Bali is a magical destination beloved by travellers of all ages, from large families, groups of friends to solo adventurers seeking an escape from the everyday world.
But, if you’re a young traveller considering a trip to the island, you may be wondering, “How old do you need to be to book a hotel room in Bali?”
Unfortunately, the answer isn’t as clear as we’d like it to be. That’s because Bali (and Indonesia as a whole) has no universally accepted law that sets down a minimum age for renting a hotel room or making a booking. So, much depends on the property you want to stay in as much as custom, tradition, etc.
So, here’s a breakdown of everything you’ll need to know if you’re a youngster travelling with friends or a parent trying to help a teen enjoy their first Bali vacation solo without any hassle.
Our guide covers age rules, hotel policies and some handy tips to ensure your visit is smooth and stress-free.
The Basics: How Old Do You Need To Be To Book A Hotel Room In Bali?
It’s probably fair to say that most hotels here in Indonesia or Bali don’t really care how old you are to book a room. They run a business, and that means making as much money as they can.
However, most hotels will expect you to be 18 years old at check-in, and that’s not because they have become fussy or are required to do so by the local government, it’s because of Indonesian contract law.
18 is the age of majority here in Indonesia. If you’re not over the age of 18, you’re not legally able to enter into a contract. Which means when you sign your agreement to stay in a hotel, it’s not legally enforceable.
In turn, this means that a hotel can’t hold you accountable if you don’t pay the bill or if you damage something in the hotel. So, typically, hotels expect you to be 18, so that they can cover themselves from a legal liability perspective.
Having said that, nothing here in Bali is that straightforward, and there is a huge and diverse range of hotels here, from basic backpacker hostels (or more typically, guesthouses – hostels are quite new to Bali) through to very high-end luxury hotels, resorts and villas.
While the lower end of this scene may be a bit flexible over age limits, the higher end, particularly in areas like Nusa Dua, Ubud, Canggu and Seminyak, may set an even higher age limit of 21 or even 25 or older.
That’s because these resorts target adult crowds and they have onsite bars, spas, pool parties, and they don’t need underage drinking or disruptions to become an issue for their guests or for local law enforcement.
However, there is some good news in this. Bali is a very chilled out place and many places can be very flexible, particularly if the younger traveller is accompanied by a parent or guardian or if they can demonstrate that they have parental consent for their booking.
But, you can’t assume that your hotel will bend the rules – you must check with the hotel in advance to see if their policies will accommodate your needs. You don’t want a surprise when you check in, not least because most hotel bookings do not provide refunds if you’re refused entrance due to your age.
Why Do Hotels In Bali Care About Your Age?
Hotels aren’t bothered about your age because they’re acting as some sort of arbiter of adulthood; they have some simple reasons for requiring guests to be over 18:
- Legal and financial constraints – if you haven’t reached the age of majority, Indonesian law considers you to be a child. Children can’t be held responsible for breaking a contract, because they can’t legally enter into a contract. So, if you damage the place or skip out on the bill, the hotel is left eating the costs. Of course, hotels don’t assume that every young traveller is going to cause trouble, but the sad truth is that some do and hotels must protect themselves against losses.
- Safety and liability considerations – hotels are there to create an amazing experience for all of their guests. They want people to come back again and again. Younger guests may have additional needs such as extra supervision, or to be kept out of the minibar, or be discouraged from throwing impromptu parties at midnight. This is the kind of oversight that costs money, and it simply isn’t in most hotel budgets to offer this.
Recently, we found a discussion in /r/bali on Reddit. Where this specific issue was being discussed and they found that in the case of a 17-year-old wanting to travel with an 18-year-old acting as guardian, this wouldn’t be a problem as long as the 18-year-old checks both people in and takes responsibility for the 17-year-old during their stay.
While most hotels won’t have a problem with this approach, again, we strongly urge you to check with the hotel and confirm this in writing before you book.
Age Rules By Hotel Type And Location
Bali has an incredible range of accommodation to choose from and there are budget backpacker haunts and some of the best villas on the planet, and everything in between. Age policies tend to vary between these places and where they are located. Here’s a rough breakdown of that in action:
- Budget hostels and guesthouses – these are the places most likely to be friendly to 16-year-old and 17-year-old travellers as long as they either check in with an 18+ year-old or have written parental consent. They’re used to hosting groups of students and backpackers and are better prepared to deal with younger travellers. However, as always, check first, don’t assume this to be true.
- Mid-range hotels – this includes chains, locally owned hotels, etc. Mostly, these places are going to stick pretty fast to an 18+ rule and are less likely to consider exceptions such as parental consent. You will want to get any exceptions made in writing from these places, or don’t book.
- Luxury resorts – high-end resorts here often set a 21+ policy, and they are only likely to allow a younger guest to check in if they are checked in with a guest who meets their age policy and who is staying in the hotel throughout the length of the younger guest’s stay.
- Private villas – villas can be super flexible and often require only a single guest to be over 18, though this guest then bears all the responsibility for any damages, etc., from the party as a whole. However, some villas are not so flexible and may require a much higher age limit, we’ve seen villas on Airbnb that insist all guests be over 25, to help prevent reckless parties in their high-end properties.
We would note that your agreements are only binding with a hotel or resort if they are in writing. Trying to argue, “the nice receptionist told me last month it would be OK” is not likely to help you at check in.
Tips For Younger Travellers (Those Under 18) For Booking A Hotel In Bali
So, you’re under 18 and you want to ensure that your Bali dream becomes a reality. Don’t stress yourself out, here’s how to make it work:
- Have an adult book and check in for you: most hotels don’t care how old each guest is as long as someone who is old enough books the room and checks in for you. It’s important to ensure that the party who is over 18 has ID, and you should check in advance to see if the hotel also wants written permission from a parent.
- Choose family-friendly or budget hotels: some hotels are more likely than others to allow younger travellers and may have some flexibility with their age limits.
- Look for exceptions that might apply to you: some hotels will offer a waiver of the age requirements for emancipated minors or for those who are actively serving in the military. If this is the case, you will need to support this status with documentation when you arrive at the hotel.
- Contact the hotel directly: it never hurts to ask for an exception. Get any agreement in writing. You might also want to ask if younger guests incur a surcharge. Some places may want you to pay for extra security checks and precautions.
What Happens When You Check In At A Hotel In Bali?
OK, so you’ve booked. And you’ve discovered it’s super easy to book online, as most of the booking platforms don’t check your ID. The trouble is that this doesn’t help at check-in.
Every hotel is required to ask for your passport or equivalent government-issued photo ID. So, if you don’t meet the age requirements, they can refuse to accept you at check-in; worse, they may also refuse to refund any payments you’ve already made.
So, to avoid any issues when you check in:
- Call them in advance, confirm the policies in writing: checking the website is fine, but contacting the front desk or sending an email is better. If you will be 18 when you arrive, don’t worry too much, but if you’re under 18, get every agreement in writing.
- Make sure that the primary guest meets the requirements: if someone else will handle check-in for you, make sure they have their ID and all necessary documents available. You will still need to show your passport as part of the check-in process, even if you’re not going to be the primary guest.
Other Useful Things For Young Travellers To Know In Bali
OK, now we’ve got you checked in, let’s look at some other handy tips for young travellers on their first solo vacation in Bali:
- Drinking age – there is a legal drinking age in Indonesia, and it’s 21. To be fair, enforcement is lax to non-existent in most bars, clubs, corner shops, etc., but your hotel or hostel may have to restrict minibar access because they have your ID on file. Just in case the police come to check.
- Cultural norms – Bali is a very laid-back place, and it’s easy to miss that it’s a very religious island. Some local hotels, especially those that prioritise local guests, may require opposite sex couples who share a room to provide a marriage certificate. It’s pretty rare in Bali, to be fair, but can be very common in other parts of Indonesia.
- Tourist tax – Bali has a mandatory 150,000 IDR tourist tax and has done since 2024. This is in addition to any visa fees that you pay. As with many things on the island, it’s not always enforced, but if you try and enter a tourism site here, you may be asked to prove you’ve paid before you are allowed in.
- Scooter safety – riding a scooter is almost synonymous with coming to Bali, but it’s very hard to be legal on the roads here. You must have a current driving license with a motorbike endorsement and a current International Driver’s Permit (IDP). If you don’t have them, your insurance is invalid (yes, even if you’ve paid for it). And accidents are very common here. Don’t become a statistic, ride-share through Grab and Gojek is super cheap and much safer than using a scooter.
How To Prepare For A Hassle-Free Hotel Stay In Bali
OK, so last four tips to ensure that your trip to Bali is plain sailing:
- Book directly – by booking directly with the hotel, having already checked their age policy and got the details in writing, you make it very hard for the hotel to give you any issues when you check in.
- Book a group-friendly spot – a hostel in Ubud or Canggu is going to be much easier to deal with than a luxury resort in Nusa Dua
- Have a plan B – if your first choice doesn’t pan out, then pick somewhere with more relaxed rules (Airbnb could be a good way to go)
- Stay safe – always share your itinerary with friends and family back home, and check in every now and then, let people know you’re OK, so they don’t worry and you don’t get a visit from the police making sure you’re OK.
FINNS Bali Resort’s Age Policy
FINNS Bali Resort, in keeping with the majority of hotels in Bali, requires the primary guest to be at least 18. However, we may be open to exceptions in certain cases.
If you want an exception, we strongly recommend that you contact our guest reservations department when we have opened to discuss your specific situation before you book. They will do their best to help and advise you on your options.
FINNS Bali Resort will only honour exceptions that have been made and confirmed in writing.
FAQs
Can I Stay In A Bali Hotel If I Am 18 Years Old?
Yes, of course you can stay in a Bali hotel if you’re 18. The vast majority of hotels on the island require guests to be 18 years old to check in. However, there are some properties that require you to be 21 or even 25.
So, make sure you check the small print closely before you book a hotel or villa. They are allowed to refuse to check you in if your ID doesn’t meet the requirements and they are not required to pay you any compensation or refund your deposit if they do this.
Can A Foreigner Own A Hotel In Bali?
Yes, foreigners are allowed to own hotels here on the island. However, the process is both complex and costly and likely to deter casual investors.
We should note that if you are thinking of using Airbnb to rent a property here, foreign ownership can be a serious problem.
You should ask to see proof that the property is fully licensed for tourism by the Balinese government. Failure to do so may lead to your eviction from the property, and you will not be compensated if this happens.
This is why we recommend staying in a hotel or a resort if at all possible.
Is It OK To Stay With My Unmarried Partner In Bali?
Yes, the vast majority of hotels here in Bali, including FINNS Bali Resort, have no issues with unmarried couples checking in. This includes both opposite sex and same sex couples.
However, there are some guesthouses that specifically focus on the local tourism market and may be stricter and require a proof of marriage certificate for opposite sex couples who want to share a room.
This is quite rare in Bali, but it can be much more common in the rest of the Indonesian archipelago. Always check with a hotel before you book if this is a concern.
We should note that there is, in fact, a law in Indonesia that requires you to be married to someone before you share a bed with them. This law is not usually enforced on foreigners but it’s worth being aware of it, just in case you’re asked for proof.
Final Thoughts On The Minimum Age To Book A Hotel Room In Bali
The minimum age for booking a hotel in Bali isn’t just a random rule; it’s there to protect both guests and the property. With a bit of planning and communication with your chosen hotel, you can navigate these restrictions and enjoy an unforgettable Bali adventure.