Hotel stay when not 18

[NMAmy]

DD, 19, recently drove across country by herself. She ran into a lot of trouble because many hotels have changed their rules and will absolutely not allow any guests under tha age of 21 to check in on their own. It was extremely frustrating and she had to stay at a really questionable motel as a last resort.

The reason that I was given for this rule is that a lot of 18 year olds were checking into hotels for parties. I offered to pay a higher rate or to pay a deposit but they would not back down from this rule.

 

[TEENEE]

Is
I know the state of florida it's 21 yrs old.

That's not quite right. My ds was able to get a room in Orlando right after he turned 18. He's 19 and has not had any problem getting rooms whenever he wants to travel.

 

[JLTraveling]

Is there a youth hostel in the town they're visiting? I've stayed/worked in hostels across the country and, while the "official" age is 18, there's never been a problem for 16/17 year olds. Half of them let you pay cash and never even ask for ID. As a rule, they're clean, safe and very friendly/home-like. The atmosphere is sort of "college dorm," and a lot of who they'll meet are international travelers in a similar age bracket. They could rent a private room or beds in a girls-only dorm.

 

[barkley]

The adult renting the room and putting it on their credit card will be the one taking responsibility. I think the question is, does that person have to be present upon check-in or for the entire stay.

OP, you should call the hotel directly and ask since its obvious there is no yes/no answer to this.

the responsibility taken on by the adult with the credit card does'nt cover the hotel when it comes to the additional issues and laws that are present when you lodge someone.

the hotel has a responsibility to all the persons they lodge-and in some states, depending on how it's laws are written, parents of teens who have reached a certain age are exempt from civil procecution for the acts of their minor kids (if they are not being "supervised" at the time). in this case, a hotel that permits minors to reside alone in a room, can be subjecting themselves to taking on the supervisory role, which means if the underage person causes harm or damage to another guest then the hotel can get left legaly on the hook. most hotels require an adult or guardian in the room so that they don't assume the supervisory role/liability of the minor.


then there's the whole area of "conduct", most hotels have rules and regulations for guests that they can use as a basis for eviction. guests are aknowledging (contracting) to adhering to these as part of the check in vs. the reservation process. since a minor cannot enter into a binding contract it can become a very sticky situation if a circumstance comes up that entails a hotel trying to remove minor guests.

 

[katiebug86]

After scouring youtube for a video, I will simply have to type out my first thought when I read this thread:

Howdy do. This is Peter McCallister, the father.
I'd like a hotel room please, with an extra large bed, a TV, and
one of those little refrigerators you have to open with a key.

Credit card? You got it. ​

this made my morning.

 

[luvmy3]

the responsibility taken on by the adult with the credit card does'nt cover the hotel when it comes to the additional issues and laws that are present when you lodge someone.

the hotel has a responsibility to all the persons they lodge-and in some states, depending on how it's laws are written, parents of teens who have reached a certain age are exempt from civil procecution for the acts of their minor kids (if they are not being "supervised" at the time). in this case, a hotel that permits minors to reside alone in a room, can be subjecting themselves to taking on the supervisory role, which means if the underage person causes harm or damage to another guest then the hotel can get left legaly on the hook. most hotels require an adult or guardian in the room so that they don't assume the supervisory role/liability of the minor.


then there's the whole area of "conduct", most hotels have rules and regulations for guests that they can use as a basis for eviction. guests are aknowledging (contracting) to adhering to these as part of the check in vs. the reservation process. since a minor cannot enter into a binding contract it can become a very sticky situation if a circumstance comes up that entails a hotel trying to remove minor guests.

Which is exactly why the OP should call the hotel directly because there is no yes/no answer, it depends on the policy of that hotel

 

[JessicaR]

I read that when 21 is required by the hotel it can be due to the hotel having a mini bar in the room. Loews Hotels was the example.

 

[klacey1]

me and my high school boyfriend used to go to hotels with no problem. neither one of us was 18, or had a credit card. we never had a problem.

I'm guessing this was a fairly long time ago. I can't think of a single hotel that would take anyone without a credit card, or a chain that lets anyone under 18 check in. My mom works in the industry and they are incredibly strict about making sure the person who makes the reservation is the person checking in.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Just to add...

It's not ONLY about trashed rooms and noise complaints... it's about OTHER liabilities.

What happens if, and this is an absolute WORST CASE scenario, someone breaks into the room and does something to the girls... or what if they fall and crack their head open? Who is the adult responsible for watching over the girls to make sure this doesn't happen? The HOTEL? So, when and if it happens, are you going to sue the hotel renting a room to your minor children, leaving them with no adult supervision?

I'm not saying you would, but hotel companies think you might, and they want to protect themselves.

 

[Uuaww]

I was 19 when I did a solo trip to disney.

 

[aprilgail2]

. I can't think of a single hotel that would take anyone without a credit card, or a chain that lets anyone under 18 check in. .

You can't be serious? There are PLENTY of hotels around here that just take cash and you don't need credit cards.....I wouldn't want to have to stay in one since they are usually the ones with the 3 hour rates but there are hotels that you don't need credit cards or ID for!

 

[SandrA9810]

Did you not read my entire post??

That's not quite right. My ds was able to get a room in Orlando right after he turned 18. He's 19 and has not had any problem getting rooms whenever he wants to travel.

This isn't true. I've checked into plenty of hotels when I was 18+ but not yet 21. I've lived in FL my whole life.

Me and kari used to go to Disney all the time by ourselves since we were 19. Technically the rule is 21, but we usually managed to find a hotel to stay at.

I know the state of florida it's 21 yrs old.

I grew up in Miami... yes I lived in Florida all my life besides these past two months. Just because it's a rule of 21, doesn't always mean that they follow it. We usually traveled to Disney in the off season, so they were probably just happy to be renting the room. On the other hand, we only lived 4hrs away, and it wasn't horrible if we had to drive all night home.
Once Kari turned 21 we started staying on Property, because we knew we couldn't get away with it before hand.

It was a total luck of the draw. So unless they know they can pull an all nighter to drive back home. I wouldn't send them on their was expecting to get a room on their own.

 

[NMAmy]

Did you not read my entire post??

I grew up in Miami... yes I lived in Florida all my life besides these past two months. Just because it's a rule of 21, doesn't always mean that they follow it. We usually traveled to Disney in the off season, so they were probably just happy to be renting the room. On the other hand, we only lived 4hrs away, and it wasn't horrible if we had to drive all night home.
Once Kari turned 21 we started staying on Property, because we knew we couldn't get away with it before hand.

It was a total luck of the draw. So unless they know they can pull an all nighter to drive back home. I wouldn't send them on their was expecting to get a room on their own.

I read your entire post but I think you're mistaken due to my own experiences. While many hotels have a rule of 21 and over, Disney is actually one of the easiest places for those under the age of 21 to get a room. Last March, DD and her friend (both 19) stayed in a room at Pop. I paid for it in advance and they had no credit card on record. All she had to do when she arrived was show her driver's license.
That's one reason I was so surprised when dd had issues getting a room elsewhere across the country because she was under 21.

 

[omghidanielle]

this made my morning.

Glad SOMEONE enjoyed it!