Issue Date:  -  Tuesday, 9 September 2003

Accommodation advice for students - Don't spoil your holiday this year

Young people who intend to book hotel rooms, chalets or campsites this year should take care when making their holiday arrangements or they could end up paying for accommodation that they cannot use.

Each year Consumer Protection receives calls from distressed parents and students when accommodation has been refused to under eighteen year olds even though the arrangements had been booked and paid for, often on the parent's credit card.

"Many parents consider their seventeen year old children to be adults as they may have left school and have a driver's licence", Consumer Protection Commissioner Patrick Walker said.

"Accommodation providers such as hotels, motels and caravan park operators can require their patrons to be over eighteen years of age or accompanied by an adult who is", he said.

Year twelve students traditionally start looking at their holiday options, especially in the Southwest region of WA about this time of the year.

Many owners and managers of hotels and other accommodation outlets annually express their concern about `schoolies' bringing alcohol onto their premises and generally being unruly and without adult supervision.

"Bookings which can not be honoured due to underage issues cause understandable distress and inconvenience for all concerned.

"If young people and their parents do not make careful enquiries and honest disclosure before booking accommodation and making payments, they could find themselves looking for somewhere else to stay as well as having uncomfortable confrontations.

"Avoiding the problem in the first place is always better than trying to negotiate refunds or other remedies, especially at peak holiday times when alternative accommodation may be limited", Commissioner Walker said.

Call Consumer Protection for advice on 1300 30 40 54 or email online@docep.wa.gov.au <mailto:online@docep.wa.gov.au>