Hotels In Illinois That Allow 18-Year-Olds To Check-In
Traveling at 18 is a milestone, yet it comes with its own set of challenges, particularly when it comes to lodging. In Illinois, the age of majority is 18, consistent with most states. However, Illinois offers a diverse range of accommodations, from bustling Chicago hotels to quaint bed-and-breakfasts in historic towns, each with their own age policies, which can range from 18 to 25.
So, can 18-year-olds check into hotels in Illinois? The answer is yes, many hotels in Illinois do allow 18-year-olds to check in, provided they have a valid ID and a credit card. However, given the state’s diverse lodging options, it’s particularly important to confirm age requirements with individual hotels, as policies can differ.
This article is your comprehensive guide for booking a hotel in Illinois at 18. We’ll provide a list of hotels that welcome younger guests, explore alternative lodging options unique to Illinois, and offer insights on safety measures and amenities. If you’re 18 and planning a trip to the Land of Lincoln, this article is your essential resource.
Important!
Hotel policies can be updated before we manage to revise our website information. Make sure to verify the minimum check-in age before finalizing your booking.
List of Hotels in Illinois Allowing 18-Year-Old Check-Ins
Before we get into the specifics, let’s first identify the hotels in Illinois that allow 18-year-olds to check in. This list has been carefully curated based on customer reviews, amenities offered, and age policies. Given Illinois’s rich history and diverse culture, many hotels are more flexible with age requirements, but it’s always good to double-check.
The hotels on this list meet the following criteria:
- Allow 18-year-olds to check-in
- Have positive customer reviews
- Offer a range of amenities, including some unique to Illinois like historical tours or theater packages
- Are located in secure neighborhoods, often near popular cultural or historical attractions
Here’s a compilation of hotels across various regions in Illinois that welcome guests aged 18 and above. To assist you in your planning, we’ve also included links to comprehensive guides for each region, offering more details on each hotel.
ID And Credit Card
You will be asked to share your I.D. and a credit card when checking in.
Chicago
| Hotels In Chicago, Illinois | Average Rating | Number of Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| citizenM Chicago Downtown | 8.9 | 1,777 |
| Sentral Michigan Avenue | 8.9 | 639 |
| Staypineapple, An Iconic Hotel, The Loop | 8.7 | 1,175 |
| Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel | 8.7 | 388 |
| The Blackstone, Autograph Collection | 8.6 | 398 |
| Sonder South Wabash | 8.5 | 371 |
| Fairfield Inn and Suites Chicago Downtown/ Magnificent Mile | 8.4 | 825 |
| River Hotel | 8.3 | 3,941 |
| Kinzie Hotel | 8.3 | 657 |
| Chicago Getaway Hostel | 8.3 | 3,233 |
| Club Quarters Hotel Wacker at Michigan, Chicago | 8.2 | 3,496 |
| Courtyard Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile | 8.2 | 445 |
| Wrigley Hostel – Chicago | 8.1 | 590 |
| HI Chicago Hostel | 8.1 | 5,908 |
| Club Quarters Hotel Central Loop, Chicago | 8 | 3,106 |
| The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago | 8 | 307 |
| Hilton Chicago | 7.9 | 694 |
| City Suites Hotel | 7.9 | 505 |
| Central Loop Hotel | 7.9 | 2,233 |
| Hotel Chicago West Loop | 7.7 | 957 |
| Best Western Chicago Downtown-River North | 7.5 | 1,701 |
| Freehand Chicago | 7.4 | 2,265 |
| The Palmer House Hilton | 7.4 | 777 |
| Chicago Parthenon Hostel | 7.3 | 915 |
| Selina Chicago | 7.3 | 705 |
| Warwick Allerton Chicago | 7.2 | 4,880 |
| Congress Plaza Hotel Chicago | 7.1 | 4,685 |
Springfield
| Hotels In Springfield, Illinois | Average Rating | Number of Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Drury Inn & Suites Springfield | 8.7 | 294 |
| Ramada by Wyndham Springfield North | 8.4 | 419 |
| Comfort Inn & Suites Springfield I-55 | 8.2 | 494 |
| Best Western Clearlake Plaza | 8.2 | 244 |
| Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Springfield, IL | 8.1 | 721 |
| Carpenter Street Hotel | 7.9 | 904 |
| President Abraham Lincoln – A Doubletree by Hilton Hotel | 7.5 | 231 |
| Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Springfield | 7.4 | 428 |
| Quality Inn & Suites Springfield Southwest near I-72 | 7.2 | 281 |
| Motel 6-Springfield, IL | 6.9 | 493 |
| Extended Stay America Suites Springfield | 5.3 | 194 |
| Freedom Inn | 6.3 | 125 |
| Baymont by Wyndham Springfield IL | 5.4 | 881 |
| Red Roof Inn Springfield, IL | 5.3 | 263 |
| Holiday Inn Express & Suites Springfield, an IHG Hotel | 6.7 | 134 |
Peoria
| Hotels In Peoria, Illinois | Average Rating | Number of Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Extended Stay America Suites – Peoria – North | 7.1 | 79 |
| Courtyard Peoria Downtown | 7.8 | 66 |
| Holiday Inn & Suites Peoria at Grand Prairie, an IHG Hotel | 8.9 | 65 |
| Hampton Inn East Peoria | 8.0 | 204 |
| Wingate by Wyndham | 8.5 | 124 |
| Motel 6 Peoria | 6.3 | 104 |
| Courtyard by Marriott Peoria | 8.2 | 102 |
| Staybridge Suites Peoria Downtown, an IHG Hotel | 6.1 | 205 |
Rockford
| Hotels In Rockford, Illinois | Average Rating | Number of Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Embassy Suites By Hilton Rockford Riverfront | 9.0 | 284 |
| Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Rockford | 8.2 | 181 |
| Extended Stay America Suites – Rockford – State Street | 8.1 | 78 |
| Extended Stay America Suites – Rockford – I-90 | 7.9 | 200 |
| Hilton Garden Inn Rockford | 7.9 | 147 |
| Riverview Inn & Suites, Ascend Hotel Collection | 7.5 | 183 |
| Courtyard by Marriott Rockford | 7.5 | 157 |
| Studio 6 Rockford | 7.2 | 125 |
| Motel 6 Rockford, Il | 6.9 | 449 |
| Days Inn by Wyndham Rockford | 6.0 | 179 |
| Rodeway Inn | 5.9 | 58 |
| Hotel Weston RFD | 5.1 | 119 |
Naperville
| Hotels In Naperville, Illinois | Average Rating | Number of Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Indigo Naperville Riverwalk, an IHG Hotel | 8.6 | 308 |
| Sleep Inn Naperville | 7.8 | 328 |
| Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Naperville | 7.6 | 345 |
| Tru By Hilton Naperville Chicago | 8.9 | 127 |
| Motel 6-Naperville, IL | 7.0 | 734 |
| Chicago Marriott Naperville | 8.4 | 163 |
| Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Chicago Naperville | 8.0 | 170 |
| Fairfield Inn & Suites Naperville/Aurora | 8.5 | 114 |
| Courtyard by Marriott Chicago Naperville | 8.3 | 106 |
| Red Roof Inn PLUS+ Chicago – Naperville | 6.1 | 304 |
Joliet
| Hotels In Joliet, Illinois | Average Rating | Number of Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Hampton Inn Joliet/I-80 | 8.5 | 82 |
| Hampton Inn Joliet/I-55 | 8.3 | 167 |
| Harrah’s Joliet Casino Hotel | 8.0 | 188 |
| Fairfield Inn & Suites Joliet North/Plainfield | 7.8 | 114 |
| Fairfield Inn by Marriott Joliet South | 7.6 | 57 |
| Comfort Inn Joliet West I-80 | 7.0 | 226 |
| Motel 6-Joliet, IL – Chicago – I-55 | 6.1 | 436 |
Evanston
| Hotels In Evanston, Illinois | Average Rating | Number of Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Evanston | 8.4 | 576 |
| Hilton Garden Inn Evanston | 8.1 | 416 |
| Hilton Orrington/Evanston | 6.9 | 340 |
Aurora
| Hotels In Aurora, Illinois | Average Rating | Number of Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| My Place Hotel-Chicago West/North Aurora, IL | 8.5 | 172 |
| Homewood Suites by Hilton Aurora Naperville | 8.4 | 221 |
| Super 8 by Wyndham Aurora/Naperville Area | 6.3 | 333 |
Bloomington
| Hotels In Bloomington, Illinois | Average Rating | Number of Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Hampton Inn Bloomington West | 8.3 | 73 |
| Fairfield Inn & Suites Bloomington | 8.2 | 55 |
| Comfort Suites Normal University area | 7.8 | 51 |
| Parke Regency Hotel & Conf Ctr., BW Signature Collection | 7.7 | 215 |
| Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Bloomington-Normal University Area, an IHG Hotel | 7.6 | 74 |
| Quality Inn & Suites Bloomington I-55 and I-74 | 7.1 | 167 |
| Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Bloomington Airport, an IHG Hotel | 7.1 | 90 |
| Quality Inn & Suites Bloomington University Area | 7.0 | 180 |
| Hawthorn Suites Bloomington | 7.0 | 380 |
Champaign
How We Selected These Hotels
1. Extensive Database: We began our analysis with an extensive database of over 233,000 hotels across the United States, ensuring a comprehensive view of available options.
2. Age Inclusivity: Our selection specifically targets hotels that allow check-ins for guests aged 18 and above, making the options accessible for a broader range of travelers.
3. Customer Reviews: To ensure reliability and customer satisfaction, we only considered hotels that have received at least 200 customer reviews. This criterion helps to provide a more accurate picture of the hotel’s quality and service.
4. Quality Assurance: We sorted the selected hotels based on their average customer ratings. This approach helps us recommend only the highest quality hotels, thereby ensuring a superior guest experience.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Get a Hotel Room in Illinois?
Booking a hotel room in Illinois involves understanding both state laws and individual hotel policies, particularly when it comes to age requirements. The age of majority in Illinois is 18, which aligns with most hotel policies in the state. However, Illinois’s rich cultural and historical landscape sometimes results in more flexible policies.
Age Requirements in Illinois Hotels
In Illinois, the majority of hotels allow bookings for guests who are 18 years old, as this is the age of majority in the state. However, some upscale or specialized establishments may have a higher age requirement, usually 21, particularly if they offer amenities like a bar or casino.
Identification Documents Required
To secure a hotel booking in Illinois at 18, you’ll generally need:
- A valid government-issued ID: This could be a driver’s license, a state ID, or a passport.
- A credit card: The card must be in your name and have sufficient funds to cover the stay and any incidental charges.
Legal Responsibilities When Booking a Hotel
Booking a hotel room at 18 in Illinois comes with its own set of legal responsibilities:
- Damages: You’re financially responsible for any damages to the room or property.
- Hotel Policies: You must adhere to the hotel’s policies, which can include noise restrictions, guest limitations, and rules about using amenities.
- Liability: Some hotels may ask you to sign a liability waiver, especially if they offer amenities like a rooftop pool or fitness center.
Understanding these factors can help you navigate the complexities of booking a hotel room in Illinois at 18, ensuring a smoother travel experience.
Alternatives to Hotels for 18 Year Olds
If you find that the hotel scene is too restrictive or perhaps not to your taste, there are alternative lodging options that are often more lenient with age requirements or offer a different kind of experience altogether.
Hostels
Hostels are a budget-friendly option and usually have minimal age requirements. They offer dormitory-style rooms and sometimes private rooms as well. Hostels are great for meeting other travelers and often have communal kitchens and social events.
Airbnb
Airbnb can be a viable option, but it’s essential to read the age policies of individual hosts. Some may allow 18-year-olds to book, especially if the reviews on your profile are positive.
Motels
Motels often have lower age requirements and are generally more lenient with their policies. They offer basic amenities and are usually situated near highways.
Vacation Rentals
Sites like Vrbo offer vacation homes that can be rented for short periods. These are ideal if you’re traveling with a group and can split the cost.
Couchsurfing
If you’re really on a budget, platforms like Couchsurfing offer free stays with locals. However, this option requires a thorough vetting process for both hosts and guests to ensure safety.
Amenities Offered by These Hotels
When you’re 18 and traveling, amenities can make or break your hotel experience. Here’s a detailed look at what you can expect from hotels in Illinois that allow 18-year-olds to check in.
Basic Amenities
- Free Wi-Fi: Almost a necessity in today’s world, free Wi-Fi is usually available, allowing you to stay connected.
- Breakfast: Many hotels offer complimentary breakfast, ranging from continental to full American breakfast options.
Recreational Amenities
- Swimming Pools: A pool can be a great way to relax after a day of exploring.
- Gyms: For those who like to stay active, a well-equipped gym can be a big plus.
Business Amenities
- Business Centers: If you’re traveling for work or need to catch up on emails, a business center with computers and printing services can be invaluable.
Luxury Amenities
- Spa Services: Some high-end hotels offer spa services, including massages and facials.
- Concierge Services: A concierge can help with booking tours, restaurant reservations, and more.
Family-Friendly Amenities
- Kids’ Clubs: If you’re traveling with younger siblings, a kids’ club can keep them entertained.
- Pet-Friendly Options: For those traveling with pets, some hotels offer pet-friendly rooms and even pet-sitting services.
Understanding the range of amenities can help you make an informed decision about where to stay, ensuring that your needs—whether they’re basic or more luxurious—are met.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it Legal for an 18-Year-Old to Check-In to a Hotel?
Yes, it is generally legal for an 18-year-old to check into a hotel. However, private businesses like hotels have the right to set their own age requirements, which can sometimes be higher. It’s always best to call ahead and confirm the hotel’s age policy to avoid any last-minute surprises.
Why Do Some Hotels Have an Age Requirement of 21?
Hotels may set a minimum age requirement of 21 for various reasons, often related to liability and insurance policies. The age limit can also be influenced by the hotel’s target demographic or the types of amenities they offer, such as bars or casinos, which have age restrictions. Additionally, hotels may perceive older guests as less likely to cause damage or disturbances.
Can You Book a Hotel Room at 18 Without a Credit Card?
While most hotels prefer a credit card for securing a reservation and covering potential incidental charges, some establishments may allow you to book a room without one. In such cases, you’ll likely need to provide a substantial cash deposit or a debit card with a significant balance. Always call the hotel in advance to discuss payment options if you don’t have a credit card.
What Are the Cancellation Policies Like?
Cancellation policies can vary widely among hotels. Some may offer free cancellation up to a certain point, usually 24 to 48 hours before the check-in date. Others might charge a fee equivalent to one night’s stay or more. Always read the cancellation policy carefully at the time of booking and consider opting for a refundable rate if your plans are uncertain.
Are There Any Additional Fees for 18-Year-Olds?
Additional fees specifically for 18-year-olds are uncommon but not unheard of. Some hotels might charge a “young renter fee” or require a larger deposit from guests under a certain age. It’s crucial to inquire about any such fees when you’re making your reservation to avoid unexpected costs.
Will I Need ID to Check-In as an 18-Year-Old?
Yes, you will almost certainly need a valid, government-issued ID to check into a hotel. This is not just an age verification measure but also a general security policy. Some hotels may also require a second form of identification or additional documentation if you’re a local resident.
Why Do Hotels Ask for Everyone’s ID?
Hotels commonly ask for ID from all adult guests for a variety of reasons, including security and compliance with local laws. This practice helps the hotel keep track of who is staying in their rooms and can assist law enforcement if any issues arise. It also helps the hotel to enforce their own policies, such as age restrictions for certain amenities like gyms or bars.