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Forget bellhops and key drops — one TikTok traveler says the fastest way to check out of your hotel is to… not check out at all.
In a viral clip uploaded last month, the woman films herself strutting out of her hotel without so much as a nod to the front desk.
“For older generations: This is how you check out of a hotel. You just walk out,” the video read.“The front desk doesn’t need you to tell them you’re checking out and they don’t need you to hand them your room key,” she doubled down in the caption.
But her “ghost exit” hack didn’t exactly get a standing ovation in the comment section.“Younger generations — this is how you leave if you don’t want to be kind and maybe give someone else the early check-in they really need,” one critic clapped back.One other noted, “No, but as a former housekeeper, it makes our jobs a lot easier if you’re polite and let someone know.”An additional user replied, “you do you .. I’m not afraid of a minor social interaction.”
“Travel for work. Hundreds of hotels. I always check out at the desk… Key, receipt, & it’s the right thing to do,” someone else insisted.Another piled on: “Checking out isn’t an old person thing, it’s empathetic to the staff.”
Travel agent Shay Martin told TODAY.com in a recent interview that technically, “there’s nothing stopping you from leaving a hotel or resort without checking out.”
While walking out won’t land you on a hospitality no-fly list, Martin says it doesn’t mean you should.
“Checking out at the desk is a courtesy to future guests and hotel staff, but it is only beneficial if there are guests or staff available to take advantage of your courtesy,” Martin explained.
And there’s another perk: avoiding a nasty billing surprise. Stopping by the desk gives guests a chance to iron out any mini-bar “mysteries” before the charges hit their card.
And this isn’t the first time travel etiquette has ruffled feathers.
As previously reported by The New York Post, experts have warned that overpacking — especially hauling giant suitcases through ancient cobblestone streets — is a rookie mistake that irritates locals, delights pickpockets, and leaves tourists sweaty, sore, and seriously regretting their packing choices.
So check out if you want — experts say — just don’t check your manners at the door.
