To book an accessible room (not disabled)

[Montylooloo]

Trying to book for a weekend away. All rooms are fully booked apart from three marketed as accessible. I would never normally book these as we don’t need accessibility and I would always leave for those in need. However it’s the only option? Is it totally morally awful to book one in this instance? Specific holiday park so no other option.

Why would it be awful?

If no other rooms are available then it’s fine

Because the rooms are accessible for a reason?

So OP shouldnt go on holiday on the off chance someone who actually needs an accessible room MIGHT want it?

If they're the last ones left, then they should be used regardless.

Needing an accessible room (or not) doesn't change the fact that bookings are first come, first served.

I never said, or thought that.

So should they not be booked at all because of that?

I’d book one. It’s not like using an accessible toilet.

That is what OP is asking, not what I think.

Hotels need to book their rooms to stay in the black - that is all they care about.

The hotel will let anyone have these rooms if that’s all that are available, they can’t afford to leave rooms empty.

I must have missed your response to OP then.

Like anyone else if all the rooms are gone then a disabled person can't book a room in the hotel, accessible or otherwise. That's not your problem, OP.

In any case you'll be leaving two accessible rooms to book; all in all it sounds like they have a higher accessible: standard room ratio than is needed to let disabled people have the rooms they need, so it's all good.

@LoveWine123 don't be so obstreperous. It's very clear that this was a reply to the question that YOU asked. No need for your snark.

If all rooms other than accessible are booked then it’s fine.

my ds is a wheelchair user and we book accessible rooms but I also realise if I want a room somewhere next week hotels aren’t keeping them open on the off chance someone with a disability needs it!

I often struggle to get accessible rooms a year in advance so if these are wanted by disabled guests they’d likely be booked up by now.

I didn’t respond to OP I responded to you asking why it would be awful.

If they are the only rooms left then it’s fine. You were there before anyone else so you get the room. If a disabled person comes along after you book and the other 2 accessible rooms also get booked you are still more entitled to the room. I’m sure the hotel would rather someone book the rooms than them sat empty.

I used to work in a hotel.

Those rooms are marketed as accessible so that disabled people know they can book them if they want to - it doesn't mean they're only for disabled people.

Flagging a room as accessible is just part of explaining the features of the room, it's not like a disabled parking space!

Plenty of hotels will put non-disabled guests into an accessible room without asking you first, if that's the only room they have available. So yes, it's fine to book one.

I booked an accessible room by accident then all others were full for a director at work and felt so guilty that I was depriving a disabled person!

You need to sleep there and that's the only room so don't worry.

I think you are overthinking it!

Just be aware that the bathroom may not be to your taste.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5422043-currently-away-for-the-weekend-is-this-acceptable

As pp have said, it's fine, OP. It's not like you're booking an accessible room for shits and giggles while there are standard rooms available. Hotels don't want to leave any room unoccupied if there's a demand for it, so although accessible rooms are usually held back for those who request them - hence the accessible rooms being the last three left - they'll be let out to anyone including yourself, rather than be left unbooked. That's just business.

People like myself (I cannot climb in or out of a bath or stand unaided for more than a few seconds), who need accessible rooms, tend to book them well in advance, since we can't use standard baths and showers.

Just a tip if you do book the room - in the bathroom there is likely to be a set room with shower and folding seat. I'd advise you to (obviously) use the shower curtain(s), and also, if there is a riser rail and adjustable shower head and hose - which ideally there should be ("rainfall" showers can gtf, imo) - then have the shower head as low as possible and angled in towards the wall rather than out into the rest of the room. This can help reduce the water spraying everywhere and soaking the whole floor.

Anyway, enjoy your stay. 👍🙂

The hotel would block them off and only book to disabled people on request if they don’t want them booked. It’s fine

PS it's fine to use any horizontal grab rail to hang towels on. Just in case you were wondering. 😉 😅

I was once booked in an accessible room on a work trip and it was honestly totally miserable for me as an able bodied person. Everything was at the wrong height for me, and the shower was a disaster. They couldn’t move me because the hotel was fully booked (my work were hosting a conference in it) and I have never been so pleased to check out in the morning.