Check in by 5.30pm?!

[Greatbritish]

I've got a Friday night room booking in a "hotel and bistro" by the sea. I want a weekend to kick back and relax.

Check in is open between 2pm-5.30pm.

I live a 90min drive away. I finish work at 5pm.

The "hotel and bistro" have no facilities whatsoever to leave my keys in a lockbox for collection or with a pub/bar next door to/opposite them.

AIBU to expect a hotel by the sea in a tourist destination to be open for check in's past the end of the working day?

This is why I have returned to using hotels rather than apartments. Strong memories of waiting for an hour in 35 degree heat outside an apartment in France because the woman with the keys had "decided to go for a swim".

It's actually called "The xxx hotel and bistro" though @Ginmonkeyagain. I thought there would be a properly manned check in desk for tourists like me arriving after their working day!

Ha ha! I think your expectations were entirely reasonable!