Start with the room you will actually receive
An accessible hotel room checklist is most useful when it refers to a specific room type and travel dates. Ask the hotel to identify the category and confirm in writing which features are guaranteed. A property may have several accessible room layouts, or a booking system may record an accessibility request without allocating the room. Keep a copy of the hotel’s response and ask what happens if that room becomes unavailable before arrival.
Measure the route, not just the bedroom
A wide bedroom does not help if the bathroom door or lift entrance is too narrow. Request measurements for the room entrance, bathroom entrance and any essential internal doorway. Ask whether the route from reception includes steps, steep ramps or uneven paving. If a staff-only route is needed, clarify when it is available. Photographs should show the route and floor transitions, not simply a close-up of a grab rail.
Compare the bathroom with your transfer method
Describe the practical arrangement you need: a level shower, room beside the toilet, a particular side for transfer or space for a shower chair. Ask for the height and position of the fixtures and rails. A bathroom listed as adapted may still have a threshold or a bathtub. Equipment rental can help in some circumstances, but it cannot solve every space or access limitation. Seek advice from your usual professional when selecting unfamiliar support equipment.
Check the bed and the space around it
Confirm bed height, clear space on the transfer side and whether furniture can be moved before arrival. If you use a hoist or other equipment, establish its dimensions and operating requirements with the supplier and hotel together. Do not assume equipment can fit under a bed or through every doorway. Discuss room location in relation to restaurants and lifts so daily routes remain manageable for you.
Ask about the facilities you plan to use
A step-free lobby is only part of the stay. Review routes to breakfast, dining, toilets, terraces and leisure facilities. Ask what accessible pool entrance means in practice and whether any equipment requires prior reservation. Beach access may involve sand, a long path or a different entrance. A beach wheelchair requires its own availability and suitability check. Keep the actual activities you want to enjoy at the centre of the conversation.
Reconnect the details before arrival
Send a short confirmation message before travel, quoting the reservation and agreed room category. Coordinate the wheelchair van pickup with the hotel and arrange any authorization needed for equipment delivery. Equipment handover is at the permitted lobby or, if entry is not authorized, the security gate. Carry the relevant dimensions and written confirmations so a substitute can be assessed if a plan changes. Our hotel directory provides links to published information, and the equipment catalogue helps you describe a request. Neither replaces the hotel’s confirmation for your stay.
Keep the decision specific to you
Another traveler’s positive experience can be helpful, but their mobility and assistance needs may differ. Ask concrete questions rather than relying only on a star rating or the word accessible. If the property cannot answer an essential question, request a measurement or a short video before paying. A clear answer can prevent a difficult arrival and help everyone understand which arrangements have actually been agreed.
Let’s plan around you.
Send your dates, destination and practical access requirements. We will review the details before confirming availability and price.
Keep a written room-access record
Make a short record with the hotel name, contact person, confirmed room category and the date of the reply. Add the measurements that determine whether the room works for you. Store photos alongside the confirmation so a companion can recognise the agreed layout. When the hotel proposes an alternative, compare it against those requirements one by one. An attractive room upgrade may still be unsuitable if the shower changes or the transfer side is blocked. Bring unresolved questions back to the property before paying for a non-refundable stay.