The short answer
Since March 1, 2026, 48 Comal Inn guests paid $15 for a 2-hour early check-in. That's $720 from a request guests were already making. It's an easy first upsell for a small property: guests already want it, it costs you little when the room is ready, and it can be offered automatically before arrival.
Why it works
Guests ask for early check-in all the time. They've been on the road all morning and want to start their trip. Most properties answer with “we'll do our best.” Turning that into a clear, paid option helps both sides.
- The guest gets a sure thing instead of a maybe.
- You get paid for something you were often giving away, or turning down.
- Housekeeping gets a heads-up instead of a surprise knock at noon.
How we offer it
Early check-in started as part of our COVID shift. We moved from handwritten check-in letters and keys to texted door codes, then to a guest portal where guests accept our policies and get their code before arrival.
Once that portal existed, adding paid extras was simple. Early check-in shows up there as a 2-hour option for $15, paid ahead of time. If a guest buys it, they get in earlier. No phone calls, no awkward requests at the door.
Set it up in five steps
- 01Pick a fixed window.A set amount of time, like 2 hours early, is easier to say yes to and easier for housekeeping to plan around than "whenever you get here."
- 02Set one flat price.Keep it simple. One price, shown up front.
- 03Only sell what you can deliver.Offer it when the room was empty the night before, or confirm with housekeeping first.
- 04Offer it before arrival.Put it in your pre-arrival message or guest portal, where the guest is already planning their day.
- 05Count it every month.Track how many guests buy it. If almost nobody does, the price or the timing of the offer is off.
What we're trying next
Early check-in proved guests will pay for things that make their stay easier. Next, we're exploring local add-ons that make the trip better, not just the room:
- River tubing with a shuttle partner
- Golf cart rentals for getting around downtown
- Tickets to Natural Bridge Caverns
- Landa Park train passes
Run a business in New Braunfels and want to partner? Text me.
Quick answers
How much should I charge for early check-in?
We charge $15 for 2 hours. The right price depends on your market and your rates. Pick one flat price that is easy to say yes to and covers any extra effort for housekeeping. Then watch how many guests take it and adjust.
What if the room isn't ready?
Only sell it when it's safe to promise: rooms that were empty the night before, or after you confirm with housekeeping. Refund it without arguing if something goes wrong.
Does the same idea work for late checkout?
Yes. Same rules, flipped. Check the next arrival before you sell it.
Do I need special software?
It helps. A guest portal or messaging tool that sends a pre-arrival offer and takes payment does the work for you. Without one, a short text a few days out works too.
Want me to look at your site?
Send me your website. I'll tell you what I'd fix first, for free.