Some travel companies may allow you to book a holiday at a different age than what you are, as long as you are at least 18 years old on the day of travel. However, other companies may have stricter policies and require you to be the age you booked the holiday at on the day of travel.

In most jurisdictions, including the UK and USA in 2026, you generally must be 18 years old to book a holiday independently. This requirement exists because booking travel involves entering into a legally binding contract with airlines, hotels, and tour operators, and individuals under 18 are typically considered minors who lack the legal capacity to sign such contracts. Most hotels require at least one guest in the room to be 21 in some parts of the US, or 18 elsewhere, to prevent issues with liability and alcohol consumption. While some airlines allow minors to book flights (often under "unaccompanied minor" programs), finding accommodation that accepts someone under 18 without an adult is extremely rare. Some youth travel companies like Contiki or G Adventures may have specific policies for 17-year-olds with parental consent, but for the vast majority of mainstream travel, 18 is the magic number. If you are under 18 and looking to travel, a supportive and grounded peer recommendation is to have a parent or guardian make the booking in their name and provide a formal "letter of consent" to show to authorities and hotel staff during your trip.