It is a fairly well-established norm that the check-in time at most hotels is 3PM.  It is also a fairly common eventuality for me to arrive somewhat earlier than that time.

Normally, if I arrive before check-in, I simply want to drop-off a bag, so that I can go out and make the most of the day without carting my luggage around with me.  In most hotels, this is no problem at all.  But sometimes, if I am very fortunate, the receptionist will say:

“Your room is already made up for you.  You can check-in now, if you’d like to?”

Bonus!  A goodwill early check-in.  The love shared and felt all around.

Except, the goodwill early check-in is becoming an increasingly endangered species.  Hotels have cottoned on to the fact that the early check-in can be monetarised.  Now, if a room is available early, it is worth a bit of extra wonga.  Sod goodwill; hello balance sheet.

I experienced an example of this on a recent trip to Dublin.  I had booked to stay at a Premier Inn in the city.  I had already thought the cost of my stay pretty exorbitant––when did accommodation in Ireland become so expensive?  My ferry from Holyhead had arrived in good time and, to kill a few extra minutes and to save a few Euros, I had decided to walk from Dublin Port to my hotel.  Nevertheless, I still found myself at the check-in desk closer to 2PM than 3PM.

But, despite my early arrival, the receptionist had good news for me:

“Your room is ready for you.”

And bad news:

“If you’d like to check-in early, it will cost an additional €10.”

€10 for an extra hour in my room?  I was feeling rather hot and bothered; rather tired from my journey.  The prospect of a shower and a change of clothes was rather enticing.  I acquiesced; paid the €10; gained my early admittance.

But goodwill?  Did I feel any?

No, I did not.  I felt resentful of the €10.  Nostalgic for the old days, when I would have been allowed access to my room for free.

What price goodwill?  €10.  I wonder if it is worth it.  It probably depends on whether you ask the question to a traveller or an accountant.

© E. C. Glendenny

E. C. Glendenny believes in spreading goodwill.