At Sleeps12 we believe that unforgettable holidays and weekends away in the UK are for everyone. No one should miss out on the fun, the happy times or the memories, so we ask our property owners to do what they can to make our self-catering large group holiday houses accessible to all. This isn’t always easy, so some of our properties are more access friendly than others.
Whether you’re planning a large group holiday with friends and family, a special celebration weekend or a happy hen do, we want you to enjoy every minute of it. We understand the diverse range of access needs and requirements that people have, and we strive to include in our collection luxury large group accommodation that caters for those with disabilities and impairments.
We all need time to switch off and relax; spending a few days away in gorgeous surroundings with your favourite people is one way to do that. To qualify as access friendly, our properties must have a ground floor bedroom with ensuite facilities – beyond this, guests must assess the content and floor plans to see if their requirements are met. A little planning will remove any stress, helping you to get the very best from your stay.
We’ve put together a helpful guide to choosing your perfect access friendly holiday home.
What Accessible Features Does the Accommodation Have?
Make a list of the features you’ll need and check that your chosen holiday home meets your requirements. Is there a bedroom and a step free shower or wet room on the ground floor? Will you need grab rails, a shower stool, reachable light and power switches? Will stairlifts or a hoist be required?
Not all, but several of our property owners, provide additional features for guests with disabilities. You’ll need to request these when making your booking.
Some properties go the extra mile; Beaverbrook 20 and Churchill 20 in Somerset both have stairlifts, Shires in East Devon has an elevated bed and hoist available for a designated accessible bedroom, a wheelchair friendly lift from the patio to the first floor sun terrace, and a hoist for use with the indoor hot tub. There’s also an intercom between the access friendly bedroom and caregiver’s room.
Things To Consider When Booking an Access Friendly Holiday House
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Parking. Check that you can park close to the entrance, if not for the whole of your stay, at least for offloading and reloading. If there is a short walk from the parking area to the house, find out if the pathway is paved or gravelled, if it’s well lit, and if there are any handrails.
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Entrances. f you’re a wheelchair user or have mobility restrictions, you’ll need to know how easy it is to get in and out of the house. Is there level access, are there any threshold lips, how wide is the main entrance doorway? Some properties have permanent ramps or gentle slopes; others offer temporary ramps that can be installed for you. There may even be a designated entrance for wheelchair users.
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Layout. Essential areas like the kitchen, dining room and living room are usually on the ground floor – many Sleeps12 large group holiday houses have huge open plan living spaces with enough space for a wheelchair to move around between the furniture. Check that doorways and corridors are wide enough too.
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Flooring. What’s the flooring like? Level floors throughout are ideal, without rugs, thick carpets or other potential trip hazards.
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Bedrooms and Bathrooms. A lot of our holiday homes have a ground floor bedroom and an ensuite or adjacent shower or wet room. Access is usually step free, but if not, you’ll need to know any lip heights. You might also need to think about grab rails, lever operated taps and adjustable shower heads.
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Kitchens.If you enjoy cooking and are planning on showing off your culinary skills during your holiday, you’ll want plenty of room to move around. Pots and pans should be within easy reach, and if you have reduced standing capacity, you’ll need a stool to perch on.
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Lighting. Guests with sight impairments should ensure there’s good lighting throughout the property, or at least in the areas they will be using.
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Controls & Switches. Do you need light switches, thermostats, and electrical outlets to be easily reachable?
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Gardens. A secure and private garden might be important, somewhere that feels like a safe place, allowing you to completely relax outdoors in good weather. If you have sensory impairments, you might look for both sunny and shaded areas; wheelchair users will appreciate accessible garden benches.
Property Features
- Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs. Pathways to the pool and hot tub, and any decking should be level and non-slip. Handrails will aid safe entry in and out of the pool/hot tub for all ages.s.
- Saunas. A wide outward swinging door and step free entry aid access to a sauna. These are usually quite small spaces, so see if there’s turning space for a wheelchair.
- Games Rooms. Some games rooms have wide level access, plenty of space between activities and are well-lit, non-glare spaces. A stool can aid play at a pool, air hockey and foosball table, there might even be lower-level games consoles and tabletop games.
- Movie Rooms. Movie rooms with adaptable seating, like recliners are perfect. Also think about how high the TV is and how easy the controls are. If you’re hearing impaired, you might need subtitles.
- Play Areas. Are surfaces smooth and firm? Is seating provided for caregivers, are there lower level play tables or sensory panels?
- Activities and Days Out. You might well be perfectly happy to just relax and chill for the whole of your stay, but remember, your disability does not define you and it shouldn’t stop you from having days out in the local area or having fun with onsite activities.
Activities and Days Out
You might well be perfectly happy to just relax and chill for the whole of your stay, but remember, your disability does not define you and it shouldn’t stop you having days out in the local area, or joining in onsite activities.
Sleeps12 works with trusted suppliers who will come to your holiday house. These include private chefs, pamperers, and activity and entertainment providers; you’ll find them under Extras for each property. Contact them direct to see if they can accommodate your access needs.
You’ll also find suggestions for Things to Do for each property, with our pick of the best attractions, places to eat, beaches, walks, and local shops. We provide links to their websites and contact details, so it won’t take much to find out the best access friendly places to visit.
If we can help with anything, don’t hesitate to contact the office on 01823 711950.
So, if a large group holiday or family celebration is on the cards, get yourself comfy and take a look at our luxury access friendly holiday houses in the UK. Find the one that suits you best and then relax, because everything will be good. Happy times are waiting, there’s fun to be had and memories to be made.