It’s pretty odd, when you think about it. You arrive in a city first thing, following a lengthy overnight flight and plenty of airport wrangling, hefty suitcase in tow. And yet you can’t flop down in a comfy space for another seven hours. Best case scenario your room might be ready an hour or two earlier than the practically iron-clad 3pm; worst case you’ll end up lugging it over cobblestones and up steps, trying to find a cafe to while away a few hours. Meanwhile, you’re haemorrhaging sightseeing time.
The trad 3pm check-in and 11am or 12pm check-out, rigidly imposed at 99.9 per cent of hotels, is still a regular travel frustration. Even though it’s much easier for guests and properties to discuss arrival and departure times, the dance remains the same: a trailing queue at reception desk at these “peak times”, with the 11am-3pm empty hours used for housekeeping staff to turn around each room for the next guest.
But over the years, momentum has quietly been building towards a better way. In summer 2016, Standard Hotels launched “Standard Time”, a paid extra that enables guests to check in and out whenever they want. “We can think of a bunch of reasons” why you’d want to do so, said the brand at the time, citing “You jet after sunset” and “The minibar’s not going to drink itself” as just two of them. It was only available to people booking directly through the brand’s website.
Then in late 2019, stylish boutique hotel group The Hoxton unveiled its “Flexy Time” initiative, also available as a perk only to direct-booking guests. These VIPs can check in at a time of their choosing, from midnight at the beginning of their arrival day, and out at a time of their choosing until midnight at the end of their departure day.
Peninsula Time is free, as long as you book directly with the brand – flexible time in exchange for loyalty seems to be the way forward
“Flexy Time looks to eliminate the irritations travellers are regularly faced with – from not being able to shower after a long-haul flight, to having to check out half asleep after a big night out – and gives guests more time to enjoy their stay, whatever their reason for travel,” said a statement from the brand at the time.
Still up and running, this perk doesn’t even necessarily cost the holidaymaker more. Researching my Hoxton hotel…
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