Destination Europe UK

Top Tips for finding accessible holidays

Posted on
March 13, 2019

Many of us take booking a holiday for granted, but what about those with limited mobility or those needing pet friendly properties for people with hearing or visual impairments?

Many places in the UK and abroad now offer accessible facilities to cater for everyone’s needs, but it is important to do your research before booking to ensure that it meets your own specific requirements.

Mobility Plus has put together their Top 5 accessible stays in the UK but here is my checklist for booking your holiday.

Wheelchair Beach

Research Online

Have a look at the accommodations accessibility statement and any other information they have about accessible features. TripAdvisor is a good point of reference for reviews by other travellers with additional needs on specific hotels you are interested in.

Phone the Hotel

Phoning the hotel directly and speaking to someone will give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the room. Is it suitable for a wheelchair user with widened doors, a lower sink and manoeuvring room, or is it suitable for an elderly person with grab-rails, an electric bed and a raised toilet seat?

Don’t forget to ask about the surrounding area too. Is there disabled parking, street level access and ramps in the property to allow access to all areas?

Accessible Days Out

When picking your destination, don’t forget to take a look at some other factors too, including accessible days out. Both the National Trust and English Heritage have a facilities and access section of their individual web pages, but make sure you check before you visit.

Travelling Abroad

Most large travel companies have dedicated teams that specialise in booking everything from wheelchair-friendly hotels to specially adapted car hire and assistance with medical equipment.

They will not only guide you through the booking process, but also be on hand throughout your break to help with any issues and ensure you have the best holiday possible.

Do you have any tips for booking an accessible holiday?

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9 Comments
  1. Reply

    Hannah

    March 14, 2019

    Thank you for the great post! We haven’t travelled much since I became chronically ill, but I’ll definitely bookmark this for future reference!

  2. Reply

    Four Roam

    March 15, 2019

    Accessibility is something we all take for granted. Sadly it’s not always available.

  3. Reply

    Anne Fraser

    March 15, 2019

    I think it is a good idea to contact your local carers centre or a charity that deals with your condition. They may have advice on suitable destinations. I also think it is a good idea to contact your local train station or airport to ask what times are less busy.

  4. Reply

    FRANCESCA

    March 15, 2019

    Accessibility is important and it shouldn’t be given as granted. I don’t know unfortunately the best way, maybe contact directly is the solution, the easiest available

  5. Reply

    fashionandstylepolice

    March 15, 2019

    Always good to check Trip Advisor before booking. I always do that.

  6. Reply

    Deborah Nicholas

    March 15, 2019

    Great tips, i am guilty of taking things like this for granted.

  7. Reply

    Newcastle FamilyLife

    March 19, 2019

    I have noticed some of the travel sites will mention if somewhere is accessible or not now, which is good. x

  8. Reply

    Tour Belitung

    March 22, 2019

    Thanks you for sharing this great posts, i’ll be back to this blog!

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KARA GUPPY
Bournemouth

Are we nearly there yet? is a new online blog run by me, Kara Guppy, and is named as such thanks to my daughter Eliza who always asks that very question when we are less than 5 minutes up the road heading off on our adventures. You may know me from my other family blog chelseamamma.co.uk