One special feature of staying at a Hilton hotel is the ability to do online check in before you arrive with the Hilton Honors app. Did you know you can also choose your own room location when you check-in with the app, too?
In this post I’ll walk you through how the online check in process works and what to expect when you use the app to select your room.
I often use my Hilton Points + Money hack to find the cheapest stays – learn how to stretch your Hilton points in this post!
How To Do Hilton Online Check In
At 6 am the day before you arrive for your stay you can begin the Hilton online check in process in the Hilton Honors app or online at the Hilton site.
You will need to login with your Hilton Honors account information to see your stay. I assume this only works with stays booked through Hilton (you can read all about how I used points to stay for free in this post).
You’ll enter your estimated arrival time when you check-in. Though check-in wasn’t until 4 pm, our room was ready closer to 1 pm which was fantastic!
We were allowed an early check in and got into our room as soon it was ready (at no charge).
How To Choose Your Own Room
Next you’ll be given a pre-assigned room, which you can choose to keep or change.
We wanted to be on a lower floor and close to the pool, so I opted to pick another room.
You’ll be able to see how many rooms are available on each floor and select a floor to see the room locations.
Since we wanted a room that overlooked the pool (instead of the parking lot), I consulted a Google Earth map of the hotel to determine which side faced the pool. That really helped me pick the room with the best view!
We loved our room location and I was glad I spent a few minutes doing Hilton online check in and selecting our room. I would NOT have liked to be on one of the top floors of this huge hotel!
I found that I was NOT able to change my room selection once I had committed to it in the app, so I would suggest doing all of your research ahead of time.
I hope this helps anyone wondering how to do Hilton online check in and choose your own room in the Hilton Honors app.
Since I am a frequent traveler to Disney World, I would love to see Disney get on board with this type of technology. How cool would it be to choose your room before your arrive?
Would you like the ability to select your room before your hotel stays? Please leave a comment below and let us know what you think!
Brandon Rumker
Wednesday 17th of March 2021
Thanks for the easy to follow explanation Leah. Do you know if the checkin time is 6am Eastern time or 6am for the time zone the hotel is located in? Thanks!
Leah
Sunday 21st of March 2021
Good question! I would guess 6 am in the time zone the hotel is located in, but I can't confirm that.
Mirna
Friday 15th of January 2021
When exactly did it charge your card for the room, and if I am 17, but my brother who is 23 paid for the room, but I got there before him, they wouldn't ID me?
Tom
Friday 12th of February 2021
As long as you request a digital key you can go straight to the room. The app will let you know your room is ready and charge the room and any deposits.
Leah
Saturday 16th of January 2021
Hi Mirna! I use Hilton Honors points for my stays so those get deducted from my account when I book. I'm not sure when your card would get charged. You can avoid having to visit the desk by checking in with the Hilton honors app. You can get notifications when your room is ready and go straight there. You can open the door with your phone. If your borhter bookd the room just have him share his login details with you so you can get into the room as soon as it is ready. I do this often and it works fine.
J
Wednesday 6th of January 2021
Hello! So do you have to show ID or anything or is it literally contactless check in?
Leah
Wednesday 13th of January 2021
No ID - it is completely contactless.
Matthew
Saturday 18th of January 2020
Will they let you know if your room Is ready earlier or do you have to call and ask?
Leah
Sunday 19th of January 2020
They asked for my cell number and sent me a text when my room was ready. But this might not be standard practice at all Hilton hotels so your mileage may vary.
Skooby
Saturday 26th of October 2019
Thank you Leah! That answered all my questions. I noticed the reason my cellphone wouldn't load the hilton app and even some other apps is because the operating system is outdated.:( I ordered a new phone yesterday. So, I'll be able to use the app and get digital key too! Thank you again!