Can a 18 year old rent a hotel in Atlanta?

Answer 1

The simple answer is yes. However, there can be numerous qualifiers to this. Some hotels, rightly so, may temporarily restrict guest age as well as deposit requirements during periods such as 'prom season, Spring Break, Labour Day, etc.' This is within their legal right to do so.

Additionally, hotels have the legal right ...and exercise this right actively, to require minimum 'qualifiers' for a guest to check in to the hotel. In most instances this can be the requirement of a credit card in the name of the guest, with supporting identification, such as passport, driving license, etc.

Virtually all hotels, other than the most basic roadside 'cheap' motels will place a 'hold' on your credit card. This is always the anticipated total costs of the hotel room, (room+Tax+any pre-announced gratuities or service charges). In addition to this the hotel will add a varying amount, ranging anywhere from USD$50.00 per night up to and sometimes exceeding $1000. per night!

This is to protect the hotel, and you, from the embarrassing position of finding there is not sufficient available credit to cover any incidental charges that may have occurred during the stay. This includes Room Service, Telephony Costs, Set gratuities and service charges, items charged to your room such as pool services, restaurant, bar, and other services such as barber, hairdresser, etc.

And, again wisely, some hotels may place a 'hold' on substantial amounts in order to protect the hotel from any out-of-ordinary costs which the hotel may consider when taking the risk of allowing an 18 year old to stay in a hotel.

It's sad fact that the social maturity of young people is often note commensurate with the common sense of social graces. Young people have been known to foolishly leave irons on, broken televisions, stolen towels and other items, (which is actually theft), and other general damage to expensive linens, furniture, honour fridge, etc.

A strong caveat to any young couple, such as those who have just been married and are relying upon credit cards to fund your journey. You can often find yourself in a deeply embarrassing situation if you are keeping a tally on your available credit to fund your trip.

As an example: You arrive at an airport and hire a car. The hire car company will immediately total 'anticipated' costs of the vehicle contract, plus an additional one day cost....just in case you go over the allotted time and run into the next day, which can sometimes be higher than a discounted weekly rate! Additionally, the car hire company will immediately add an amount equal to a full tank of petrol (or gas). This is to protect the company as well because so many people who hire cars fail to fill the tank up and just leave them at the airport.

Should you fail to purchase, CDW, PAI, PEC, LLI, and a few other acronyms I can't immediately think of (Collision Damage Waiver, Personal Effects, Personal Accident Insurance, Limited Liability Insurance, and so on, the hire company may, in its discretion, add an amount to protect themselves should you just happen to return the vehicle with damage. It is essential that you always have insurance. But it's even more essential that you carefully inspect any vehicle you hire to first check for even the slightest dent, ding, , scratch or pit. Particularly, look at your windscreen for any pits. You'll find the 'big three' Avis, Hertz, National, are far more relaxed about their vehicle fleet. But the 'cheap' companies are frightfully pedantic and sometimes even allegedly corrupt. You can also expect a problem should you spill drinks in the vehicle.

But back to the credit card: You may find that a three day hire, which you see advertised for $39.95 per day, actually costs $79.95 per day, plus petrol, etc. Therefore, for the three day hire, the company may 'hold' $500 and more against your available credit.

Next part of the journey is arrival at the hotel. Let's say your room costs $100 per night, plus tax. A national chain, (Marriott, Sheraton, Holiday Inn, Hyatt, etc.- all mid-range hotels), might place a hold of $600 on your card for the three nights.

Presuming you have a $1200 credit limit on your card, you now have $100 left in available credit. You go out to a restaurant for a special dinner and your bill comes to $150.00. You will discover that the waiter comes back to your table to say your card has been declined!

An appropriate question is 'when do all the excess 'holds' get returned to my card? Good question. Sadly, it seems to work that crediting these holds back to your card take longer than having the hold made. It can take 72 hours after you've checked out of a hotel, or 72 hours after you've returned a hire car...sometimes longer, if a weekend is involved.

Also be aware that pre-paid cards, debit cards, etc., present even greater challenges. Hotels have the right to refuse debit cards. The ones who do accept them, exercise the same policy of the holds. But it may take up to a week before your account finally balances out and you discover you have virtually no cash for your holiday.

Car Hire companies will NEVER permit you to hire a car using a debit card as your guarantee of credit. If they have in the past, you've just been lucky because the clerk didn't do their hob correctly. What intelligent company would hand over a $30,000. vehicle to someone who is not sufficiently credit worthy to have a credit card? That's the way to think of it. And, always remember that when you hire a car, only the person whose name is on the contract AND the card is the only person permitted to drive the vehicle. However, other people 'may' drive the vehicle, provided they've presented their bona fides (credit card and driving license) in advance to the hire company and it is documented on the rental contract.