How to Find Accessible Accommodation in Paris for the Games
July 29, 2024
With the Olympics underway and the Paralympics approaching, finding suitable accessible accommodation in Paris can be challenging. To help you navigate the process and ensure a stay that works for you, here are some practical tips and resources.
Look out for these terms:
- “Tourisme & Handicap”: Certification indicating a hotel meets specific accessibility criteria.
- “Accessible aux personnes à mobilité réduite”: Accessible to people with reduced mobility.
- “Chambre PMR”: Accessible room.
- “Accès handicapé”: Disabled access.
- “Adapté aux fauteuils roulants”: Wheelchair accessible.
General travel websites:
- MyParisjetaime Handicap: the official Paris Tourist Office website with a section on hotels, filtering by different accessibility needs.
- Booking.com and Expedia: allow filtering by key accessibility features.
- TripAdvisor: user reviews offer valuable insights into hotel accessibility.
Suggested dedicated accessibility websites
- Access libre: government-funded initiative providing accessibility information for public places, including hotels.
- Wheelchair Travel: lists accessible hotels with reviews and links to hotel websites.
- Wheel The World Offers hotels in Paris sorted by wheelchair-friendly filters, including measurements and photos. Travel experts are available for assistance.
- Accessible GO Lists hotels in Paris with accessibility filters and free customer service to ensure your access needs are met.
- RightRooms Provides detailed accessibility information and photographs of hotels in Clichy, as part of the Bienvenue à Clichy project. Offers a free concierge service to find hotels in Paris.
Contact the hotel directly
The most reliable way to get up-to-date and accurate information should be to contact hotels directly. From our experience it is best to:
Request a named contact for email and avoid general info@ addresses. Send a check-list of requirements. Hotels should be able to provide: Photos of accessible rooms, including the bedroom and bathroom. Measurements of doorways, spaces within the room, and bathroom facilities. Information on accessibility features such as grab rails, steps, lighting, signage, and reachability from a wheelchair.
Explore Additional Resources:
- Blogs by Travelers: Personal experiences and tips on accessible travel.
- Online Forums: Platforms like Lonely Planet’s Thorntree Forum and dedicated accessible travel forums for advice.
- Social Media: Follow accessible travel hashtags and accounts for practical insights and recommendations. Our experience tells us that finding accessible accommodation in Paris for the Paralympics takes time and patience. We encourage hotels to share detailed information and photographs. When hotels ask for feedback and act on it, it makes a significant difference. We hope this post has helped and welcome additional thoughts and corrections.
- Check out our Accessible Travel in Paris post. Check out our Clichy Collection.
Useful links Find up-to-date guidance on travel, safety, Covid-19 research and more.
RightRooms believes all information to be correct at time of going to press. As guidance, research and facts around Covid-19 are changing constantly, the information provided here is for general information only and does not constitute professional advice. Please check with venues, locations and attractions before travelling.