Always Do This Before Checking Out of Your Hotel

Always get a copy of your hotel bill the night before so you aren’t rushed or feel pressure to hurry up and close the account because of the guests waiting behind you.

This travel tip comes from two readers. The first one came in yesterday from a reader nicknamed Coyote. It was in response to this recent post: Don’t Fall for These Hotel Scams.

Coyote added: “Also, wherever you stay, read your hotel bill carefully before you check out as there may be charges for things you did not use. Hotel billing errors are almost always in a hotel’s favor, not ours, but they are easier to have corrected when you’re actually at the hotel talking to front desk staff rather than later on.”

Coyote is absolutely right and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had things added to my bill that were erroneous or put on by ‘mistake.’ Many times, it’s been from the automated minibar but thankfully those are going away.

It reminds me of a tip we ran five years ago from reader: Rob W. in which he said: “What I do now, for stays of three or more nights and especially if I have used the hotel bar or restaurant, is head down to reception the night before I check out and ask them for a copy of my hotel bill. I take it to the comfort of my room. This gives me the opportunity to review details without the pressure when one is checking out.

“In the past six months, I cannot tell you all those pesky small charges I have had added to my bill for items I have not used. By doing this you can then raise the issues with the reception on the way out and not be having to deal with them for months on end afterwards.”

This is great advice. Get a copy of your bill the night before so you aren’t rushed or feel pressure to hurry up and close the account because of the guests waiting behind you.

Have you ever had mistakes added to your bill? Were they ever in your favor? If yes, please leave a comment below.

KEEP READING:

Want even more travel tips? Sign up here for the Daily Travel Tip newsletter! Just fill in your email address and check the Daily Travel Tip box—and you’ll have Johnny’s best tips, straight to your inbox each day!

Coyote added: “Also, wherever you stay, read your hotel bill carefully before you check out as there may be charges for things you did not use. Hotel billing errors are almost always in a hotel’s favor, not ours, but they are easier to have corrected when you’re actually at the hotel talking to front desk staff rather than later on.”

Coyote is absolutely right and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had things added to my bill that were erroneous or put on by ‘mistake.’ Many times, it’s been from the automated minibar but thankfully those are going away.

It reminds me of a tip we ran five years ago from reader: Rob W. in which he said: “What I do now, for stays of three or more nights and especially if I have used the hotel bar or restaurant, is head down to reception the night before I check out and ask them for a copy of my hotel bill. I take it to the comfort of my room. This gives me the opportunity to review details without the pressure when one is checking out.

“In the past six months, I cannot tell you all those pesky small charges I have had added to my bill for items I have not used. By doing this you can then raise the issues with the reception on the way out and not be having to deal with them for months on end afterwards.”

This is great advice. Get a copy of your bill the night before so you aren’t rushed or feel pressure to hurry up and close the account because of the guests waiting behind you.

Have you ever had mistakes added to your bill? Were they ever in your favor? If yes, please leave a comment below.

KEEP READING:

Want even more travel tips? Sign up here for the Daily Travel Tip newsletter! Just fill in your email address and check the Daily Travel Tip box—and you’ll have Johnny’s best tips, straight to your inbox each day!