Is it possible to book an hotel being a minor?

8/3/2013 1:08:14 AM

Both of my children have had issues renting hotel rooms in Canada – the US has similar rules – while under 21. Twice my youngest was stranded far from home with a credit card and the hotel had a policy forbidding him to rent a room. One place called us, and with our consent allowed it, the other (further away) did not but let him and his friends hang out in the lobby for 3 hours while his father drove there to get him. I redeemed an award stay for my oldest and made special arrangements in advance that it would be ok even though she was a few days shy of 21, and they still attempted to turn her away, but when I called the manager it was allowed. Both kids had credit cards in their own names.

This is worth checking out in advance. Call or email hotels and try to get it settled and booked in advance.

7/4/2012 5:44:10 PM

Typically this is explicitly disallowed. However, in the U.S. one is typically only required to present a credit card (but no photo ID) in order to check in. If you have a credit card in your name, and as long as you don’t look super-young, you might have no problems at all.

If you want to pay cash — it probably won’t work.

If you have a credit card, it’s worth trying.

Or you could stay at a hotel where you never have to interact with a human in order to check in, such as Yotel NYC.

5/31/2014 8:38:48 AM

Best answer is probably – legally: yes. Realistically: no.

You’re signing a contract that you agree to pay for damages, beer from the minibar, etc, and as a minor, you can’t legally enter into a contract.

So legally they could ‘let you’, but it’s highly unlikely that they’d want to expose themselves to a risk like that.

From this page on hotel liability:

Hotels may generally evict a guest and keep the room rental payment, despite the eviction, for the following reasons:

  • Disorderly conduct
  • Nonpayment
  • Using the premises for an unlawful purpose or act
  • Bringing property onto the premises that may be dangerous to others
  • Failing to register as a guest
  • Using false pretenses to obtain accommodations
  • Being a minor unaccompanied by an adult registered guest <========= this one
  • Violating federal, state, or local hotel laws or regulations
  • Violating a conspicuously posted hotel or motel rule
  • Failing to vacate a room at the agreed checkout time

This page on Minimum Age Requirements for Renting Hotel Rooms may also prove to be of interest. It seems the one “loophole” you might have is for a parent to write a letter of consent and provide a security deposit in advance. But I’d contact them first to check.

Otherwise, you may just need to resort to “couchsurfing” – although I can’t officially condone that, as couchsurfing.org requires that you be 18 to use its service…

Credit:stackoverflow.com‘

About me

Hello,My name is Aparna Patel,I’m a Travel Blogger and Photographer who travel the world full-time with my hubby.I like to share my travel experience.

Search Posts

Latest posts

Popular posts