Since January of 1992 – thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – all publicly accessible buildings in the United States are required to adhere to specific guidelines in order to meet the needs of disabled visitors and travelers. This applies to all commercial lodging facilities with more than five rooms for rent, including hotels, motels, inns, boarding houses, dormitories and, last but not least, timeshare resorts.
Thanks to the progress made through the ADA, traveling with a disability no longer has to be a hassle, but it still requires extra planning to ensure that your needs are met. While almost all lodging facilities now provide accessible rooms, many do not provide additional features and services that will take your experience (and that of those you are traveling with) from satisfactory to truly unforgettable.
Many disabled travelers have already discovered that timeshare resorts are a great alternative to traditional hotels and motels, because they offer a wide spectrum of services in addition to handicap accessible rooms and suites. Furthermore, for those who enjoy traveling regularly (at least once a year), owning or renting timeshares provides both cost-savings and added convenience.
Timeshare resorts excel over hotels in catering to the needs of disabled guests in a number of ways. Here are just a few:
Many well-known and respected hospitality brands offer timeshares including Hilton, Marriott and Disney.
For frequent travelers, timeshares are often more convenient and cost-effective than renting a hotel room. When you buy timeshare, you purchase an increment of time (generally one week every year) at the resort of your choice – you then never have to make a reservation again, as that week is yours to use each year. Essentially, owning a timeshare enables you to pay for your future vacation accommodations at today's rates.
And thanks to the expansion of the resale marketplace in recent years, timeshare ownership is now more affordable and cost-effective than ever. By purchasing timeshare resales – previously owned timeshares that are for sale by owner – you can save thousands of dollars off the cost of purchasing directly through the resort.
For disabled travelers, timeshare ownership offers the additional benefit of knowing what to expect each time they visit the resort. Furthermore, after years of ownership, the resort staff will be able to anticipate your needs and any special requests you may have.
If you find that you're spending too much of your time searching for lodging that will accommodate you and your family, you might want to consider purchasing a timeshare. Click here for more information on timeshares at handicap accessible resorts.
Note: While United States law mandates that all timeshare resorts have at least one wheelchair accessible unit, there is no international law mandating the same. If you are traveling internationally, be sure to contact the resort directly before renting or buying a timeshare. Make sure you speak to a staff member rather than relying on information on websites or brochures, which can be outdated, inaccurate or simply incomplete. If you have specific needs, request to speak with the person in charge of accommodating guests with disabilities.
