Yes, you can check in at 18 at Spring Break U hotels in Cancun, Punta Cana, Cabo San Lucas, Nassau and Fort Lauderdale, with one big exception: Riu hotels are 21+ during spring break in every destination. The drinking age is 18 in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas, and 21 in Florida.
Here's the part the hotel booking sites won't tell you until you're standing at the desk with a suitcase.
Age rules by destination
| Destination | Drinking age | Hotel check-in age | What to bring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancun, Mexico | 18 | 18+ (Riu Cancun is 21+) | Passport, card for incidentals |
| Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | 18 | 18+ (Riu is 21+) | Passport, card for incidentals |
| Cabo San Lucas, Mexico | 18 | 18+ (Riu Santa Fe is 21+) | Passport, card for incidentals |
| Nassau, Bahamas | 18 | 18+ | Passport, card for incidentals |
| Fort Lauderdale, Florida | 21 | 18+ | Government photo ID, card for incidentals |
We book you into hotels that accept your group. That's the whole point of going with a student travel company instead of a random booking site that lets you pay and then bounces you at the desk. If anyone in your group is under 21, tell us when you request a quote so we steer you toward the right hotel.
Riu is a popular pick, and Riu Santa Fe has the lowest starting price in Cabo. If anyone in your group is under 21, skip the Riu hotels and ask for another resort at a similar price.
What "18+ check-in" means in real life
- One person signs for the room. Usually the group leader. Their name is on the reservation and their card is on file for incidentals.
- Incidentals hold. Hotels put a temporary hold on a card at check-in and release it after checkout if the room is intact. A credit card is usually smoother than a debit card.
- ID for everyone. Every guest shows a passport (international) or a government photo ID (Florida) at check-in. Copies don't count.
- Wristbands. All-inclusive resorts band you at check-in. Lose it and you may pay to replace it, so don't take it off in the pool.
- Damage policy. You break it, you bought it, and it comes off the card on file. Plan your room games accordingly.
Why the rules differ by country
Mexico, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas set the drinking age at 18, and their resorts are built around groups that age. Florida is 21 by law, so bars there card hard and the drinking side of the trip is for 21+ only. Riu sets its own 21+ rule for spring break weeks, on top of local law. It's not personal. It's how they manage a hotel full of students.
Don't bring a fake ID anywhere. A fake ID in Mexico is a bad week. A real passport is a great one.
Final Thoughts
If you're 18, Mexico, the Caribbean and Florida are all open to you. Just skip the Riu hotels and tell us your group's ages up front, and the check-in desk becomes the easiest part of the week.
