Five things to check in your booking confirmation
By the DropStay team · November 2026
A confirmation email arrives right after you book. It is easy to skip, but checking a few things straight away prevents most check-in surprises.
1. Dates and number of nights
Check the check-in and check-out dates and the number of nights. If you arrive after midnight, make sure you did not book check-in for the arrival date — the room needs to be booked from the night before.
2. Room and guests
Check the room type, bed setup and the number of adults and children. Children’s ages can change the price or bed arrangements, so check the ages are right too.
3. Free-cancellation deadline
If the booking has free cancellation, the email says until when you can cancel without a fee. Note the time zone with the date and put it in your calendar.
4. Total and payment method
Check whether the total includes taxes and service charges, and whether you paid now (prepaid) or will pay at the hotel.
Pay-at-hotel bookings may be charged in the hotel’s currency, so the amount on your card can change with the exchange rate.
5. What is included and extra fees
Check breakfast, any fees the hotel collects separately (resort fees, city taxes) and whether requests such as late check-in were recorded. Some places charge a local tax at the property.
Keep the email
You may need the confirmation at check-in or to change the booking.
When you forward it to DropStay, we read only what price comparison needs and delete the original right away. We never store your name, booking number or manage-booking link.
More guides
- How to rebook a free-cancellation hotel when the price dropsThe order to switch in, so you keep the room and are not caught out by a brief double charge.
- Why hotel prices keep changing after you bookWhy the same room goes up and down, and how not to miss the drop.
- Free cancellation or non-refundable: which rate to pickWhat the slightly higher free-cancellation price buys you, with a worked example.