When you travel, the places you take photos should not be limited to attractions, landmarks, food, or things with cultural significance. Before you check out of your hotel, you should also take photos of your room. This simple action only takes a few seconds but can potentially save you a lot of time and money.
According to the report by the American magazine “Travel + Leisure,” taking photos of your room before leaving the hotel serves a dual purpose. One is to document the condition of the room to avoid unexpected charges upon checkout, and the other is to confirm that you haven’t inadvertently left any personal items behind.
Michael Stohler, co-founder of a real estate company and hotel owner in Arizona, suggests taking photos of the room with date and time stamps, stating that there is no harm in doing so. However, cases where guests are charged due to serious room damage are actually rare. Housekeeping staff conducts inspections based on checklists when cleaning the rooms.
Stohler advises guests to also fill out the survey they typically receive at check-in to describe the room’s condition, avoiding potential claims for damages by the hotel afterwards.
He mentioned that about 20 minutes after guests complete the check-in process, they receive a prompt on their phones inquiring about their check-in experience and the room condition. Stohler recommends guests to provide detailed feedback, mentioning existing wear and tear in the room, missing items from the mini-fridge, and any smoking traces.
He said, “If a guest responds that the room is in good condition or does not respond to the popup, but we later discover significant damage, the guest will have a hard time disputing it.”
An anonymous flight attendant from American Airlines told “Travel + Leisure,” “This might seem like a bit excessive, but this simple act can determine whether you leave happily or feel aggrieved due to false accusations. It’s like taking a photo of the shipping label when returning an item, as proof in case the package gets lost during shipping.”
In case you accidentally leave items in the room or if something more malicious occurs, photos can serve as an effective means of documenting signs of theft.
A flight attendant from Alaska Airlines stated, “I know it sounds unbelievable, but I often take photos of the room to ensure my personal items haven’t been tampered with. I once had a valuable scarf stolen from my luggage, only realizing it after getting home. If I had taken a photo at that time – even just as a visual reminder – I could have addressed the issue while still at the hotel.”
Apart from preventing various unexpected incidents, taking photos also has practical uses.
A retired flight attendant from United Airlines mentioned, “I often forget my room number, especially during tiring days on the road. Sometimes the room key card holder falls off or gets lost, taking a photo of the door can save me from awkward situations, sparing me from having to ask the reception desk about my room.”
Regardless of the purpose, the built-in camera in smartphones allows people to easily snap a few photos before checking out, ensuring preparedness.
Speaking of checking out, many people quietly leave hotels without informing the staff of their departure. Experts suggest that you should officially check out at the hotel reception. Doing so will be greatly beneficial for the hotel and the guests checking in afterwards.