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In some hotels, guests are required to be either 21 or 25 years old to check-in. This may raise questions about which hotels permit check-ins for 18-year-olds. If you can make a hotel reservation without a credit card, rest assured that you can book a room even if you are 18.
Numerous hotels accommodate guests under 21, and in this post, I’ll outline the top hotels that allow check-ins for individuals who are 18 years old.
Hotels that allow 18 year olds to check in
Below, are details about booking and checking into a hotel as an 18-year-old, plus what to do to check into a hotel if you’re under 18.
1. Airbnb
Airbnb is not a conventional hotel; instead, it serves as an online marketplace where you can reserve accommodations in apartments and vacation homes. It offers various coupon codes and discounts, making it convenient to find affordable places to stay.
Generally, you only need to be 18 years old to book a stay on Airbnb, although hosts can set a higher age requirement, although it’s uncommon. If you’re interested, you can make your booking here.
2. Best Western
Best Western is a hotel chain with 4,700 hotels spread across over 100 countries and territories globally. Each Best Western hotel doesn’t have a fixed minimum age requirement for check-ins; it varies from one location to another.
To ensure accurate information, it’s recommended to contact the specific Best Western hotel you plan to stay at and inquire about their policy regarding the minimum age for check-in.
3. Drury Inn & Suites
Drury Inn & Suites is a hotel chain with over 150 establishments across 26 states. Unlike some hotels, they don’t have a fixed age requirement for check-in. The minimum age to check in varies depending on the specific location.
Some places may allow individuals as young as 18 to check in, while others may require guests to be at least 21 years old. To determine the age requirement for a particular location, select the Drury Inn & Suites you wish to book and give them a call to inquire about their specific check-in age policy.
4. Hilton Hotels
Hilton Hotels operates globally with 7,000 properties across 122 countries and territories. The hotel chain boasts 18 different brands, including Hampton Inn, Conrad, Hilton Garden Inn, and Waldorf Astoria.
Unlike a universal policy, the age requirements for guests checking in vary across locations. Some Hilton properties permit check-ins for individuals as young as 18. To determine the age requirement at a specific location, it’s recommended to find the desired hotel and contact them directly for accurate information.
5. Four Seasons
Four Seasons is a hotel chain that has 124 properties in 47 countries. The minimum age for guests to check in varies across locations, with some allowing 18-year-olds and others requiring guests to be at least 21.
To ensure accurate information, it’s recommended to contact the specific hotel you plan to stay at and inquire about their minimum age requirement for booking and check-in.
6. Hyatt Hotels
Hyatt Hotels is a hotel chain with 1,200 locations worldwide. It comprises various brands, including Hyatt Place, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt House, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, and Alila Hotels and Resorts.
The minimum age for check-in is usually 21, but it may vary depending on the specific location. To confirm the age requirement for the hotel you plan to stay at, it’s recommended to contact the hotel directly.
7. Intercontinental Hotels Group
Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) operates nearly 6,000 properties in over 100 countries. The age requirement for guests to check in varies among IHG hotels. While some may have a minimum age of 21, others only require guests to be 18.
To ensure accurate information, choose a specific location you plan to stay at and contact the hotel directly to inquire about their specific age policy for check-ins.
8. La Quinta Inn & Suites
La Quinta Inn & Suites is a hotel chain that manages a total of 914 properties. When it comes to checking in, the age requirement varies. While certain locations mandate guests to be at least 21 years old, others permit individuals as young as 18 to check in.
To ensure a smooth check-in process, it’s advisable to call the specific location where you plan to stay in advance and confirm their age requirement policy.
9. Las Vegas Hotels near the strip
If you’re under 21 and looking to book a hotel near the Las Vegas Strip, there are several options available. While many Las Vegas hotels have a minimum check-in age of 21, some establishments allow 18-year-olds to reserve a room.
Some of these accommodating hotels include the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, Best Western McCarran Inn, Carriage House Deluxe Suites, Embassy Suites Convention Center Las Vegas, Hyatt Place Las Vegas, Las Vegas Club Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas Marriott Suites, Platinum Hotel and Spa, Plaza Hotel and Casino, Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel, Residence Inn Las Vegas Hughes Center, Skylofts at MGM Grand, and Westgate Las Vegas.
With these choices, you have flexibility in finding suitable accommodations for your stay in Las Vegas.
10. Marriot
Marriott is a hospitality company that manages a diverse portfolio of 30 brands, overseeing more than 8,000 properties in 139 countries and territories. Notable brands under the Marriott umbrella include JW Marriott Hotels, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, Edition Hotels, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, Delta Hotels, Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Vacation Club, Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, SpringHill Suites, and Element Hotels.
It’s important to note that age requirements for check-in can vary among Marriott hotels. While some establishments may mandate guests to be 18 years old, others may have different policies. To ensure a smooth check-in process, it’s advisable to contact the specific hotel you plan to stay at and inquire about their age requirements beforehand.
11. Millenium Hotels and Resorts
Millennium Hotels and Resorts operates 125 hotels across 22 countries. It’s important to note that there isn’t a universal minimum age requirement for all Millennium Hotels & Resorts locations.
The age policy for check-in varies between hotels – some may permit individuals as young as 18 years old, while others may set a minimum age of 21. To ensure accurate information, it’s advisable to contact the specific hotel you plan to book and inquire about their age policy for guests checking in.
12. Motel 6
Motel 6 and Studio 6, collectively comprising over 1,400 locations in the United States and Canada, operate with varying age policies. Some locations accept check-ins from individuals as young as 18, while others may require guests to be between 19 and 21 years old.
Additionally, some places accept 18-year-olds with a valid military ID. It’s advisable to contact the specific Motel 6 or Studio 6 location you plan to book in advance to confirm their age policy and ensure that individuals aged 18 are allowed to check in.
13. Radisson
The Radisson Hotel Group is a hospitality company that owns and manages over 1,100 hotels. They run several brands, such as Radisson, Radisson Blu, Radisson Red, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Radisson Collection, and Country Inn & Suites by Radisson.
While many Radisson hotels typically set a minimum check-in age of 21, some locations may allow individuals who are 18 years old to check in. To confirm the specific age policy at the Radisson hotel you plan to stay at, it’s recommended to contact the hotel directly before making a reservation.
14. Red Roof Inn
Red Roof Inn is a budget-friendly hotel chain that operates 670 locations. Unlike some hotels, Red Roof Inn does not have a consistent age limit policy for all its properties. The age requirement for check-in can differ from one location to another.
Certain places may permit guests as young as 18 to check in, while others may require guests to be at least 21 years old. It is advisable to contact the specific Red Roof Inn location you plan to stay at in advance to inquire about their age policy and ensure a smooth check-in process.
15. Wyndham Worldwide Hotels & Resorts
Wyndham Worldwide Hotels & Resorts is a global hospitality company that boasts a vast portfolio of over 9,000 hotels spanning 22 different brands in more than 80 countries. Among its notable brands are Baymont, Days Inn, Howard Johnson, La Quinta, Ramada, Super 8, Travelodge, and Wyndham.
When it comes to age requirements for check-in, Wyndham Worldwide does not enforce a uniform age limit across all its locations. Some properties may have a minimum age requirement of 21 for guests checking in, while others may allow individuals as young as 18 to check in.
To ensure accurate information for the specific location you plan to stay at, it is advisable to contact the hotel in advance and inquire about their specific age policy for guests during the check-in process.
16. Starwood Hotels
Before Marriott International acquired Starwood Hotels, the company operated a global network of more than 1,295 hotels, featuring over 370,000 rooms in 100 countries. Starwood’s well-known brands included St. Regis, Aloft, Four Points, Sheraton, Westin, and Le Meridien.
Starwood Hotels offered various perks to its guests, such as a 25% discount through the Best Rate Guarantee, complimentary unlimited Internet access, exclusive member rates, the convenience of payment at checkout, opportunities to earn free nights, special deals on massages, fax services, photocopying facilities, and more.
Regarding the minimum age requirement for check-in at Starwood Hotels, there was no universal policy; it varied by location. Some places allowed check-ins for 18-year-olds, while others required guests to be at least 21 years old. To ensure accurate information, it was recommended to contact the specific hotel ahead of time.
17. Local (Non-chain) hotels
When seeking accommodation and you’re under 21, consider opting for local non-chain hotels. Unlike many widely recognized chain hotels that typically set a minimum check-in age of 21, local options such as boutique hotels, mom-and-pop motels, and smaller bed and breakfasts may offer flexibility in their age requirements.
These establishments might be more accommodating to younger guests, providing you with alternative and accessible lodging options.
18. Hostels
Hostels are budget-friendly accommodations suitable for individuals on a tight budget. Many hostels permit check-ins from individuals as young as 16 years old.
Opting for a hostel over a hotel can be a practical choice, especially for those who are social and don’t mind the communal setting of a hostel.
Hotels that don’t allow 18-year-olds to check in
Here are the age requirements for checking in at certain hotel chains that don’t accept 18-years old and below:
- Choice Hotels:
- Age Requirement: You must be at least 19 years old to check in at any Choice Hotel.
- Some locations may require guests to be at least 21 years old to book a room.
- If there are two or more guests, one must be at least 21 years old if the other is 18 or under.
- Choice Hotels include brands such as Comfort Inns, Econo Lodge, Comfort Suites, Sleep Inn, Quality, Clarion, MainStay Suites, Suburban, Rodeway Inn.
- Fairmont Hotels:
- Age Requirement: You need to be at least 19 years old to reserve a room at Fairmont Hotels.
- InTown Suites:
- Age Requirement: Guests must be at least 21 years old or older to check in at InTown Suites.
In summary, the age requirements vary between hotels. Choice Hotels generally require a minimum age of 19, with some locations having a higher age requirement for booking. Fairmont Hotels set the age requirement at 19, and InTown Suites has a minimum age of 21 for check-in.
What to do if you’re under 18
If you’re under 18 and want to stay in a hotel, it’s usually challenging because the legal age for most states is 18, and contracts signed by minors are not legally binding. This poses a risk for hotels in terms of non-payment and liability for the minor. However, there are a few ways to work around this:
- Get written permission: Some hotels may accept written authorization from a parent, guardian, or another adult if you’re under 18. They might have their own form for the adult to fill out, but it’s a good idea to check with the hotel first, as it’s not mandatory for them to provide this form.
- Provide a credit card: Giving the hotel a credit card, even if it’s your parents’, allows them to secure payment for your reservation easily. It also means they can charge the card for any damages to the room.
- Negotiate: If you’re close to turning 18, it could be worth politely negotiating with the hotel. Some hotels may be concerned about the behavior of younger guests, but if you can demonstrate responsibility and there’s no strict age policy, the manager might make an exception and allow you to stay.
Who sets the minimum age policy at hotels?
The minimum age policy at hotels is not officially regulated, and each hotel or resort establishes its own age requirements to mitigate potential liabilities. While corporate policies may offer general guidelines, the final decision on who can book a room typically rests with the management of each individual hotel property.
As a result, age requirements can vary among different hotel chains and even within properties of the same chain. For example, hostels may allow 16-year-olds to check in, while hotels might insist on a guardian’s authorization for those below 18.
In most hotel chains, individuals must be at least 18 years old to independently book and check into a hotel room, but certain hotels may set the age requirement at 21. Since these policies differ across establishments, the recommended approach is to contact the specific hotel you plan to stay at and inquire about their check-in requirements.
Hotels consider factors such as the ability to enter into a legally binding contract, local laws, and the availability of alcohol when determining their minimum age requirements.
Local laws about minimum check-in ages
Local laws, which can be set by the state, county, or city, ultimately dictate the minimum age required for hotel check-ins. Due to this variation in laws, hotels typically avoid establishing a universal minimum check-in age requirement.
To find out the specific age requirement for a particular hotel, you can call the hotel in advance, and the staff should be able to provide information on the local laws that apply to their location.
The bottom line
Many well-known hotel brands permit individuals under the age of 18 to check in. However, it’s important to note that the minimum age for check-in can differ among hotels. To ensure you have the accurate information, it is recommended to contact the specific hotel you plan to stay at and confirm its age policy in advance.
If the hotel you’re interested in has a minimum check-in age of 21 and you’re 18, don’t worry; there are plenty of alternative hotels in the vicinity that do allow 18-year-olds to check in.