Travel Accommodation Questions
Asking the right travel accommodation questions is so important. Do this BEFORE you set off on your vacation and increase your chance of having a wonderful time.
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Whether you’re an active, able-bodied traveler, or are limited in your mobility like me, ask lots of travel accommodation questions. These questions and answers will help give you peace of mind on your travels around the world. Let’s get started before we even leave home.
All About Getting Started
Planning starts when you decide to travel. If you are limited with mobility, either all the time or depending on your health, then planning is vital to enjoying your trip. Here is a review of what you need to know before making your travel plans.
- How are you traveling? By plane, car, bus, train, or ship?
- How are you getting there from your home?
- Think of everything you need to ask when you book your ticket.
Make a list.
This can seem overwhelming, so I will include topics you need to consider for your comfort while traveling.
Accessible Travel at the Airport
For this post I’ll use an airplane as your chosen mode of transportation. There are many questions to ask about travel before you even roll up to the airport.
- Can you get a wheelchair while in the airport?
- Does it need to be reserved? I highly recommend doing this. More about this in a minute.
- Is early boarding offered to handicapped travelers or those with limited mobility?
- Where do you want your seat? This is extremely important.
First, when using a wheelchair I definitely suggest reserving it for each stop along the way on your journey. If there are connecting flights, there is often limited time to get to the next gate. Some airports are humongous! Book that wheelchair ahead of time and they will be waiting when you disembark. They will transport you to the next gate safely and without the worry of you needing to figure out where you need to go, or how to get there quickly. Sit back and enjoy the roll.
Secondly, your seat choice is also important for your comfort on the plane. Do you want to be near the bathroom? Need more leg room? Look at the seating charts and choose wisely. Make sure the seat you pay for is worth the extra upcharge. If you can afford business or first-class, then that is even better.
I once paid more for a seat with extra legroom on a 16-hour flight from Boston to Shanghai and I chose poorly. My seat did have extra leg room and was close to a bathroom on the aisle. That was exactly the problem.
Every person on that side of the plane brushed by my seat, rested their hands on my headrest, and congregated in front of my seat while waiting for the toilet. This is despite being told not too many times. Most of the Chinese passengers didn’t listen and also allowed their children to play in the space in front of me. I barely slept on that flight and I arrived in China feeling like a zombie. Lesson learned.
How Are You Getting to the Hotel?
You’ve arrived safely and looking forward to relaxing in your hotel. But have you planned how to get from the airport to your accommodations? Do not leave this up to chance. Flight delays and bad weather can make this difficult for handicapped travelers. Make sure to ask these questions:
- How far is it from the airport to the hotel?
- Does your hotel offer a shuttle?
- Are you renting a car? Then ask how far is it to the car rental office?
- Can you prebook a ride to your accommodation?
- Can you use ride-sharing, like Lyft or Uber, or a hired taxi?
- Is there public transportation at the airport like a subway, train, or bus?
Also make sure to know the time you will be arriving and how the transportation might change. On that same flight to China, I eventually landed in Guangzhou at 11:30 pm and by the time I had gathered my luggage, the subway had stopped for the night.
Luckily for me, the school I was contracted to teach for had sent my very own driver holding my name on a card and he was to bring me to my hotel. I must have looked like a zombie after traveling for more than 20 hours, but I still felt so special! And relieved I didn’t need to figure it out on my own.
Save yourself some worry by planning this ahead of time. Once you arrive at the hotel, there are many more questions you will need to ask.
To get your own printable Travel Accommodation Checklist, click here.
Your Travel Accommodation
Choosing the perfect accommodations can be frustrating. But if you understand your needs and what will make your stay amazing, then it becomes much easier. The answers to these questions will help you make that choice much faster.
- How close is everything to the hotel?
- Check these distances yourself! Brochures often exaggerate how close something is to the hotel.
- What is close and nearby for you to explore?
- Is the area well-lit and easy for you to get around?
Understanding your surroundings gives you peace of mind and the knowledge of what you can do in the area. Also check the surface of the streets and sidewalks to assure you can walk safely, or have a wheelchair easily moved. Cobblestones may be lovely to look at but treacherous to walk on. It’s good to know how crowded the streets and walkways may be so you can be prepared. Now let’s check the actual accommodations you booked.
Accessible Travel Hotels and Lodging
Most of the questions you need to ask are all about the accommodations. Disabled travelers have basic needs that must be met to allow them to travel safely. Here is a basic checklist for you.
- What level is your room on?
- Is there a nearby elevator?
- If there are stairs, how many and where are they located?
- Is your room handicap accessible?
- Can you get assistance with your luggage?
- Does the hotel offer excursions from their location?
- Will you be able to be picked up from the hotel for other excursions?
I vividly remember a trip to Prague, Czechia. I didn’t ask these questions. The hotel entrance was on the second floor and there was no elevator. On this trip I was walking with a cane.
My friend helped me lug my suitcase up to the lobby. The room was also up two more flights of stairs and down a long hallway. This was a lovely hotel in the heart of the city, but I didn’t ask where the room was located and just booked online. Getting up and down from my room was a slow process. I would have been much better prepared had I asked the right questions first.
Travel Accommodation Wrap Up
Enjoying your trip and gaining new experiences is the most important part of why we travel. Just because you have limited mobility, or are in a wheelchair, doesn’t mean you don’t want or deserve to have adventures. The travel accommodation you choose has a huge part in making your adventure a memorable one. Have a wonderful trip!
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