Everyone deserves a vacation every once in a while, regardless of who you are, where you live, or your physical abilities. Finding an accessible hotel room used to be one of the biggest challenges for wheelchair users who love to travel. But these days, there are lots of great accessible accommodation options in top destinations worldwide. Fortunately, there are now many hotels around the world that keep the needs and wants of disabled travelers in mind. Here are eight of the best hotels for wheelchair users to help you plan your next trip.
Eria Resort in Maleme, Crete, Greece
While some hotels simply accommodate wheelchair users, other hotels truly embrace this type of traveler and design their hotel around accessibility. One great example is the Eria Resort in the village of Maleme, which is by the Cretan Sea and beautiful olive groves. There’s a wheelchair ramp that leads into the hotel’s swim pool, wheelchairs to rent for different purposes, and even planned excursions that are wheelchair friendly too. Some of the excursions you can take here include the historic city of Chania, the Knossos Palace and archeological museum, the White Mountains and Samaria Gorge, and a tour of Kastéli, the Orthodox Academy of Crete, and the Goniá Monastery.
db Seabank Resort + Spa, Mellieha, Malta
You can also plan a luxurious spa trip to Malta and stay at the db Seabank Resort with your wheelchair. There are nine rooms here that are ready for guests with accessibility needs, including seven with views of the sea and two with land views. Each of these rooms has both a standard and an adapted bathroom. The accessible rooms have door widths of 88 centimeters and also feature 48-centimeter-high toilets, hand grips next to the toilet, two handles in the showers, and roll-in showers. There are also quite a few other rooms in this resort that have 75-centimeter-wide doors and are very spacious too. It is also possible to hire a nurse to help out with care while staying here.
A-One the Royal Cruise Hotel, Pattaya, Thailand
Another great hotel for wheelchair users is the A-One in Pattaya, Thailand. There aren’t a ton of wheelchair accessible hotels in this area, which makes this one really stands out. You can access the hotel floors by ramps, and the balconies, bathrooms, and guest rooms are all quite spacious. Come here to spend time at the beach and soak up the local culture with no hassles because of your chair. At the hotel, you can enjoy cuisine from the Boat Restaurant and Maritime Restaurant, as well as drinks from Fat Coco. Indoor and outdoor parking is provided free of charge, and the Avarin Spa is a great beachfront spa to rejuvenate yourself with a massage, sauna, steam room, or other treatment.
The Wellesley Knightsbridge, London, England
If you’re heading to London, plan to book a wheelchair-friendly room at the Wellesley Knightsbridge. This hotel looks out over Royal Hyde Park and is in close distance to all the shopping, theater venues, and museums you’ll want to check out when you’re in the city. The hotel has accessible guest rooms with 32-inch-wide openings and onsite accessible self-parking. It’s also easy to navigate the main entrance, registration desk area, restaurants, and lounges here in a wheelchair. People with disabilities are also permitted to have service animals at the Wellesley.
Beverly Wilshire Beverly Hills - A Four Seasons Hotel, California, USA
If you love to shop and surround yourself with the rich and famous, it doesn’t get much better than the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills. Here you can book the accessible corner Beverly suite, accessible Rodeo view studio, and other wheelchair-friendly rooms. In the accessible guest bathrooms, you’ll find roll-in showers, grab bars for the toilet, tub, and shower, a raised vanity, and a lowered toilet. The hotel also offers amenities and services for families traveling with children who have special needs. The restaurant is accessible, service animals are permitted, and registration can be done in the guest room or other more convenient location if necessary.
Sandos Playacar Beach Resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
To experience one of the top resort destinations in Mexico in a wheelchair, head to the all-inclusive Sandos Playacar Beach Resort. Here you’ll find spacious showers that you can roll into, electric wheelchair access, and an easy wheeling distance to get to the downtown area. At this resort, there’s a kids’ club and a teen club for young travelers, over 10 different restaurants and bars, nightly shows, swim pools, and an adults-only section. While many things are included with your resort stay, guests can also use onsite wheelchairs and medical services for additional costs.
Fontainebleau Hotel, Florida, USA
For ocean views and wheelchair accessible rooms, consider booking a room at Miami’s Fontainebleau Hotel for your next beach excursion. This hotel underwent a renovation and how has wheelchair lifts at some pool areas. This is also a pet-friendly hotel where you can bring your furry friend who isn’t a service dog. Come here to enjoy the pools, beach, cabanas, and marina. A variety of in-room treats are also offered if you’re celebrating something special. Another recommended accessible hotel in Miami is the St. Regis, which offers beach wheelchairs, wheelchair-friendly pools, and accessible routes throughout the hotel.
