Why a friendly "yes" is not enough

Most hotels want to help, and most will assure you that their accessible room is "fully adapted". The difficulty is that "accessible" means very different things to different people. A room that works beautifully for someone with a hearing impairment may be unusable for a wheelchair user, and a room with a walk-in shower may have nothing to hold on to if your balance is poor.

The solution is to ask precise, practical questions before you hand over your card details. Vague answers such as "I'm sure it's fine" or "I think there are rails" are your cue to dig deeper. A good reservations team will either know the answers or will go and check the room for you. If they cannot, treat that as useful information in itself.

Getting to the room: step-free access

The room itself is only half the story. Ask about the whole route from the car park or the nearest pavement to the door of your room.

• Entrance: Is the main entrance step-free, with automatic doors or someone available to open them? Is there a dropped kerb at the drop-off point?
• Thresholds and lifts: Are there any steps, lips or raised thresholds along the way? If a lift is needed, is it large enough for a wheelchair plus a companion, and are the controls at a reachable height?
• Corridors: Are the corridors wide enough to turn a wheelchair or mobility scooter, and is the route well lit?
• Distance: How far is the accessible parking bay from the entrance, and is it under cover if you need to transfer in the rain?
• Door widths: Ask for the actual measurement of the bedroom door. Anything under about 80cm can be tight for a larger wheelchair or a scooter.

Inside the bedroom: space, beds and furniture

Once you are through the door, the layout matters more than the décor. Ask for measurements rather than descriptions, and be specific about your own equipment if you use any.

• Turning space: Is there a clear turning circle of roughly 150cm, or enough space to manoeuvre a hoist if you use one?
• Bed height: Ask for the height of the mattress from the floor. Around 48–52cm suits many people for transferring, but if you use a hoist or a slide sheet, say so and check there is space alongside the bed.
• Bed access: Is there a clear approach on both sides, or is one side pushed against a wall?
• Furniture: Are there chairs with arms that you can push up from? Is there space to store or charge a scooter, and are there any loose rugs or trailing cables?
• Controls and switches: Are light switches, sockets, the kettle and the telephone within reach from a seated position?
• Sensory needs: If you are deaf or hard of hearing, ask about a vibrating alarm pad or a flashing doorbell. If you are blind or partially sighted, ask about tactile signage and good contrast in the room.

The bathroom: grab rails, seats and taps

This is where accessible rooms vary most, so do not settle for "it's a wet room".

• Grab rails: How many are there, and where exactly are they fixed — beside the toilet, in the shower, beside the bath? Ask whether they are properly load-bearing.
• Shower: Is it a level-access wet room or does it have a tray with a lip? Is there a fold-down shower seat, and is a wheeled shower chair allowed in?
• Toilet: Is the height standard, raised or adjustable? Is there space to transfer from a wheelchair on one or both sides?
• Taps: Are they lever-operated rather than twist? Can you reach them from a seated position?
• Floor: Is it non-slip, and does the water drain away without pooling where you need to stand?
• Emergency cord: Is there a red pull cord beside the toilet and in the shower, and is it long enough to reach from the floor?

Emergency procedures: the question most people forget

If the fire alarm sounds at three in the morning, you need to know what happens next. Ask before you travel, not when it happens.

• Evacuation plan: Will the hotel complete a personal emergency evacuation plan with you on arrival? Who is responsible for alerting you and assisting you?
• Refuge points: If you cannot use the stairs, where is the designated refuge, and how will staff know you are there?
• Evacuation chair: Is one on site, is it checked regularly, and are staff trained to use it?
• Alarms: Are there flashing beacons or vibrating devices for guests who cannot hear the alarm?
• Ground floor: If you have significant mobility needs, a ground-floor room may be the simplest option. Ask whether one is available.

Get the answers in writing

Before booking, ask for the key details by email so you have them in writing. Note the name of the person who confirmed them, and ring again a few days before arrival to check that the same room is still allocated to you. On the day, ask to see the room before unpacking if anything is not as described — most hotels will move you or adjust things quickly if they can.

A little preparation turns a hopeful booking into a confident one. You are not being demanding; you are simply making sure the room does what you need it to do.