Land 6am - Room Available 2pm...

Not for the first time I'm going to be arriving in a city on a flight that gets in at 06:00am local (Sydney in this case), but of course the hotel doesn't want to garuantee that a room will be available until 2pm (of course that's not to say a room might not become free sometime in the morning, but sod's law and all that...)[:(]

To compound this, my business hosts have organised a meeting for me at midday on the same day I've arrived, so I need to be freshened up and ready to make a presentation 6 hours after arriving at the crack of dawn...[|)]

Now, given that VS don't (to my knowledge) have a revivals facility at SYD airport, can anyone suggest how I might be able to get a room/facility that'll enable me to lose that delightful "just got off a 24hr flight" look????

BTW, this problem is true for a number of other destinations, so there may be some generic answers too...

As always, thanks in advance for any helpful input!

Viz.

Would the hotel let you use their gym shower / change facilities before they have a room for you? Make sure you have your wash bag and clothes for the meeting readily available, so you do not need to lug a big case into the changing room.

[Decker]

Book the room for the night before?

Yes, thought about booking the room for the night before - just sort of seems unfair.

The Gym shower's a good idea, however I still need to get unpacked, iron a shirt and suit etc.

Thanks.

Originally posted by Decker
Book the room for the night before?

My thoughts exactly and I have done this on several occasions.

Paul

As Decker and p17blo book the room for the night before that the logical thing to do.

Beware of booking the room for the night before - I did this for a CPT flight last March. The hotel however sold my room as I hadn't turned up by midnight or notified them I was arriving late.

Probably my fault for taking the room for granted and not telling them of my plans.

As long as they are aware that you won't be arriving till 7.00ish the next morning they shouldn't re-sell the room from under your nose and leave you roomless!!!!

[HighFlyer]

Which hotel are you staying at?

When i went to SYD i also landed at 6/7am and wanted to go straight to my room, a quick but polite conversation exchange with the manager ensured that my room would be ready on arrival, and it was.

You could always offer to pay a half days rate (similar to what you would pay if you checked out late) and see what they say to that? The hotel should try to be acomodating to you and i have found thta most hotels can at least offer the shower facilities or an unready room to allow you to get ready before your meeting.

Speak to the manager, explain your plight, and see what they can do for you

Thanks,
Sarah

[mitchja]

A lot of hotel reservations online systems now ask you for you flight details/times etc.

I've never had a problem in the past checking in to a hotel early but I always make a point of letting the hotel know my flight arrival details if they havn't already asked me during the booking process.

Regards

The problem appears to arise from the fact that I'd be arriving SO early - obviously they've got to service rooms etc. If I was arriving at 11am it is usually a different matter.

Could you not as for a day rate - this is usually less than a full nights stay.

Jilly

Originally posted by jilly
Could you not as for a day rate - this is usually less than a full nights stay.

Was going to suggest this.... otherwise, as for the Gym idea... if the hotel has a laundry they should be able to press your clothes while you shower and have breakfast?

6am onwards is probably the worst time to arrive into SYD as it's "747 rush-hour" so immigration could take quite some time. I agree with Highflyer's advice. Explain that you'll be arriving very early and that you need a room as soon as one is ready. People do check out very early, particularly mid-week, but housekeeping doesn't usually begin until 8 or 9am (I used to work in various luxury hotels in Sydney). If staying in a top-class property you rarely have to wait long before a room is ready as they don't like to keep the guest waiting. Less upscale hotels might have a different view though.

The Strawb

We're going to have this problem at the weekend, arriving in SYD on the VS flight. Rang the hotel and they have my arrival time and early check in request already noted so fingers crossed.
All the goss in the TR to follow...

Dean

Just for future reference.
I rang the Holiday Inn Sydney Airport and they do have a day use room policy. Between 8am and 5pm its cost is approx AUD$120. Although availability is limited inline with overnight bookings.
So if you hadn't got an earliy check in you could have used that - although it may have been cheaper to pay extra at your current hotel.

Originally posted by Strawberry Muppet
6am onwards is probably the worst time to arrive into SYD as it's "747 rush-hour" so immigration could take quite some time.

Agreed. SYD international arrivals is the worst at this time of day. My standard way of doing it is to book a room an extra day on a guaranteed reservation. It stinks, but that's the way it is. Good luck with getting a half day rate: sounds like a good plan if you can.

I took a look at the SYD arrivals the other day to see what there was arriving at a more sensible hour from Europe and there's nothing. An alternative (if you didn't have that pesky meeting) would be to book a nice FC seat on EK on to AKL or CHC and come back when it's less busy at 6pm or so

Cheers, Howard

This happened to me on my first flight out to Sydney last year on Business. Got in around 8am, no room until about noon. Lovely.

However, this was the Marriot nr. Circular Quay and they had a general "waiting room" for early arrivals which was essentially a regular room (about suiote size) that all early arrivals could go to, have a drink of tea and throw some water over their face, that kind of thing. It might be worth checking whether your hotel has something similar?

Darryl