Accessible travel tips for guests and Hosts to spread festive cheer to all

By Airbnb · December 6, 2023

· Stays

Key Takeaways

In the lead up to the holidays, Airbnb is sharing accessible travel tips for guests and Hosts to ensure a festive experience for all needs.
The Adapted Category has already garnered over 5 million searches since it launched last year.
Airbnb also reveals 10 beautifully designed adapted homes that make up just a handful of the over 1,100 homes in the Adapted Category worldwide.

Key Takeaways

In the lead up to the holidays, Airbnb is sharing accessible travel tips for guests and Hosts to ensure a festive experience for all needs.
The Adapted Category has already garnered over 5 million searches since it launched last year.
Airbnb also reveals 10 beautifully designed adapted homes that make up just a handful of the over 1,100 homes in the Adapted Category worldwide.

With the holiday season in full swing, travel planning is front of mind for many. Airbnb recognizes that everyone should have the opportunity to explore the world and has introduced a number of features to help guests with accessibility needs find and book travel. Listings in the Adapted Category have been searched more than 5 million times¹. Launched last year, the category features a curated list of spaces that include verified step-free entry to the home and at least one bedroom and bathroom, plus at least one accessibility amenity in the bathroom.

Explore the world in style: stays with accessibility features

The category, which now boasts over 1,100 listings around the globe², includes a fabulous array of unique and gorgeous stays, from a mountain cabin in North Carolina to a luxury villa in Costa Rica. We’ve rounded up a selection of the most wishlisted homes in the Adapted Category not only to prioritize accessibility but also offer a design-savvy and unique travel experience.

Perched on a hilltop overlooking Grand Étang, Canada, this designer home seamlessly combines accessibility with modern design. Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Gillstrom.

This beautifully appointed private room is located in the small Dutch town of Zetten. Photo courtesy of Herman Boots.

This gorgeous log cabin in Bostic, North Carolina and includes everything you need for a wonderful vacation. Photo courtesy of the Airbnb Community.

Boasting high-end furnishings and a specially equipped room for guests with accessibility needs, this designer farm stay in Tuscany is an ideal choice for travelers seeking a touch of Tuscan charm. Photo courtesy of the Airbnb Community.

With mile-wide views of Lake Vänern in Sweden, this home with environmentally-friendly features is close to the beach harbor and wilderness. Photo courtesy of Marcus Eliasson.

Set in a pristine nature reserve, this villa in Portugal is step-free, spacious and conveniently laid out on a single ground floor. Photo courtesy of the Airbnb Community.

Featuring thoughtfully designed spaces, this incredible villa in Costa Rica exemplifies the intersection of functionality, accessibility and aesthetics. Photo courtesy of the Airbnb Community.

This urban oasis in Portland has been thoughtfully laid out with accessibility in mind. Photo courtesy of the Airbnb Community.

Enjoy stunning nature from this villa in Spain designed with sustainability and accessibility in mind. Photo courtesy of the Airbnb Community.

Boasting an infinity pool and the breathtaking views, this stunning villa on Lake Garda has 18 accessible features including step-free access and wide doorways. Photo courtesy of the Airbnb Community.

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Tips from a guest with accessibility needs

Suzanne Edwards, Airbnb’s Head of Accessibility Hosting Standards, emphasizes the value and importance of making listings more inclusive. As a wheelchair user herself, Edwards feels that the Adapted Category can add a touch of glamor and comfort to her and others’ travel experience.

“Browsing this new category isn’t just about the access features for me. Rather it’s the fact that access is a given AND that so many of the homes are beautiful and fun. When I travel, I need to know if a listing meets my needs so I can feel more confident when booking. Since it launched, I’ve had some incredible experiences traveling using the Adapted Category, including a recent trip to Carlsbad, California where I stayed in a home that was functional for my needs, but also had incredible ocean views. I was able to stay with my friends and enjoy the sunset every evening whilst we cooked dinner. ”

Suzanne Edwards, Airbnb’s Head of Accessibility Hosting Standards

Here are some tips for guests to determine if a listing meets their needs:

Check out the Adapted Category & accessibility search filters: Each home in this category receives a detailed 3D scan to confirm its accessibility features and display key details like doorway widths. Even if a listing is not in the Adapted Category, it may still have accessibility features guests are looking for. To find listings outside of the category, Airbnb guests can use 13 accessibility search features such as ‘guest entrances wider than 32 inches’, accessible parking spots and more.
Use the photos to help judge whether a home is suitable for your needs: Under our Accessibility Review process, Hosts are required to upload a photo of each accessibility feature they have indicated on their listing. Airbnb agents manually review photos of every accessibility feature submitted by Hosts before the feature is viewable to guests.
Reach out to the Host if you have any questions: Hosts have uploaded photos of their home’s accessibility features because they want to make it easier for people to understand if their home suits their needs. If you still have questions about the home or neighborhood, reach out to the Host through the platform.
Check out the reviews: Guests can now search for keywords within reviews. Searching for reviews from other guests with accessibility needs can be a great way to understand how the space worked for them and any highlights from their stay.

Tips from a Host of a home with accessibility features

Host Advisory Board Member and Host of an Adapted Category Home, Pauline Aughe, explains the impact of offering such a home to guests with accessibility needs: “Having accessible accommodations goes beyond doorways and bathrooms. Accessible accommodations means freedom, personal sovereignty and space to simply be themselves.”

Here are some tips for Hosts who would like to make their homes more accessible and to welcome guests with accessibility needs:

Add accessibility features to your listing: Features that can help your place stand out to guests include step-free guest entrance or a step-free shower. A full list of accessibility features can be found here.
Use photos to highlight the accessibility of your space: Add as many photographs as you possibly can to help potential guests with accessibility needs understand whether your home is a good fit.
Ask a few questions before they book: Examples of helpful conversation starters include: “Do you have any specific questions about the space?” or “Is there anything I can do to make your stay more comfortable?”
Consider some final touches: Before a guest with accessibility needs arrives, think about any final touches like placing household items in easier-to-reach locations.
Create an inclusive and engaging guidebook: Consider identifying which restaurants have ramps, listing walking trails with paved pathways, and sharing information about public transportation.

Guest Favorites

Many of the listings featured here are part of our Guest Favorites collection – which include 2 million of the most-loved homes on Airbnb based on ratings, reviews, and reliability data from over half a billion trips. Guest Favorites have excellent reviews and are rated above 4.9 stars on average, with Host cancellations and quality-related customer service issues below 1 percent on average.