ADA Rooms Don’t Mean What You Think: The Truth About Accessible Travel
- CFS Solutions DBS Team
- Nov 18, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 18, 2025
When most people see the term ADA Accessible on a hotel listing or short-term rental, they assume it means one thing:
“This place is fully accessible and I’ll be able to use my mobility equipment without a problem.” Click the link below to LISTEN: On The Medical Equipment World & Healthcare. Get to Scoop!
Unfortunately, that’s not always true — and for many travelers with disabilities, mobility limitations, or medical equipment needs, it becomes a painful discovery after they arrive.
At CFS Medical Equipment, we’ve seen this first-hand — not just as advocates, but through real calls from patients who booked an ADA room only to find out:
Their wheelchair couldn’t clear the bathroom door
Their power scooter couldn’t turn inside the room
Their shower chair couldn’t roll over a 2.7” threshold
Their Hoyer lift couldn’t be positioned for a safe transfer
Their hospital bed didn’t even fit in the room
In one case, a traveler came to the U.S. from another country, and still wasn’t able to access basic bathroom needs — even though the property was legally labeled accessible.
So What Does ADA Actually Mean?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that prevents discrimination and requires businesses — including hotels and rentals — to meet minimum accessibility standards.
That means things like:
Wider doorways
Grab bars in bathrooms
Ramps instead of stairs
Accessible switches and handles
Lower counters
Space to maneuver
But here’s the key:
ADA guarantees basic access — not personalized access.
And it definitely doesn’t guarantee that your medical equipment will work.
Where ADA Falls Short
ADA doesn’t account for:
Hospital beds
Hoyer lifts
Bariatric wheelchairs
Rolling shower commodes
Power scooters
Caregiver space
Turning radius
Adjustable transfer height
Threshold-free bathroom flooring
So while a room may legally qualify as ADA compliant, that doesn’t mean it’s functional for every disability — or every mobility device.
Real Examples From Our Patients
We’ve seen:
🛑 A Hoyer lift delivered successfully — but it wouldn’t fit into the bathroom.
🛑 A shower commode chair blocked by a raised threshold, leaving the guest unable to bath safely.
🛑 A scooter too large to maneuver inside the room — it had to stay parked outside.
🛑 A hospital bed delivered — but the room was too small for the patient to maneuver with the hospital bed in it. The customer had to move to another hotel.
In every case?The room was labeled ADA.
And the guests still didn’t have what they needed.
Why This Happens
Hotels and hosts often believe:
“We have a ramp and some grab bars — so we’re ADA accessible.”
But they often:❌ Don’t measure doorways properly❌ Don’t consider turning radius❌ Don’t account for large equipment❌ Don’t allow furniture to be moved❌ Don’t understand medical needs❌ Don’t offer photos or measurements
And travelers are the ones who pay the price.
What You MUST Ask Before Booking
Even if the listing says “ADA accessible,” request:
✔ Photos of the actual room and bathroom✔ Doorway width (bathroom and entry)✔ Threshold height✔ Space beside the bed✔ Shower dimensions✔ Whether a lift can fit beside the toilet✔ Clearance for a scooter or chair to turn✔ Permission to rearrange furniture if needed
Key Takeaway
ADA is the starting point — not the guarantee.
You may still need:
Measurements
Photos
Layout
Threshold details
Equipment clearance
Confirmation from management
Especially if you are traveling
with:🛏 A hospital bed🚿 A rolling shower chair🦽 A bariatric wheelchair🛠 A Hoyer lift🛵 A power scooter👩⚕️ A caregiver
How CFS Can Help
We support patients and families by:
Educating them before travel
Helping them understand equipment footprints
Offering rental guidance & alternatives
Providing travel-ready products & configurations
Sharing ADA awareness through our podcast & blog
We believe accessibility is more than compliance — it’s dignity, independence, and safety.
Want to Learn More?
🎙 Listen to our podcast episode:“ADA Rooms Don’t Mean What You Think — Real Travel Stories & What To Ask Before You Book.” On The Medical Equipment World & Healthcare. Get the Scoop! Coming Soon...
Episode Coming Soon!
📄 Join our membership for:
Travel checklists
DME guides
Equipment education
Real patient support
🛠 Need help choosing equipment for travel?CFS Medical Equipment can help — call or message us anytime.
Accessible travel should be safe, empowering, and dignified.
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