I'm convinced that most hotel check-in and check-out times date back to the pre-jet days of innkeepers and horse-and-wagon travel. It's the one aspect of the hotel experience that remains guest unfriendly and has not kept up with the reality of how we travel today.

Consider this: you take a flight that gets to your destination in the early morning. There's a 100% chance your hotel room isn't ready, and even if it is, the hotel has an official check-in time of 3 p.m. Unrealistic, and for many travelers, draconic. Or you have a flight that leaves at 5 p.m., but the hotel wants you out of there before 11 a.m.

Why? We all know that at many hotels, there's more than one work shift for housekeepers, so that can't be the reason.

The real reason? Revenue — the hotels want to turn more rooms, and do it on their schedule.