I have cerebral palsy, and one of the biggest hurdles when planning trips is finding accommodations with a proper bathtub instead of a walk-in shower. For my mobility, muscle management, and safe bathing, a tub is essential. Walk-in showers and wet rooms just don't work for my range of motion or transfer setup, but almost every booking platform defaults to "accessible shower" listings. Even when I try filtering for "hot tub," it just pulls up resort spas or outdoor jacuzzis, which aren't what I need at all.After a few trips where I had to cancel last-minute because the "accessible" room only had a shower, I started looking for a better way to filter. I actually found
hotelhottubs.com
while searching for places that specifically list in-room bathtubs. It's not a booking engine, just a planning reference I've been using to cross-check properties and verify the actual bathroom setup before booking direct. It's saved me from the usual guesswork and a few stressful arrivals.A few things that actually work for me when booking travel with CP:
- Always call or email the property directly after booking. Ask specifically about tub depth, grab bar placement, step height, and whether it's a true soaking tub or just a shallow basin. "Accessible" means different things to different hotels.
- Skip the "hot tub" or "spa" filters on mainstream sites. They're almost always for leisure, not accessibility. Look for properties that explicitly mention "bathtub," "accessible bath," or "full-size tub" in the room description.
- Book refundable rates when possible. Even with careful research, photos and descriptions can be outdated or misleading. Having an out saves a lot of stress if the room doesn't match your needs.
- Pack a portable bath seat and non-slip mat if you travel frequently. Even with a tub, hotel setups vary, and it's easier to adapt with your own equipment than to rely on what they provide.
I'm planning a few trips for next year and will keep updating my notes as I test new places. If anyone else travels with CP or similar mobility needs and has found reliable chains, independent hotels, or booking workarounds for proper bathtubs, I'd really appreciate the recommendations. Always happy to swap notes or share what's actually worked on the road.
