How to find the best roll-in shower hotel

If you are a wheelchair user like me, finding a hotel that is both comfortable and accessible while travelling is very important. When bathing, I am unable to transfer and sit on a bench seat, so my needs require me to use a roll-in shower. Luckily for all of us, it is quite simple to find the best roll-in shower hotel on KAYAK. This article will show you exactly how to find the one that works best for you.

What is a roll-in shower in a hotel?

A roll-in shower is exactly what it sounds like. It is a shower that a wheelchair can roll into. For people who can’t step over into a tub, or step over a step to get into the shower, a roll-in shower is ideal. People who use wheelchairs may travel with a wheelchair that is made for rolling into the shower. Sometimes they may be made from plastic with wheels on them, or from a type of material that doesn’t rust. Either way, a roll-in shower can be crucial in getting bathed safely, depending on each person’s needs.

How to locate a roll-in shower hotel on KAYAK

Step 1

Go to www.kayak.co.uk/hotels, or on the app, and select the city in which you are searching for a hotel. Next, select your dates and how many people will be travelling, and fill in this basic information.

Step 2

When you land on the hotel results page, go to the left side of the screen (or select 'filters' on the app), scroll down, open the drop-down 'Amenities' and then tick 'Disabled access'. The results will now be filtered to show only the hotels that have special accessibility amenities, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that all have roll-in showers. Proceed to step 3.

Step 3

Click on the name of the hotel you are interested in, not on 'View Deal' because you want to make sure the hotel has roll-in showers before booking.

Step 4

Once you are on the hotel details page, scroll down until you reach the 'Amenities' section, and then click on 'Show all amenities'. Search for Roll-in Shower. If it’s not listed here, it means either the hotel didn’t update their details properly (you can call them to check directly) or they simply don’t have this amenity.

Why a roll-in shower is important

By offering a roll-in shower, the hotel broadens their guest range to include people with disabilities. Even if you are not the one affected by needing to use a roll-in shower, sometimes travelling with a family member who uses a wheelchair, this type of hotel would be truly helpful. Being able to roll someone into the shower will eliminate the risk of falls and can be much less stressful when trying to bathe someone who is not stable enough to stand or step in. It gives the person a sense of security and helps both the wheelchair user and the caregiver to be able to enjoy their trip without the worry of being able to bathe safely.

Accessible rooms bring a comforting sense of independence, letting you focus on relaxation and enjoyment.

Morten Bonde, visually impaired mindfulness teacher, coach and writer of "Challenge your travel fear and master the journey".

5 great roll-in shower hotels I’d recommend

Here is a selection of 5 hotels that offer a roll-in shower where I've stayed during some incredible travels. I've tried to choose hotels in various destinations, but if your destination is not listed here, you can easily find a roll-in shower hotel with KAYAK by following the instructions above.

1. Holiday Inn Sioux Falls – City Centre

I recently stayed at the Holiday Inn Sioux Falls – City Centre in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and was instantly impressed with my wheelchair accessible room with a roll-in shower. The bathroom was very large, as was the room, and the shower had a handheld shower sprayer. There were also grab bars and a shower bench was provided by the hotel and placed in the bathroom without it even being requested.

2. AC Hotel by Marriott Santiago Costanera Center

During my stay in Santiago, Chile a couple years ago, I stayed at the AC Hotel by Marriott Santiago Costanera Center. I was very impressed with the fact that my wheelchair accessible room not only had floor to ceiling windows with a view of Santiago, but also had a great roll-in shower with no lip to roll inside.

3. DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station

Located in one of my favorite cities, DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station is such a great roll-in shower hotel. I was really pleased during my stay here with its location and the fact that my accessible room had a terrific roll-in shower. It was complete with a fold-down seat and grab bars, and no lip so that I could easily roll inside.

4. The Lalit New Delhi

During my amazing trip to New Delhi, India I stayed at The Lalit hotel. It was very modern and had multiple restaurants and even a night club! I was also thrilled with my accommodations of the accessible room with a roll-in shower. There was no lip to roll inside the shower and it even had a pull-under sink and grab bars around the toilet.

5. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

I have to say that the Aulani Disney Resort on Oahu in Hawaii exceeded all of my expectations in a hotel. I felt like a kid again rolling around and seeing all the Disney characters on the property. My room was perfect too with an accessible balcony overlooking the pools with an amazing view of the ocean and a great roll-in shower with a handheld shower sprayer.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to find the perfect roll-in shower hotel, and you have some of my personal recommendations, I hope that you can now book the getaway of your dreams. Life is too short to sit home and dream about all the things that we could do, when there is still time to actually do it! No matter where your wheelchair takes you, find the destination and hotel that works best for your needs and start enjoying life today.