In general, a minor is generally considered to be anybody who has not attained the age of 18 years old. However, in Canada, the age of a minor can varies in each province.
| Province | Definition of minor child |
|---|---|
| British Columbia | Person under 19 years |
| Alberta | Person under 18 years |
| Saskatchewan | Unmarried person under 16 years |
| Manitoba | Person under 18 years |
| Ontario | Person under 18 years |
| Quebec | Person under 18 years |
| Nova Scotia | Person under 19 years |
| New Brunswick | Person under 19 years |
| Newfoundland | Person under 16 years (youth is defined as a person who is 16 years or older, but under the age of 18) |
| Prince Edward Island |
Person under 18 years |
| Northwest Territories |
Person under 19 years |
| Yukon | Person under 19 years |
| Nunavut | Person under 19 years |
The age difference comes with a whole lot of different privileges and expectations. People below the age of 18 are considered to be irresponsible and immature to be left alone to make independent decisions. Minors are often
guided by their parents or other close adults.
A minor often makes various mistakes and maybe pardoned depending on the nature of the wrongdoing, other mistakes usually call for the attention of the parents to keep the mischievous minors checking and on the right path.
Other instances may require a minor to stay alone and away from the parents, activities such as sports, music, festivals, academic trips, and team-building or camping may temporarily separate a minor from the parents.
Conditions such as the above may demand that a parent rents a temporary place for the child to stay. The most convenient temporary residence is a hotel.
When a parent is compelled to make these kinds of decisions, there are a lot of things to consider to ensure the safety and well-being of the minor.
Quick navigation
Can a minor stay in a hotel alone in Canada?
Many countries all over the world have various laws and parameters that govern hotels and the operation of hotels. In Canada, for example, a minor is restricted to a great length when it comes to booking hotel rooms for whatever reasons.
Logically, no hotel can deny or restrict a guest just because of age, however, due to various law requirements, minors are not allowed to book and stay in a hotel without the company of parents or responsible adults.
In Canada, parents are also not allowed to rent hotel rooms for minors to conduct activities such as parties with friends. A parent can, however, rent a hotel room in Canada, but this must stay in the room per the law.
The parent has to ring the hotel booking or physically visit the hotel and state the reasons for booking. The reasons must abide by the law and ensure that the minor in question has no better alternative than renting a hotel room.
What to consider as a minor before making a reservation at the hotel
Any minor, who is compelled to travel to any location that calls for making a hotel reservation should be open-minded. In the current world, almost everything or any kind of information can be found online.
It is important to find out various hotel reservation criteria on the internet.
If you are intending on visiting a designated location, gather all the necessary information about hotels and accommodation.
This will enable you to understand the requirements for booking particular hotels. From the website of the selected hotel, you will find valuable information such as age restrictions, accepted code of conduct, and the mode of payment.
Hotels in Canada do not have specific set standards for all the hotels to operate on.
This, therefore, means that various cities such as Toronto, Montreal, and other cities in Canada have different standards.
If you do a proper search then you will most likely settle in a favorite hotel that will accommodate your tender age.
Is there any legal age for minors to be left home alone?
There is no specific law or legal mandate that may compel a parent not to leave kids alone at home. This also extends to leaving minors to stay alone, away from home, for example in a hotel room.
The only problem here is that the law will hold somebody responsible if a minor commits an offense or violates the law to a greater capacity.
It is the parent who bears the burden of offenses committed by their children. Does this raise the question of can a parent rent a hotel room for a minor in Canada?
This, therefore, compels parents to monitor the whereabouts of their minors. Minors are mischievous; they might not necessarily commit any crime, but might engage in risky activities that may harm them.
For these obvious reasons, hotels in Canada do not entertain hosting minors who want to stay in their rooms without the company of parents.
Age requirements differ from one country to another
Every country has its minimum age requirements for renting hotels; also, various hotels differ when it comes to the age requirements for renting hotel rooms.
The universally accepted minimum age requirement for reserving hotel rooms is 18; however, in some countries such as the U.S, there are some hotels that reserve rooms for young stars, as young as 16 years old. At the same time, some hotels do not reserve even an 18-year-old; their minimum age for hotel room reservations is 21.
The main reason for this is because; the hotels do not accept any liability in case of any eventuality.
For hotels that operate in the most vibrant cities with lots of night events and parties, the minimum age requirement for hotel room reservations is 21.
It is very unlikely that cities with lots of casinos and bars will have hotels that allow room reservations from minors. Both the parent and the minor need to understand the dynamics of a given city or town before making a hotel room reservation.
Consideration for exceptions to the minimum age requirement
In Canada, to some extent, minimum age requirements may be reconsidered. Most hotels would not restrict a minor from room reservations if a parent or guardian is using his/her official name and credit card to make the reservation.
Through this, a parent can be allowed to rent a hotel room for a minor even without physically appearing in the hotel for reservations.
Also, a younger guest who is not yet 18, but travels in groups of adults or with an adult is allowed in hotel rooms.
The reservation can be done over the phone or at the counter.
Even though this kind of arrangement is allowed, the information about the minor will still be sorted by the hotel management.
This helps the hotel to keep track of all the guests who check in and out of the hotel. While checking into the hotel room, the adult guest who accompanies the minor is presumed to be liable for any eventuality.
Call the hotel
It will not be okay to solely depend on the information found on the hotel website.
For accuracy, when you want to make a hotel room reservation for a minor, call the hotel line and inquire about all the details.
Explain in detail the purpose of the reservation, whether you will accompany the minor, or whether the minor can stay alone without any problem.
Also, inquire about the payment options and if any additional documentation or information is needed.
You will notice that almost all hotels in Canada have similar modes of room reservations.
While coming up with ways how to know if a parent can rent a hotel room for a minor in Canada, it’s essential to know that a parent or guardian has to prepare requirements for the minor accompanying.
The room reservation requirements are almost a replica of the other. It is important to inform the minor on all the requirements of the selected hotel, what to expect, and the type of dishes on board.
How do Minors travel?
In the current world, people travel for various reasons, for minors, traveling is majorly for pursuing an education or team building activities with their peers.
For the kids who are pursuing education, it has become common that most of them go far from their homes. During the holidays, some minors have to travel across inter-cities and some also from abroad.
This makes it very crucial for parents to look for hotel rooms to rent for their kids before they finally come home. In Canada, some hotels may also require a short message from a parent to reserve a room for the traveling minor.
Other hotels may not even ask for such kind of information to reserve a room for the minors under such conditions.
Hotels should not discriminate
Just like the law states in Canada. Discrimination of any kind is condoned; be it on gender, religion, ethnicity, or race.
Hotels should be hospitable to any client in need. In most cases, hotels do not discriminate based on age, however, in-depth information should be sought in case a minor is to be reserved a room alone.
It is not prudent for a hotel to ask for your age as a guest; however, upon checking into the hotel, the guest must produce his or her identification documents. If the guest is a minor, then the correct policy for the hotel should be employed.
Every hotel has its policies and rules, but the most important aspect for a guest is hospitality and security. For any parent who wants to rent a room for a minor. Consider all these factors discussed in this article.
Conclusion
It is also important for a parent who wishes to rent a hotel room for a minor to know this; anything you request that is an extra amenity will incur extra charges.
Canada has very advanced hotel services with some sophisticated operating standards; these hotels accommodate people from all walks of life including kids. But before you think of renting a hotel room for your minor, acquaint yourself with the styles, policies, and various services in place.
Related content