When you return home after a few days at a hotel, the only thing on everyone's mind is to quickly pack your bags, check out, and leave. But in a hurry, it's very common to leave some things in the hotel room that you might find yourself annoyed with later.

Chargers, watches, medicines, papers, or small valuables are often left lying around the bed, in drawers, or in the bathroom. It is also the courtesy of a conscious guest to not only pick up their belongings, but also to tidy up the room and leave.

So make the most of the last 5 to 10 minutes before checkout. Checking the following points before you walk out the door can help you avoid a lot of unnecessary hassle.

1.   Look under the bed and behind the furniture.

One of the easiest places to lose things in a hotel room is under the bed.

Toys, small bags, shoes or personal belongings may be left there especially if children are with them. Take a look under the dresser, sofa, table or any other furniture.

A few seconds of looking down before leaving the room can save a lot of trouble later.

2.   Check the bed sheets and mattress area.

Don't just check out the bed.

Cell phones, watches, earrings, glasses, money, or any small items can end up in the folds of the sheets or next to the mattress. Try to remember where you put things you use at night, especially.

Also take a quick look under the sheets or comforter.

3. Calculate chargers and electronic items

One of the most annoying mistakes when checking out of a hotel is leaving the charger behind.

Check if the phone charger, laptop charger, power bank, smartwatch charger, earphone or any other cable is lying somewhere.

Check especially well near bedside sockets, under tables and near bathrooms.

A simple habit you can do: Before closing your bag, bring the chargers of all your electronic devices together in one place.

4. Take a good look at the bathroom

It's a big mistake to leave a hotel bathroom without checking it.

Check next to the toilet, near the washbasin, in front of the mirror, in the shower area, and in the towel rack to see if you have any of your belongings lying around.

Small items like toothbrushes, razors, cosmetics, perfumes, skincare products, or medications are most likely to be left here.

5. Check the refrigerator and food storage area

If your hotel room has a small refrigerator, open it and take a look before you check out.

If you left drinks, fruit, chocolates, or other food you bought the night before there, decide whether you need to take it with you.

Properly dispose of anything you don't want to take with you. Look not only in the refrigerator, but also in the tables, drawers, and food areas.

6. Make sure you have taken necessary medicines or personal medical supplies. 

Forgetting your medication while traveling is not only annoying, but can also be a problem for many people.

Check to see if you have any regularly used medications, inhalers, personal medical supplies, or necessary medical devices lying around.

It is also a good idea to inform the hotel authorities about any medical waste or used items left in the room. This also keeps the staff safe.

7. Take one last inventory of clothes and personal belongings.

Just because you've packed your bag doesn't mean you've taken everything.

Check to see if you've taken all your clothes from your closet, drawers, hangers, bedside tables, and chairs.

Especially when traveling, you're likely to forget things like jackets, shawls, hats, belts, or shoes at the last minute.

8. Keep used towels in one place.

Before checkout, place used towels in a specific place instead of spreading them around the room.

If you have wet towels, it is convenient to keep them in the bathtub or in a designated area of ​​the hotel.

This makes the cleaning staff's job easier and reduces the chance of a towel being misplaced.

9. Return moved furniture to its original location if possible.

If you have rearranged the position of chairs, tables, or beds for your convenience while staying in a hotel room, return them as much as possible to their original positions before leaving.

This is not a mandatory rule. Rather, it is a common courtesy to the hotel staff.

It is a good idea to move any furniture, especially if it is blocking the way.

10. Check the room for any damage.

Before checking out, take a quick look at the room.

Check to see if anything has fallen or broken, if any furniture has been damaged, or if there are any other problems. If you have caused any damage yourself, it is better to inform the hotel authorities than to hide it.

This will reduce the chances of having unexpected problems with bills or deposits later.

11. Make travel arrangements in advance.

Especially in an unfamiliar city, finding a car during checkout can be a time-consuming process.

If you plan to leave at a specific time in the morning, you can inform the front desk the night before. If necessary, arrange a car or taxi in advance.

Let's say you leave at 7:30 in the morning. Instead of looking for a car at the last minute, making arrangements in advance will make the start of the journey much more comfortable.

12. If you like the hotel, you can plan your next stay.

If you like the ambiance, room, service, and location of a hotel, you may consider staying there again in the future.

During checkout, you can ask the front desk about possible dates for your next stay or about bookings. Often, speaking directly can help you find out about room type, availability, or other amenities.

However, just because you like a hotel doesn't mean you have to book right away. It's best to book when you're sure of your next travel plans.

One last 30-second check before checkout

Just before you walk out the hotel door, ask yourself these few questions:

v  Do you have a phone and phone charger?

v  Did you take your laptop and charger?

v  Did you take your wallet and important documents?

v  Did you take all your medications?

v  Is there anything in the bathroom?

v  Did you empty the fridge?

v  Did you look in the cupboards and drawers?

v  Did you look under the bed?

v  Did you take all your clothes and shoes?

v  Are there any valuables in the room?

If the answer to all of these is "yes," you can now close the door and leave with peace of mind.

Finality

The joy of traveling often ends the moment you check out of the hotel. But in that last-minute rush, small mistakes can happen. Leaving a charger, a favorite watch, or necessary medication behind can ruin the entire trip.

So taking a few minutes to check out your room before checkout is not an extra hassle. Rather, it's a small habit that can save you from unnecessary expenses, wasted time, and regrets later.

One thing to remember when traveling: it never hurts to look back before walking out the hotel door.