and/or whether a lax GM is enforcing rules (such as check-out times, occupancy levels, etc.) that are maybe being broken.

Once we waited until 7:30PM to check-in to a Disney Vacation Club unit at the Beach Club on a cash stay. That was extremely frustrating because for more than two hours after we were beeped that our unit was ready, every twenty minutes or so the rep would call us up to the desk to tell us it would be "a few more minutes." If she'd just said from the start that we wouldn't be in the room for hours, we would have left our stuff in the car and found something else to do rather than hang around the lobby.