4 strategies for locating wheelchair-accessible home rentals

The events of 2020 highlighted that having your own space during vacations is not just a luxury, but often a necessity.

Rather than opting for accessible hotels, I began exploring wheelchair-friendly cabins, beach houses, and other home rentals. Having an entire home instead of a hotel room provided me with a greater sense of calm and relaxation while traveling. Even in this post-pandemic era, I plan to continue choosing home rentals whenever possible.

Although accessible home rentals are fantastic, the biggest challenge is often finding one. There are plenty available online, but they are dispersed across various sites, making them hard to track down.

After dedicating countless hours to searching for accessible home rentals online, I’ve put together the following tips to simplify the process for you.

Utilize booking platforms that focus on accessibility

The simplest way to find accessible home rentals is to use websites dedicated to accessible accommodations. This will significantly reduce your research time, allowing you to quickly find rentals that meet your specific requirements.

One of the top platforms is Handiscover, which features thousands of accessible accommodations, including numerous home rentals. On Handiscover, you can sort listings based on your desired level of accessibility. While there are many excellent properties available in Europe, you’ll also find some fantastic options in the United States, making it an ideal starting point for your search.

Another viable choice is Airbnb. Recently, the company has made strides in enhancing accessibility, allowing for easier discovery of suitable accommodations. You can now apply an accessibility filter to select necessary features in a home rental, such as roll-in showers, grab bars, and no steps. Although Airbnb doesn't specialize in accessibility like Handiscover, it still offers some worthwhile options based on your travel destination.

Don't hesitate to make a quick phone call... even if a property appears inaccessible

If you're an experienced wheelchair traveler, you likely understand the importance of calling to confirm whether a place is truly wheelchair accessible. Even if accommodations appear accessible online, it's wise to inquire directly before booking to ensure it meets your needs. Additionally, reaching out is beneficial even when accessibility details aren’t listed online.

Some of the best accessible home rentals I’ve discovered were from listings that didn’t indicate they were accessible online. If you come across a property that seems promising, or find a company with several rentals, it’s worth calling to ask about accessibility. They might not have thought to mention it online, and your inquiry could prompt them to update their listings.

Reach out to fellow wheelchair users in accessible travel-focused Facebook groups

As a wheelchair user, there's nothing quite as valuable as first-hand insights from others. This is especially true for home rentals and accommodations. While Facebook can be a time drain, it’s an excellent platform for connecting with fellow wheelchair users and gathering their recommendations for stays in various locations. The best way to engage multiple users at once is through Facebook groups.

There’s practically a Facebook group for every interest. For accessible travel, some of the top groups include Accessible Travel Club and Accessible Travel USA/Canada. Whenever I seek an accessible home rental or any travel advice, I post in these groups. Most of the time, someone offers a fantastic suggestion. Recommendations from other wheelchair users are incredibly valuable and boost my confidence when planning trips.

Support companies like Becoming rentAble

Indeed, there are some fantastic accessible home rentals available. However, among all the home rentals on the market, only a small fraction are wheelchair accessible. Becoming rentAble aims to change that.

Founded in 2021, Becoming rentAble features accessible home rentals on their website (currently showcasing three properties, with more on the way). They also have a TV show dedicated to transforming homes into accessible rentals. For the first time, a television program is highlighting what makes a home accessible while creating more options for people with disabilities. Becoming rentAble is an innovative company with the potential to significantly improve the rental landscape.

Photo courtesy of Airbnb.