Finding holiday stays when accessibility is important

You are retired, you have the wonderful perk of being able to travel mid week (when the kids are all at school!) so destinations are quieter and sometimes a little cheaper.

And a number of studies have shown that you can derive just as much happiness from planning and anticipating the trip as actually going on holidays. As a massive researcher and planner that is definitely true for me.

But what happens when your body starts to limit how you travel. Where can you go that you are not going to be left stuck in the carpark because there are too many steps, or unable to shower for a few days as it is just too hard to get up and over into a slippery tub. I keep hearing of the challenge finding out this information so you can book with confidence that you will enjoy your trip. One friend told me how the accommodation got upset and thought she was interrogating them when she asked her list of questions to ensure the holiday could be enjoyed by the whole family.

When you look online for ‘accessible holidays’ all the major booking sites come up – AirBnB, booking.com, stayz.com - but filtering for ‘accessibility’ just doesn’t work even to find the basics like no stairs and a walk-in shower. We recently stayed at a lovely new airport hotel in NZ; there was grab bars and sturdy stepping stools galore in the bathroom, but it didn’t change the fact that you still had to step up and over into the deep bath/shower.

Filling this gap in information is Accessible Accommodation – who provide a brilliant website that has a growing list of accommodation which has been categorised for differing needs. They are: Assisted Walking, Independent Wheelchair User and Assisted Wheelchair users. While the focus is NDIS participants, it’s also perfect for older people who need to know which room type to book to ensure accessibility and ensure peace of mind with your trip planning. They have helpful video tours and photos, especially of bathrooms. I highly recommend having a look, they have accommodation options all over Australia and a few in NZ.

Have you found a place that is accessible and meet’s all your needs? Let me know in the comments section below, so others can share the great experience.