Most hotels have specific check-in and check-out times. Some allow guests to check-in whenever they want, and some allow late check-outs. But no matter what the check-in time, guests are expected to check-out at the specified time or pay for another night.

Four Points LAX

Except, that is, if you’re staying at the Four Points by Sheraton LAX airport hotel in Los Angeles. They have a truly ‘lax’ check-in, check-out offer. A guest can check-in at any time of the day or night, and stay for a full 24 hours.

The offer is available for any guest who books a reservation via fourpoints.com at or above $99 and informs the hotel at least 48 hours in advance of their arrival.

Guests will get a Four Points welcome no matter what time they check in, and the room is theirs for a full 24 hours.

“Since we serve guests at one of the world’s busiest airports, we thought we could make their travel easier by offering an alternative to traditional check-in/check-out timetables,” said Phil Baxter, general manager of Four Points by Sheraton LAX. “The hotel is an unbeatable choice for anyone flying in or out of LAX, and having this option makes it even more advantageous.”

The seven-story hotel a quarter mile from Los Angeles International Airport offers 573 guest rooms including 20 junior suites, with a 24-hour complimentary airport shuttle. They have a heated outdoor pool with a landscaped pool deck, and wi-fi and broadband internet is free.

Guests have three dining options – the Comfort Restaurant, Coffee Bar and Brewsters Bar & Grill. For airport travelers, the hotel also offers body clock cuisine for the jet lagged, along with day room rates, a transit survival kit and same day laundry and pressing.

In addition to the 24-hour check-in/check-out offer, the hotel has some weird (but nice) offers.

Better Tomorrows – For every night you pay regular rate, you can get the next for 40% off.
Birthday Offer – You’ll receive rates equal to your birth year for second or third nights.
Breakfast for a Buck – Full American breakfast and great coffee for just $1.

Photo – Four Points LAX

More info: www.fourpointslax.com/

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Spending the night in a hotel before your flight might help you save money at the airport.

Airport parking is expensive.  Long term parking can cost as much as $25 per day at airports in major cities like Chicago, which would add an extra $175 to your budget for a week long vacation.

Granted, you could always ask a friend to drive you to the airport and pick you up when you return home, but that’s difficult to do if you live an hour or more away from your nearest airport.  You could find an off site lot and pay a little less, but you’re still looking at $5-$10 a day plus an extra shuttle ride back to your car after you get home.

Another option may be to check into a nearby airport hotel.  Many airport hotels offer free parking with an overnight stay and free shuttle rides to and from the airport.  If you have an early morning flight, spending the night at a conveniently located hotel the night before can also give you a couple of extra hours of sleep and reduce the risk of you missing your flight due to unexpected traffic delays.  If your return flight is scheduled to land late in the evening, you may be able to get free parking in advance of an end-of-trip overnight stay.

Of course, if you’re looking to save money on parking fees by spending the night in a hotel, you’ll want to check that the hotel doesn’t charge for guest parking.  Look around for hotels near the airport you’ll be flying out of and call to confirm their parking rates and shuttle availability.

Photo credit lrargerich on Flickr.

Swine Flu, regular influenza, colds, sinus infections, and more lurk everywhere the public is.  Here are a few tips to keep you healthy while traveling and staying in hotels.  Even the swankiest hotels have germs lurking all over.

The Obvious:

1 ) Wash your hands.  If you aren’t washing your hands before eating, and every time you return from being in public, than you already put yourself at risk for contracting and spreading germs.  My 5 and 10 year old know to wash their hands as soon as we return from the supermarket, the shops or school and I don’t even have to prompt them anymore.  I can’t remember the last time either one of them had a cold.

2 ) Get enough sleep.  It’s sometimes difficult to get enough sleep when you’re flying at odd times or partying it up at a resort.  Try to grab a nap when you can and say no to ‘just one more drink’ at the pool bar.

3 ) Drink enough fluids.  It’s very easy when you’re busy running through an airport or vacationing to become dehydrated.  Try to get your water in where you can.

4 ) Try to get a workout or a walk in every day or every other day that you’re gone.  It will reduce stiffness from traveling, and make you feel better.

5 ) Wear flip-flops in your hotel room, including the shower.  Who knows when the carpet was last cleaned?  Avoid plantar warts and fungus by keeping your feet safe.

The Not-So-Obvious But You’ll Probably Think I’ve Lost My Mind:

6 ) Don’t use the hotel’s hot tub.  Hot tub’s often carry bacteria that cause the skin rash folliculitis.  Not afraid of a pesky skin rash?  Okay, how do you feel about breathing in the bacteria-filled air and developing pneumonia or bronchitis?  How about a UTI?  It’s more common than you think.

7 ) Use your flip flops in the pool.  (See #5)

8 ) Lose the coverlet – put it in the corner.  They are washed about every 6 months, even in the 4 star hotels.  If you are cold, ask for another blanket.  Also, check your bed for bed bugs.  Wear socks, long pants and long sleeved shirts to bed to have minimal contact with the bed.  Bring your own sheets and pillow if you’re able. Do not eat in your bed.

9 ) Never EVER use the glasses provided in the hotel room, even if they are wrapped in paper.  Studies have shown staff cleaning and drying the glasses in the bathroom sink, without soap and with your dirty towel.  The towel you use to dry your body with. Pack a few paper cups to use while you’re staying.  Lastly, skip the ice machine.  They are teeming with germs, and often overlooked in the cleaning process.

10 ) Bring and use sanitizing wipes to wipe down light switches, doorknobs and the remote before you use them.

Photo Credit: Frugal Law Student

Hyatt Regency Phoenix

I recently stayed at the Hyatt Regency in Phoenix, Arizona, and even though I wasn’t there for even an entire night (I had to be flown back to Atlanta that evening, hurray for jet-setting), it was a nice stay. Customer service was first-class at the check-in counter, very professional and attentive. I made a couple of phone calls to the front desk when I got to the room, and the phone was always answered with “How can we help you, Ms. Bengen?”

Phoenix is a funny collection of neighborhoods that kind of all blur together, but as far as I could tell, this hotel was pretty central to everything. It was certainly close to the airport – the ride took less than ten minutes.

I took a short nap in the bed, and it was really big and comfy. I like Hyatt bedding a lot, I’ve discovered. I think I will be treating myself to some Hyatt sheets for Christmas this year. Especially if my dog continues to eat the ones we have.

The pool was on (4th?) floor, and it was a little odd – It was a 3 foot deep “lap pool.” I didn’t care though, the view was nice, the pool area allowed you to look up at some buildings and watch the planes come in which was kind of cool. It was so hot outside though that even this heated pool felt refreshing!

If you need a nice hotel that’s close to the airport, I’d definitely recommend this Hyatt. No complaints! There was some sort of touch-screen contraption by the front desk that might have allowed you to check in yourself, I wasn’t sure, didn’t have time to check it out. I did, however, print out my boarding pass right at the front desk for free which was awesome.

Photo Credit: Jenny Bengen