At last – you and your friend and his
wheelchair are about to head out for an adventure that is going to
last for longer than a few hours. In fact, there is an overnight stay
involved in your destination city, just so you can enjoy the sights,
sounds and food to its full extent. Staying at a hotel that will
properly accommodate a guy in a wheelchair is something best planned
in advance. Although the Americans With Disability Act has been in
force for a number of years, the rooms labeled as
handicapped-friendly can vary a great deal.
It's OK to start your search online,
but once you find a hotel in the budget range and area of the city
you prefer that says it has rooms designated for handicapped guests,
you will want to call the hotel directly to verify details and
availability for the night you want to stay. The call center
personnel simply do not have the on-site information you want to
verify available in their databases.
Several hotel chains and hotel brands
are easier to search than others. You may start with Hilton hotels,
and the lodging brands that are under the same banner, including:
Hampton Inns, Embassy Suites and Double Tree hotels. The
Intercontinental Hotel group also has many recognized names under its
corporate banner: Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express
are several options that are available in most metropolitan areas and
many smaller towns.
When you call the hotel, explain that
you need to verify details to ensure your traveling companion's
comfort. Ask whether the rooms marked as “accessible” are on the
ground floor, whether there are grab bars in the bathroom, and about
any other features that the hotel representative on the other end of
the line can describe to help you make a decision about booking the
room.