The analytical and scientific parts of my brain wanted to design a rating system that was robust, easy-to-follow, could be applied universally (to hotels and resorts), and took accessibility and comfort into account – reserving a perfect score of ‘5’ for properties that combined both of these elements and applied them to everything – including the amenities (spoiler alert: I have yet to award a 5/5)!
Some of you may disagree with the criteria I’ve outlined below, or the weightings that I’ve assigned to each, but I believe I’ve covered off the main areas of concern, as it pertains to accessibility (and hey – you can’t improve without starting somewhere! ;). So, without further ado, here are the criteria and some of the factors that go into determining the World By Ass Cart, or WBAC (not to be confused with the World Ballet Art Competition, though I do support the arts! 🙂 ) accommodation rating:
- Entrance/lobby – 1 full mark given if:
- everything is barrier-free or fully automated & on one level (front desk is at a manageable height*)
*This is a tricky one, as I’m quite tall and may not notice…plus staff are often trained to walk around the desk or assist you elsewhere, if it’s an issue.
- Room – 1 full mark given if:
- layout is spacious (i.e. can get around the entire room unimpeded) and have easy access to lights, outlets & all room amenities (e.g. thermostat, safe, drawers, closets, hangers, etc.)
- Bathroom – 1 full mark given if:
- Door doesn’t get in the way, there are grab bars by the toilet & in the shower, easy access to the sink (i.e. counter/façade doesn’t get in the way, drain pipe is insulated or heat resistant), and a shower bench/seat is either built in or available onsite to borrow
- Overall comfort – 1 full mark given if:
- It has a comfy & easy-to-access bed, furnishings, and fully accessible on-site amenities (e.g. weight room, spa, pool, beach, etc.)
- Dining/Buffet – 1 full mark if:
- restaurant or buffet are easily accessed, no trouble getting to/from the table, or sitting close enough to it (i.e. can get your legs underneath)
- Note: No access to the onsite restaurant automatically scores a zero
While this scoring system is a quick and handy reference point, it does not paint the entire picture! Case in point – a perfectly accessible budget hotel that lacks a restaurant and any onsite amenities would only score a 3.75/5 And somebody who’s ambulatory, but uses a walker or cane, may not have any issues with an exposed drain pipe, or getting under tables/close to the sink (all of which result in deductions, on my scale). This is why I’ve tried to include as much information about the properties as possible – so you can decide whether or not anything that I’ve mentioned is an issue for you. 🙂
As for how I found these accessible properties in the first place, I’ve used 2 search engines in particular, over the years – probably the first ones to include a filter for ‘wheelchair accessible rooms’: Hotels Combined and Hotels.com. A few others have added a similar filter since then, but strangely, this isn’t the norm – which I find surprising, given that the ones that haven’t are American-based companies and the largest population segment in North America (“The Baby Boomers”) are at an age where they’re starting to have mobility issues. Seems counter-intuitive to me, considering this particular group is comprised mainly of “empty-nesters” and/or people who have retired from the workforce, which means they’re likelier than most to have the time and financial means to travel. But hey, what do I know about myopic business models? 😉
Tip: If you decide to try and book a hotel room online, and it doesn’t specifically say that it’s an accessible or adapted room, make sure that you can cancel the reservation without penalty! There have been several occasions where I’ve found hotels online that say they’re accessible, but they don’t share their accessible rooms in the booking process because they only have a limited number of them and want to ensure that they are booked by people who actually need them. For this reason, always make sure that you follow up with the property – keeping track of who you speak to – and confirm that your reservation is for an accessible room, prior to departure.
Resorts can be a little trickier to research, depending on how you go about booking them. Most people prefer purchasing them as part of an “all-inclusive” package deal (with flight, meals, and airport transfers included), but quite often the websites or brochures provided by the travel agents/tour companies only give you an overview of the property and don’t touch on accessibility. Well, if you go with a registered agent that specializes in these types of deals, they will contact the resort directly and inquire on your behalf. But if you’re going the do-it-yourself route, it’s always best to cross-reference any of the aforementioned search engines with the resort’s official website (sometimes it’s hidden in the FAQ’s), prior to booking anything. In either case, you will need to inform whomever you book with that you require accessible accommodations, as this isn’t something you can do yourself online. The company or agent will then need to confirm with the property that an accessible room at the resort is available, during your requested dates.