Canonical: https://staychapter.com/en/united-states/new-york/nyc-hotel-checkin-age-18-vs-21/ Language: en Content-Signal: search=yes, ai-input=yes, ai-train=yes Description: Compare the published check-in ages, room choices and locations at Hyatt Centric Times Square New York and Moxy NYC Downtown before you book. Author: hong seokho Published: 2026-10-25 Updated: 2026-11-05 # Can you check into a New York hotel at 18? Hyatt Centric vs Moxy Downtown Compare the published check-in ages, room choices and locations at Hyatt Centric Times Square New York and Moxy NYC Downtown before you book. **hong seokho**Two-hotel comparisonEnglishSources checked 2026-10-25Updated 2026-11-05 This article contains affiliate links. ## Choose a hotel for this stay ### Before choosing a room - the lead guest’s minimum check-in age, ID and payment requirements [![Entrance and exterior of Hyatt Centric Times Square New York.]()]() Hotel compared in this guide ### Hyatt Centric Times Square New York Consider it first if you are 18 to 20 and want a Midtown base for Broadway and nearby plans. [View rooms]()[Hotel details in the guide]() [![Moxy NYC Downtown exterior at night.]()]() Hotel compared in this guide ### Moxy NYC Downtown Consider it if you are at least 21 and plan to spend time in Lower Manhattan. [View rooms]()[Hotel details in the guide]() [![Pod Times Square · Hotel photograph 1]()]() Additional option ### Pod Times Square Room example 12 m² · Before choosing, confirm: the lead guest’s minimum check-in age, ID and payment requirements [View rooms]()[Hotel details in the guide]() [![NobleDEN Hotel · Hotel photograph 1]()]() Additional option ### NobleDEN Hotel Room example 28 m² · Before choosing, confirm: the lead guest’s minimum check-in age, ID and payment requirements [View rooms]()[Hotel details in the guide]() ## The short answer Only details confirmed in the hotels' official information. ### Hyatt Centric Times Square New York Choose it if Consider it first if you are 18 to 20 and want a Midtown base for Broadway and nearby plans. Know before you book Confirm the terms for your own reservation, room category, card authorisation and guest names. Bar 54 is separately limited to guests aged 21 and over. ### Moxy NYC Downtown Choose it if Consider it if you are at least 21 and plan to spend time in Lower Manhattan. Know before you book Its published minimum check-in age is 21. Check your exact room name and booking terms, and confirm guest and payment requirements with the property. The 18- and 21-year thresholds are the hotels’ published policies, not a citywide legal rule. For guests aged 18 to 20, check Hyatt Centric first; do not assume a booking payment is approval to check in. Affiliate advertising If you will be checking into a New York hotel yourself at 18 to 20, start by looking at Hyatt Centric Times Square New York. Its published minimum check-in age is 18; Moxy NYC Downtown lists 21. Being able to enter “adult” on a booking form does not put the two hotels on the same terms. Once you meet the age requirement, compare where you want to return at night, Midtown or Lower Manhattan, and which bed and room setup you need. ## Before you pay, decide who will check in When friends plan their first overseas trip, it is easy to start with flights and rooms. In New York, first match the age of the person checking in with the policy for that specific hotel. Whether someone is considered an adult in Korea, when a booking site applies its adult rate, and the age at which a hotel lets someone check in are separate questions. The ages 18 and 21 in this guide are the two hotels’ published operating policies; they are not a citywide legal rule. ![Street in New York’s Theater District, photographed in 2012.]() Street in New York’s Theater District, photographed in 2012. If the person who made the reservation is not the person arriving, check the guest names and who is travelling together. A parent paying for a room does not by itself mean their child can check in alone, and booking under a friend’s name does not remove an age requirement. What matters is confirming that the arriving guest and the reservation details match. Settle this before paying for a non-refundable rate so you are less likely to have to find another place on arrival day. | Compare | Hyatt Centric Times Square | Moxy NYC Downtown | | --- | --- | --- | | Minimum check-in age | 18 | 21 | | Base | 135 West 45th Street · Midtown | 26 Ann Street · Lower Manhattan | | Room search starting point | Bed and view categories, including 2 Queen Beds | King, Queen and 2 Queen room categories | | Check separately | Bar 54 is 21+; reservation name, ID and payment terms | The property’s ID, card and accompanying-guest requirements | This comparison uses the hotels’ official information checked on October 25, 2026. For travellers aged 18 to 20, the age rule determines which hotel to consider first. At 21 or older, room type and the part of the city where you plan to spend time may matter more. If your booking includes a younger guest, a group, or a cardholder whose name differs from the reservation, ask the property about your exact arrangement. The two hotels are in New York, but their policies are not interchangeable. ## Hyatt Centric · a Midtown base to consider from age 18 ![Entrance and exterior of Hyatt Centric Times Square New York.]() Entrance and exterior of Hyatt Centric Times Square New York. Hyatt Centric Times Square New York is at 135 West 45th Street. Save the full English name and address so you do not confuse it with another Hyatt property. If Broadway shows and returning to Midtown at night are central to your trip, its location is worth considering. Even if you use the room mainly to sleep, where you return after the evening can shape how well the hotel fits your stay. The official FAQ gives a minimum check-in age of 18. For guests under 18, it says they must be accompanied by someone aged 18 or older, whose name is included on the reservation. Do not read this as automatic approval for every group arrangement. If you are 18 to 20 and will check in yourself, confirm the booking terms using your own name and date of birth, and ask how your companions should be listed. ![Two-queen room from the Hyatt Centric property gallery.]() Two-queen room from the Hyatt Centric property gallery. If you do not want to share a bed with a friend, start with the number of beds in the room name. The official room list describes 2 Queen Beds as 32 square metres. A king room and a room with two queen beds are different categories, even if a booking site groups them under “double room.” Two beds alone do not establish how many people the rate allows, or whether an extra guest fee or breakfast is included. Enter your party size and bed needs, then check the terms for that specific room. Choose the view as its own room category. City View, High Floor City View and Times Square View are listed separately and should not be treated as the same promise. A large window does not guarantee a particular scene. There is also a difference between booking a standard room and requesting a high floor, and selecting a high-floor category. If the view matters to your stay, keep the exact room name shown on your booking. ![Lobby of Hyatt Centric Times Square New York.]() Lobby of Hyatt Centric Times Square New York. The hotel policy requires valid photo identification at check-in. Hyatt Centric also says a $100-per-night incidental deposit/authorisation will be taken at check-in; this is separate from the room charge. Paying the room charge in advance may not remove the checks required when you arrive. Confirm the type of card, whose name is on it, and the authorisation terms before travelling. How an authorised amount affects your available balance and when it is released can depend on the card issuer and payment method, so do not assume the hotel’s release notice means an immediate cash refund. Choosing Hyatt Centric does not mean every space in the hotel has the same age rule. The rooftop Bar 54 separately admits guests aged 21 and over. That does not conflict with check-in from age 18: staying in a room and entering the bar have different conditions. If spending time at the bar is a main reason for your trip, check this before booking the room. ![Bryant Park and the New York Public Library, photographed in 2012.]() Bryant Park and the New York Public Library, photographed in 2012. This hotel is worth considering if you meet its age requirement and plan to spend evenings around Midtown, including Broadway. If most of your trip is in Lower Manhattan, the Times Square name alone is not a reason to choose it. First match the bed and view category to your needs, then compare whether your evening plans and the hotel you return to fit together. [View rooms at Hyatt Centric Times Square New York · Agoda (may open in Korean)]()[View rooms at Hyatt Centric Times Square New York · Trip.com]() ## Moxy Downtown · another room option for guests aged 21 and over ![Moxy NYC Downtown exterior at night.]() Moxy NYC Downtown exterior at night. Moxy NYC Downtown is at 26 Ann Street. Moxy NYC Downtown and Moxy Times Square are separate properties, so do not stop your search at the Moxy brand name. The official property page lists a minimum check-in age of 21. If you are 18 to 20 and intend to check in under your own name, the published rule does not fit your situation, even if you like the room photos or rate. Do not pay on the assumption that an exception will be made. If you are 21 or older, Moxy offers a different base for your trip. The hotel describes its surroundings in Lower Manhattan, near Fulton Center, the Oculus and One World Trade Center. That changes the direction of your return compared with a trip centred on Times Square shows. Do not read “Downtown” as a label for all of New York’s centre; compare the hotel’s street address with where your day is likely to end. ![High-floor two-queen room from the Moxy Downtown property gallery.]() High-floor two-queen room from the Moxy Downtown property gallery. Moxy’s official room list separates King, Queen and 2 Queen categories. The Agoda property gallery also includes a photo labelled as a high-floor room with two queen beds. Even with the same number of beds, the furniture and storage layout differs from Hyatt’s. Decide whether you will share a bed, choose the exact room name, then look in the photos for the space around the beds and where luggage might go. A single photo cannot confirm the occupancy limit for everyone in your party or guarantee space for your suitcases. The hotel describes its rooms as compact and mentions features such as hanging storage and a fold-down desk. These are useful details if you care about how the room uses its space rather than how much furniture it contains. A photo that appears to show open floor space does not establish that several large bags can be left open. Think about your own routine, such as whether a bag needs to fit under the bed or whether you will work on a laptop in the room, then use the photos to assess that room category. ![Entrance lobby and elevator hall at Moxy NYC Downtown.]() Entrance lobby and elevator hall at Moxy NYC Downtown. The Moxy property page says Bar Moxy also serves as the front desk. A check-in area with a bar atmosphere does not remove arrival procedures or the minimum-age rule. Published standard check-in starts at 4 p.m. and check-out is at 11 a.m. If you need to arrive early or leave late, ask about availability and any charge for your reservation instead of assuming the standard hours can be extended. ![Fulton Center exterior, photographed in 2014.]() Fulton Center exterior, photographed in 2014. Moxy is a candidate when you meet the age threshold and have a clear reason to stay in Lower Manhattan. Meeting the check-in age alone does not settle requirements for every guest or facility, so confirm ID, payment card and guest registration with the property. If you expect to return to the hotel after Broadway shows each night, weigh that trip back separately from the appeal of a Downtown room. [View rooms at Moxy NYC Downtown · Agoda (may open in Korean)]()[View rooms at Moxy NYC Downtown · Trip.com]() ## Choose your evening area and hotel return together When you compare Hyatt Centric and Moxy on a map, start with the area where you expect to spend the evening instead of marking every place you might visit. A trip that returns to Midtown after a Broadway show and one that ends the day in Lower Manhattan have different hotel advantages. Rather than looking for the hotel that is easier for every New York itinerary, choose the base that cuts down the trips you will repeat. ![New York City Hall Park, photographed in 2007.]() New York City Hall Park, photographed in 2007. If you stay at Moxy and plan to visit City Hall Park or the Oculus, decide whether you might return to your room for a break or stay out through the evening. Around Hyatt, you could consider grouping Bryant Park and nearby theatre plans in the same part of town. Saying that a place is near a hotel does not account for steps, construction, crowds or weather along the walking route. If you will have a lot of luggage, check the station exit and hotel entrance separately. ![Oculus at the World Trade Center, photographed in 2025.]() Oculus at the World Trade Center, photographed in 2025. It also helps to work out your first transfer from the airport before booking. Start with whether you arrive at JFK, LaGuardia or Newark, then enter the hotel’s exact street address as your destination. Choosing an airport or hotel based only on the city name can make the trip to check-in longer than expected. Use the hotel’s nearby-transport information as a starting point and confirm service on your arrival date with the transport operator. For a winter or year-end trip, reduce the number of things you need to sort out after a late arrival. Check that the reservation name matches your ID, know whom to contact if you will arrive late, and make sure your card can handle any authorisation or extra charges. When your schedule leaves little time to change rooms or move hotels, confirming check-in eligibility before departure is part of choosing where to stay. ## Questions to settle before you book When you contact a hotel, do more than ask, “How old do I have to be to book?” Give the age of the person who will check in, the ages of accompanying guests, the reservation name and the payment method. Check that the reply refers to the exact property and your stay dates. An answer tied to your reservation from that property is more useful than a general statement from the chain’s customer service. Do not post copies of sensitive ID or card details in public comments. Compare the two rooms using the same dates and party size, room name, beds, meals, cancellation terms, taxes and required extra charges. Prepaying and confirming that you are eligible to check in are separate matters. A payment going through does not show that the age requirement has been approved; read the conditions on the booking confirmation. Save the contact route for the channel you used in case you have an issue checking in. If you need two beds, check for a room name such as 2 Queen. If the view matters, confirm the category you actually selected, such as City View or High Floor. A request for an extra bed or connecting room is not the same as a confirmed reply. Do not assume that a similar room photo shows the exact setup you booked; checking the room name can help avoid a mismatch on arrival. For another example of how to read what required extra charges include, see our [Waikiki hotel resort fee comparison](). It does not mean the two New York hotels charge the same amount or include the same benefits. For this choice, first establish who will check in, then compare the room and base that fit your trip, and finish by checking the total on the reservation. If you are 18 to 20, use Hyatt Centric’s published age policy as a starting point and confirm the terms for your own reservation. At 21 or older, you can also compare Moxy’s rooms and location if you plan to spend time in Lower Manhattan. Hyatt may suit a Midtown show itinerary and the two-queen room category; Moxy may fit a Downtown itinerary and its room layout. Make the final choice against a confirmation that matches your name, companions, card and rate plan. ## More hotels to consider These additional hotels broaden the comparison of locations and rooms. Conditions established for the hotels above do not carry over to another property. ### Pod Times Square **Location:** 400 West 42nd Street. **Room example: 12 m²** · “Queen Pod”. Enter your dates and party size, then match the exact room name on the booking page. **Before choosing, confirm:** the lead guest’s minimum check-in age, ID and payment requirements. ![Pod Times Square · Hotel photograph 1]() Pod Times Square · Hotel photograph 1 ![Pod Times Square · Hotel photograph 2]() Pod Times Square · Hotel photograph 2 ![Pod Times Square · Hotel photograph 3]() Pod Times Square · Hotel photograph 3 [Pod Times Square · View rooms · Agoda ↗]() ### NobleDEN Hotel **Location:** 196 Grand Street, New York, NY 10013. **Room example: 28 m²** · “Double Double Room”. Enter your dates and party size, then match the exact room name on the booking page. **Before choosing, confirm:** the lead guest’s minimum check-in age, ID and payment requirements. ![NobleDEN Hotel · Hotel photograph 1]() NobleDEN Hotel · Hotel photograph 1 ![NobleDEN Hotel · Hotel photograph 2]() NobleDEN Hotel · Hotel photograph 2 ![NobleDEN Hotel · Hotel photograph 3]() NobleDEN Hotel · Hotel photograph 3 [NobleDEN Hotel · View rooms · Agoda ↗]() ## Sources - [Hyatt Centric official FAQ · check-in age, Bar 54 and $100 nightly incidental deposit/authorisation (checked October 28, 2026)]() - [Hyatt Centric official hotel policies]() - [Hyatt Centric official rooms]() - [Moxy NYC Downtown official property · Property Details]() - [Moxy NYC Downtown official rooms]() Photo credits· 5 - Street in New York’s Theater District, photographed in 2012.© [peter boy12qq12]() · [CC BY 3.0]() · Resized - Bryant Park and the New York Public Library, photographed in 2012.© [Jean-Christophe BENOIST]() · [CC BY 3.0]() · Resized - Fulton Center exterior, photographed in 2014.© [MusikAnimal]() · [CC BY-SA 4.0]() · Resized - New York City Hall Park, photographed in 2007.© [Momos]() · [CC BY-SA 3.0]() · Resized - Oculus at the World Trade Center, photographed in 2025.© [Kidfly182]() · [CC BY 4.0]() · Resized