There are many illogical annoyances in the travel world and the “hotel divide” is certainly one of them; the few hours between when you have to check out of one hotel and when you can check into the next hotel.

Or, as in Athens, the time between arriving in a city and checking in.

If, like me, you hate wasting precious vacation time waiting for check-in and want to explore a destination without your heavy bagshere are some tips every traveler should know.

1. Ask if the room is ready early

Nothing compares to collapsing onto a bed for a quick rest, taking a hot shower, or changing clothes before heading out to explore. Especially if you spent the night traveling.

So my first port of call is to go straight to the hotel and just ask nicely if the room is ready. In Athens, my travel companion pointed out to me that we couldn’t go to the hotel because check-in was in six hours, but like I said; Don’t ask, don’t get.

Arriving six hours early is a difficult task, even for me, but I’ve found that almost every hotel I ask can check me in on site, or at least give me an early hour to return.

The key is kindness; remember that you are asking the receptionist for a favor, not a right. “Is there any chance…” or “Could you check…” are great ways to start.

If they say no, accept it with a smile (it’s probably not their decision) and move on to step two.

2. Request free storage

If early check-in is not an option, most hotels have a dedicated storage locker for bags or a desk where they can keep them. Again, unless a hotel advertises luggage storage, don’t walk in with your expectations but ask politely if they could keep them somewhere safe.

3. Luggage storage

In all my years of traveling, hotels have either stored my luggage or allowed me to check in early, but if both of those options fail, luggage storage is another option.

There are many luggage storage options available, but they are not all the same. One option is to use unmanned locker rooms that allow you to reserve a locker online or via keypads. For some, not having someone to take care of their affairs reassures them. My fear of a locker malfunctioning and trapping my luggage makes me prefer staffed places, usually found in transportation hubs such as airports or train stations.

Another popular option is cheap but less secure third-party storage. Completely online, these businesses connect travelers with businesses who have space to spare and want to make extra money. The downside is that your luggage can be kept anywhere from a coffee shop counter to a hairdresser’s unlocked desk. The pro? They’re cheap as chips.

Despite my reservations, a colleague praised the app Luggage drop-off at a recent Gap Hotel in Christchurch.

4. Choose hotels with 24-hour check-in

The last option is more specialized but nevertheless effective; give priority to hotels with early check-in.

Some hotel chains such as Hyatt, IHG, and Marriot Bonvoy offer early check-in to members of their loyalty programs or allow guests to add early check-in to their reservation for a small fee.

Closer to home, the Grand Chancellor Hotel in Auckland and Wellington has launched a package deal called 24-Hour Stays, which allows guests to stay a full 24 hours after arrival.

24-hour stays are now available at the Grand Chancellor Auckland Hotel and James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor Wellington.

If a guest arrives at 4 p.m., they can stay until 4 p.m. the next day. Likewise, if they arrive at 10 p.m., they have until 10 p.m. the next day.