How do we make sure that those traveling with us who are wheelchair bound and in need of services that accommodate their disabilities, have the best time possible on your trip? Perhaps the most important way to be sure that someone who is wheelchair-bound has a great trip, is to make sure that you book the right hotel. Disabled friendly rooms and hotels make life easy for wheelchair-bound travelers.
When you’re traveling with someone in a wheelchair you can expect some disappointments along the way. Many of the places that you might want to see and experience simply won’t be able to accommodate you. This might be in spite of the fact that they claim to cater to every guest. As I am sure you know, one person’s idea of catering is often another person’s idea of insensitivity. For this reason, it’s always great to plan more activities then you have time to actually enjoy. This way if one activity proves to be impossible to navigate, you have fall back options.
You should also consider when you are booking transportation when traveling, that many countries have smaller automobiles that will never accommodate a folded wheelchair and not to mention if you own a mobility scooter. Therefore you need to utilize the hotel you book to make sure that they make available for you a van or larger automobile that can accommodate the wheelchair. You will have to pay for this vehicle, but you will be sure that it will be available in at your service when you are in town.
There’s no doubt that both the travel and transportation parts of your trip are extremely important for the comfort of your traveler who is wheelchair-bound, but by far the most important element of the trip is to ensure that the hotel where you stay is both knowledgeable and accommodating toward disabled guests.
What most Travelers are not aware of is that there a certain hotels that excel at providing the best environment for disabled and particularly wheelchair bound guests. They have make sure that every area of their hotel is designed to make those in a wheelchair comfortable.
This begins when the guest arrives at the hotel, where he or she is met at the arriving vehicle by staff that assists in getting the person into the hotel and to the check-in desk. At the check-in desk these special guests are explained all of the hotels amenities and procedures designed to make them comfortable and feel welcomed.
In terms of amenities, all hotels will have wide elevators and hallways end easy access to restaurants and the business center.
These hotels will also have rooms that can easily accommodate the needs of someone in a wheelchair. A few of the most important features will be bathrooms with sinks and showers that accommodate a wheelchair, lights, electrical outlets, and room air switches that are placed at a height where someone in a wheelchair can easily access them, and a bed that is easy to get in and out of from a wheelchair. These hotels will also have special areas facilities they provide including pools with ramps and wheelchair accessible parking that is very near the entrances and exits.
Finally and most importantly, the hotel staff will be trained in answering questions and providing assistance to those who are in wheelchairs. When the staff is well-trained and sensitive to the needs of these special guests, the person in the wheelchair feels respected and has a great foundation for wonderful trip.