Steve Farzam, COO @ Shore Hotel, On Checking Out of Your Hotel

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced traveler, the process of checking out of a hotel can be a breeze. There are times, however, when problems may arise, especially if you’re packing your things up the morning you leave. Rather than stress yourself out, keep these things in mind to wrap up your time away seamlessly.

Do a final room check
There aren’t many things that are worse than getting to the airport, only to realize you left your identification in the hotel safe. To help alleviate some added stress in the morning, pack as much as you can the night before you leave and do a final room check before you leave. In addition to emptying the safe, remove all personal items from drawers, pull back the shower curtain, and grab your phone charger from that hidden wall outlet.

Double-check your bill
Look over your bill to ensure you were not charged any additional fees you were not responsible for, such as paying for items from the mini-bar if you didn’t use it, or a dinner that was charged to the wrong room. There are some hidden fees that are unavoidable, but save yourself some extra cash by making sure everything on your bill checks out. Dispute any false charges and get an updated copy of your receipt before final check out.

Leave a tip
In your rush to get out door to catch your flight, make sure you remember to tip your housekeeper. Depending on how messy you are and the local tipping norms, try to tip between $2 to $5 for each night of your stay to housekeeping. The same goes for bellboys.

Reserve airport shuttle
If you are staying at an airport hotel to catch an early flight, make sure that you reserve a spot for the shuttle to the airport the night before. Seats are limited, so there is no guarantee that you will get a spot if you don’t reserve one.

Leave on time
Most hotels provide a check out time that guests are required to be out of the room by. If you need more time in the morning, call the front desk to see if they are able to accommodate you. If you were to just stay in the room, not only will you impede on the housekeeping schedule, but you run the risk of being charged additional fees.

Steve Farzam is the COO of Shore Hotel in Santa Monica, California. He is passionate about providing an exceptional guest experience, as well as reducing the carbon footprint. He is dedicated to service and hospitality, and excelling in all that he does. To learn more about Steve, visit his website, SteveFarzam.org.