How Old Do You Have To Be To Get A Hotel Room?

An Individual must be at least 18 years old to book a hotel room in the majority of states in the US. However, some hotels do not allow individuals under 21 to rent a hotel. 

Booking a hotel room needs some verifications and supervision for minors depending on the policies.

But will you get into trouble booking a hotel room while still being a minor? As a teenager, can you rent a hotel room with your partner?

In this article, I will mention all the requirements that one must have to get a hotel room. I will also discuss the conditions for a minor to rent a hotel room.

Can You Get A Hotel Room At 18?

How Old Do You Have To Be To Get A Hotel Room?

The legal age to check into a hotel is usually 18 years old in the United States. Alternatively, some hotels may require guests to be at least 21 to check in, especially for specific rooms with minibars or alcohol service.

Traveling and planning trips with friends often require settling in a hotel room. The policies of each hotel may vary with location and terms and conditions.

Most leisure hotels follow their particular guidelines strictly and do not make any considerations whatsoever. On the other hand, you might as well find some liberal managers that accept your requests in case of emergencies.

As you see, it depends significantly on the hotel’s decision to make provisions in such cases. Therefore, you must be prompt to contact the hotel directly in case of any exceptions are to be made.

You will find hotels that grant a room to a minor in case their legal guardian pays on their behalf. The guardian must be an adult, and he is to be held responsible for the minor’s actions.

In addition, some hotels may require guests under the age of 21 to have a parent or guardian present in the room during their stay. This is more common for hotels in specific locations that are more conservative in nature.

Conditions Under Which A Minor Can Rent A Hotel Room

Even under the restrictions, there are certain instances where a minor can rent a hotel room under some supervision. Hotels do allow a few exceptions if they are well governed.

However, this can vary depending on the hotel’s policy. You must check with the hotel to confirm their specific age policy, especially if you are under 21 and planning to book a room.

1. Permission by Parent or guardian 

Some hotels may allow minors to rent a room if a parent or legal guardian pays for the room on their behalf and rents it in their name. The guardian will be held responsible for the minor.

2. Written permission

Some hotels may allow minors to rent a room with written permission from a parent or legal guardian and a copy of their identification. This is more common for older minors, such as those 16 or 17. 

3. Emergencies 

Hotels may allow minors to rent a room without an adult present in certain emergencies, such as natural disasters or other unexpected events.

Can A Group Of Minors Stay In A Motel?

Yes, minors may stay in a motel in the United States. Still, it largely depends on the motel’s policies and the children’s ages. Many motels have policies requiring at least one adult over 18 or 21 to be in the room for a certain number of minors.

Spending a night with friends in a luxury room while on a trip is indeed fun. However, one must be careful and aware of the regulations that are to be followed to avoid getting into any trouble.

Suppose the group of minors is under 18 and does not have an adult with them. In that case, many motels will require written permission from a parent or guardian. They may also need a credit card deposit or cash payment to cover potential damages or incidentals.

It is essential to check with the hotel directly to understand their specific policies on groups of minors staying there. Additionally, it’s always a good idea for parents or guardians to ensure children have appropriate supervision and guidelines to ensure their safety and well-being while staying in a hotel.

Can A Minor Stay In A Hotel All Alone?

In the United States, it is not legal for a minor to stay in a hotel alone without adult supervision. Most hotels have age restrictions and require guests to book a room at least 18.

Many hotels have policies requiring at least one adult in the room for every four-six minors under 18. In specific locations where nightlife and parties are prominent, individuals under 21 are also restricted.

No matter how badly you wish to, it is legally prohibited because of liability reasons and certain contract enforcements. As minors can not legally sign contracts until 18, hotels do not want to be held liable for children.

Suppose a teenager needs to stay in a hotel without adult supervision. In that case, they may need to provide a parent or guardian with written permission and a copy of their identification.

However, even with written permission, some hotels may not allow minors to stay in a room alone due to liability concerns.

Avoid resorting to cheap, shady lodges that do not guarantee your safety. Good hotels have more proceedings, but they claim their assistance and provide protection.

Here is a table of different states and their age limits for booking a hotel.

StateMinimum Age to Book a Hotel
Alabama18
Alaska18
Arizona18
Arkansas21
California18
Colorado18
Connecticut18
Delaware18
Florida18
Georgia18
Hawaii18
Idaho18
Illinois21
Indiana18
Iowa21
Kansas18
Kentucky21
Louisiana18
Maine18
Maryland18
Massachusetts18
Michigan18
Minnesota18
Mississippi18
Missouri18
Montana18
Nebraska19
Nevada21
New Hampshire18
New Jersey18
New Mexico18
New York18
North Carolina18
North Dakota21
Ohio18
Oklahoma18
Oregon18
Pennsylvania18
Rhode Island18
South Carolina18
South Dakota18
Tennessee18
Texas18
Utah18
Vermont18
Virginia18
Washington18
West Virginia18
Wisconsin18
Wyoming18

What Are The Documents Required To Get A Hotel Room?

To get a hotel room in the United States, you will typically need to provide a valid form of identification and a good state of payment. The documents required may vary depending on the hotel’s policies and your booking method. 

Here are some standard documents that may be required

1. Government-issued photo identification

A valid driver’s license, passport, or other government-issued ID with a photo is typically required to check into a hotel with the name on the ID matching the name on the reservation. This helps the hotel verify your identity and ensure that you are the person who made the reservation.

2. Credit card or cash deposit

Many hotels require a valid credit card to be put on file for incidentals or a cash deposit to cover any potential damages to the room. Some hotels may accept a cash deposit instead of a credit card, but this varies.

3. Reservation confirmation

If you made a reservation in advance, please provide a confirmation number or a printout of your reservation details. Suppose the reservation was made using a third-party booking site. In that case, the guest might be required to present a confirmation email or voucher at check-in.

4. Proof of age 

The hotel management does not want to be held responsible for a minor. If you are under 18 or 21, some hotels may require written permission from a parent or guardian and a copy of their identification.

Final Remarks

There appears to be a lot of confusion if a minor could rent a hotel room for a night without any trouble. My attempt in this article was to address this by developing the ultimate guide on the topic.

Let me give you a quick summary.

The legal age to rent a hotel is 18 years old, with some hotels extending that to 21 years. Minors may book a hotel room under emergency circumstances with proper supervision.