<p>Son and several of his college friends would like to meet up in Chicago this summer, maybe over July 4. </p>
<p>DS says that there are difficulties in getting hotel rooms related to the fact that the students (rising juniors) are not yet 21 years old. (He’s probably talking about registering, because what hotel asks our age when we call to get a reservation?)</p>
<p>Any information or advice from the CC community? Thanks so much!</p>
<p>Can he book online? This issue only came up once with S when he was travelling to his summer job with Duke TIP after his freshman year and it was when we made the reservation by phone.</p>
<p>I thought 18 was the magic age. I would keep checking around. I just got back from a business trip to Chicago and I have never seen so many hotels in my life (outside of Vegas). They have multiplied like rabbits since my law school days!</p>
<p>When I went with some friends to Chicago on Spring Break, we called beforehand to various hotels to see if we could check in since we were under 21 (all of us were 20). All those we called said “No”. My dad is a member of the rewards program at one of the hotels and called and made the reservation and pre-paid it with his credit card. The owner only let us do this because it was pre-paid by an adult and he was assured we only had 2 people who would not be drinking. </p>
<p>It sucks but the hotels are trying to protect themselves from underage drinking problems. When I went to St Louis a few weeks ago for baseball with my boyfriend, the reservation was in my name and card, and they almost didn’t let us check in until they realized my boyfriend was over 21 and could legally check in. If he hadn’t been over 21 we would’ve been left outside.</p>
<p>If you book using Hotels.com, you pay in advance – and they have never asked our age when going to the hotel.</p>
<p>Another option might be a youth hostel – Chicago should have plenty</p>
<p>A friend of my parents recently had a daughter and two of her girlfriends (all are 19) travel to Chicago and stayed at the Sofitel Water Tower without problems. In fact, they came back and raved for days about how incredible it was.</p>
<p>While in Chicago, I usually stay at either the Park Hyatt or Peninsula, the former I have stayed at as a 20-year old back in 2000, and both as far as I know only require you to be at least 18 with a credit card. </p>
<p>Maybe times have changed. Best of luck on your search :)</p>
<p>We often stay in the western suburbs, usually in the Woodfield Mall (Schaumberg) area and drive to the lakefront- saving on the higher downtown hotel costs, but not having to drive back late at night is nice.</p>
<p>My D is 19 & has not had any problem getting a room when she travels. Just keep calling! Try the Hyatt downtown. We just got back from a stay there. We got the room on priceline for $59/night. They have a dedicated email concierge for priceline users, and they allowed us to request 2 beds & a nonsmoking room. They practically bent over backwards to accomodate us. I would be surprised if they wouldn’t allow your D to stay … especially if you call & talk to someone there.</p>
<p>It is easier to check into a hotel if you arrive looking like a worn out young sales rep (dress like a golfer) instead of a high school student (t shirt and cargo shorts).</p>
<p>My favorite Youth Hostel site covers the world (including Chicago ;)) </p>
<p>[Property</a> Search](<a href=“http://reservations.bookhostels.com/bootsnall.com/index.php]Property”>http://reservations.bookhostels.com/bootsnall.com/index.php)</p>
<p>Maybe they could stay in a hostel?</p>
<p>Chicago has a brand new youth hostel its one block away from Mich Ave, near Art Institute. DePaul University and Rooselvelt University flank the sides. I’ve been inside and it is nice. (cant stay i’m a resident of the city)</p>
<p>I just went to Chicago for the first time a few years back when I was 19, so like many people in this forum was searching for somewhere that I could definitely check in.
Even when I tried to book a few places online, it didn’t specify if you had to be over 21 or not, and calling around like that was a pain. I ended up at HI Chicago, and it was the best decision of the entire trip! (Trust me, there were some bad ones in there, but all fun)
I cannot recommend hostels enough, because they’re just like staying in one of the Chicago hotels Downtown, but better! You don’t get as much privacy (unless you want to pay extra for your own room) but you have the chance to meet young (and budget-conscious) people who have a lot of the same interests as you. It’s an awesome way to network, and meet people you might now have otherwise. HI is near some of the coolest things in Chitown too, so I could walk everywhere!</p>
<p>I went through this last year when my D was going to make a college visit to DePaul with a friend–I asked before making the reservation and almost all hotels had a minimum age of 21. I wasn’t willing to make a reservation in her name online and take the chance that they would be turned away without proper ID. I don’t need that headache from 1000 miles away. A poster here on cc alerted me to the Kimpton brand hotels as willing to accept guests under 21. The Hotel Monaco ([Chicago</a> Hotels | Boutique Hotels | Hotel Monaco Downtown Chicago](<a href=“http://www.monaco-chicago.com%5DChicago”>http://www.monaco-chicago.com)) was willing to check her in; I had to sign and fax back a waiver to the manager ahead of time.</p>
<p>I’ve frequently booked hotels for my college-aged kids – including Chicago – online using my own rewards account. The front desk never questioned them when they checked in with the same last name.</p>
<p>Please note the date of the OP’s request</p>
<p>Is it safe to sleep at o’hare airport?</p>
<p>I am 18 and I look like this so nobody is going to believe that I am 21 so likely all hotel options are gone for me.</p>
<p>This is a five year old thread! The OPs kid is well over 21 now!</p>
<p>That’s very helpful and good to know! I’ve stayed at many Kimpton Hotels and they’re always very well-maintained, so I can see how that would be a great place to send your kid and not having to worry too much. I’ve actually seen on a lot of websites you can sort [Chicago</a> hotels](<a href=“http://www.chicagotraveler.com/chicago-hotels.htm]Chicago”>Chicago Hotels - Chicago Traveler) by check in age (I see that the OP’s kid is of-age now, but thanks for sharing that info Snowdog and bluebayou!)
But also, I definitely wouldn’t recommend sleeping at O’Hare… there are better options (as several other posters have mentioned)</p>
<p>I know this is an old thread, but some recent posters have mentioned having the same problem. </p>
<p>If kids are there in the summer, check out [Chicago</a> Summer Housing](<a href=“http://www.chicagosummerhousing.com%5DChicago”>http://www.chicagosummerhousing.com). It’s a dorm by Grant Park. My niece, who attends Columbia College, lived there during the school year. My son stayed there last year during Lollapalooza. During the year, I’d check out Hostelling International, as it has one of the highest ratings on tripadvisor.</p>
<p>When I went as a 19 year old, my age was a big problem even though we paid online in advance. We ended up staying at a baymont hotel in glenview where we could just about walk to the metra train to take to union station each day. It worked out perfectly and our room was very comfortable, but I believe that hotel may have changed to a travelodge since then and I’ve never stayed in one of those to attest to the quality.</p>
<p>I also stayed at the Congress downtown when I was under 21, the location of which could not be beat for walking to the sights, but that was a school trip so I don’t know if they usually take young people.</p>