“Hi! Can we check in at 9 AM instead of 2 PM?
We have an early flight, and it would be super convenient. Thanks!”
Oh, what a delightfully simple request! Of course, we can accommodate that. After all, what’s a few hours between friends?
Since you’re so keen on that 9 AM check-in, we thought we’d let you in on exactly what needs to happen to make your “convenient” request possible.
Don’t worry – we’ve got the perfect solution that works for everyone!
Your Exclusive Early Check-In Experience Package
Congratulations! You’ve just earned yourself the most authentic behind-the-scenes hospitality experience money can buy.
Here’s what we need you to do to make that 9 AM check-in happen:
Step 1: Guest Relations Specialist
Your mission: Handle the current occupants.
Yes, last night’s guests are still there. Sound asleep in the bed you want to use. They checked out this morning, but checkout time is 11 AM, so they’re enjoying their final few hours.
Since you want to be in at 9 AM, you’ll need to:
- Wake them up gently (they paid for the room until 11 AM)
- Help them pack (they’re confused about the early eviction)
- Make them a takeaway breakfast (they’ll miss the included breakfast)
- Escort them out with your biggest smile
Pro tip: When they leave a one-star review about being “kicked out by random strangers,” just remember – this was your idea!
Step 2: Housekeeping Hero
Strip and remake those beds like you’re in the army.
Don’t panic when you discover:
- Wet towels decorating the mattress
- Mysterious items that challenge identification
- Evidence that room service (apparently) included a midnight snack party in bed
The cleaning supplies are somewhere around here. Ask the departing guests where they keep the vacuum and industrial-strength cleaners.
Those sheets (definitely) need special attention.
Bed-making standards: We’ll give you a quick tutorial. Hope you’re satisfied with the linen quality because yesterday’s “guest-cleaner” wasn’t great with ironing. The wrinkles could guide ships to port.
Step 3: Sanitation Engineer
Transform that bathroom until it sparkles brighter than your vacation dreams.
Your tasks include:
- Deep clean the toilet (and the surrounding blast radius)
- Replace all toiletries, towels, and bath mats
- Extract mysterious hair formations from the drain (we recommend gloves)
- Polish everything until it’s mirror-perfect
The ladder for ceiling fan duty is stored behind the shed. GPS coordinates available upon request.
Step 4: Kitchen Restoration Specialist
While you’re busy with beds and bathrooms, your travel companion gets kitchen duty:
- Inspect every dish for mysterious residue
- Tackle yesterday’s concrete-hardened dishware
- Sanitise the fridge (someone’s groceries went rogue)
- Restore the braai to its former glory (elbow grease mandatory)
The Incident Response Protocol
If yesterday’s family included toddlers and forgot the mattress protector after an “accident”…
You’ll need to call professional cleaners immediately.
That mattress requires spotless, bone-dry restoration. Allow 3-4 hours for sun-drying (weather permitting).
Perfect time to explore local laundromats! Consider it a cultural experience.
Quality Assurance Testing
We’ll arrive at 5 PM with white gloves for inspection.
Every surface will be tested. Every corner was examined. Your performance will be reviewed across all platforms.
By then, you should be finished, unpacked, and ready for your well-deserved shower.
Relax time starts around 7 PM. You’ve earned it!
Tomorrow’s Encore Performance
Plot twist: Tomorrow’s guests also requested a 9 AM check-in.
Time to rise and shine for round two!
Bonus challenge: If 6 people arrive when you expected 2, handle this “minor discrepancy” with grace and enthusiasm.
Remember to prepare their welcome amenities:
- Fresh coffee and tea
- Local rusks and fruit
- Complimentary chocolates
- Your remaining sanity (optional)
Maybe they’ll reward you with a breakfast doggy bag before leaving!
What Your Request Means
When You Say: “Can we check in early?”
We Hear: “Can you completely restructure your operations for our convenience?”
❌ What you think happens: Magic cleaning fairies work overnight
✅ What (really) happens: Someone needs to compress 8 hours of work into 2 hours
The Real Cost of Your “Simple” Request:
- Rush cleaning fees: Double or triple rates
- Staff overtime: Someone’s getting up at 5 AM
- Guest displacement: Current guests lose their final hours
- Quality compromise: Less time = less thorough cleaning
- Host stress: Coordinating impossible timelines
Why Hosts Offer This (Sometimes)
Theory 1: They don’t understand the logistics involved. Theory 2: They’re desperately trying to please everyone. Theory 3: They’ve confused hospitality with martyrdom
Reality: Most professional hosts will politely decline your request because they understand what quality accommodation requires.
Red Flags in Your Requests
🚩 “Just a few hours earlier” 🚩 “We don’t mind if it’s not perfect” 🚩 “We’re very understanding guests” 🚩 “Can’t you just rush the cleaning?” 🚩 “Other places do it” 🚩 “We’ll pay extra” (then complain about the fee)
How Professional Properties Handles This
Real early check-in requires:
- Professional cleaning is completed hours before your arrival
- Buffer time is built into schedules
- Additional staff on standby
- Higher rates to cover operational costs
- Properties specifically designed for turnover efficiency
Revolutionary concept: Plan ahead!
The CapeHolidays Reality
After 15 years managing premium properties, here’s what we’ve learned:
Quality takes time. Period.
Our 4.9-star rating across 2,000+ reviews comes from never compromising standards for convenience.
When we offer early check-in, it’s because:
- We’ve planned for it operationally
- Professional cleaning is genuinely complete
- Quality standards remain uncompromised
- We’re not passing our challenges to guests
Alternatives That Work
Option 1: Plan Better
Book properties with check-in times that match your schedule.
Option 2: Pay Appropriately
Understand that early check-in is a premium service requiring premium rates.
Option 3: Be Realistic
Sometimes that 2 PM check-in exists for very good reasons.
Option 4: Choose Hotels
They have staff, systems, and procedures designed for flexibility.
What to Do Instead
Before requesting early check-in, ask yourself:
- Is this really necessary, or just convenient?
- Am I willing to pay premium rates for premium service?
- Would I be okay with rushed cleaning?
- Do I understand the operational impact?
The Bottom Line
Your “simple” early check-in request isn’t simple at all.
It’s a complex operational challenge that requires real solutions, not wishful thinking.
Quality accommodation takes time to prepare. Professional hosts understand this. Smart guests respect it.
Next time you’re tempted to ask for early check-in…
Remember this little guide. Consider whether you’d enjoy doing all this work yourself.
Maybe that 2 PM check-in isn’t so inconvenient after all.
Have you ever requested early check-in without considering the consequences? Share your perspective in the comments – we’d love to hear from both guests and hosts on this eternal hospitality dilemma!
A Note from Management:
We hope this provides a clearer understanding of the process involved in preparing quality accommodations. When hosts say “check-in is at 2 PM,” there’s usually a very good reason. We appreciate guests who respect our operational needs – it allows us to provide the 5-star experience everyone wants.
Kind regards,
Hosts Who (Actually) Understand What Hospitality Requires
Our Checking Rules: ~Guests can arrive from 2 pm. We only accept reservations two days before the arrival date. If Airbnb worked on a 24-hour window, we would have done “one day” but Airbnb sees 11:59 pm as one day in advance, therefore our “two days”. Guests are allowed to request a last-minute reservation, but we can decline.