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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
JudgeRinderonTinder · 27/04/2023 20:12

See how much it is for late checkout so you can still use your room. It might be worth it. Failing that just leave your luggage in the luggage store and go and enjoy the last day of your holiday out and about.

LimitIsUp · 27/04/2023 20:14

I guess it's workable but personally I hate that. If I am flying home that day even if it's the evening, it's literally the only thing I can think of. Holiday mode is switched off and going home mode is switched on. People are different though

fruitbrewhaha · 27/04/2023 20:15

I always get the latest flight, and have kids.

You get a whole day to go and do something. Is the airport in an interesting town? Have a wonder around, a nice lunch, then head over to the airport

LuckySantangelo35 · 27/04/2023 20:17

MyLifeIsFullOfLemons · 27/04/2023 19:57

I wouldn’t like to do this.
I couldn’t spend all that time sunbathing as I’d be hot, covered in lotion & possibly sweaty & wouldn’t want to get on a flight like that. I also would find it exhausting if I was sitting just waiting for hours to go to the airport.
People do do it though. Some hotels let you pay to store your luggage & if there are poolside showers/changing rooms it gives you extra time by the pool I suppose.

@MyLifeIsFullOfLemons

Lol whats exhausting about laying in the sun chilling til It’s time to go home?!

Whammyyammy · 27/04/2023 20:17

If we ever had a later departure we would book a hire car for the last day, and check out after breakfast and go exploring and drop the car at the airport.

wrinkleintime · 27/04/2023 20:18

Well you can do it but there's a reason that flights after 9pm are cheap, because they're really inconvenient.

LimitIsUp · 27/04/2023 20:19

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

QuickNameChangeForMeToday · 27/04/2023 20:22

We booked a last minute trip years ago and the flight out was great (9.30am) but 9.30pm on the way home 🙄.

We had breakfast, checked our luggage into the storage room then took a taxi into a nearby town we hadn’t explored. We had a walk, coffee, shopping then a late lunch. Taxi back, grabbed our luggage and had a coffee at the bar. At 5.45/6pm our transfer picked us up for the airport.

Dibbydoos · 27/04/2023 20:23

Leave your luggage at the hotel in a secure area and go out for the day or use the on site facilities.

This is why I love my timeshare, they are 100% set up for this - use the pools, bar and eateries. They have showers for you to use and store your luggage safely.

ChannelyourinnerElsa · 27/04/2023 20:27

I love a late flight- it’s a whole extra day on holiday!

Check out, leave your luggage at the hotel. Then pool/lunch/walk/ whatever you normally do to holiday. Back to hotel and shower in the pool showers, or ask if there’s a designated room, then off to airport!

CMOTDibbler · 27/04/2023 20:30

If you ask nicely, even if hotel pools/ gyms are key card locked they will do you an access key when you check out so you can use the facilities. I frequently do this with long haul trips where I need to check out at 1 but not be at the airport till 6 so I can go and do whatever with my clothes and toiletries in my bag plus a thin towel, come back and shower, change, then pick up my bag and go

Whataretheodds · 27/04/2023 20:31

I've never known a hotel prevent you using the pool etc for the rest of the day until your flight departs. May be slightly different if it's AI? Re drinks and food after checkout.

For city breaks we either leave luggage at accommodation or find a stasher at the last place we want to be before heading to the airport/train

Phos · 27/04/2023 20:47

We've done this before pre-kids. We just left cases at the hotel, went off to do our thing and flew back at night. We were in Barcelona and decided our thing was to go to the beach even though we couldn't have a proper shower, we just used the ones there to get some of the salt and sand off, threw the wet stuff into a carrier bag at the top of the case and got on the plane looking like two absolute frights. Didn't care, we'd had a lovely time.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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:
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

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.