Hotel Check Out Checklist
with
Jonathon E. Stewart
When you're leaving your hotel, it's easy to forget things - whether it's your favorite sweater, your wallet, or your receipt. Check these tips out before you check out so you'll depart with everything you need.
Transcript: Hotel Check Out Checklist
Hey guys, Jonathon Stewart here for About.com. Traveling is a blast, one of my favorite things in the world to do. And while coming home after a big trip can be as comforting as a big fuzzy blanket, it's a royal pain to discover anything you've somehow left behind. But take a look at this hotel checkout checklist, and you won't be smacking yourself in the head when you get back. Check it out.Don't Pack Up in a Hurry
Tip number one: take your time packing before you check out. Allowing yourself a few extra minutes to calmly get everything back into your suitcase will reduce your chances of carelessly forgetting anything. If you're pressed for time, you can always call the front desk and request a late check out, which will often buy you another hour. And really, until they start calling to pester you about leaving and threatening to charge you for another night unless you get out immediately, you've got nothing to worry about. Not that that's ever happened to me, of course.Check the Room Thoroughly
Tip two: do a complete sweep of the room. Once everything obvious is in your bags, be sure to check all the nooks any crannies: drawers, the night stand, closets, the safe, under the bathroom sink, under the bed, and if you've got one, the refrigerator. As you're about to leave the room, do one final pass over the whole area - and check under the covers, too. That's pretty much where I usually find all my socks and boxers.Leave a Tip Behind
Tip three: leave a tip. It's best to tip your housekeeper on a nightly basis, so that the person who does the actual tidying up is the one who gets the tip. But either way, leave cash in the amount of three to five bucks per night at a fancy hotel, and one or two at a less fancy joint, and be sure to leave it in a properly marked envelope.Review Your Bill
And finally, when you're actually checking out, be sure to review your entire bill. Check that all of the charges are exact, and that you have a paper statement or receipt to walk away with. Remember that now is the time to dispute anything funky - the second you walk out the door it gets a little tougher.Thanks for watching! To learn more, visit us on the Web at About.com.