Traveling Across Country - Under 21

[ancestry]

This doesn't have anything to do with Disney but is travel related. I'm finding conflicting information so I'm hoping that the people here might know the correct answer.

My daughter's long time boyfriend has been away at school on the other side of the country (Arizona and we are in Maine). He is supposed to be returning home to Maine this summer but has to drive in order to get his vehicle back here. He has asked my daughter to fly out to Arizona and accompany him back during his cross country drive.

They are both under 21. At the time of the drive she will be 2 months shy of 20 and he will be 20.

I've had several people tell me that many hotel chains don't rent rooms to people under 21. Other people have told me that hotel chains will rent to anyone 18 and older if they have a major credit card. Still yet others say that the only chains that won't rent to those under 21 are those that have a mini-bar in the room. Some have said that it depends on the state as it has to do with state law.

The information I found online also provides conflicting information.

Does anyone know what the real deal is?

I don't want them to show up at a hotel(s) during their drive to be turned away because of their age. Is there a specific chain they can select that they won't have problems with? Obviously as college/secondary education students they are on a budget so they wouldn't be staying in 4 star hotels.

I stayed in hotels when I was under 21 and never had any issues but that was many moons ago in Orlando and not at various locations throughout the country.

 

[Singledad]

It really does depend on the state and the hotel themselves. My small tiny hotel doesn't care so long as someone is 18. I've been in others that wouldn't rent to a couple because one was over 21 the other only 19. (small motel, wouldn't think they would have an issue there, but they did.)

I figure you should check into about how far you think they will make it a day, and call a hotel or two in the general area to ask their policies.

I know at that small motel, the issue was they didn't want underaged drinkers on property.

personally never had age check issues at super 8, but I don't want to have you rely solely on that, because different areas have different laws. (and it does all tie back to the alcohol thing.)

 

[corster]

It really does depend on the individual property, although realistically, most of the lower end chains don't make a big deal out of it....

 

[DCbride]

Since it varies so much, maybe your daughter could find several hotels along the route and contact them? It would be nice knowing exactly where they are stopping and hour many hours until then....

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I've had several people tell me that many hotel chains don't rent rooms to people under 21.

I have never heard this, nor have I ever had a hotel ask me my age. When my son was under 21, he drove from the east coast to San Diego and had no problems with hotels.

I suggest that you make sure one of them has a major credit card. Then plan the route and stops and make hotel reservations using the card before the start of the trip (try and stick to major chains). I doubt any hotel clerks will give them a second glance.