Allowed age for hotels

[HST43257]

Myself and a few friends are looking to travel on an All Line Rover this summer, and on one of the nights we will need to use hotel accommodation. We will all be aged 16-17 at the time of the trip, so is there any hotel chain that doesn't require there to be an 18+ year old in attendance?

 

[spyinthesky]

It seems to be hit and miss with chains down to individual hotels so it depends on location.
B&B’s may be a little more helpful if can speak to them in advance, it might also be a requirement to pay up front too.
I don’t remember having this problem in my youth, good luck.

 

[The exile]

“Duty of care” is taken much more seriously nowadays…

 

[Bletchleyite]

Myself and a few friends are looking to travel on an All Line Rover this summer, and on one of the nights we will need to use hotel accommodation. We will all be aged 16-17 at the time of the trip, so is there any hotel chain that doesn't require there to be an 18+ year old in attendance?

Can you use a YHA youth hostel? Those are specifically intended for that - their website says min 16 (though I'm sure it used to be younger).

Confirmed here: https://www.yha.org.uk/faqs

 

[Ken H]

The big problem is hotels usually insist on a credit card to book. And they also take a whacking retention on the card in case you trash the room. That may cause you issies.

 

[HST43257]

Can you use a YHA youth hostel? Those are specifically intended for that - their website says min 16 (though I'm sure it used to be younger).

Confirmed here: https://www.yha.org.uk/faqs

Sadly none near where we wish to stay

The big problem is hotels usually insist on a credit card to book.

Couldn’t it be paid during booking by a credit card holder?

 

[Bletchleyite]

The big problem is hotels usually insist on a credit card to book.

A parent can book on their behalf. When you book a Premier Inn, for example, the credit card stuff happens in advance, not when you get there. (Though neither PI nor Travelodge let under 18s stay alone).

And they also take a whacking retention on the card in case you trash the room. That may cause you issies.

Almost none do these days, and when they did it was mostly to allow for charging of meals and minibar stuff to the room, you could always decline it and they'd lock the minibar and block charging stuff to the room. It was never "in case you trash the room".

 

[Bletchleyite]

OP - where is it (roughly) that you want to stay, and we might be able to help find somewhere? Independent rather than YHA hostels will often also allow it. If you don't tell us the dates it's of no Safeguarding risk to you.

 

[transportphoto]

Premier Inn, I believe, used to allow 16+ but on review of their T&Cs just now this has changed.

 

[HST43257]

OP - where is it (roughly) that you want to stay, and we might be able to help find somewhere? Independent rather than YHA hostels will often also allow it. If you don't tell us the dates it's of no Safeguarding risk to you.

Somewhere around Shrewsbury ideally

 

[SeanG]

I'd just get a parent etc to book a Premier Inn and use their remote check in machines. You don't have to see or speak to anyone that way, I'm sure it'd be fine

 

[telstarbox]

Not all Premier Inns have that facility though.

 

[ainsworth74]

The big problem is hotels usually insist on a credit card to book.

They do? I've booked a lot of hotels and never had issue using a debit card.

I'd just get a parent etc to book a Premier Inn and use their remote check in machines. You don't have to see or speak to anyone that way, I'm sure it'd be fine

Not all Premier Inns have that facility though.

And even where fitted I find it can be hit and miss as to whether it's working or not!

 

[ChrisC]

They do? I've booked a lot of hotels and never had issue using a debit card.

I always book hotels using a debit card and have never been refused. I don't have a credit card.

 

[Wolfie]

I was going to suggest the Wetherlodge (Spoons hotel) in Shrewsbury but that appears to be 18+ unless accompanied by an adult.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I always book hotels using a debit card and have never been refused. I don't have a credit card.

Premier Inns can be booked using a debit card. I am presently in one and I did!

I would not try breaching the T&Cs, it could result in being refused.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Somewhere around Shrewsbury ideally

There is a large YHA in Coalbrookdale (Ironbridge), south Telford. Short train journey and then a bus connection (slightly infrequent but it exists, and a taxi wouldn't be costly), and it is an absolutely lovely place.

Edit: https://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-ironbridge-coalport

 

[Wolfie]

There is a large YHA in Coalbrookdale (Ironbridge), south Telford. Short train journey and then a bus connection (slightly infrequent but it exists, and a taxi wouldn't be costly), and it is an absolutely lovely place.

Edit: https://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-ironbridge-coalport

Be careful. The place that you are referring to is at link (the problem being that it is only available to groups who book the whole place):

https://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-ironbridge-coalbrookdale

I originate from what is now Telford and still have family there. Coalport and Coalbrookdale are two different places several miles apart. As far as l am aware there is no bus service to Coalport which is indeed where the hostel at your link is. The nearest bus service is to Jackfield which is the other side of the river Severn.

 

[HST43257]

There is a large YHA in Coalbrookdale (Ironbridge), south Telford. Short train journey and then a bus connection (slightly infrequent but it exists, and a taxi wouldn't be costly), and it is an absolutely lovely place.

Edit: https://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-ironbridge-coalport

Yes I’ve stayed there before and it’s a very nice area. Sadly my planned timings do not allow me to do much travel beyond Shrewsbury, so it’d ideally be a walk from Shrewsbury station.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Be careful. The place that you are referring to is at link:

https://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-ironbridge-coalbrookdale?utm_source=google&utm_medium=maps&utm_campaign=google-places

I originate from what is now Telford and still have family there. Coalport and Coalbrookdale are two different places several miles apart. As far as l am aware there is no bus service to Coalport. The nearest bus service is to Jackfield which is the other side of the river Severn.

That one is private hire only at the moment. There is a bus to Ironbridge, it is a not unpleasant walk along the old railway to Coalport. (About 2 miles).

 

[Wolfie]

That one is private hire only at the moment. There is a bus to Ironbridge, it is a not unpleasant walk along the old railway to Coalport.

I am well aware of that. I lived the first eight years of my life in Ironbridge (where my dad had worked at the station before closure and then worked at the power station) and still have family in Madeley and Broseley.

In good weather (and if the weather has been good in the preceding period, otherwise parts of the old railway line become a mud bath) l agree. The old railway line takes you to Jackfield then you have to walk down to the Boat Inn (my paternal gran lived a few doors away until her late 90s) then cross over the Free Bridge (built as a war memorial) to get to Coalport. If the OP was a little older l would recommend a walk up the hill towards Madeley to visit the All Nations which was one of the last four brewpubs in the country.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes I’ve stayed there before and it’s a very nice area. Sadly my planned timings do not allow me to do much travel beyond Shrewsbury, so it’d ideally be a walk from Shrewsbury station.

There doesn't seem to be a hostel (YHA or independent) actually in Shrewsbury.

I think I would alter your plans to be able to stay at a YHA even if not that one. Young people are their core business and so it is the option that will give you the least hassle.

 

[Wolfie]

There doesn't seem to be a hostel (YHA or independent) actually in Shrewsbury.

I think I would alter your plans to be able to stay at a YHA even if not that one. Young people are their core business and so it is the option that will give you the least hassle.

The Hostelworld website lists a private hostel at Preston Montford, Montford Bridge, about 4 miles from the centre of Shrewsbury.

 

[mmh]

Not all Premier Inns have that facility though.

But if it's pre-paid nobody will care, surely?

 

[Bletchleyite]

But if it's pre-paid nobody will care, surely?

If someone who is visibly a child tries to check in there is a reasonable chance of being refused. I suspect the reason is that hotel staff are not typically DBS checked (YHA staff are). You do not want to be stranded overnight so taking a risk on this would be ill advised.

I would look to change plans so as to be able to use a YHA, though the above independent hostel might be worth a try if a taxi is affordable. It is this: https://www.field-studies-council.org/fsc-preston-montford-accommodation/, website says nothing about children but an email to check would be easy enough.

 

[mmh]

If someone who is visibly a child tries to check in there is a reasonable chance of being refused. I suspect the reason is that hotel staff are not typically DBS checked (YHA staff are). You do not want to be stranded overnight so taking a risk on this would be ill advised.

I would look to change plans so as to be able to use a YHA, though the above independent hostel might be worth a try if a taxi si affordable.

A good point, and given I'm both enhanced DBS checked and SC checked it was perhaps a foolish comment. Perhaps I'm harking back to do the days when people became adults at 16. Little has changed in law since then, but we've decided childhood lasts longer for some reason.

 

[hexagon789]

Perhaps I'm harking back to do the days when people became adults at 16.

Perhaps treated as but not legally adults. In England and Wales it was 21 until 1969, and has been 18 since then. Only in Scotland is it 16.

 

[Class800]

Premier Inn, I believe, used to allow 16+ but on review of their T&Cs just now this has changed.

Do they ask for ID, or just looking old enough? In that case, it may favour girls who can easily look older with makeup etc. Boys - maybe wearing a sharp suit on arrival makes you look older?

 

[hexagon789]

Do they ask for ID, or just looking old enough? In that case, it may favour girls who can easily look older with makeup etc. Boys - maybe wearing a sharp suit on arrival makes you look older?

They can and do ask for ID.

 

[Devonian]

It's an old-fashioned way of doing it, but I would suggest contacting the local tourist board to see if they have a list of accommodation that would fit the bill, or would be able to help find something: https://www.visitshropshire.co.uk/contact-us/ Not all tourist boards are helpful with accommodation now that "everything is online", but some are and it's worth a try.