Checking into your hotel — How hard could it be? It’s not as straightforward as you might think. These are some of the biggest mistakes you might be making at hotel check-in (or check-out).

If you’ve been on your fair share of business trips, then you likely have a routine. Maybe you arrive in your destination and head straight to a meeting or head straight to the hotel, check in and then go to your room to shower.

Whatever your routine may be, though, one thing is always the same. You have to check in to your hotel at some point. That said, this might be one of the more mundane parts of your routine. You could practically do it with your eyes closed. You show up, give them your name, and provide an ID and credit card. You collect your room key, and then you’re on your way.

However, could you be making some serious mistakes during hotel check in? Mistakes that may be costing your company money or even making your stay less enjoyable and convenient?

Here are six of the biggest mistakes to avoid during hotel check-in and hotel check-out.

1. Not Asking About the Hotel’s Fees

Ideally, you’d ask about hotel fees at check-in. Perhaps there’s a resort fee. Sometimes, these fees may not be listed or just not easily noticeable at the time of booking. If so, what does that resort fee get you? Is it optional? Can it be waived? (It sometimes can!)

Maybe there’s a fee to use the WiFi that you didn’t know about. Maybe there’s a fee for valet parking, so you’d rather just park yourself.

Whatever the case may be, it’s smart to know about the hotel’s fees ahead of time. Then, you can plan accordingly. Again, you may also want to ask for certain fees to be waived, as there’s often no harm in asking.

If you forget to ask about the fees at hotel check-in, definitely do so during check-out, when you receive your receipt. At that time, you can inquire about any fees that you feel are not warranted.

2. Not Asking For Extra Perks

You never know what you can get just by asking for it nicely — especially if you frequently stay at the same hotel, in the same destination, over and over again. The same goes for if you’re a loyalty member with a certain hotel brand and have a certain level of status within that loyalty program.

Consider asking for early check-in or late check-out. In some cases, you may naturally get those perks as a loyalty program member.

You might also ask for a room upgrade, if available. Sometimes, you can get these upgrades for free, but most often they’ll come with a minimal cost. Occasionally, that minimal cost will be well worth it (so long as you’re staying within the confines of your company’s travel policy).

3. Not Checking In Online

Many major hotel brands now allow you to bypass the traditional hotel check-in desk. You can check in right on your phone via an app. Doing so can ensure you have access to your room as quickly as possible. It can save you valuable time during your trip, particularly if you’re staying at a busy hotel with frequent lines at the check-in desk.

Plus, often, these hotel apps come with other features beyond just allowing you to check in, that will make your stay more convenient. For example, the Hilton Honors app allows you to check in, choose your guestroom, unlock your door and then check out.

4. Not Asking for a Specific Room Type

If you’re not able to pick a specific guestroom via the hotel’s app, you may want to ask the front desk at check-in, if you can have a specific room type. This isn’t just about getting a king bed or two doubles, or a garden view versus an ocean view.

Instead, you might want a room that’s further away from certain areas of the hotel, like a loud restaurant. Or, you might want a room with north-facing windows if you’re worried about sunlight seeping into the room (because hotels’ so-called “blackout curtains” can often be far from it).

5. Not Calling Ahead If You’ll Be Arriving Late

If you know that you’ll be arriving at the hotel much later than the normal check-in window, consider giving the hotel a call and letting them know. Otherwise, you could find that you arrive at your hotel, late at night or in the wee hours of the early morning, only to discover the hotel has marked you as a no-show and given your room away.

Yes, you paid for the room. Logic would reason that it should be yours whether or not you arrive. Unfortunately, that’s not how the hotel business always works.

6. Not Checking the Room Right Away

Whether you’ve checked in at the hotel’s front desk or via the hotel’s app, don’t make the hotel check in mistake of not checking your guestroom right away. If you notice any issues that need to be resolved, addressing them immediately will help ensure a quick fix or that the hotel can move you to another room ASAP.

Beyond ensuring you actually have the right room type, in the requested location, also double check that everything in the room is in working order, that both your room keys work and that all the in-room amenities are available.

Need More Business Travel Tips and Tricks?

Check out the JTB Business Travel Waypoint blog for more quick and handy guides. We’re covering every element of the Business Travel Experience, from how to get sleep during a long plane ride to how to deal with a frustrating travel delay.