Check-in and check-out: times, early arrival and late checkout

What time can your guest get in, and what time do they have to leave? It sounds like a simple question, but everything else depends on those two hours: how much time your team has to clean, whether you can host someone else the same day and how calmly each stay begins.

Beyond the set times, many guests ask about arriving early or leaving late, especially when their flight doesn't match your hours. This guide helps you set realistic times, decide when to offer that flexibility and communicate arrival and departure without confusion. It also covers what to do when someone else hands over the keys because you live in the US.

Key Takeaways

• Set your check-in and check-out times based on how long it really takes to clean and prepare the property.
• Early check-in and late checkout are useful, but only when the calendar and the cleaning allow it.
• Send clear arrival instructions in order: address, access, keys, wifi and who to call.
• A well-explained checkout prevents surprise charges, arguments and delays for the next guest.

Table of Contents

• How to set your check-in and check-out times
• Early check-in and late checkout
• Prepare a smooth arrival
• Set your times on SimpleStay

How to set your check-in and check-out times

Your times shouldn't come from habit. They come from what happens between one guest and the next.

Start with the cleaning

Ask the person who cleans how long it takes to get the property ready: changing sheets, washing towels, cleaning bathrooms and kitchen, taking out the trash and checking that nothing is missing or broken. Add a buffer for the unexpected, such as a power outage or a slow washing machine.

Illustrative example. If cleaning your two-bedroom apartment takes four hours and you want a one-hour buffer, an 11:00 a.m. checkout lets you offer a 4:00 p.m. check-in the same day.

Think about your area and your guests

If your property is in Punta Cana or Bávaro, many guests arrive through Punta Cana International Airport, and their flight time shapes their day. In Santo Domingo, business travelers may arrive late at night. Ask for an estimated arrival time and be ready to welcome someone outside your usual hours, even if you don't offer early entry.

Early check-in and late checkout

Early check-in and late checkout are among the most common requests. Handled well, they're a gesture guests remember. Handled badly, they delay the cleaning and affect the next guest.

When to say yes

Before you agree, check these conditions:

1. Look at the calendar. If nobody leaves on the arrival day, or nobody arrives on the departure day, there's room.
2. Confirm with your cleaner. Ask if they can move their schedule earlier or later.
3. Set the exact new time. "You can check in at 1:00 p.m." is better than "a bit earlier."
4. Confirm it in writing. That way nobody relies on memory.
5. Let the guest know if anything changes. If another booking comes in, explain early that it's no longer possible.

If you can't offer it

When there's no room, offer an alternative:

• Store luggage in a safe place while the cleaning finishes.
• Suggest a nearby spot to wait, such as a café or the beach.
• Send a message as soon as the property is ready, even if it's before the official time.
• Allow use of a bathroom or shared area if the building administration permits it.

A "no" with options usually lands better than a "yes" that doesn't happen.

Prepare a smooth arrival

A guest tired from traveling doesn't want to scroll through old messages to figure out how to get in. Arrival instructions need to be short, complete and easy to find.

What the instructions should include

Send a message one or two days before with the essentials: the exact address and a landmark, how to reach the door, how keys or the access code are handed over, registration at the gate if the community requires it, the wifi name and password and an emergency number. If parking is assigned, say which spot. For help writing that message and the others during a stay, see our guest message templates.

An equally clear checkout

Checkout needs instructions too. Say what you expect: leave the keys in a specific place, take out the trash, turn off the air conditioning and close the windows. Ask only for what's reasonable. Don't expect the guest to wash sheets or mop the floor; that's your cleaner's job. A friendly reminder the night before checkout prevents delays without sounding pushy. When checkout is clear, the next arrival starts on time.

Set your times on SimpleStay

In the SimpleStay listing editor you set the check-in time and the check-out time, and you can turn on early check-in and late checkout options. Guests see those times on the listing page before booking, so nobody is surprised on arrival.

Address, messages and calendar

Before booking, the guest sees only the approximate area on the map. After the booking is confirmed, they see the exact address. Once the booking exists, the real-time Inbox opens, where you can send arrival instructions and confirm any time change in writing. If you need a day off between guests for maintenance, block it on the Availability page.

If someone else welcomes your guests

If you live abroad or can't be at every arrival, invite a co-host by email for that property. From their Co-Host dashboard they can see bookings, reply to messages and adjust availability, but they can't publish, handle billing or change your payouts. That way the person handing over the keys has the same information you do.

Clear times, better stays

Check-in and checkout are the guest's first and last memories of the stay. With times based on your real cleaning schedule, a clear approach to early arrival and late checkout and well-ordered instructions, each stay starts and ends without stress. No schedule guarantees everything goes perfectly, but it reduces surprises.

When your times are ready, publish your listing on SimpleStay. Every new listing gets a free trial of 30 days, or 7 days for listings located in the United States. After that it's US$50 a month per property, with 0% SimpleStay commission. Stripe processing, bank fees, currency conversion and taxes may apply separately.

List your property with a free trial

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good check-in and check-out time for a vacation rental?

One that gives you enough time to clean and prepare the property between guests, with a buffer for the unexpected. Measure how long your cleaning takes and set the times from that number.

Should I offer early check-in?

Offer it when the calendar and the cleaning allow it. Check whether anyone leaves that day, confirm with your cleaner and put the exact new time in writing.

What do I do if I can't offer late checkout?

Offer an alternative, such as storing luggage while the property is prepared or sending a message as soon as it's ready. Explain the reason kindly and early.

When does the guest see the exact address on SimpleStay?

Before booking, the guest sees only the approximate area on the map. After the booking is confirmed, they can see the exact address.

Where do I set my check-in and check-out times on SimpleStay?

In the listing editor. There you set the check-in and check-out times and turn on early check-in and late checkout options, which guests see on your listing before booking.