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Original poster

To book a 9pm return flight from holiday?

63 replies

Brieandme · 27/04/2023 19:53

Sorry this is probably a stupid question, but please bear with me - I have only flown a handful of times!

Going on holiday, flights and accommodation will be booked separately. For the dates we want to go, the only reasonably priced option for a return flight is at 9.30 at night. The hotel check out is 11am, and we'll be approx an hour and a half from the airport. There isn't tonnes to do near the hotel, it's not a resort as such but it's mainly tourist accommodation.
No kids with us.

Is this a reasonable plan or will this be a PITA? What do people tend to do if there's a big gap between hotel check out and return flights? I'm not sure if this is a usual part of travelling or if I'm just really bad at planning! The flights there we've got a few options, but the more convenient returns are literally double the price. Our return date is limited by what annual leave we've got (have to fit in with other people's booked holiday) so isn't easy to change.

OP posts:
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LuckySantangelo35 · 30/04/2023 12:55

LimitIsUp · 27/04/2023 20:19

Ah @LuckySantangelo35 you would do well to appreciate that everyone is different

@LimitIsUp

i understand and accept that. I am allowed to wonder why for some people a days chilling out and sunbathing would be experienced as exhausting. Me asking that is hardly some big contentious question, I am just curious.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 28/04/2023 09:35

Without kids should be absolutely fine.

Hotel will almost certainly store bags for you during that final day. If the worst comes to the worst without kids you can just wait about anyway.

CharlotteDoyle · 28/04/2023 09:35

Can you spring for an additional night at the hotel so that you can enjoy the room and all facilities for that whole day and then pack/checkout at your leisure in the evening just before your flight? I'd consider that approach, if taking a late night flight.

TheNoodlesIncident · 28/04/2023 09:32

Tbh OP that sounds a lot nicer than having to get up early, finish off the packing you started the night before, check the rooms are cleared and you haven't forgotten to pack anything, then get ready to go to the airport and have a unsatisfactory item bought at the airport cafe for lunch.

I would much rather be able to pack up, store the luggage then go out and have a lovely lunch followed by a stroll around or browse in the shops, or sit by the pool reading and sipping a cool drink. We usually have a hire car so could extend that for an extra day rather than final use for airport transfer in the morning. 🤔Now thinking I would love this!

gannett · 28/04/2023 09:08

Late flights are great. An extra day of holiday - most importantly an extra meal, so DP and I always try to find a great last place for lunch. Hotels will store your luggage for you. If we're in an Airbnb most cities will have convenient left luggage lockers at railway stations.

I wouldn't do pool/beach stuff ahead of a late flight unless I had a guaranteed place to shower before I got the flight though.

HyuNis · 28/04/2023 08:36

We booked an extra night at the hotel which means we have it all day and can have a full last day at the beach, have dinner and then leave for the airport later.

We've done this before too. Had a very late flight so didn't need to be at airport until after 9pm. Just booked an extra night but checked out in the evening after having a full day out, dinner, showered and changed.

maddiemookins16mum · 28/04/2023 08:30

If you are self packaging, book the hotel one night longer so basically you have the room until you leave.

Original poster
Brieandme · 27/04/2023 21:55

@Prettypaisleyslippers how much money do you spend on lunch and a walk for two adults??

For those suggesting it's better value to get an earlier flight, the only other flight open is 6pm, or very early in the morning. The latter isn't convenient enough to make that spend worthwhile, and the former would significantly cut short our holiday, as well as costing more.

I totally understand not wanting to do this with kids, but I like the idea of framing it as a relaxed day to get the most out of the holiday, rather than a day of waiting around & traveling which is what I was seeing it as at first.

OP posts:
strangerperson · 27/04/2023 21:46

We had a similar flight time and asked if we could extend the room and it cost us 40 euros to extend the room until 6pm.

watchthebloodycat · 27/04/2023 21:44

We had something similar when we went to a resort in Rhodes. Check out was late morning and our flight was in the evening. We had a hire car and checked out Rhodes old town. Then we went to a resort nearby the airport and had a lovely dinner and went for one last swim in the sea before putting out wet swim clothes into a plastic bag, putting them into the suitcase then going on to get our flight home.

Was a beautiful way to spend our last day.

Now we have children and this sounds like a logistical nightmare 😅

Oblomov23 · 27/04/2023 21:39

It's fine. I've never cared what time flights were. I like to fly out the earliest possible and come back the latest possible.

Takoneko · 27/04/2023 21:34

I think it’s fine.

I’m considering a 2.30 am flight after a check out at 11am the previous day.

I didn’t even know flights departed at that sort of time, but it’s looking like it may be the best option we have. I was thinking we’d leave our bags at the hotel and go out for the day. Hopefully they won’t mind us picking them up again fairly late before heading to the airport late evening.

Prettypaisleyslippers · 27/04/2023 21:27

You might end up spending so much money trying to entertain yourselves that an earlier flight might may work out best

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 27/04/2023 21:18

Have you thought about coming home on the late flight the night before? We have done this occasionally. You get the whole day, then shower and change in the comfort of your hotel, have dinner then go to the airport, fly home and sleep in your own bed. It’s much nicer than hanging around.

Blondeshavemorefun · 27/04/2023 21:16

Most hotels have a shower room. You book it in 15/30min slots

Luggage stays usually in a locked room

I did this lots with first dh ans no kids

Original poster
Brieandme · 27/04/2023 21:13

Thanks all, I'm definitely going to find about re late check out. I'm not much of a sunbather, but give me a nice view and a good book and I'm happy... So as long as we can still use the hotel in some capacity it'll be fine. Really appreciate the advice!

OP posts:
itsgettingweird · 27/04/2023 21:10

Plump82 · 27/04/2023 19:59

We booked an extra night at the hotel which means we have it all day and can have a full last day at the beach, have dinner and then leave for the airport later.

That's a good idea as you're booking flights and hotel separately.

itsgettingweird · 27/04/2023 21:09

Agree with others. Check the availability of luggage rooms, showers etc in hotel and stay there for the day.

For a 9.30pm flight you'll need to aim to be at airport for 7. So leaving resort 5/5.30pm.

Check out, have wander into town. Lunch.

Then either a last minute swim and shower or enjoy town.

Alwayswonderedwhy · 27/04/2023 21:07

I always try and fly out really early and come back late to get the extra time on holiday.
I leave my luggage with the hotel or in luggage locker although I've no idea if they're a thing at resorts. I only really go to cities.

Lcb123 · 27/04/2023 21:05

Yes we do this often. Sometimes we pay for late check out. Otherwise most hotels will store your luggage whilst you go out in the day

UndercoverCop · 27/04/2023 21:01

I wouldn't with DS, but we have before , flew long haul, had a lovely relaxing day by the pool hotel allowed us to store our luggage and use a room to shower/change, had dinner drove to the airport for the flight, slept all night woke up had breakfast, landed, drove home. It felt like we hadn't lost any time travelling because we slept on the flight when we would've been sleeping at home or in a hotel.

Candymay · 27/04/2023 20:59

I always try to get the latest flight. I like to wring every last second out of a holiday! Hotels very used to keeping luggage for you.

Barleysugar86 · 27/04/2023 20:57

I always try for the late flights as I get an extra day of holiday! We had a lovely last day using the hotel facilities in turkey, including the all inclusive after checking out. Left luggage rooms are standard and usually free.

chocolatehoovering · 27/04/2023 20:55

It's fine. The hotel will most likely let you store your luggage there especially as you are booking a transfer with them.
The flight is at 9.30, so you need to be at the airport at 7.30pm at the latest, say 7pm to be safe. The hotel is 1.5 hours away so that means the shuttle needs to be booked for 5.30pm. Probably 5pm is better.
That leaves 6 hours to kill.
Check out at 11. Go for a wander somewhere. Have lunch at 12.30 or so. Take your time having lunch. Around 2 pm or so go for another beach or cliff walk. Have a coffee somewhere. Then head back to the hotel and get the shuttle.
It's not as much time as you think really.

LIZS · 27/04/2023 20:50

We have in past had access to a room for storing luggage and to change or put luggage in a store room and changed in pool changing room or toilets having spent the day by the pool or in the resort.