The Motability Scheme which provides accessible transport for disabled people in the UK has pulled together a basic guide to planning and booking accessible accommodation — to enable you to think about what you need to consider when planning a trip away.
Key considerations include:
Checking the location and surrounding
Hotel accessibility
Car parks and designated parking spaces
Research into the training that hotel staff receive
Basic Hotel Accommodation
Many of the branded hotels in the UK accommodate disabled guests well. Whether you are after budget level or high end most companies are improving their accessible rooms to allow more flexibility for those with additional adaptations to accommodation.
With staple brands like Travelodge, Premier Inn and Holiday Inns the standard features generally include:
Wider door entrances
Bigger floor space
Accessible clothing storage
Handrails in the bathroom and/or roll-in showers and lowered baths
Emergency pull cables
Designated parking (check this in on-site as some charge for parking and it can be off-site)
Prior to booking/arrival, it can help to check:
Wheelchair accessibility
Bedroom accessibility
Bathroom accessibility
Height of the bed
If there are lifts available (if rooms are not on one level or you don’t need an accessible room but cannot manage steps)
Access to public areas such as restaurants and leisure facilities
Always remember when you arrive to:
Inform the reception team if you need help in an emergency
Register your car if you have a blue badge (not always necessary)
Request any additional support you may need — simple things like the height of the shower head or the spare pillows being on the top of the wardrobe can cause trouble for solo travellers who are wheelchair users
Using Booking Websites
Booking.com and Tripadvisor are just two sites that have become household names. They allow you to narrow down searches to hotels that match your specific needs and requirements — giving you good value for money and comparison between a number of different options in the same location.
Specific Holiday Companies
Disabled holiday companies such as Disabled Holidays.com provide services for those with special requirements. Whether you are looking for a cosy cottage in the UK — a cruise around the world or a villa somewhere nice and warm — you’ll find plenty of options here, with added extras like insurance and luggage services also on offer. You can even apply for a grant to help with the cost of the breaks which begin at around £600 per week.
Accessible holiday escapes are a family company who share their own experiences of travelling with a disabled daughter and a very sporty son. They list some incredible locations and experiences that include Safari Lodges in Kenya and Luxury Cottages in Sussex. Theres a blog that looks at travelling with specific conditions and gives opportunities to meet the people who own and run these special retreats.
Summary
Whatever your reason for needing accommodation accessibility should not be something that you have to compromise on. It also shouldn’t mean facing additional charges. A bit of extra planning may be required but the outcome will be better and worth the effort.
Think carefully about your specific requirements by looking at any adaptations you have at home and any help you have. Then use that as a basis for your initial search. Good luck and enjoy!
Motability — How to find accessible accommodation: https://news.motability.co.uk/everyday-tips/how-to-find-accessible-accommodation/
booking.com accessible travelling: https://www.booking.com/accessible-traveling/index.en-gb.html?auth_success=1
Tripadvisor holiday bookings: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/
Disabled Holidays: https://www.disabledholidays.com/
Accessible holiday escapes: https://accessibleholidayescapes.co.uk/
Accessible holidays — safari lodge: https://accessibleholidayescapes.co.uk/escapes/ximuwu-safari-lodge/
Accessible Holidays — Owl Cottage: https://accessibleholidayescapes.co.uk/escapes/owl-cottage/
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