Searching for an "ADA hotel" near an airport is really two questions. Can I get from the terminal to the hotel without steps or stairs? And will the room work once I am there? Neither answer is on a booking page, and a hotel that lists an "accessible room" may not mean what you need.
This guide covers what the words mean, what to check, and what we know so far at the airports on this site. Where a detail comes from the hotel's own wording and we have not checked it, we say so.
What "ADA" and "accessible" mean
ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act, a US law. A US hotel that calls a room "ADA accessible" is saying it meets US design rules for things like door widths, bathroom space and grab rails.
Outside the US the ADA does not apply. Hotels in the UK, Australia and Indonesia use their own rules, and the wording varies: "accessible room", "step-free", "wheelchair accessible", "ground-floor access". Some hotels use these loosely. Treat the label as a prompt to ask questions, not as an answer.
Use the accessibility filters when you search
Booking sites have filters that narrow a search before you read a single listing. Booking.com, for example, lists them under two headings.
Property accessibility
- Toilet with grab rails
- Raised toilet
- Lower bathroom sink
- Emergency cord in bathroom
- Visual aids: tactile signs
- Visual aids: Braille
Room accessibility
- Upper floors accessible by elevator
- Walk-in shower
- Entire unit wheelchair accessible
Filters are a good way to shorten a long list, but they depend on what each hotel entered. Note that "walk-in shower" is not the same as a roll-in shower, and "entire unit wheelchair accessible" does not tell you about the route from the terminal. Use the filters to build a shortlist, then confirm the details with the hotel.
What to check before you book
- Shower type. A roll-in shower or wet room is different from a walk-in shower with a lip or a bath. Ask which one the room has, and whether there is a fold-down seat and grab rails.
- Step-free route from the terminal. Ask whether the whole walk is level or has ramps and lifts, whether it is covered, and how long it takes at a wheelchair pace.
- Lifts. Ask whether there is a lift, whether it reaches every floor, and what happens if it is out of service.
- Shuttle access. If you need a shuttle, ask whether it can take a wheelchair or mobility scooter, and whether you must book ahead.
- Check-in and room. Ask whether you can check in early, how many accessible rooms there are, and whether the room is guaranteed or just "requested".
Airport by airport
We cover only the airports we have built. Most of the detail below is not yet confirmed, and the notes say so.
Bali (DPS)
Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport sits inside the airport compound. The hotel told us the route from the terminals is covered, paved and step-free, and that it has a limited number of accessible rooms. That is the hotel's own wording and we have not checked it on site.
HARRIS Hotel Tuban lists itself as wheelchair accessible with ground-floor access, but the wording is hedged, so treat it as unverified. Hilton Garden Inn lists accessible rooms. We have no accessibility details for PassGo, the capsule hotel in the terminal. See the full Bali Airport guide.
Brisbane (BNE)
Pullman and ibis are linked to the Domestic Terminal by the covered Skywalk, which is lit around the clock. We have not confirmed whether the route is step-free end to end, or where the lifts are.
Airport International Motel says all its rooms are reached by stairs only, so it is not suitable if you cannot manage stairs. There is no hotel at the International Terminal, and we have not checked whether the free transfer bus takes wheelchairs. See the full Brisbane Airport guide.
Melbourne (MEL)
PARKROYAL is joined to Terminals 1, 2 and 3 by covered skybridges, so there is no outdoor walk. We have not confirmed room accessibility there. Quest Melbourne Airport's listing says it is accredited for independent wheelchair users, which is worth confirming with the hotel directly. See the full Melbourne Airport guide.
Sydney (SYD)
Terminal 1 is international and stands apart from the domestic terminals, so you cannot walk between the two sides. A free bus links them. Whether the walk from Rydges Sydney Airport to Terminal 1 is covered and step-free is not confirmed. We have no confirmed accessibility details for the other Sydney hotels yet. See the full Sydney Airport guide.
Heathrow (LHR)
Terminals 2 and 3 share the centre of the airport and are linked indoors. Terminals 4 and 5 stand apart, and the free trains between terminals add a step to your journey. Hotels connected to a terminal let you walk indoors to check-in. We have no confirmed accessibility details for the Heathrow hotels yet, so ask each one. See the full Heathrow guide.
Western Sydney (WSI)
There is no hotel at the airport yet. The nearest hotels are a drive away and we have found no hotel shuttle, so you would need a taxi or rideshare. Quality Inn Penrith shows an accessible bathroom in its photos, with grab rails and a walk-in shower with a fold-down seat. Atura Oran Park shows an accessible room only as a computer-generated render, so confirm what the real room is like. See the full Western Sydney Airport guide.
Arranging airport wheelchair assistance
Airport assistance is arranged through your airline, tour operator or travel agent, not through the hotel. Heathrow asks you to request it as soon as possible, or at least 48 hours before you travel. Sydney Airport gives the same 48-hour notice for help at the gate, and offers a kerbside service from the kerb to check-in at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 departures. Tell the airline what your needs are, including whether you can manage steps, and whether you are bringing your own mobility device.
Allow extra time on the day. Our guide on how early to arrive at the airport is a good starting point. We will cover the assistance process in more detail in a separate guide.
Questions to ask the hotel
- Is the route from the terminal to the hotel step-free and covered, and how long does it take?
- Does the accessible room have a roll-in shower, grab rails and a shower seat?
- How many accessible rooms are there, and can you guarantee one for my dates?
- Does the lift reach every floor, and is there a backup if it is out of service?
- Can your shuttle take a wheelchair, and do I need to book it?
- Can you confirm all of this in writing before I pay?
If a hotel cannot answer, treat that as an answer. We mark any accessibility detail the hotel has not stated as unverified, and we will update this guide as we confirm more. You can read how we pick and check hotels on our how we choose page, and see our older travellers guide for more on planning an easier stay.