Tag Archives: summer vacation

Summer Travel Guide: Booking Accessible Lodging

Longer, sun-filled days mean you may be in the midst of finalizing arrangements for summer vacation plans. While accessible travel options have seen major upgrades in the past few years with new aircraft regulations and increased accessible vehicle availability, travelers with disabilities are still often faced with difficulties when it comes to accessible lodging. Inaccurate descriptions and miscommunications are the leading causes of issues upon arrival. If you want to ensure your vacation plans go off without a hitch, be sure to take extra measures and follow these booking tips.

  • When booking a hotel room or other type of lodging, be advised that ‘Accessible’ or ‘ADA Compliant’ rooms may not meet your specific needs. The features that constitute these designations may vary across the country and around the world.
  • Before committing to a hotel, cruise, resort, etc., be sure to speak directly to a representative at the actual location. Whether it’s via phone or email, you’ll need to describe your exact needs when it comes to accessibility and a person who is familiar with the establishment will be your best bet as far as accurate answers go.
  • Ask reservation agents to take pictures of their accessible accommodations. With the widespread use of smartphones and tablets, this has become a pretty simple request, and one that can make a huge impact on your vacation.
  • Making a reservation at a hotel does not guarantee you a specific room, but rather locks you in at the chosen rate. In order to be absolutely certain that your accessible room will be ready for you, you’ll need to ask the booking agent to ‘block’ it.
  • If in doubt, ask for measurements. A floor plan of the room, door widths, bed height, etc. can all be excellent tools in helping you determine if the accommodations will meet your needs.
  • Some hotels pools offer a zero-depth entrance or pool lifts, finding out in advance is helpful for planning purposes.
  • If you are having a hard time getting straight answers from the person you are speaking to, don’t hesitate to take your business elsewhere. There are usually a number of available options when it comes to lodging at any destination and you’ll likely be better off choosing a location that is willing to work with you.

Accessibility when it comes to overnight accommodations shouldn’t stop you from having the trip you deserve. Following these tips when booking your rooms or rentals can help make sure your next vacation is one you’ll be bragging to your friends about.

Wheelchair Accessible Vacation Ideas

Summer is officially in full-swing, kids are out of school and many people will be planning a getaway. For people with disabilities, finding the right vacation spot may be a little bit tricky, particularly if they require wheelchair-accessibility. For those looking for the best travel options that can accommodate, consider the wheelchair-accessible vacation spots below.

Beaches
The beach is a popular choice when it comes to taking a summer getaway. Luckily for wheelchair users, more beaches are becoming accessible all the time. Many beaches now offer special wheelchairs, mats or boardwalks so people with disabilities can be near the water.

Camping
If you prefer an adventure in nature, camping is one of the best wheelchair-accessible vacations for families or groups of friends. You can rent wheelchair-accessible RVs to take on a road trip and then stay in overnight. These modified RVs often come with extra accommodations for seating, sleeping and bathing, as well as offering extra aisle room for maneuvering with the camper. When it’s time to head outside, many campgrounds around the country also offer wheelchair-accessible facilities and activities.

Theme Parks
Some may not think theme parks are accessible vacations for people with disabilities, but many of the nation’s biggest parks are wheelchair-accessible. In fact, Disney World, for example, is famous for accommodating those with disabilities with things such as accessible ride passes, wheelchair ramps to attractions, accessible resorts and transportation services for those in wheelchairs or scooters.

Cruises
Most cruise lines take special care to make sure their ships are wheelchair-accessible. That includes accommodations in cabins and restrooms as well as elevators and ramps throughout. Some lines also offer special activities for disabled passengers and help facilitate on-shore activities at the different destinations.

National Parks
Parks can be a great wheelchair-accessible vacation spot, as they usually offer open space and great scenery. Some national parks even have special accommodations to allow wheelchair users access to more areas. For example, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado has accessible campsites, trails and boardwalks with great views. Plus, if you have a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, you can easily get to the parks and around the driving trails.

Whatever you do and wherever you go for your vacation, make sure you plan ahead and make whatever arrangements necessary to make your trip comfortable and enjoyable. A summer trip should be relaxing and fun, and you don’t want to end up somewhere that can’t accommodate.

Summer Travel Guide: Booking Accessible Lodging

Longer, sun-filled days mean you may be in the midst of finalizing arrangements for summer vacation plans. While accessible travel options have seen major upgrades in the past few years with new aircraft regulations and increased accessible vehicle availability, travelers with disabilities are still often faced with difficulties when it comes to accessible lodging. Inaccurate descriptions and miscommunications are the leading causes of issues upon arrival. If you want to ensure your vacation plans go off without a hitch, be sure to take extra measures and follow these booking tips.

  • When booking a hotel room or other type of lodging, be advised that ‘Accessible’ or ‘ADA Compliant’ rooms may not meet your specific needs. The features that constitute these designations may vary across the country and around the world.
  • Before committing to a hotel, cruise, resort, etc., be sure to speak directly to a representative at the actual location. Whether it’s via phone or email, you’ll need to describe your exact needs when it comes to accessibility and a person who is familiar with the establishment will be your best bet as far as accurate answers go.
  • Ask reservation agents to take pictures of their accessible accommodations. With the widespread use of smartphones and tablets, this has become a pretty simple request, and one that can make a huge impact on your vacation.
  • Making a reservation at a hotel does not guarantee you a specific room, but rather locks you in at the chosen rate. In order to be absolutely certain that your accessible room will be ready for you, you’ll need to ask the booking agent to ‘block’ it.
  • If in doubt, ask for measurements. A floor plan of the room, door widths, bed height, etc. can all be excellent tools in helping you determine if the accommodations will meet your needs.
  • Some hotels pools offer a zero-depth entrance or pool lifts, finding out in advance is helpful for planning purposes.
  • If you are having a hard time getting straight answers from the person you are speaking to, don’t hesitate to take your business elsewhere. There are usually a number of available options when it comes to lodging at any destination and you’ll likely be better off choosing a location that is willing to work with you.

Accessibility when it comes to overnight accommodations shouldn’t stop you from having the trip you deserve. Following these tips when booking your rooms or rentals can help make sure your next vacation is one you’ll be bragging to your friends about.