With most of the big-name hotel chains in the US required to meet Americans with Disability Act (ADA) standards, the US is an excellent bet for an accessible holiday. You’ll find many hotels here catering to travellers with disabilities – with facilities ranging from wide doorways and ramped access to wheel-in showers and Braille signage – but where should you look for some of the best? We’ve found some of the standouts, from beachfront retreats to glitzy resorts.
One of the world’s most iconic hotels, the MGM Grand knows how to dazzle with its star-studded shows and five-star facilities – and it’s just as impressive on the accessibility front. It has wheelchair-accessible rooms featuring wheel-in showers and grab rails, and step-free common areas throughout. Alongside the casino, all of its bars and restaurants are wheelchair-friendly, and it’s located right on the Strip, so you’ll be staying in the heart of the action.
If a tropical getaway in Hawaii calls, look to this beachfront retreat, which offers complimentary beach wheelchairs for guests to use alongside a pool lift, accessible entrances, adapted rooms and an accessible pathway along the ocean side of the hotel. Voted best hotel in Hawaii in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2023, it sits right on Ka’anapali Beach, with catamaran sailing trips and other excursions available on the cerulean water. See if you can spot humpbacks if you visit in winter.
Located just a few streets from Broadway in the heart of Music City, this art-inspired boutique hotel offers a number of spacious, wheelchair-accessible suites with ADA-compliant roll-in showers and toilets. The vibe is creative and trendy, with regular live music performances on hand alongside a restaurant, coffee shop and rooftop bar. It’s also pet-friendly, making it a suitable choice for guests travelling with a guide dog.
Alongside a big focus on all things music, Hard Rock Hotels pride themselves on meeting or exceeding ADA standards, and the brand’s San Diego outpost is no exception. You can expect wheelchair-accessible public areas, restaurants and guestrooms, alongside accessible parking, hearing-enhanced rooms and more. There's a Nobu sushi bar, rooftop pool and classic American restaurant, and, as an extra perk, you can borrow a guitar for free and get complimentary music downloads throughout your stay.
Set right in the middle of Manhattan – a stone’s throw from Central Park, Rockefeller Center and the Theater District – this stylish, all-suite boutique was ranked one of New York’s best hotels for 2023 by Conde Nast Traveler, and it’s also a great choice for disabled travellers. The communal areas are step-free and there are several wheelchair-accessible suites (some with roll-in showers and pull-down bench seats). There’s also a spacious, accessible wine bar and restaurant.
Decked out in bright colours, geometric patterns and original artworks, this suave, contemporary hotel sits in the heart of Downtown Denver with Italian eatery Panzano at its heart. The hotel offers accessible public areas and adapted rooms with roll-in showers, visual smoke detectors, telephone ring signallers and more, and it’s also pet-friendly, meaning service animals are welcome. As an added sweetener, there’s complimentary wine and snacks in the lobby every evening from 5-6pm.
Disney caters especially well to travellers with accessibility issues, and our pick of the bunch is All-Star Movies Resort, located right inside Walt Disney World Resort and themed around the silver screen. There are free shuttle buses to transport guests between the parks, and access to the hotel is excellent, with every room category offering wheelchair-accessible accommodation and excursions, alongside visual alarms for those with hearing impairments.
A Boston landmark since 1855, this elegant luxury hotel is all about old-style charm. It’s located in the heart of the city on the famous Freedom Trail with Beacon Hill, Boston Common, Quincy Market and other attractions on the doorstep, and it features a number of accessible rooms with roll-in showers, grab bars and visual notifications for the alarm and phone. Its restaurant also happens to be the home of the famous Boston cream pie and the Parker House roll, so it’s a great choice for foodies.
Located on Chicago’s legendary Michigan Avenue, this architectural feat overlooks Millennium Park and is an excellent choice for wheelchair-users with extra-wide doors leading into its elaborate lobby, adapted rooms and an accessible restaurant and bar. All levels feature lifts or ramp access and the public areas are step-free. The concierge can also help you pick out the best things to see and do in the area – don't miss the nearby Magnificent Mile, famous for its shopping.
Set in the elaborate former headquarters of Riggs National Bank – the ‘Bank of Presidents’ – in a building dating to 1891, this iconic spot is all about the history. Think a reception desk designed like an old cashier’s counter, plush velvet chairs and Art Deco chandeliers. There are accessible routes to reach the restaurant and other main areas, while accessible rooms feature wheel-in showers, Braille signage, visual and audible fire alarms and closed captioning for the hearing impaired.
For a glamorous stay on the legendary Sunset Strip, look no further than all-suite hotel The London, where chef Anthony Keene cooks up innovative British-meets-Californian cuisine, and suites have been designed by the renowned David Collins Studio. There are spectacular views from the rooftop pool, and it’s all ADA-compliant, with wheel-in showers and shower chairs among the amenities available, and a website designed to be accessible to those needing a screen reader or other device.
Everyone from Elvis Presley to the Beatles has graced the floors of this ultra-swish hotel, which opened in Beverly Hills in 1928 and was the movie setting for Pretty Woman. A £27 million ($35m) renovation in 1999 brought it up to date, with a spa, Michelin-starred dining and a Mediterranean-style pool among the lures. Those aren’t the only draws, though: the hotel has several accessible guestrooms featuring extra-large bathrooms, wheel-in showers, lowered toilets and extra-wide doors. Guide dogs are also welcome.
Set in a prime location on San Antonio’s famous River Walk, close to the Alamo and a string of other attractions, this stylish retreat features a rooftop terrace, Jacuzzi, outdoor pool and spa. It houses a number of accessible rooms – featuring enlarged door openings, lowered sinks, roll-in showers and visual alarm notifications – and there’s an excellent riverside restaurant on hand for scenic dining, complete with an oyster bar.
The home of LIV, one of Miami’s most iconic nightclubs, alongside renowned restaurants including Hakkasan and Prime 54 (formerly StripSteak), Fontainebleau has garnered global acclaim. Here you’ll find several accessible features, including well-marked access ramps around the hotel and several accessible rooms and suites, plus a beach promenade to soak up the ocean views.
If you’re in the mood for jazz, head to Le Pavillon New Orleans – one of the city’s oldest hotels which is located in the heart of downtown and dotted with period furnishings and antiques. There’s an elegant rooftop pool framed with Greek statues, and a nightly tradition that’s been running since the 1980s – free peanut butter and jam sandwiches at the bar. For guests with disabilities, there are four accessible rooms in line with ADA standards, including Braille signage, lowered sinks and grab rails.
Housed within the iconic Memphis Pyramid, this atmospheric wilderness hotel boasts 103 rooms – from private cabins and treehouse retreats to spacious suites. Two nature-themed restaurants mean you won’t go hungry, and rooms overlook downtown Memphis and the Mississippi River for the ultimate tableau. Accessible rooms feature lowered sinks, raised toilets and grab rails, and it’s centrally located so you don’t have to venture far for attractions such as Graceland and Shelby Farms Park.
Famous for its spectacular nightly fountain shows, the Bellagio is mesmerising in every way, with five pools, an art gallery, spa, casino and multitude of restaurants – plus a theatre that plays host to a water-themed Cirque du Soleil show. Dogs are welcome, and it’s exceptionally wheelchair-friendly with step-free areas, accessible restaurants and ADA-compliant rooms offering roll-in showers, wall-mounted shower seats and wide doorways.
If you fancy sleeping in Seattle, the Courtyard is an excellent choice – accessible rooms offer wheel-in showers, visual aids and hearing facilities, and most rooms face Lake Union, promising picturesque views when you wake up. The Space Needle, Pacific Science Center and monorail are just a few blocks away, while the famous Pike Place Market is a 10-minute drive with its fresh food stalls, restaurants and local bars.
A stone’s throw from Dallas’s top attractions, this downtown Omni outpost is a landmark in the city thanks to the regular light shows (the 23-storey building is wrapped in over four miles/6.4km of LEDs). It’s also a great choice for travellers with accessibility requirements thanks to its handful of ADA-compliant rooms, each with roll-in showers, lowered clothes rails and other features (guide dogs are welcome). You'll also find nine bars and restaurants, as well as a rooftop restaurant and pool (with a hoist).
For a central stay on the famous 42nd street in Manhattan, this Hilton outpost is an excellent choice. Broadway theatres, the Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall and other attractions are on the doorstep, with spectacular views over the city skyline from the rooftop bar and restaurant (which happens to be award-winning and Zagat-rated). Accessible rooms have a choice of bathtubs or roll-in showers, and many can be booked with a connecting regular room, so it’s a great option for families.
If you’re keen to explore the national parks of Yellowstone and Grand Teton, this atmospheric, ADA-compliant retreat in Jackson Hole should be top of your list. All staff are trained to meet disability requirements, with adapted rooms and an accessible pool, spa and restaurant for wheelchair users. Braille lifts and restaurant menus are also available, as well as visual alarms and closed captioning for the hearing impaired. Accessible transportation can also be arranged, and it’s pet-friendly.
Two streets away from the wharf and waterfront, this hotel makes a great base for exploring San Francisco. The hotel has 16 wheelchair-accessible rooms (six with roll-in showers) alongside accessible parking and entry, Braille indicators and flashing alarm and phone alerts. There’s an outdoor pool and two restaurants, while key attractions including Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square, Chinatown, the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz are all within easy reach.
For classic Southern charm, excellent food and elegant, leafy streets, historic Savannah is well worth a visit, and the Westin here is one of the best in the area for those travelling with a disability. Everything is wheelchair-accessible, including the restaurants, bar, parking, pool and a good selection of rooms, and there’s plenty to explore on the doorstep. There's also regular live music, alongside a standout spa and PGA Championship golf course.
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If you fancy exploring the copper-red rocks of the Arizona desert, head to this recently renovated, tree lodge-style resort in Sedona. The pool, restaurant and bar are all wheelchair-accessible and there’s a number of wheelchair-friendly rooms too, with downtown Sedona close by and an impressive range of facilities on hand. Head to the SaltRock Kitchen for hand-crafted cocktails paired with traditional southwest dishes (think chilaquiles, lobster tacos and Cobb salad).
If you want to see 1.5 million bats swoop under Congress Bridge, check out the famous Waterloo Records or explore Zilker Park, Austin’s the place – and the Doubletree by Hilton makes for a great base. It’s centrally located and a 10-minute drive from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The hotel has a wheelchair-accessible gym, bar, restaurant, lounge and pool alongside reserved parking and a number of adapted rooms. Hallways feature visual alarms, and accessible transport is also available on request.
Choose a ‘Vineyard Accessible Room’ at this luxury Californian resort to sleep in the heart of the Napa Valley vines. The rooms have accessible features including roll-in showers or ADA tubs, wide-swing patio doors and visible and audible alert systems. Guided wine tasting sessions are available to teach you more about production at the on-site organic vineyard, and there are three restaurants – including Michelin-starred Auro, which serves a five-course tasting menu against an idyllic backdrop.
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