Ask about the whole journey, not just the room. Start with arrival and transfers, then steps, the bathroom, the pool, the beach and the path to dinner. Ask the resort for written answers and photos.
This page is part of our booking requests topic, where we show how to turn a vague promise into a clear arrangement. Medical advice belongs with your doctor, so use your own judgement on what you can manage.
Why does “accessible” need to be checked?
The word is used loosely. A room can be called accessible because it is on the ground floor, even if the bathroom has a step.
Ask for details and for photos or a short video. A hotel that is confident of its facilities will usually be glad to send them.
What are the questions, in journey order?
Move through the stay the way you will, and ask about each stage.
- Arrival. Is there step-free access from the airport or port to the vehicle, and can the vehicle take a wheelchair?
- Check-in desk and lobby: ramps, lifts and a low counter.
- The route to your room: lifts, doors, path surface and slope.
- Inside the room: space to turn, bed height and bathroom layout.
- Pool and beach: how does one get into the water?
- Restaurants and spa: step-free entry and table height.
Which answers should worry us?
Some replies sound reassuring but give you nothing to rely on. Use this table to find what to ask next.
| What you hear | What to ask next |
|---|---|
| “Yes, we are wheelchair friendly” | Please list steps, door widths and bathroom type |
| “Ground floor room available” | Is there a step at the door or bathroom? |
| “Staff will help” | Can they lift a chair? Is that part of their routine? |
| “Pool has a ramp” | Is there a lift or a pool chair, and who operates it? |
| “Island is flat” | What is the path surface, and what about the jetty? |
What about the jetty, the buggy and the beach?
On island resorts, the boat and the jetty can be the hardest part. Ask the height of the boat step, the length of the jetty and whether staff help with a wheelchair.
Ask whether a buggy runs on the resort paths and whether it can carry a wheelchair. Our guide on getting to an island without long ferry rides helps you pick easier routes.
How do we get it confirmed?
A reply that says “we will try” is not a booking. Ask the hotel to name the room number or type and the features, in writing, on your confirmation.
Read our guide on the difference between a request and a confirmed arrangement. It shows the wording to look for.
What if the resort is not a good fit?
Say so early. Shift to a city hotel or a resort with level paths, or a place with a well-known hospital close by. Our page on honeymoon for older newlyweds, comfort first offers a calm way to plan a smoother trip.
What should we do next?
- Write down what you both need: bathroom type, bed height, pool entry.
- Send the journey-order questions to two resorts.
- Ask for photos or a video of the room and bathroom.
- Compare the written answers and choose.
- Send them to us and we will compare the replies for you.