OP here. Thanks all. Yes, minimum age of 18 to check in is fairly standard. No couches to crash on in midtown. I think we've found an option though. Fingers crossed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it were me, I'd feel more comfortable sending my teen to a hotel.

Sites like Priceline can work well in big cities. And you can specify the neighborhood or even the specific hotel.

Most hotels don't let 18-year-olds check-in and stay alone.

Have her stay at the Plaza hotel. All she needs is a credit card to check in. To be on the safe side, send her with an audio recording of your voice so it sounds like an adult is with her.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it were me, I'd feel more comfortable sending my teen to a hotel.

Sites like Priceline can work well in big cities. And you can specify the neighborhood or even the specific hotel.

Most hotels don't let 18-year-olds check-in and stay alone.

Have her stay at the Plaza hotel. All she needs is a credit card to check in. To be on the safe side, send her with an audio recording of your voice so it sounds like an adult is with her.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you or your kids not know anyone who lives in the city? Kids of friends of yours, older siblings of their friends, etc? My college kids seem to know someone everywhere they go and somehow manage to couch-surf their way around the country.

They probably met these people while in college.

Sometimes, but they are also older siblings of classmates or people who graduated from their high school a year or two earlier.

there are lists on TripAdvisor of hotels that allow 18 yos, including a hostel near Columbia.

Anonymous wrote:Do you or your kids not know anyone who lives in the city? Kids of friends of yours, older siblings of their friends, etc? My college kids seem to know someone everywhere they go and somehow manage to couch-surf their way around the country.

They probably met these people while in college.

Do you or your kids not know anyone who lives in the city? Kids of friends of yours, older siblings of their friends, etc? My college kids seem to know someone everywhere they go and somehow manage to couch-surf their way around the country.

Anonymous wrote:

OP, I would identify a few hotels based on location and price, and then just start calling. You might also look up hostels and/or college dorms that might rent rooms to students during the summer.

I love that you are allowing the kids to do this, OP. I'd take the advice above with the caveat that the teens should do the calling.

Anonymous wrote:If it were me, I'd feel more comfortable sending my teen to a hotel.

Sites like Priceline can work well in big cities. And you can specify the neighborhood or even the specific hotel.

Most hotels don't let 18-year-olds check-in and stay alone.

Anonymous wrote:If it were me, I'd feel more comfortable sending my teen to a hotel.

Sites like Priceline can work well in big cities. And you can specify the neighborhood or even the specific hotel.

Don't just book a place online. Your kids will get to the front desk and they won't let them check in. You have to call in advance and speak to someone at the hotel to make sure that they will allow them to check in; most will not at that age.

OP, I would identify a few hotels based on location and price, and then just start calling. You might also look up hostels and/or college dorms that might rent rooms to students during the summer.

OP, look at the fine print as may hotels will not yet under 21 (or older) check in, even if it's prepaid and the hotel has your credit card as a deposit/payment.

So, maybe that was your question and you knew that ...

I think you can use Airbnb when you're 18. Try that.

No, not this

If it were me, I'd feel more comfortable sending my teen to a hotel.

Sites like Priceline can work well in big cities. And you can specify the neighborhood or even the specific hotel.

I think you can use Airbnb when you're 18. Try that.

My recent HS grad and her friend want to take the bus to NYC for one night/two days. The travel seems fine to me and I have full confidence in my kid's ability to navigate the city on foot and subway. What I don't know is where they could rent a room for the night. Anyone else's teenager done an urban solo trip. One kid is 17, the other 18.