Accessible hotels for reduced mobility: how to book

Accessible is a word used loosely, standards vary from country to country, and a photo does not prove a room works for your needs. That is why the thing that protects your trip is verifying the specific features before booking, in writing and ideally by phone with someone who has seen the room. Here is what to ask, point by point.

Getting in and moving around

Entrance and parking

• Is the entrance step-free or is there a ramp, and at what gradient? Are the doors automatic or wide enough?
• Is there accessible parking near the entrance and a level route to reception?

Lift and lobby

• Is the lift big enough for a wheelchair, and is there an alternative if it breaks down?
• Are there any steps in the lobby or along the route to the room and the restaurant?

The room

• What is the clear door width, meaning the real opening, not the nominal size?
• Is there turning space for a wheelchair beside and around the bed?
• Do the bed height and the clearance beneath it suit a hoist, and is the room on an accessible route?

The bathroom: where it is won or lost

• Is the shower roll-in or level-access, or is there only a bath?
• Are there grab rails, a fixed or fold-down shower seat, and clear space under the sink?
• What height is the toilet, is there side transfer space, and is there an emergency cord?

Ask for specifics and photos

• Ask for measurements and photos of the actual accessible room and its bathroom, not the standard room.
• Have the room blocked and guaranteed: an accessible room that is booked is not always held.
• Read the reviews from other travellers with disabilities: they tell you what the photos do not.

Vision, hearing and service

• Are there visual or vibrating fire alarms, braille signage, or hearing-loop systems?
• Guide and assistance dogs are allowed: they are not pets and should not be charged a pet fee.
• Is the staff trained to assist, is the route to the restaurant accessible, and is there an evacuation plan for reduced mobility? A fridge for medication and an early check-in when you arrive tired help too.

Location and getting around

• Is there step-free access to transport, and is the area flat and walkable, with dropped kerbs?
• Choose the area well around what you need nearby: see how to choose the neighbourhood.

Your accessibility checklist

• Step-free or ramped entrance, wide doors and accessible parking nearby?
• An adequate lift and a step-free route to the room?
• Clear door width and turning space in the room?
• Roll-in shower, grab rails, a seat and transfer space in the bathroom?
• Photos and measurements of the actual accessible room, with the room guaranteed?
• Accessible alarms and assistance dogs allowed with no fee?
• A written confirmation of the exact features, kept with you?

Good to know

Is accessible on the listing a guarantee? No; the term is used loosely and standards vary. Verify the specific features in writing before you book.

What should I check first? The clear door width and the bathroom: roll-in or level-access shower, grab rails, a seat and transfer space. They make or break the stay.

Will the accessible room be held for me? Not always. Ask explicitly for it to be guaranteed and get a written confirmation.

Do assistance dogs pay? They are not pets and generally are not charged a pet fee, but rules vary: confirm with the hotel and carry documentation.

How do I compare accessible hotels? Compare the hotels, then verify the exact features with the property; on Edenfinder you compare hotels, you do not pay on Edenfinder.

Compare hotels, then confirm the accessible features with the property, in writing. Search hotels in Barcelona or search hotels for your destination.