It's always amazing to turn 18, right?
After all, you're already an adult in the legal sense, and you should legally have the right to basically do what adults in general can do, including booking hotels.
Well, most hotels have rules and policies in place that make it very difficult for 18-year-olds to check in, but there are always exceptions since it is legally your right to enter into contracts as of 18 years of age in most regions or countries, especially in the US.
So if you're looking for a hotel that allows 18-year-olds to check in, I've compiled a list of hotels with a minimum check in age of 18 that you can choose from in this guide.
10 Hotels That Allow 18 Year Olds To Check In
Age requirement is mandatory for booking hotels, but it doesn't mean you can't book a hotel if you just clocked 18, especially if you're traveling and looking for a place to rest.
That said, here are hotels with a minimum check-in age policy of 18.
1. Hilton Hotels & Resorts
If you've had the opportunity to travel around the globe, there's a great chance that you've come across Hilton hotels in basically all urban places you've visited, as it has a presence in over 139 countries and territories.
They aren't hotel giants for a reason. They cater to and accept guests who are legally recognized as adults to check in. In fact, their check-in policy clearly mentions that they accept guests with a minimum of 18 years of age.
So if you're 18 and located in one of these countries where Hilton operates, you can always check in during their operating hours.
2. Drury Hotels
Drury Hotels is well-known in all 26 states where it operates over 150 hotels. They have a little spike when it comes to comparing their customer service and loyalty with competing hotels, as they are well known for that.
You should be able to check in (or let me say do business with them) if you're at least 18 years of age, as they've strictly mentioned in their policies.
3. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Four Seasons is another hotel with a minimum check-in age of 18. They feature many options you can choose from, ranging from guest rooms, suites and even accessible apartments.
If you're to lodge with your parents or legal guardian, you should be eligible for the family plan, which comes with no extra fee charged for 18-year-olds or younger who occupy the same room as their parent.
4. Motel 6
Motel 6 is not a "hotel" like the previous options, but its dedication and commitment to travelers 18 years of age is worth a mention.
Motel 6 is a chain of motels that operates motel locations with cheap rooms (as of $6) in both the United States and Canada, with a lenient age requirement. That said, you'll need to be at least 18 years old and have a photo ID before you can check in with them.
5. Red Roof Inn
Red Roof Inn operates over 600 properties worldwide with plenty of amenities that are accessible at very affordable prices.
You should be able to check in for most of their offerings if you're at least 18 years of age, but the age requirement might become stricter if you need to book a room in a state that doesn't permit 18-year-olds to book hotel rooms.
6. Wyndham Hotels
Wyndham Hotels is a hotel franchisor (or call it a hospitality company) operating over 9,100 hotel locations in 95 countries and claims to be one of the biggest in the world for a reason—"one-of-a-kind experiences in exceptional destinations around the world".
So you should be sure to book the ideal room you need with them.
They don't have a minimum age requirement since it is set by the hotels they feature. It's left to you to carefully go through the terms of the hotel you choose to book through them.
7. Marriott Hotels
Marriott Hotels is another hotel franchisor that facilitates your access to the hotel you need.
They work with over 30 leading brands in the industry to offer close to 9,500 properties in 144 countries, making it easier for every traveler to book the ideal hotel for their individual needs.
They welcome all guests 18 years old to check in, as it is the minimum age requirement for guests looking to check into a room at an all-inclusive resort.
8. Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG)
IHG is a leading hotel company facilitating access to over 6,668 hotels from leading brands, including Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza, and Holiday Inn in over 100 countries.
The hotels they feature typically have a minimum age requirement of 18 years and will require you to be legally authorized to enter a contractual agreement to check in with them.
9. Hyatt Hotels
Hyatt Hotels is another hospitality company that features over 1,300 hotel locations where 18-year-olds can check in. For sure, not all of these hotels will be open to guests 18 years old, but you can always call to check which of their locations welcome 18 year old guests.
10. Airbnb
Airbnb isn't primarily a hotel, but a platform that lets users rent out their home as hotels to travellers in need of accommodation.
You will find a ton of homes at different prices that people are giving out as hotels, and the good thing is that the terms for lodging in these homes are set by the owner, and you can easily talk about these terms with the owner if you manage to get in contact with them.
The age requirement to check in is usually 18 years for most homes, but this can change or simply be different if your state doesn't allow contracts for guests of less them 21 years of age.
Why Do Hotels Have Age Restrictions?
Just as any other entity, hotels work according to the policies they have in place. While some have lenient age requirements, some are even stricter when it comes to how old their guest should be, and this is, of course, for some reasons, which include:
Law Compliance
I earlier mentioned that you're legally allowed to enter contractual agreements as of 18 years in the US, but it's good you equally know that most states (such as Las Vegas, Nevada, Miami Beach, Florida, Gulf Shores, Alabama, and parts of New York) make age requirements for some contracts even stricter to reduce the risk of liability for damages or illegal activity involving guests under 21, such as gambling.
Contractual Concerns
For sure, 18 years old is the age that every minor needs to reach before being able to make contractual agreements in most jurisdictions. Well, that's what has been set by the law, but most hotels extend these age requirements (typically to 21) to make sure that the guest in question can be sued in case something goes wrong with the agreement they have with them.
Final Thoughts
Clocking 18 always comes with much excitement and enthusiasm to do what adults are legally authorized to do, like checking into hotels.
While you're legally authorized to check in, the hotels can set their own policies catering to age requirement of at least 21 years old to reduce the risk liability and make sure the person is the contractual agreement with them can be bound by the terms of the contract.
However, some hotels still make exceptions and let you check in even if you just recently clocked 18 years, and this guide compiles all the options to choose from.