Best disability friendly hotel chains
It can be hard to find hotels that you can be sure will provide ample accessibility for people with disabilities. If you or your loved one has accessibility issues, that shouldn’t come between you and having a spectacular holiday, so read on for a list of the six best hotel chains across Europe and the globe that should be great for you.
1. Hilton Hotel
This renowned hotel chain is so broadly admired that it had come to be known simply by the name ‘Hilton’. It is a respectable and widely recognised chain and has over 4,000 hotels located worldwide with wheelchair-accessible rooms.
Hilton also offers extra additions for guests who require a higher level of accessibility. Hilton hotels provide accessible rooms to guests who seek these accommodations. It’s best to call ahead to make sure your room has what you need but some of the things Hilton Hotels offer include;
- Roll-in showers and accessible tub/showers (in different room types, one room won’t contain both a roll-in and an accessible shower)
- Door handles rather than knobs
- Lowered peepholes
- Lowered thermostat controls
- Extended drapery wants
- Touch-sensitive bedside light fixtures
- Audio/visual fire alarm indicators
- Bathroom vanity front apron a minimum 28″ above the floor for knee space clearance
- Vanity faucets that can be operated with a closed fist
- Grab bars at the toilet and shower/tub to allow transfer from a wheelchair
- Shower valves that can be operated with a closed fist
- Hand-held showers.
Further items can also be set up in most rooms on request to aid your stay.
2. Intercontinental Hotels Group
This largely popular hotel chain is home to hotels under the name Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn Express, Hotel Indigo and Candlewood Suites. Across its hotels, IHG offers various facilities for those with disabilities including designated Blue Badge car parking, accessible bars, restaurants and meeting rooms, accessible bathrooms and bedrooms, menus available in large print and induction loops. They also welcome assistance dogs.
3. Marriott International
Founded by J. Willard Marriott, the Marriott International Group includes The Ritz-Carlton, Bulgari, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn and Courtyard. The Marriott International Group offers people with disabilities a range of mobility and hearing-accessible rooms when you book stays at their properties around the world. This is applicable however you choose to book as their reservation system allows accessible rooms to be reserved and guaranteed for the people who need them.
4. Wyndham Hotel Group
Wyndham Hotel Group has the world’s largest number of hotels around the globe. It offers specialised adaptions to assist those with disabilities and rooms can be booked with help such as Hearing-Impaired Alarm System roll-in showers, detachable shower heads, lowered counters and towel racks and mobility tub transfers. To make sure your stay goes smoothly, you will need to check beforehand if the hotel you’re planning to visit can accommodate your needs.
5. Accor Hotels
Amongst its many resorts and hotels, Accor offers the option to stay in accessible rooms and even has a designated symbol on its site to signal if a specific hotel has rooms that are prioritized for people with reduced mobility. You then simply need to check the services section for that hotel to browse the room types available or contact the hotel directly to ensure your needs are met.
6. Premier Inn
A predominant chain in the UK, Premier Inn offers a selection of rooms and includes bedrooms designed for use by those with disabilities in all their hotels. The accessible bedrooms are usually located close to the reception or a lift lobby for ease of access. It is worth noting if you’re considering staying at a Premier Inn that the specific facilities available in these rooms might slightly differ between hotels depending on factors including the age, design, and layout of the building.
or a lift lobby for ease of access.
If you are looking to find hotel chains that you can rely on to provide access for you or someone you will be travelling with, there are options out there. It is always a good idea to check with the specific hotel before you make any travel arrangements. In the case of the hotels listed, you will be able to call ahead and usually, it will be possible for your needs to be catered for as best as possible, so enjoy your trip!
