Checking out of a hotel can feel rushed, especially when you’re packing bags, getting everyone ready, and trying to leave on time. In the middle of all that, it’s surprisingly easy to forget something in the room or miss a charge on your bill.
Before you hand back your room key, take a few minutes to look around and check that everything is in order. These 10 reminders can help you avoid forgotten belongings, unexpected charges, and a stressful start to your trip home.
Check the Bathroom and Shower
Bathrooms are easy to overlook because many people pack their toiletries early and assume they’re ready to go. Check the shower, towel hooks, counter, drawers, and space behind the door for razors, toothbrushes, skincare products, wet swimsuits, and toiletry bags.
Check the Safe
Hotel safes are useful for storing valuables during your stay, but it’s easy to forget what’s inside them. Open the safe and check for passports, jewelry, cash, wallets, medication, and important documents before leaving.
Look Under the Bed and Furniture
Small belongings can slip beneath beds, nightstands, chairs, and dressers without anyone noticing. Take a quick look along the floor for socks, toys, earbuds, tablets, or anything else that might have fallen out of a bag or pocket.
Check Every Outlet for Chargers
Phone chargers and other small electronics are easy to leave behind, especially when they’re plugged in out of sight. Check outlets beside the bed, behind lamps, near the desk, and in the bathroom before unplugging everything and packing it away.
Related: Appliances You Should Unplug Right Now if You Want to Lower Your Electric Bill
Pull Back the Bedding
Before leaving, pull back the sheets and check around the pillows and blankets for phones, earbuds, pajamas, jewelry, and other small belongings. You don’t need to strip the bed, but a quick look through the bedding can save you from leaving something behind.
Secure Medications and Important Documents
Check that passports, identification, prescriptions, boarding passes, travel papers, and credit cards are packed somewhere secure and easy to reach. Keeping these items together in a travel pouch or designated pocket makes them easier to find when you need them.
Review Your Bill Before Checkout
Look over your hotel bill for parking fees, resort charges, minibar purchases, room service, taxes, or anything that seems unfamiliar. Many hotels let you review the bill through an app, on the room TV, or at the front desk, so you can ask about questionable charges before leaving.
Confirm Transportation
Check your plans for getting to the airport, train station, rental car center, or next hotel before you leave the room. Confirm your pickup time, shuttle schedule, rideshare arrangements, or valet service so you don’t scramble in the lobby.
Leave a Tip for Housekeeping
If you plan to tip housekeeping, leave the money somewhere visible, such as the desk or nightstand, with a short note marked “For Housekeeping.” During longer stays, daily tips can be helpful because different staff members may clean your room on different days.
Related: 12 Things Hotel Housekeeping Notice The Second They Walk Into Your Room
Do One Final Walkthrough
Before closing the door, take one last look around the closet, drawers, safe, bathroom, bed, outlets, refrigerator, balcony, and anywhere you left bags or shoes. This quick sweep can help you catch the small things that are easy to miss when you’re rushing out.
