Read this before you check in a hotel in NYC

For those tourists unfamiliar to this great city, the check-in process can be stressful and time-consuming. NYC has its own rules and it doesn’t follow trends of Europe, Asia or the Middle East.

These are the main guidelines to follow when you check in a hotel in this city:

1. Only the person whose name is in the reservation can check in. Hotels must comply with laws against identity theft and privacy. Husbands, wives or children of guests can’t check in
2. Only passports , driver’s licences or state-issue foto Identifications are accepted. No school IDs, No college IDs, No work IDs. Nowadays you can print a fake ID with a computer software. That’s why only state-issued IDs are accepted.
3. Even if your rate was prepaid you will have to provide a credit card with your name for a deposit. The amount varies. You can’t use someone else’s card unless that person is with you at the moment of check in. If your rate wasn’t prepaid then the hotel will place a hold for the stay and the deposit.
4. Most hotels charge you extra fees called Resort fees, Destination fees, Tourist fees, Facility fees. It’s a common practice in hotels in the big cities of the U.S. to charge you extra fees for additional services.
5. Most hotels don’t accept cash. Money laundering and counterfeited money are a big problem in the U.S. and hotels stopped accepting cash.
6. Just like when you go shopping, the rates of the hotels don’t include taxes or fees. Don’t be surprised when you see the amount of your stay is higher than the one you see in your confirmation.

If you follow these guidelines, your check-in will go smoothly and stress-free.