What’s The Age Requirement For Hotels? (Expat Advice)

Most people will be fixated on the hotel room’s size or getting a connecting hotel room, but it’s best to start with the basics.

This is going to include knowing the age requirement for hotels.

Yes, there is an age requirement for hotel rooms and it’s best to be prepared for this. Otherwise, you are going to get stopped if you are checking in as an underage at a hotel.

We have been traveling for a long time and have taken the time to analyze the age requirement for hotel rooms around the world.

Here is a look at the minimum age requirement for a hotel room.

Minimum Age Requirement For Hotels

In general, the minimum age requirement to check into a hotel room is going to be 18 in most countries.

This is the common age that’s cited for a wide array of countries including the US and Canada. It’s best to be aware of this as the age restriction is going to be enforced. Most hotel providers are going to ask for a legal ID before booking the room.

So, why does this happen in the first place?

What is the reason for having a minimum age requirement for a hotel room?

It has to do with not being able to ask for funds from a minor as a hotel. There are legal stipulations for what is permitted and what is not, which is why hotels prefer to only deal with adults.

Yes, an “underage” customer is allowed to stay in a hotel room as long as the person paying is an adult. This is another detail that has to be accounted for as each hotel is going to be different.

Legal Drinking Age Dictates This Rule

If you are traveling abroad, you are often going to be aware of the legal drinking age in the country. For example, it is going to be 18 in most nations.

As a result, you are going to have to follow this when it comes to the minimum age requirement at a hotel.

In the US, you are going to be looking at a legal drinking age of 21, so they will often reduce the age restriction to 18 as it will still allow legal adults to book a room.

One of the concerns hotels have has to do with the mini bar that is set up in the hotel. This cannot be left exposed to a minor if they are booking a hotel room underage. As a result, they stay legally secure by not offering a hotel room to those under the age of 18.

How To Know The Minimum Age Requirement At A Hotel

Let’s assume you are looking to book a hotel room.

You are going to want to start by going to the hotel’s official website. They are going to have terms and conditions for booking a hotel room and this is going to include legal stipulations that are required between the hotel and the guest.

This is going to include the minimum age.

You will often notice the payment is going to go through without an issue. This is due to the payment option not asking for your age. However, the real concern is going to be at the front desk when you are checking in at the hotel.

They are going to ask for your legal ID and that is when your age will be known. It is legal for the business to deny service at that point.

We do not recommend leaving yourself in a situation like this because you are going to lose your payment too. Not to mention, if you are in another city/country, you aren’t going to have a place to stay for the day.

It’s best to be prepared and look into these details beforehand.

It’s also important to note that your experience is going to vary in each city. Even when you are in Canada or the US, the cities are going to vary as to what their minimum age requirements are. This is why going to the hotel’s official website is the way to go.

Final Thoughts

This is the minimum age requirement for hotels around the world.

If you are over the age of 18, you should be fine in most parts of the planet. However, you should still be doing your research to avoid getting stuck in a terrible situation with nowhere to go.

We have also taken the time to offer ways to get free hotel vouchers for the homeless, hotel chain types, and reasons for no microwaves in hotel rooms.