‘Check out time is noon’ are not words I want to hear as it translates into a hurried, stressed-out morning of packing and a weary drive home in the hot sun.

Hi everybody…Happy New year! In this new year, I have one simple question for you…..

Don’t you just hate having to check out of hotels at noon? That is when the sun is often merciless and hot steam forms mirage in the distance, causing you to drive with a sleepy head or your temper to flare.

More so when you have screaming kids in the car or your stomach is rumbling because you don’t have time for lunch before you check out.

Earlier, you or your wife would have had to scream at the kids to get out of the swimming pool, bathe, get dry and help with the packing.

The stress would have started much..much earlier when you wake the family to get a bite of the “free” breakfast (that comes with the room package). It doesn’t help that they would have quickly chomped the food just so that they could have one “last dip” in the pool, a last dip would soon become many more “last” dips until you look and find that it’s almost soon.

Then all hell would break loose. If you had not packed yet, you’ll hurried dump everything into your luggage and drag the little ones to the check-out counter to pay the bill. Then it’s out on the road in the hot sun, looking for a place to eat before the drive home. What a horrid end to a holiday.

This is why I often request for a late check-out. Most hotels will allow free extended stay until 1pm (not much difference from noon but having an extra hour is nice) or up to 3pm, subject of course to room availability.

Personally, I prefer to pay a bit more and check out at either 5pm or 6pm. This way, I could have a nice lunch, a little nap and pack at leisure. The children too would have had lunch and settled down by then.

An evening drive home is so much more pleasant, even if it’s a long drive. This would be a perfect ending to your holidays. Agree with me..?