There are so many things to consider when booking a holiday house or holiday rental accommodation like, your chosen destination, the type of holiday you enjoy, which area to stay in, availability on your preferred dates, cost and what to do nearby.

But what about travellers with a sensory impairment and/or physical disability? Their priority is to find a holiday rental cottage that’s suitable for their disability before they can even look at their other requirements.

One billion people, or 15% of the world’s population, experience some form of disability but when it comes to holidays, it’s still common to find that the holiday rental accommodation available is simply not properly adapted for those with a disability. Search and Stay suggests that holiday rental owners can help by making a few (relatively easily) changes to adapt their property for travellers with a disability.

Think about how easily people can move between floors:

  • Are additional handrails needed on the stairs?
  • Is there any way to incorporate a wheelchair lift?
  • And, if a lift is feasible include audio announcements and braille on lift buttons.
  • Is there an easily accessible bathroom and toilet on the ground floor?
  • Are these rooms adapted for wheelchair use?
  • Can you add support/grab rails (which can be attached and removed as and when you need them) or even a hoist?
  • Can you enable a level entry for a walk-in shower or wet room?
  • And could a shower seat be incorporated?
  • Is there an accessible ground-floor bedroom available?
  • Is there any scope to connect two bedrooms together?
  • Can furniture be rearranged in the bedroom, if needed?
  • Consider investing in a hoist and an orthopaedic bed
  • Could door widths be widened to allow easy wheelchair access?
  • Could any doors be adapted to become automatic or self-closing?
  • Are worktops or appliances in the kitchen reachable for a wheelchair user?

Adaptations to consider for outside your property

  • Think about your property’s entrances, and how easily (or not) people are able to enter and leave your holiday home:
  • Are paths level or uneven?
  • Is there scope to build a ramp (does not need to be permanent construction), where there may only be steps at the moment?
  • Would it be possible to fit a grab rail by the front door?
  • An accessible hot tub or pool with a hoist is a big selling point.

Also, review the parking situation. Is parking:

  • Available off-road and right beside the property? Or ‘on-road’ only?
  • Is there enough space to unload, including wheelchair/s – if needed?

You should also take some time to assess whether there are any hazards in the exterior space, such as a swimming pool or pond.

For those with guide dogs or assistance dogs, is there an enclosed area for them to have a run around outside?

Holiday rental owners who consider other suitability of their property for disabled travellers, will open up a new market of guests and make for a much more enjoyable stay for those with a disability. Search and Stay, offers some exceptional properties in beautiful locations that are designed for travellers with a disability and their friends, family and carers. For example, Shady Gums in Hall's Gap, Victoria.

NEXT STEPS:

List on Search and Stay HERE

Have our Search and Stay Team create your listing for you HERE

Want more detailed information? You'll find it in our help section HERE

Want to talk to someone? Book a call with our Business Development Manager HERE.

For more information on Search and Stay integrated channel manager and to speak to an implementation specialist, Click Here.