Accommodation fit
Hotel questions to ask before booking with mobility limits
Turn vague labels such as “accessible”, “central” or “near transport” into specific answers about the route, room, bathroom, bed and booking terms.
Ask about the whole route, not only the room
A suitable room can still be difficult to use if the entrance has steps, the lift is unreliable, breakfast is far away or the route from transport is steep. Start at the street or drop-off point and follow the journey to the places you will use each day.
If a detail is essential to whether the stay will work, get a specific answer in writing before making a non-refundable booking.
Question bank: choose what matters for your stay
You do not need to ask every question. Select the details that would change your booking decision.
1. Arrival and entrance
- Is there a step-free route from the pavement, parking area or drop-off point to reception?
- Are there slopes, cobbles, gravel, heavy doors or steps on that route?
- Can a taxi or vehicle stop close to the entrance?
2. Lift and room location
- Does the lift reach reception, the room, breakfast and other facilities I will use?
- Are any stairs still required between the lift and the room?
- Can you confirm the approximate distance from the lift to the room?
3. Bathroom
- Is the shower level-access, or is there a step or bath edge?
- Are grab rails fitted, and where are they positioned?
- Is there enough space for my mobility aid and the transfers I need to make?
4. Bed and room use
- What is the bed height from the floor to the top of the mattress?
- Is there clear space beside the bed and a suitable chair in the room?
- Can essential items be reached without repeated bending or stretching?
5. Rest and sensory load
- Can the room be placed away from lifts, bars, kitchens or street noise?
- Do the curtains block light, and can temperature be controlled in the room?
- Are housekeeping times flexible if I need an uninterrupted rest period?
6. Food, transport and flexibility
- How far is breakfast, and are simpler food options available nearby?
- What is the route to the nearest realistic transport or taxi pick-up point?
- What can be changed or cancelled if the confirmed access arrangement is unavailable?
What makes an answer useful?
Marketing labels vary between properties and countries. Build your decision from details you can compare.
Specific written confirmation
Best for essential facts: exact steps, route, distance, room location, shower type or an agreed room request.
Current photos or measurements
Useful when layout matters. Ask what the photo shows, when it was taken and whether it is the room type you would receive.
Maps and recent reviews
Helpful for spotting slopes, surfaces, noise or long routes, but confirm essential details directly with the property.
Book, clarify or keep looking?
Book
Your essential details are confirmed, the full route works for you and the booking terms match the uncertainty you need to manage.
Clarify first
The answer is vague, uses only labels, refers to a different room type or leaves one essential part of the route unconfirmed.
Keep looking
An essential feature is unavailable, the property cannot confirm it, or the practical route still asks more of you than you want the stay to require.
Copy and adapt these messages
Short first message
Hello, I am considering booking [room type] for [dates]. Before I book, could you please confirm: 1. [Essential route question] 2. [Essential room or bathroom question] 3. [Distance or transport question] Please reply in writing because these details affect whether the stay will work for me. Thank you.
Confirmation after a call
Hello, thank you for speaking with me today. My understanding is that: • [Confirmed entrance or route detail] • [Confirmed room or bathroom detail] • [Confirmed room location or distance] Please confirm that this applies to my booking for [dates] and note the request on the reservation. Thank you.
Stop when the essential details are clear
If this question bank resolves the accommodation decision, you do not need another tool. If hotel fit is only one part of a trip with connected transport, pacing, backup and recovery decisions, the reusable Starter Kit can bring them into one Trip Action Plan.
Planning boundary: This guide is not accessibility certification, legal advice or a guarantee that a property will meet a particular standard. Requirements and terminology vary. Confirm essential details with the property and use current official information where legal rights or regulated standards affect your decision.