Your hotel room might be the perfect spot to entertain your family and friends during your vacation, but what if you want to have other people stay over while you’re out? Can you have visitors in hotel rooms? Do hotels allow people to visit you in your room overnight? 

This article will help clear up the confusion about overnight guests at hotels.

Do hotels allow overnight guests?

When you’re staying at a hotel, it’s nice to be able to bring someone with you or spend time with someone after a long day of traveling. 

But if you can’t get your family along for the trip, or want to bring someone special along, should you ask if it’s okay first? And what are hotels really going to think about it? 

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to overnight guests, some hotels may allow them while others may not. 

Before you start planning that sleepover, here’s what you need to know about having visitors in hotel rooms.

Even when you’re staying at a hotel, there are some things you need to remember if you plan on bringing someone else with you. 

Can they stay in your room if they don’t have their own? Will they be able to sleep over without being charged extra fees or facing any problems at check-out time? The answers to these questions will vary by hotel and also by guest, so before you bring someone along, find out how your hotel really feels about overnight guests.

If you have plans to spend time with someone special, it’s always a good idea to talk to hotel staff before your visit. 

If they see you as a responsible guest, they’ll likely see nothing wrong with allowing your friend or family member to spend time with you while you’re away from home.

Not all hotels will allow overnight guests, even when it’s a family member or close friend. 

Some hotels are set up to allow children to stay with their parents, but if you’re bringing an adult friend along, they may have other ideas. 

Before you book your hotel and make plans to spend time with someone special, talk to them about it first, so you can avoid any confusion or surprises.

If you’re traveling with an adult friend or relative, you may want to consider staying at a hotel that allows overnight guests. 

When your travel companion is also an adult, there’s really no reason why they can’t spend time with you when you stay at a hotel and for many hotels. 

It’s allowed as long as your guest doesn’t have their own room and won’t need any services beyond those offered by housekeeping.

Your hotel is also likely to be able to accommodate your travel companion if you’re both adults. 

If you aren’t sharing a room, and they don’t need any special services beyond what housekeeping can provide, then you won’t have any problems having someone spend time with you while you stay at a hotel.

Do hotels allow extended-stay guests?

Some hotel chains, allow guests to have visitors for a few hours or overnight. 

However, it’s always best to check with your hotel management before expecting a guest. 

Don’t be surprised if you get turned down. Some hotels only allow registered guests to have friends and family visit their rooms. The housekeeping staff is often needed immediately after checking out, so making exceptions isn’t an option. 

Other hotels may make special arrangements for guests who are staying long-term, but those rules vary by property. 

Asking about your specific situation will help you determine whether extended-stay visits are allowed at your hotel of choice. If they aren’t, consider booking a room at one that does allow them.

Extended stay hotels are designed for people who need to be close to their destination, but don’t necessarily want to live there. 

Families traveling with kids typically choose extended stay hotels, as they usually include kitchenettes and more space than a traditional hotel room. If you want friends or family members to be able to visit your room when you stay at an extended stay property, check ahead of time whether that option is available.

If you find yourself staying at a hotel that doesn’t allow extended stay guests, ask to talk to a manager. 

Some hotels will make exceptions on a case-by-case basis. 

However, hotels that don’t have established policies surrounding extended stay guests may have trouble accommodating your request or may be hesitant to let your friend or family member visit your room. 

If they aren’t willing to give special permission for a specific guest, ask them what their process is for extending stays.

If you are staying at an extended stay hotel with friends or family and want to bring them back to your room for a short visit, there’s no need to check beforehand. Just go up and knock on their door.

Will the hotel charge more for extra guests?

If you’re traveling with a significant other or family member, ask if there is an extra fee for guests. While many hotels charge extra for additional guests, some will waive that fee for children under 18 years old. 

If you’re bringing pets on your trip, call and ask about charges for them before booking a room as well. Some hotels may not allow pets at all, while others may make exceptions.

Some hotels have a limit on how many people can stay in one room. If you’re planning to have visitors, it’s a good idea to find out if that limit applies to you as well. 

Most hotels don’t charge more for an extra person staying in your room, so make sure you know what limits apply before you book additional guests.

Most hotels will allow children to stay with their parents for free. Some may even require that a child under 18 years old stays with his or her parents at all times. If you plan to check into a hotel with your kids, call ahead and find out if there are any limitations on how many children can stay in one room.

Pets have their own set of rules when it comes to hotels. Many hotels charge extra for bringing pets on your trip, and that fee can be as much as $100 or more per night. If you’re traveling with a pet, call ahead and ask about any charges before booking a room. 

If you’re traveling with children, or pets, and you have visitors, it’s a good idea to ask about extra fees before booking a room. While most hotels don’t charge for extra guests or for having your kids stay with you, it never hurts to ask. 

Hotel policies vary by brand and location, so be sure to call ahead and verify all charges before booking your hotel room.

If you’re traveling with a significant other or bringing along a friend, hotel prices may increase. Whether you’re adding an extra guest to your room or moving up to a larger suite, it’s important to find out if there is an additional cost before booking your trip. 

Most hotels charge extra for having an extra person stay in your room, so be sure to call ahead and verify those charges before booking a hotel. 

Can you have a guest after booking for one person?

Often, hotels do allow additional people to stay in your room if you let them know ahead of time. However, they might charge you extra and/or split your bed. Hotels can also be pretty strict about how many visitors you have, but rules vary by hotel and are almost always posted somewhere on their website. 

If that’s not enough, hotels can enforce rules by calling housekeeping or security staff upon detecting a guest who isn’t registered under your name. Of course, there are ways around all of these restrictions, if you really want to have someone over after booking for one person, check out our list of tips for sneaking friends into hotels. 

But most people don’t need to worry about these issues, just be honest when booking and make sure it says extra guests allowed when it counts. 

How long can you stay at a hotel before checking out?

There are no hard and fast rules here, but most major chains have policies that require checkout within 24 hours of arrival. In general, it’s polite to give 24 hours notice before checking out early, but feel free to check with management if you think you deserve an exception. 

Aside from sleeping, drinking, and watching TV, there are lots of things you can do while staying at a hotel. 

What are hotel’s policies regarding having overnight guests?

Although most hotels make it clear that guests are not allowed to have visitors over, many do not list their policies on their website. 

Instead, you can call and ask about overnight guests. However, if you want a sure bet that you’ll be able to stay with your significant other, it might be better to just book two rooms. In fact, you might even get a discount for doing so! 

Some hotel chains also offer suites or separate sleeping quarters where couples can enjoy some privacy. 

It never hurts to ask, you may find yourself saving money as well as getting some extra romance out of your trip. 

If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional hotels, Airbnb is another option worth considering. 

The online service allows users to rent private homes from locals around the world and has more than 1 million listings worldwide. Airbnb is especially great for families because hosts will often provide cribs, strollers, toys, and high chairs. 

And since each listing is unique there are endless opportunities to explore new neighborhoods without breaking your budget. Just make sure to read all of your host’s rules before booking. 

Most require that you cancel at least 24 hours in advance if you need to reschedule or cancel your reservation. 

Depending on how far in advance you book, you could lose part of your deposit if you don’t follow these guidelines. 

And when it comes to having overnight guests, Airbnb doesn’t allow it unless specified by your host. 

Of course, Airbnb isn’t for everyone. Many people love staying at home-like accommodations when they travel and prefer having access to all of their things throughout their stay instead of leaving them behind while traveling from place to place like typical vacationers would do. 

But for those who love to immerse themselves in different cultures and lifestyles, Airbnb provides a one-of-a-kind experience unlike any other. 

The best part is that you won’t break your bank account while doing so. With prices starting at less than $50 per night, Airbnb offers travelers an affordable alternative to expensive hotels. 

So whether you’re traveling solo or bringing along your family, consider using Airbnb next time you book a vacation. Your wallet will thank you later!

What happens if I exceed my hotel limit?

Many hotels have maximum capacity for their rooms, or a limit on how many people can stay there. 

Even if you haven’t reached your personal room-occupancy limit, it’s important to find out what your occupancy limit is for your hotel room. 

A number of hotels will charge an additional fee per person who stays past that amount. To avoid incurring these extra charges, make sure you check with hotel staff about limits and fees associated with exceeding them before your reservation ends. 

If they don’t give you a clear answer, ask again when you arrive at your hotel, so you aren’t surprised by any unexpected charges.

Some hotels will allow two adults plus one child up to 12 years old, while others may only allow two adults plus no children at all. 

Check with the front desk upon arrival for details specific to your reservation. If you’re traveling with a group of friends or family members and want to stay together, make sure you ask about any restrictions before booking your rooms. 

If you don’t ask about occupancy limits when you book your rooms, be sure to do so when you arrive at check-in, so there are no surprises later on. 

As an added precaution, get it in writing from hotel staff that everyone staying with you is allowed to stay overnight. 

Otherwise, if anyone tries to sneak someone into your room after hours without hotel staff knowing about it, they could end up getting charged extra fees for doing so. 

This could result in serious arguments between your friends or family members, or even with hotel staff. So keep things amicable by making sure everyone knows what their limit is ahead of time.

Contrary to popular belief, guests can typically have as many people as they like to spend time in their room during their stay, as long as those people aren’t paying guests who occupy another room at the same time. 

If you want to have friends or family over for a few hours but don’t want them staying overnight, it might be best to book a suite with an extra bedroom, so everyone has somewhere to sleep if they get tired or need a place to crash after a night out on the town. 

What to consider before inviting guests?

Making a reservation at a hotel can be quite easy. The process can take minutes, especially when using a travel website or app. 

But deciding to have guests visit you in your room, and what to do if they do is another matter entirely. 

There are several things to consider before inviting people into your room, including how many people will be visiting and whether there’s enough space for them. 

If you decide that it’s OK for guests to stay with you, make sure you know whether your hotel allows overnight visitors and whether there are any restrictions on guest age or the number of people allowed per room. 

It might also be worth checking out some hotels that allow pets. After all, not everyone is comfortable staying in a place where animals aren’t welcome. 

Also, be aware that smoking isn’t permitted in most rooms or within 25 feet of entrances. Make sure you know which spaces are smoke-free so you don’t accidentally violate hotel policy. 

Finally, think about other amenities available at your hotel (such as Wi-Fi) and see if they meet your needs before making a reservation. 

Just because something was advertised as part of an upgraded package doesn’t mean it will work for you during your stay. 

For example, maybe you need more bandwidth than is offered by your hotel. In that case, ask for a different room or consider switching hotels altogether.

The best way to keep track of all these considerations are mentioned here. 

Before booking a hotel room, write down everything you want from your stay and compare it against every feature listed online. That way, nothing will slip through the list! 

For example, if you want to use Wi-Fi but don’t need free breakfast or free parking, those extras won’t be deal breakers for you when choosing a hotel. 

If there are any features that aren’t offered by your top picks, add them as an option, so they don’t deter you from making a reservation at one of your top choices. 

Then, once you book a room, check back with your list to make sure you got what you wanted, and consider leaving feedback on travel websites such as TripAdvisor or Yelp so other travelers can see what amenities each hotel offers. 

And if anything goes wrong during your stay, check back with your list before contacting staff, chances are, whatever is missing was already something you didn’t care about anyway.

Extended stays and hotels tips

If you’re planning a stay at a hotel that will take longer than one night, you may be wondering if having visitors to your room is allowed. 

It really depends on each individual property and their policies, but most hotels should let you know if extended stays are allowed before you check in. 

Some properties may even offer packages for long-term guests or residents who want to bring along friends or family members for visits. 

However, if you plan on hosting an event or party of any kind while staying at a hotel, it’s best to contact them ahead of time, so they can make sure everything goes smoothly during your visit. 

That way, everyone can have a good time without interruptions from staff or other guests. Plus, some hotels might require extra fees or deposits if you’ll be bringing people with you. 

In addition to checking with your specific hotel, it’s also important to keep in mind that state laws vary when it comes to overnight guests. 

For example, some states allow more than two people per room while others don’t allow anyone besides registered occupants inside overnight. 

And even though many places won’t ask you to show proof of age if you want to host a large group, it’s still up to each property whether they will accept those guests as well. 

As always, I recommend reaching out directly to your chosen hotel before booking or arriving with additional guests, just like I did here! 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Why do hotels ask how many guests?

Hotels have strict fire codes, and for good reason: guests’ safety is of utmost importance. Each room must have a maximum occupancy set by local fire laws, so you need to let your hotel know how many people will be staying with you. If there are too many people or not enough beds, they may deny your reservation.

Can visitors come to your hotel room?

In the US, most hotels charge double occupancy. That means the rate is for two. So, if you are in a hotel alone, you can bring someone extra with you and there will not be any additional charge for that.

Wrapping things up

So, can you have visitors in hotel rooms? Technically, hotel guests aren’t supposed to have guests, but many hotels have a policy of not kicking people out for having visitors. 

If you decide to break hotel rules and have someone stay with you, it’s polite to make sure your room is tidy and quiet when you return from your day at work. Additionally, make sure to inform your hotel staff that they are staying with you.