How to choose a hotel/Airbnb when you have chronic pain

Accommodation is a pain multiplier. A wrong bed or bathroom can erase the trip.

The short answer
Choose stays by body-fit first: recovery sleep, bathroom access, vertical load, noise, temperature control, and friction to essentials. Pretty photos don’t matter if your body can’t recover there.

If-then priority

If sleep is your weak link → bed + noise + temp become non-negotiables.
If mobility is your weak link → elevators/ramps + short routes to food/transport.
If sensory load is your weak link → quiet zone, good curtains, stable temp.

Body-fit listing scan (90-second check)

Sleep fit: mattress quality, noise notes, blackout/curtains, AC/heating.
Bathroom access: walk-in shower? grab rails? distance from bed?
Vertical load: stairs vs elevator, steep entries, long corridors.
Location friction: how far to meals, transport, pharmacy.

3-question host message template

Hi! I’m checking body-fit details before booking:
1) What’s the mattress type/firmness? Any topper available?
2) Are there stairs anywhere from entry to the bed/bathroom?
3) Is the room generally quiet at night, and is AC/heat fully controllable?
Thank you!

Decision gate

#1 non-negotiable for pain travel is recovery sleep. If you can’t recover, you can’t do the trip.

TBL fit

Use the Body-Friendly Stay Checker in Explorer/Pathfinder for a structured listing audit.

Sources & safety

Pain self-management: overnight recovery quality drives daytime function.
Accessibility principles: reduce vertical and walking friction at the stay.

Turn listings into body-relevant risks with the Stay Checker.