Green Rosie
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Wheelchair accessible holiday cottageWe could make the larger of our holiday cottages suitable for less mobile visitors ie in wheelchairs or for those unable to climb stairs. It would mean a downstairs bedroom and downstairs bathroom with shower and toilet plus handrails. We appreciate that this would only work for wheelchair users accompanying able-bodied visitors as we would not make the work surfaces etc lower.
Would people consider accessibility of this type when booking a holiday cottage?
If so, is what we propose suitable?
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Tay
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Who will you be advertising your holiday cottages with? This may well be important, as for example, Gites de France can be fussy when it comes to wheelchair access. Any of the organisations which inspect your property prior to advertising it for you will have guidelines, so it would be worth contacting them first to see what their prerequisites are.
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thos
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The gîte we rented last year had a disabled shower and toilet and bedroom. It caused us no problems at all so should not stop you getting able-bodied customers. However, it looked as if it had added quite a bit to the cost of refurbishment. I would recommend looking at other properties in the area to decide if there is a shortage of supply before incurring the expense. Unless you can get a grant?
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Lorrainelovesplants
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We did our room to comply with the regs. Our Tourist office told us there was noone in Wadebridge offering disbled friendly B&B. Obviously there are many reasons for this, cost, location (Cornwall has loads of cottages up steps and steep lanes etc)
Id market yourselves as filling a niche. there are plenty of sites for disabled.
Also, Im sure it would appeal to the infirm and elderly.
The year before my dad died, him and mum went for a few days to a cottage decked out for the disabled. the things that stood out were a walk in wet room with a plastic garden chair so that he could sit while having a shower, and mum could help him wash; also sliding door into bathroom; also sockets at a higher level (this is now standard under new electrical regs) and a handrail outside the front door; level access (low threshold doors).
Do consider it.
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