In the United States, you generally have to be at least 18 years old to check into a hotel, though many properties set the minimum at 21 and a handful require guests to be 25. No federal law sets the age, so the answer depends on the individual hotel, the city, and sometimes whether you’re traveling on military orders. Confirming the policy before you book is the difference between a smooth arrival and getting turned away with a nonrefundable charge on your card.
Why Hotels Set an Age at All
A hotel reservation is a contract, and in most states anyone under 18 lacks the legal capacity to enter into a binding one. That makes it hard for a hotel to hold a minor responsible for the bill or for damage to the room. Hotels close that gap with their own age policies, and because the federal government has never set a minimum, those policies vary widely from brand to brand and property to property.
What the Major Chains Require
Each chain sets a baseline, and individual properties within the same brand can go higher.
- Marriott. The minimum is set by each hotel. Most locations allow check-in at 18, but some, particularly all-inclusive resorts, require 21.1Marriott. What is the Minimum Age Required to Check-In?
- Hilton. Guests must be at least 18 to reserve a room through Hilton’s website, and individual properties may set a higher age.2Hilton. Site Usage Agreement
- Hyatt. The general minimum is 21, though it varies by hotel. Hyatt requires someone who meets the minimum age to be present at check-in and registered as a guest in the room.3Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. Reservation Frequently Asked Questions
The gap between Hilton’s 18 and Hyatt’s 21 catches a lot of travelers off guard. A Marriott in a suburban office park and a Marriott beach resort can also have entirely different rules. Always check the specific property, not just the brand.
Where the Age Jumps to 21 or 25
Hotels in cities known for nightlife, gambling, or spring break crowds tend to enforce higher age minimums. On the Las Vegas Strip, most hotels require guests to be 21, partly because casino floors are woven into the properties and Nevada law requires you to be 21 to gamble or drink.4The Signature at MGM Grand. Under 21 Policy MGM Resorts, for example, requires guests to be 21 and hold a major credit card at all of its properties.
Popular beach destinations in Florida and coastal resort towns follow a similar pattern, with 21 as the standard minimum. A few hotels in spring-break-prone areas push the requirement to 25, sometimes allowing guests between 21 and 25 to check in only if an older person is with them. If you’re in your early twenties and heading somewhere known for partying, verify the age policy before you pay for anything.
Military Service Members Often Get an Exception
Active-duty personnel frequently qualify for an exception. Several states have enacted laws requiring hotels to waive their minimum age requirements for service members traveling on official orders and presenting valid military identification. Florida’s innkeeper statute is one of the more explicit examples, requiring hotels to waive age-based restrictions when a guest shows a military ID.
Even in states without a specific statute, many chains have internal policies accommodating military travelers of any age. If you’re active duty, reserve, or National Guard and under 21, call the hotel directly before booking and ask about their military policy rather than trusting the online booking flow to catch the exception.
State Laws That May Protect Young Adults
A handful of states classify age as a protected category in public accommodations, which includes hotels. Under those laws, a hotel that refuses service to an 18-year-old solely because of age could face a legal challenge. New Hampshire’s civil rights statute, for instance, explicitly bars places of public accommodation from discriminating based on age.5New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Revised Statutes 354-A:16 – Equal Access to Public Accommodations a Civil Right These protections don’t exist in every state, and enforcement varies where they do. If you’re 18 to 20 and get turned away, it’s worth checking whether your state treats age discrimination in public accommodations as unlawful.
Getting a Room When You’re Under 18
Have a Parent Book It
The most direct path is having a parent or guardian book the room, check in, and take financial responsibility. Some hotels then let the minor stay alone; others require the adult who checked in to remain on the property. A few properties accept written parental authorization or a phone call from the parent at check-in, but that’s far from universal. Call ahead and ask what the specific hotel needs rather than hoping the front desk will be flexible.
Emancipated Minors
A minor who has been legally emancipated by a court generally has the capacity to enter into valid contracts, including hotel reservations. Emancipation laws vary by state. In practice, carry your court order or emancipation documentation and be ready to explain it at the front desk. Hotels still have discretion, so calling ahead matters here too.
The Credit Card Problem
Meeting the age minimum isn’t the only hurdle. Most hotels require a credit card at check-in, and the card isn’t only for payment. Hotels place an authorization hold for incidentals like room service, minibar charges, or possible damage. These holds typically run from $25 to $300 per night, and high-end properties sometimes require deposits of $500 or more.
For younger travelers without a credit card, some chains accept debit cards, and some budget brands accept cash with a security deposit. Marriott and Hilton both allow debit cards at check-in.1Marriott. What is the Minimum Age Required to Check-In? Be cautious with debit cards: the hold ties up real money in your checking account, and if your balance is tight, it can trigger overdraft fees. Prepaid debit cards are riskier still, since many have daily spending limits a hotel hold can exceed. If you plan to use a debit card, confirm that the hotel accepts it and ask the exact hold amount so you know how much needs to be sitting in the account.
What Happens If You’re Turned Away
If you arrive and don’t meet the property’s age requirement, the front desk will deny check-in. That’s true even if you already paid, and a refund is not guaranteed.
Hotels typically post their age restrictions in their terms and conditions or house rules, and most booking platforms defer to those policies. Expedia’s terms of service, for example, state that if you violate a travel provider’s rules and restrictions, your booking may be canceled and you may lose the money you paid. The refund then depends entirely on the hotel’s own cancellation policy, and many prepaid or nonrefundable rates offer no recourse.
If the hotel and the booking platform both refuse a refund, a few practical options remain:
- Dispute the charge. If you paid by credit card, file a chargeback with your card issuer. Your odds improve if the age restriction wasn’t clearly disclosed during booking, though a hotel that posted the policy in its terms has a reasonable defense.
- Contact the booking platform. Third-party sites occasionally issue refunds as a goodwill gesture, especially if the age requirement wasn’t prominently displayed. Worth asking; don’t count on it.
- Have a backup hotel. If you’re 18 to 20 and traveling to a destination where 21 is common, identify a fallback property that accepts 18-year-olds before you leave.
Using a fake ID or misrepresenting your age makes things worse. Hotels can deny service immediately and report the incident, and you won’t have credible grounds to ask for your money back.
ID at Check-In
Every hotel requires a government-issued photo ID at check-in. A driver’s license, state ID card, or passport all work. The front desk verifies that the name on the ID matches the reservation and that you meet the age requirement. If you’re using a credit card that belongs to someone else, such as a parent’s, many hotels will refuse it unless that person is physically present or has provided written authorization. Mobile check-in through hotel apps is increasingly common, but you’ll still typically be asked to upload or scan a government ID, so don’t assume an app lets you skip age verification.