Right, and we all know that at times, the hotel will be full, there won’t be rooms available early and the answer will be no.

I have actually run into this fee more from European hotels. But that may be because any time I am in the U.S. I am staying in a hotel network where I have some status and they always allow early check in if available for loyalty club members.

Not an American thing. Is becoming more common. I’ve encountered it in Australia, the US and earlier this month in England and Germany. I am a Marriott Bonvoy member and sometimes get early check in or late check out if available for no fee. I’m also a low level Accor member but they recently advised us at hotel in Munich that there was a charge for early check in. I guess like airlines charging for bags and seat selection, hotels are beginning to charge for “extras” too.

We just paid a fee to check in early to a London hotel. I'm guessing it got to a point where too many folks were asking for the 'courtesy' of an early check in rather than just a place to drop luggage for a few hours.

Not an American thing. This has happened to me in England

We travel fairly frequently here in the U.S. and haven’t heard of this. We mainly stay in Marriott properties

Oh, you‘re asking for an “exhausted child?” I gotta remember to start using that one. 🙄

Just started recently...i hate it.

I find it is almost standard in London and have found it throughout Europe.

But they would have to make sure it’s clean earlier than it normally would be. Isn’t that convenience worth $30? There is effort in the coordination of such a request: making sure the room is emptied on time (what if the previous guest requests late checkout?) and then cleaned promptly (possibly out of order). It’s not just a matter of course. $30 doesn’t seem so high as to be unpalatable to pay…