What do you do on check-out day?

airport check-ins
Oh check-out day. When planning a vacation, most of us don't plan for check-out day. What time is check-out? What time does our flight leave on the last day? What are we doing in between? If we don't plan for it, that last day can be a bit of a downer (and not just because we're heading back home and to reality).

Most flights back to Canada (and some US mainland flights) are red-eye flights, meaning they leave between 9 and 11pm.

Standard condo check-out time is at 11am, and most days our cleaning and sometimes maintenance staff is scheduled to arrive at 11am to prepare the condo for the next guest.

So what do you do about that 'magical' 10-12 hour window where you are homeless with no place to put your luggage? Maybe you are lucky enough to have a rental car with a large trunk, then your luggage is at least not visible to the casual observer (doubtful if you have a convertible and definitely not if you have a jeep). Generally it is not a good idea to keep any valuables in your car though. It just seems to be asking for trouble.

Is there a place you can store your luggage? Not really. I have read on Tripadvisor forums about people wanting to rent a locker at a self-storage place for the day, but I don't know if anyone has actually done it or how it worked. You can't leave it at the condo as there is often another guest checking in that afternoon. The front desk on property does not have storage facilities (nor insurance) to hold onto guests' luggage. I am not aware of any luggage storage at Kahului airport (OGG).

You may be able to get late check-out, but this really depends on the condo's rental schedule, the cleaner's schedule, the maintenance schedule etc. And as an owner I won't commit to late check-out until a few days prior to your check-out when I have a better handle on all the scheduling.

The best bet (and this is what we always did prior to moving to Maui) is to rent the condo for an extra night. So if your flight leaves Monday night, book the condo til Tuesday. Yes, I get it, it's an extra cost. But look at the benefits:

Can you book that extra night at half price since you're not staying overnight? Unfortunately no. Our cleaner doesn't do night cleans, so she won't be able to clean until the next morning.

What are some trip ideas for those who don't book an extra night? Well, some guests go for an upcountry drive, up Haleakala (bonus, it's cooler up there, so those mainland clothes won't feel so hot). You could spend a few hours at the Maui Ocean Center (bonus, it's air-conditioned). Even if you've checked out, you can still use the condo's pool (and the public/guest-use bathrooms) for the rest of the day. 

What do you do on your last day? I'd love to hear!

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