Hilton HHonors - OK to book handicapped room if able-bodied? Elite upgrades?

Suppose you are Hilton Gold and you see a really good deal on a handicapped room in a Hilton-family hotel. You book it, even though you aren't handicapped, to save some money (over $100/night in this case).

When you get there and there is availability in a better non-handicapped room, will they upgrade you?

Or will they only upgrade you to a better handicapped room or suite, assuming there is such a thing?

Or neither? Do they look at you to determine whether you are indeed handicapped before making their decision?

Is it considered improper for an able-bodied person to book a handicapped room to save money?

The hotels I am looking at for this are specifically in Chicago, but info about policy at other locations is welcome. Thanks.

Suppose you are Hilton Gold and you see a really good deal on a handicapped room in a Hilton-family hotel. You book it, even though you aren't handicapped, to save some money (over $100/night in this case).

When you get there and there is availability in a better non-handicapped room, will they upgrade you?

Or will they only upgrade you to a better handicapped room or suite, assuming there is such a thing?

Or neither? Do they look at you to determine whether you are indeed handicapped before making their decision?

Is it considered improper for an able-bodied person to book a handicapped room to save money?

The hotels I am looking at for this are specifically in Chicago, but info about policy at other locations is welcome. Thanks.

Ive booked them for the same reason, at the same time i understood that I just might be stuck in it. I usually add a comment that this Diamond member would appreciate an upgrade to any room and that a Handi-Cap room isnt necessary what so ever. Other times a call to the Hotel was able to have me keep the same rate and they switched me.

1 time they said no to a change of rooms, and a few days before my arrival called and said they would change my room as they were out of The Handi-Cap rooms and needed mine. I told them I wasnt interested in changing my room any longer and expected to have the Handi-cap room when I got there otherwise they will have to walk me and pay for my nights Lodging etc. They werent too happy, I told them all of this could have been avoided when I orginally called , but was told under no circumstances would The Hotel give me areg room at that rate. Now that The Hotel can use my room , you want to move me, Now I dont want to be moved.

Is it considered improper for an able-bodied person to book a handicapped room to save money?

Is it improper to park in a hadicapped space to save a few steps?

Is it considered improper for an able-bodied person to book a handicapped room to save money?

Is it improper to park in a hadicapped space to save a few steps?

Utterly different situations.

There are laws against using a handicapped parking space if you aren't entitled, and you will be fined and/or towed if caught.

I know there aren't laws against me occupying a handicapped room, as I have been placed in them by hotel managements, most recently two weeks ago at Disney.

I've been given a handicapped room as an 'upgrade' several times at various Hilton brand hotels as both a Gold and a Diamond. Usually it's only for a night or two.

I usually add a comment that this Diamond member would appreciate an upgrade to any room and that a Handi-Cap room isnt necessary what so ever.Without such a comment, I would expect never to be "upgraded" out of a handicap room.

BTW, I believe the designation is "accessible."

Ive booked them for the same reason, at the same time i understood that I just might be stuck in it. I usually add a comment that this Diamond member would appreciate an upgrade to any room and that a Handi-Cap room isnt necessary what so ever. Other times a call to the Hotel was able to have me keep the same rate and they switched me.

1 time they said no to a change of rooms, and a few days before my arrival called and said they would change my room as they were out of The Handi-Cap rooms and needed mine. I told them I wasnt interested in changing my room any longer and expected to have the Handi-cap room when I got there otherwise they will have to walk me and pay for my nights Lodging etc. They werent too happy, I told them all of this could have been avoided when I orginally called , but was told under no circumstances would The Hotel give me areg room at that rate. Now that The Hotel can use my room , you want to move me, Now I dont want to be moved.

So you screwed over a handicap person to make a point to the hotel? You didn't really even hurt the hotel, you just screwed over the handicap person. Nice. I've heard some low down things on here, but this just may take the cake. Do you trip old ladys and still candy from babys as well? :mad: :td: :td: :td:

So you screwed over a handicap person to make a point to the hotel? You didn't really even hurt the hotel, you just screwed over the handicap person. Nice. I've heard some low down things on here, but this just may take the cake. Do you trip old ladys and still candy from babys as well? :mad: :td: :td: :td:
YIKES! Chill, bud. He hardly "screwed over" anyone. He just reserved a room that happens to be accessible, usually at Hilton meaning a few design changes in the bathroom. Doesn't mean he'll get it. More of a reserving of the RATE, not the room.

Did we forget to take our meds today? :p

As a person with a disability, I consider it absolutely unacceptable to book an accessible room when one is not needed, no matter the circumstances or the price. It is the ethical equivalent of parking in an accessible parking space, whether it is illegal or not.

Those rooms are there for people like myself who require those design modifications in order to complete basic, everyday functions like taking a shower. It is possible that harm will come to me if I'm forced to use a shower or other facilities without these modifications.

In the end, it is possible that you end up screwing a person who really needs the room. What if your hotel is the only hotel in the neighborhood with appropriate accommodations in that price level?

Consider also that many people with disabilities are limited in their transportation options. Renting a car may not be practical. Taxi use may be neither practical nor economical. Public transportation is hit or miss depending on the city. That hotel may be the only one within reasonable distance of the person's final destination, and you have possibly taken the last room available to that person at that hotel, out of greed, laziness, or general disregard for others.

I always find it interesting that Hilton offers the accessible rooms (whatever they call them) at a lower rate.

If you do reserve it, make sure to put a note in your comments that you do not necessarialy need an accessible room, and if somebody does, please take it.

I've been given one several times as an upgrade, and I've reserved them when presented with them.

I've never felt I was taking it from somebody, indeed when given it at check in it was fairly obvious to me that somebody else wasn't getting a regular room.

Like anything else, Hilton I'm sure on many days has way more accessible rooms available then they do people using them. They offer them at a discount to get people to reserve them.

I've been upgraded a couple of times at my local Garden Inn to an accessible room. Since it's usually a Jr. Suite, I don't complain.

The only difference I note is that the shower is the walk-in variety (and I love it) and there's a bit more room in the suite.

I would never book one (I've never even seen one offered at a lower rate -- maybe because I don't look for them), but I assume that Hilton knows what it's doing when they assign me the room.

If they asked me to to move I would do it in a heartbeat.

Some comments were made in this thread that are just shy of qualifying as personal attacks.

Although this can be a controversial issue, please keep this discussion civil and on-topic.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Regards,

Canarsie
Co-moderator, Hilton forum
________________________

Now I am posting as a fellow FlyerTalk member and not as a moderator:

In all of the years where I have stayed in hotel rooms, there have been a few times where I have had no choice but to stay in a room designated for handicapped persons.

As far as I know, there was never a problem. Regardless, I would rather not stay in rooms meant for disabled people.

Actually I thought the person w/ disability made valid statements, so I'm not sure who was referred to (unless OT comments were edited).

Speaking only for myself, I DON'T reserve handicapped rooms (since I'm not) nor would I.

I've only been 'upgraded' once to one at arrival (and I'm assuming the hotel had no reservation for that room). Only dif in that case (can't remember hotel or chain) was a dif toilet & tub/shower.

Would I book a room for disabled if it was $100 cheaper? No. Much as I'd be tempted, I am totally not willing to take something away from someone who will need it.

And yes we can say Hilton wouldn't offer it if it wasn't available, but what if someone logged on after us & truly needed the room & it wasn't available because I took it?

Everyone has their own ethics line; that's one of mine. YMMV.

Cheers.

YIKES! Chill, bud. He hardly "screwed over" anyone. He just reserved a room that happens to be accessible, usually at Hilton meaning a few design changes in the bathroom. Doesn't mean he'll get it. More of a reserving of the RATE, not the room.

Did we forget to take our meds today? :p

Umm.. no. He reserved the accessible room to get the lower price, all the while hoping he would get a regular room. When he didn't get one, even after he called, he apparently had a snit, and when Hilton called to ask him to take the regular room he really wanted, because they needed the handicap room he chose to make some pathetic statement. Why do you think the Hilton wanted the room back? Because someone with a disability was staying there and NEEDED the room. Instead, this chode keeps the room he doesn't NEED OR WANT just to make some pathetic point. Utterly dispicable in my book. :td:

It is the ethical equivalent of parking in an accessible parking space, whether it is illegal or not.


Ironically, the reason we have laws against non-disabled folks parking in accessible spots is because we can't count on people to do the right thing and no park in them absent such laws. As this thread illustrates, it seems we need similar laws for hotel rooms. Sad.

Please do not reserve these rooms. The little money you might be saving is certainly not worth the karmic repurcussions.

please confine your remarks to opinions of the issues, not of individual posters.

(although I fear we could debate this all day without any resolution - definitely strong feelings on both sides)

I have had the situation where the ONLY room offered at a particular Hilton is an accessible room - so Hilton offers these rooms rooms on a regular basis to folks who don't need them. It's a sticky issue - if its the only room type offered, do I not book it because someone might need it?

I made sure when I booked that room, that I added a note that I did not NEED an accessible room.

squeakr

mod hilton

Ironically, the reason we have laws against non-disabled folks parking in accessible spots is because we can't count on people to do the right thing and no park in them absent such laws. As this thread illustrates, it seems we need similar laws for hotel rooms. Sad.

There's one other thing to consider here though: when you're in a metered area or garage, parking spots for disabled people cost the same as the rest of the parking spots. So why is Hilton charging far less in some cases for an accessible room that is in other respects the same as a regular room?

It seems to me that Hilton should fix its policies and charge the same price for the same type of room, accessible or not. (And this comment is in no way intended to excuse the type of behavior resulting in denying an accessible room to someone who actually needs it; by making consistent policies that keep people from reserving these rooms just based on price, you remove one major factor that might cause people to book them over a regular room.) I'm guessing the vast majority of people who've booked accessible rooms would NEVER park in a disabled parking spot. They simply did so because the price was significantly lower. I've never been in that situation, but if I was presented the choice of an accessible room at $150/night or a regular room at $250/night, I could see myself booking the accessible room. (And then calling Hilton or the hotel directly and making absolutely sure they knew I did not specifically need an accessible room in case it was needed for a later booking.)

I'm don't even get why these rooms are even listed as a different type. Why not just have a "I have specific needs - please reserve an accessible room for me" checkbox when you make a reservation? As I see it, this isn't very different than, say, requesting a special meal on an airplane due to religious/dietary/etc restrictions. They don't have you book a special "Low-gluten Seat" in a different, cheaper fare class. (The booking process, that is. Obviously they can serve as many special meals as required, vs a hotel with a fixed number of accessible rooms.)

There's one other thing to consider here though: when you're in a metered area or garage, parking spots for disabled people cost the same as the rest of the parking spots. So why is Hilton charging far less in some cases for an accessible room that is in other respects the same as a regular room?

It seems to me that Hilton should fix its policies and charge the same price for the same type of room, accessible or not. (And this comment is in no way intended to excuse the type of behavior resulting in denying an accessible room to someone who actually needs it; by making consistent policies that keep people from reserving these rooms just based on price, you remove one major factor that might cause people to book them over a regular room.) I'm guessing the vast majority of people who've booked accessible rooms would NEVER park in a disabled parking spot. They simply did so because the price was significantly lower. I've never been in that situation, but if I was presented the choice of an accessible room at $150/night or a regular room at $250/night, I could see myself booking the accessible room. (And then calling Hilton or the hotel directly and making absolutely sure they knew I did not specifically need an accessible room in case it was needed for a later booking.)

I'm don't even get why these rooms are even listed as a different type. Why not just have a "I have specific needs - please reserve an accessible room for me" checkbox when you make a reservation? As I see it, this isn't very different than, say, requesting a special meal on an airplane due to religious/dietary/etc restrictions. They don't have you book a special "Low-gluten Seat" in a different, cheaper fare class. (The booking process, that is. Obviously they can serve as many special meals as required, vs a hotel with a fixed number of accessible rooms.)

Personallly, I applaud Hilton (and some other chains, ICHG for example) for listing accessible room availability separately from other room availability. This tells me whether a room that probably meets my needs is available without having to call the hotel and determine that myself. Those that list such availability get my business unless no hotel in the area of that brand is available.

Other chains (Marriott comes to mind, Wyndham is even worse) don't do this, which could mean any of the following:

(1) I can't book online, losing out on prices/promotions/points, etc.
(2) I must deal with an untrained reservations rep who may not be aware of all of the terms people/chains use to describe this type of room (ADA, accessible) and the sub-categories (roll-in shower, chair-level toilet)
(3) Some chains, especially at properties not under corporate management, will not GUARANTEE the availability of an accessible room on any given night. A Wyndham timeshare property in Orlando did this to me. It was painful enough that I complained to the general manager.

Nonetheless, I agree that if Hilton does, in fact, reduce the price because the room is accessible, they shouldn't. We can start an entirely different discussion on the classes of room available to the wheelchair-using patron, but I would bet that at these hotels, the room is the most standard, most low-end room they've got. Perhaps it merits a discount because it doesn't have some of the features many rooms will. However, if I was to stay at one of these hotels, I would be the first to inquire about the reasoning.

In the end, reducing the price on these rooms actually hurts the disabled traveller. I want a hotel chain to see that I have money to spend and business to bring, no matter why I travel. The more money we bring to the table, the better the variety and number of room choices, and then everyone can focus on what they're in a city to do, rather than working so hard just to find a place to sleep.

That said - there is progress. I stayed at the IC Chicago last month and was upgraded (as a Gold Ambassador) to an accessible junior suite (my first). Two rooms, 1 1/2 baths, plenty of space.

Personallly, I applaud Hilton (and some other chains, ICHG for example) for listing accessible room availability separately from other room availability. This tells me whether a room that probably meets my needs is available without having to call the hotel and determine that myself. Those that list such availability get my business unless no hotel in the area of that brand is available.

Part of the reason I suggested something like a checkbox (which should be a part of the search, and instantly tell you whether or not such a room is available, since I agree that is very important) is so that the rooms DON'T show up unless you specifically request them, making it less likely that someone else will book an accessible room if not required. Makes the search results simpler and easier to read as well for both groups of people. Also, it makes it easier to combine it with other room features, specifically smoking/non-smoking. Some chains seem to do the same with smoking as they do with accesibility; make it a "preference", whereas others make it actually part of the room type. So then one could search for a non-smoking accessible room with ease. (Or are all accessible rooms non-smoking by default? That'd certainly make things easier than juggling smoking and non-smoking accessible rooms.)

Having been forced into smoking rooms a couple times when it was simply a "preference" and not something you could be confirmed for ahead of time, I certainly place value on having that confirmed. I just have minor allergies myself, so the worst a smoking room will do (other than the smell) is make me end up with irritated eyes and a runny nose, but of course there are people who could have life-threatening allergic reactions if forced to stay in a previously-smoked-in room.

Of course there's an even simpler solution to THAT problem: just ban smoking indoors altogether. I applaud Westin North America as well as the various smaller properties that have done just that.


Other chains (Marriott comes to mind, Wyndham is even worse) don't do this, which could mean any of the following:

I find that pretty sad. That says to me that upper management is just doing the absolute minimum to comply with the ADA or other legal requirements, and couldn't care less past having to do that.

Nonetheless, I agree that if Hilton does, in fact, reduce the price because the room is accessible, they shouldn't. [...] Perhaps it merits a discount because it doesn't have some of the features many rooms will. However, if I was to stay at one of these hotels, I would be the first to inquire about the reasoning.

I would be curious to know that as well. Are some hotels perhaps not keeping their accessible rooms renovated to the same level as the rest of their rooms, and discounting them due to that? That seems abhorrent as well. If a guest wants a cheaper room, that can be accomplished by staying in a cheaper property; picking a discounted accessible room should not be an option. I think we're on the same page as far as agreeing that, as a minimum, the accessible rooms should be kept to the same standard as the standard base level rooms at a property, and priced the same.

I checked in on line this morning (for tonight) and I've been upgraded to an accessible jr. suite again.

It's not a matter of money -- I already get a rate so low I'd rather not mention it.

I think I'll make it a point to ask at the front desk what their policy on accessible rooms is. My needs at this point are stay credit and points -- I do one-nighters and an ordinary room is fine.

I checked in on line this morning (for tonight) and I've been upgraded to an accessible jr. suite again.

It's not a matter of money -- I already get a rate so low I'd rather not mention it.

I think I'll make it a point to ask at the front desk what their policy on accessible rooms is. My needs at this point are stay credit and points -- I do one-nighters and an ordinary room is fine.

I would appreciate hearing the response to this question.

For what it's worth, if the hotel gives an accessible room to you when you don't need one, that's a mistake on the part of the hotel, not the guest. Hopefully, if they were to ask you to relocate, they would compensate you accordingly and you'd be more than happy to switch out for a larger room or additional points.

Part of the reason I suggested something like a checkbox (which should be a part of the search, and instantly tell you whether or not such a room is available, since I agree that is very important) is so that the rooms DON'T show up unless you specifically request them ...

This is a good idea, and SPG actually does this, I believe. Their interface doesn't work very well, but that's another story.


Some chains seem to do the same with smoking as they do with accesibility; make it a "preference", whereas others make it actually part of the room type. So then one could search for a non-smoking accessible room with ease. (Or are all accessible rooms non-smoking by default? That'd certainly make things easier than juggling smoking and non-smoking accessible rooms.)


Actually, there was a time that nearly all accessible rooms were smoking. Non-smoking rooms were considered premium on the basis that they did not smell like smoke, so those of us with access needs were (as was usual) given the lowest room category.



I find that pretty sad. That says to me that upper management is just doing the absolute minimum to comply with the ADA or other legal requirements, and couldn't care less past having to do that.


Marriott, especially, is horrible about this. I wanted to reacquaint myself with their website this morning to make sure what I was typing here was correct. This morning, I could not find any means to choose an access preference, so I went so far as to do a google search. What I got out of that search was lawsuit after lawsuit (one against Courtyard for room guarantee, one against a golfing property that was not providing at least one accessible golf cart, and others).


I would be curious to know that as well. Are some hotels perhaps not keeping their accessible rooms renovated to the same level as the rest of their rooms, and discounting them due to that?

As you might expect, I follow the evolution of the ADA rather closely (maybe this is just my personality - I also read Supreme Court opinions for educational purposes). Over time, thanks to hotels and movie theaters, an unwritten doctrine has come about that some people call "equal experience" in place of "equal access". Translation: it's not enough to provide somewhere to sit or eat or sleep, but you should provide somewhere that allows the disabled person to get an equivalent bang for their buck. "Some hotels" will eventually get dinged for not following this - I just don't give them my money.

I think that the reason some hotels charge a lower price for these rooms is because for most people there is either a stigma with staying in one of them, or as mentioned before, the traveler just wants to save the room type for someone that truly needs it. By offering them at a lower price the hotel is trying to entice the general public to book them, like it or not.

If you book one, but don't truly need it, the best thing to do is to jot down a note in the "comments" field when you make your reservation to let the hotel know that you don't need the accessible room.

It seems to me that Hilton should fix its policies and charge the same price for the same type of room, accessible or not.Hilton charges a lower rate for an accessible room because the supply of accessible rooms at the hotel in question exceed the demand. It's all about filling the hotel.

1 time they said no to a change of rooms, and a few days before my arrival called and said they would change my room as they were out of The Handi-Cap rooms and needed mine. I told them I wasnt interested in changing my room any longer and expected to have the Handi-cap room when I got there otherwise they will have to walk me and pay for my nights Lodging etc. They werent too happy, I told them all of this could have been avoided when I orginally called , but was told under no circumstances would The Hotel give me areg room at that rate. Now that The Hotel can use my room , you want to move me, Now I dont want to be moved.

Did I read this correctly? You, being not a disabled person (physically anyway), reserved a room for disabled people because it was cheaper. The hotel wanted to put you into a normal (more expensive) room because it was needed for a handicapped person, and you said no?

Seriously, I would never admit that to a person whose opinion you cared about. It's the equivilent of taking candy from a child.

Did I read this correctly? You, being not a disabled person (physically anyway), reserved a room for disabled people because it was cheaper. The hotel wanted to put you into a normal (more expensive) room because it was needed for a handicapped person, and you said no?

Seriously, I would never admit that to a person whose opinion you cared about. It's the equivilent of taking candy from a child.Amen to that.

Did I read this correctly? You, being not a disabled person (physically anyway), reserved a room for disabled people because it was cheaper. The hotel wanted to put you into a normal (more expensive) room because it was needed for a handicapped person, and you said no?

Seriously, I would never admit that to a person whose opinion you cared about. It's the equivilent of taking candy from a child.

The hotel did not hesitate to reserve an accessible room to a non-disabled person. In fact, they encourage it - otherwise, they would have lots of (usually) empty rooms.

Would I have given up the accessible room in this situation? Probably.

Would I have been real pissed at Hilton for making me move now after they refused to when I told them I didn't need it and wanted to move earlier? Absolutely.

Comparing this situation to handicapped parking spaces and "taking candy from children"? Please... If this was such an issue, why don't we all petition Hilton to make their accessible rooms available only to disabled people - no exceptions. That will make us all happy until we try to reserve a room and are told that there are none left - except that there are 20 unbooked accessible rooms that are not being used and we cannot have one because we are not disabled.

Again, this is not an ethics issue, it's a money issue... :rolleyes:

(1) Abled-bodied people typically don't want accessible rooms. The issue rears its head at Hiltons because - for better or worse - Hilton's system displays them as a separate room type. Therefore, in some cases, the accessible room is either the only one left or the least expensive room. So, we're somewhat forced to pick that room type and then hope we get "upgraded" out of it. (In fact, there is another thread on this board all about it.)

(2) That other thread discusses somewhat at length the fact that putting your request in the reservation notes doesn't guarantee that you'll get upgraded out of it. In fact, I wonder if they ever read my comments at all. If you book accessible rooms, the hotel policy is presumably to assign your room first to ensure that you really get it, because they assume you really need it. Conclusion: if you book accessible rooms, you might have a hard time getting out of it.

(3) I don't fully understand craz's situation. If I'm in an accessible room for whatever reason - either I booked it or I showed up a 1AM and it was truly the last room available (that's happened to me, too) - and on a subsequent night they call me up and say "Hey, we have a guy in a wheelchair here in the lobby that really needs that room. Would you mind moving to a regular room?", I'm going to move without question. At that point, it's no longer about the hotel or my beef with them - it's about a guy who needs a place to sleep and isn't going to have one if I decide to be difficult.

(4) This is totally unlike parking spaces, both ethically and legally. The accessible rooms are available to the general public - anybody who might prefer them for any reason. Maybe you have limited mobility but aren't legally disabled - you have as much right to book an accessible room as anyone. There are pros & cons to Hilton doing it this way. I suppose the perfect solution would be for Hilton's system to ensure that the accessible rate is always equal to the best available regular rate, thus limiting the number of people who book accessible rooms purely because their corporate policy requires them to book lowest rates or because they want to to save their own money. But for now that's not the way it is, and still, Hilton's system is better than most others.

(5) With today's childhood obesity epidemic, I think more people need to be taking more candy from children. :p ;) I don't, however, condone tripping old ladies. Except when one is passing me late in a road race, which seems to happen to me all too often... :o

Again, this is not an ethics issue, it's a money issue... :rolleyes:

I disagree.

The hotel was offering to give him a higher-priced room that was non-accessible. He didn't want the non-accessible room (he had tried to change it previously). So this isn't about money. It's about sticking it to the hotel (and the handicapped person) because he didn't get his way initially.

Tell me how that's a money issue and not an ethics/behavior one.

Or neither? Do they look at you to determine whether you are indeed handicapped before making their decision?

You sure disturbed a nest of hornets on this one. :rolleyes:
Maybe you would not care for the 'handicapped' room at any price.

My experience was with the Pittsburgh Hilton a few years ago. I arrived to find that as a Gold, I was not offered an upgrade -indeed when I examined my regular "2 double beds" room, there was still trash in the baskets and hair-covered soggy soap in the bathtub.
When I complained to the desk about my "King Bed Non-Smoking" booking, they offered to move me, but only an 'accessaable" room was available because the basketball team (I'm sure all HHonors members) was taking all available rooms.
The accessable room was horrific! (for a non-wheelchair bound person). Open tiled bathroom like a shower room at the Y. (and smelled like a locker room too)
Counters at crotch level. Twin beds.
That musty residue that indicates that the room was only recently made non-smoking.
I asked for my original room back, and that houskeeping clean the bathroom.
Nobody at the desk cared to even say "sorry", but the next day one of the staff suggested I write HH.
I did. Nobody acknowledged my note, but man did I ever get good service at Hilton properties for the reat of the year. ;)

I eventually tried the Hilton again (when they turned the DT into a Mariott) and there had been a marked difference in the level and attitude of service. My "regular price" booking was upgraded to a nice King suite, and the room was superior in every way. Maybe more than one person complained about the "upgrade to accessable".

Commander Bob
Hoping that folks in wheelchairs normally get better rooms than the one I saw.

Utterly different situations.

There are laws against using a handicapped parking space if you aren't entitled, and you will be fined and/or towed if caught.

I know there aren't laws against me occupying a handicapped room, as I have been placed in them by hotel managements, most recently two weeks ago at Disney.

There may be laws....But the same "handicapped" people who need the parking spot, need the room.

While not illegal, I believe totally wrong to deprive someone who really needs the raised toilet, the tub rails etc.

The real question is why these rooms are showing up for less? The min rate at a hotel should be the min rate....

I disagree.

The hotel was offering to give him a higher-priced room that was non-accessible. He didn't want the non-accessible room (he had tried to change it previously). So this isn't about money. It's about sticking it to the hotel (and the handicapped person) because he didn't get his way initially.

Tell me how that's a money issue and not an ethics/behavior one.

It's a money issue because that is how Hilton treats it. They do not want to have unoccupied accessible rooms, because they don't make money when they're empty, so they offer them to everyone at the lower rate.

Is the hotel being unethical for offering the accessible rooms to non-disabled customers? The hotel wants to make money and the customer wants to save money. The hotel knew he was not disabled, yet they allowed him to have the room.

The disabled customer got screwed because Hilton decides to sell the accessible rooms to non-disabled customers.

The disabled customer got screwed because Hilton decides to sell the accessible rooms to non-disabled customers.Without some evidence that a disabled guest was ever forced into a non-accessible room because of Hilton's practice of letting anyone reserve an accessible room, this is an extreme statement.

and comment on particular posters and their actions, I will be forced to close the htread

squeakr
Mod hilton

As a poster who got chewed out for having an accessible room and complaining about it, here are my 2 cents, and please do not take any of them the wrong way:

I think it's great that accessible rooms are available for those that need them.

I do not think that those who require an accessible room be given preference for a room IN GENERAL at a hotel:
- Scenario below -
200 regular rooms - $99/each - of which 2 are accessible
20 suites, $200/each


June 10, 199 rooms are booked for June 15, but 1 accessible room is available, as are the 20 suites.

John H. Public comes to hilton.com, needs a room, sees $99 rate, one room left - he books it. It is accessible.

June 11th, John Q. Accessible comes to hilton.com, needs an ACCESSIBLE room. All that are left are $200 suites. He missed the room he wanted by one day.

I'm under the impression that John Q Accessible, knowing he has special needs, should have reserved that accessible room on June 9th instead of waiting until June 11th.


Hotel rooms sell out, flights fill up. When I NEED to be at a meeting, I schedule my flight in advance - planes fill up, just like hotels....

As a poster who got chewed out for having an accessible room and complaining about it, here are my 2 cents, and please do not take any of them the wrong way:

I think it's great that accessible rooms are available for those that need them.

I do not think that those who require an accessible room be given preference for a room IN GENERAL at a hotel:
- Scenario below -
200 regular rooms - $99/each - of which 2 are accessible
20 suites, $200/each


June 10, 199 rooms are booked for June 15, but 1 accessible room is available, as are the 20 suites.

John H. Public comes to hilton.com, needs a room, sees $99 rate, one room left - he books it. It is accessible.

June 11th, John Q. Accessible comes to hilton.com, needs an ACCESSIBLE room. All that are left are $200 suites. He missed the room he wanted by one day.

I'm under the impression that John Q Accessible, knowing he has special needs, should have reserved that accessible room on June 9th instead of waiting until June 11th.


Hotel rooms sell out, flights fill up. When I NEED to be at a meeting, I schedule my flight in advance - planes fill up, just like hotels....

To play devil's advocate, what if he doesn't find out until then that he needs a room at that hotel? :)

My thoughts on my own question: I think that in that case, John Q. Accessible should find a different hotel, just like if John H. Public did not want to pay the $200/night rate, if booking on June 11th, he would fnid a different hotel.

Without some evidence that a disabled guest was ever forced into a non-accessible room because of Hilton's practice of letting anyone reserve an accessible room, this is an extreme statement.

I didn't say that a disabled guest was forced into a non-accessible room. I mean that disabled customers can end up without an available room since Hilton sells accessible rooms to non-disabled people. It is a risk that Hilton chooses to take and the consequences fall on the disabled customer.

To play devil's advocate, what if he doesn't find out until then that he needs a room at that hotel? :)

My thoughts on my own question: I think that in that case, John Q. Accessible should find a different hotel, just like if John H. Public did not want to pay the $200/night rate, if booking on June 11th, he would fnid a different hotel.

I was going to try to bring this out in my post but could not phrase it correctly. I think you did a good job with it ^

Why on earth do people feel the need to personally attack people in a healthy discussion?

I have seen many situtations where it was the only room being offered, and I have seen many situtatations where it was way more then a few dollars cheaper then the next room listed.

I don't for a minute believe any person who deserves these rooms has ever been denied one because the hotel gave me one at checkin (and I've been given them way more times then I've reserved them).

The situtation is simple, at times they have way more accessible rooms then they do people using them. Should the hotel never give them out waiting for the people they know aren't coming to take them? Of course they shouldn't. The only way there are accessible rooms above whatever the law requires is because the hotel knows they could use them if they needed them.

Why do they at times cost so much less? I asked that once and was told that most people don't like a room with the accessible bathroom. Don't have a clue as to why that is, but when they have more accessible rooms then they do handicapped people needing them, they keep lowering the price until they fill some of them up.

But again, I don't for a minute believe that the hotel putting me in one of those rooms has meant somebody who needed it was turned away because they didn't have more available.

To compare it with a handicapped parking space is just silly, it's totally different things.

Let the name calling begin.

Why do they at times cost so much less? I asked that once and was told that most people don't like a room with the accessible bathroom. Don't have a clue as to why that is, but when they have more accessible rooms then they do handicapped people needing them, they keep lowering the price until they fill some of them up.In my experience the accessible room has a larger bathroom, which takes up some of the bedroom space.

In my experience the accessible room has a larger bathroom, which takes up some of the bedroom space.

Also, at smaller hotels, with only 1 or 2 accessible rooms, it will inevitably be a room on the first floor fairly near the lobby. To me, that's the biggest reason I avoid them. At Hampton Inns, I like top floor far away from elevators or other foot traffic.

Also, at smaller hotels, with only 1 or 2 accessible rooms, it will inevitably be a room on the first floor fairly near the lobby. To me, that's the biggest reason I avoid them. At Hampton Inns, I like top floor far away from elevators or other foot traffic.

Same for me - I'd rather pay a bit more, but have a better chance of being on a higher floor, away from the elevator. However, I don't complain when I'm upgraded to the jacuzzi suite, and it happens to be on the ground level, near the elevators. :D

The truth is that in a perfect world, Hilton could sell these rooms for less than the going rate when they thought they wouldn't be full. And that, should a situation arise when they were down a room that was needed for a person with special needs, they could make arrangements with a person who was in one of those rooms and didn't need it.

That system breaks down when able-bodied people cling onto rooms out of spite toward the hotel.

If you book an accessible room, you shouldn't be surprised when you get "stuck" with one. If you book an accessible room and don't need it, you shouldn't be surprised if the hotel asks you to move.

If, however, you book an accessible room at a cheap rate, and are unsuccessful in demands to a different room, you should be willing to move at a later date (in essence, getting your way) when a person who actually needs the room shows up. Just my opinion.

The most appropriate analogy would be that handicapped parking was cheaper than non-handicapped parking, but that the parking facility allowed non-handicapped persons to park as a courtesy in those spots when they were unneeded.

Does this thread remind anyone else of a certain episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm?

The real question is why these rooms are showing up for less? The min rate at a hotel should be the min rate....
Agreed.

Any hotel chain’s min rate should be the min rate AND there should be a clear checkbox or some other means (as mentioned in above posts) for an accessible room to be reserved. There is no reason why an accessible room should be cheaper than a regular room.

As the actual day of the stay approached if all reg rooms were filled then the property could put guests who don’t need an accessible room into one so that the hotel would be filling all the rooms.

--

i definitely would see it as inconsiderate and selfish to occupy a handicap room when you're able-bodied. Like taking a wheelchair to monkey around in or doing whatever you want to do with it, because you can.

Hilton has decided to create accessible rooms for its patrons. Suppose they expect the "peak capacity" of accessible patrons to be 10 on any given night, so, they create 10 accessible rooms.

On any given night, the number of patrons who actually need an accessible room lilkely will be less than 10, hence Hilton has every right to try to rent these rooms to patrons who do not value their accessibility features. If they were somhow bound not to rent these room out to able-bodied patrons, they would likely build FEWER rooms in the first place. Let's say 5 rooms, the average number, not peak number of patrons requiring accessible rooms.

Hence, Hilton's ability to rent these rooms to able-bodied patrons is critical to having enough accessible rooms in the first place.

The lower price for these rooms on the website is a clear indication that having these rooms is a significant cost to Hilton. (They cannot get the same rate as for a standard room, yet they probably spent more building the rooms in the first place.) One way to defray that cost, ethically and financially, is to keep the room full as much as possible.

Now, I would give up an accessible room in a heartbeat (in mid-stay or otherwise and at great inconvenience to me, if necessary). That's my decision. However, Hilton has the right to fill their rooms. People needing accessible rooms also want Hilton to fill them or Hilton will make fewer accessible rooms. Of course, if Hilton has the right to fill its rooms, patrons, able-bodied or not, have the right to occupy these rooms.

Parking places are completely different because the "cost" (i.e., opportunity cost) of an empty parking place is so much lower than that of an empty hotel room. It's not fair to Hilton to expect them to keep 5 hotel rooms empty every night. (Going back to my example with 10 rooms at the peak and 5 rooms on average.)

Umm.. no. He reserved the accessible room to get the lower price, all the while hoping he would get a regular room. When he didn't get one, even after he called, he apparently had a snit, and when Hilton called to ask him to take the regular room he really wanted, because they needed the handicap room he chose to make some pathetic statement. Why do you think the Hilton wanted the room back? Because someone with a disability was staying there and NEEDED the room. Instead, this chode keeps the room he doesn't NEED OR WANT just to make some pathetic point. Utterly dispicable in my book. :td:

I see no issue with booking the lower rate room, but not giving it up, especially when asked, is of course rude and inhumane. Sad, very, very sad.

Why is it that few here are mentioning that the rate for an accessible room should not be any different than a reg room?

Just because one is handicapped should not mean that they pay a lower rate for a room than the average Joe.

--

We've discussed hotel rooms and parking spots...but what about lavatories? What do people think about using the accessible loo if all the regular ones are "in use"? Is that also considered a no-no, or is that acceptable?

We've discussed hotel rooms and parking spots...but what about lavatories? What do people think about using the accessible loo if all the regular ones are "in use"? Is that also considered a no-no, or is that acceptable?
That's a topic for the disability forum :) It should be the last choice. If another is available use it. If one isn't, then I see no problem with using the accessible one. Just be mindful that someone who needs it might be waiting while you are reading that 500 page book. :)

Why is it that few here are mentioning that the rate for an accessible room should not be any different than a reg room?

Just because one is handicapped should not mean that they pay a lower rate for a room than the average Joe.

--
It's

Not

A

Handicapped

Room.


It's an accessible room - this is the term used by Hilton. An accessible room is a room that happens to have features that are better suited for those with special mobility needs. Hilton has never represented that such a room is intended only for handicapped guests.

The rate is lower because the hotel sees a lower rate of occupancy on an accessible room than a room without these features. There are probably at least two resaons for this - one is that the living accomodations are smaller, having given up some space for the accessible bathroom. Another is that people may think they are not "entitled" to a room with a walk-in shower and a wide bathroom door.

If one assumes that the rooms are only to be occupied by people who can't manage a non-accessible room, then it may be easier to conclude that it's somehow unfair or unreasonable for Hilton to be charging a lower rate for an accessible room. I conclude since Hilton freely provides these rooms to the general public, that charging a lower fee for the room is simple supply and demand. Hotels understand yield management.

Why is it that few here are mentioning that the rate for an accessible room should not be any different than a reg room?

Just because one is handicapped should not mean that they pay a lower rate for a room than the average Joe.

--
It's

Not

A

Handicapped

Room.


It's an accessible room - this is the term used by Hilton.
accessible room is the term I used, so why the poignant response?

I think the main grip is that the hotel are charging a much lower rate for the accessable room. I cannot see any reason for this and it causes the problem here where the cheap rate is too attractive not to take up. I would take it if it was $100 less.

How can you have a law so abled bodied people cannot book a hotel room? - I walk up wheelchair ramps into shops sometimes and sometimes use a dissabled toliet.

accessible room is the term I used, so why the poignant response?please stop shouting. :)

Your second statement communicates an assumption that an accessible room is only to be used by handicapped guests.

Your second statement communicates an assumption that an accessible room is only to be used by handicapped guests.[/SIZE]
:confused:
Just because one is handicapped should not mean that they pay a lower rate for a room than the average Joe.
my second statement communicates my belief that no person should be allowed to pay a cheaper rate for a room due to being handicapped. Take the accessible room but not at a cheaper rate than the reg room rate for the property.

If the room is available to anyone (and it is) then a lower room rate for an accessible room is not a special benefit for handicapped people, it's just yield management.

It's when you asusme that only handicapped people are entitled to the cheaper room that it appears to be unfair. Hilton never represents that an accessible room is only intended for handicapped guests. Certainly there are people who can only make use of an accessible room, just as there are situations where people can only make use of a room with more than one bed. That doesn't make it wrong for someone else to occupy one of the accessible rooms.

Do we now start thinking bad thoughts about single travelers who book a 2-Queen room because it's available at a cheaper rate than the King Deluxe? It might deprive someone traveling with their spinster aunt from getting a room at the hotel.

I'm not defending refusing to relinquish an accessible room when the hotel requests it.

Interesting discussion.

Just to toss out something else, there are certainly degrees of disability. While I would never try to claim that I have severe problems, I do suffer from gout attacks in my big toe joints from time to time, and have a knee which acts up sometimes.

If you have never had gout, I envy you. Feels like somebody is stabbing a knife into your joint every time you move it.

On these occasions, I'd estimate that I am about 10% disabled and a higher toilet seat and grab-bars are definitely comforts, but not totally necessary. Possibly even a sit-down shower.

Of course, I never know far enough ahead of time when these things are coming on, so never manage to reserve an accessible room.

Interesting discussion.

Just to toss out something else, there are certainly degrees of disability. While I would never try to claim that I have severe problems, I do suffer from gout attacks in my big toe joints from time to time, and have a knee which acts up sometimes.

If you have never had gout, I envy you. Feels like somebody is stabbing a knife into your joint every time you move it.

On these occasions, I'd estimate that I am about 10% disabled and a higher toilet seat and grab-bars are definitely comforts, but not totally necessary. Possibly even a sit-down shower.

Of course, I never know far enough ahead of time when these things are coming on, so never manage to reserve an accessible room.

You bring up a good point. Just because someone isn't in a wheelchair or walking with a cane, it doesn't mean that they don't need the room for some reason. A former co-worker suffered from heart problems, and as such, his ankles and feet would swell up like balloons if he'd been on his feet for a while. As he was a trainer, he could be on his feet for 8 hours, if not more. Once, and only once, was he booked into a Sleep Inn that only offered shower stalls, without bathtubs. After that, he was always booked into other hotels, and a note was always put into his comments when making the reservation that he required a room with a full bathtub, and typically a call to the hotel was made just to verify. He required the bathtub so he could soak his feet so as to help with the swelling.

We've discussed hotel rooms and parking spots...but what about lavatories? What do people think about using the accessible loo if all the regular ones are "in use"? Is that also considered a no-no, or is that acceptable?

I use the accessible one all the time. At our office, it has a little ledge next to the toilet, so that's where you find all of the good reading material. People generously leave all sorts of magazines and newspapers there. ^

:o

And to answer the obvious follow-up question: yes, I would yield the accessible loo to someone who really needed it. I might ask 'em to shove Wired Magazine under the stall wall though. :p

There are more than 1 way to look at this.

First, I have only stayed in an accessible room on a priceline stay.

I don't place any greater or lesser value on those rooms.

But if a hotel has them available for a lower price, then the hotel must think they have plenty available. Maybe that is why they come up on priceline. I personally have never seen them at a lower price, but in such circumstances I would have no qualms taking the accessible room. In contrast, I would have qualms if there was a premium price because then the hotel probably figures they are in short supply.

If an accessible room comes up as the last available room, I see no reason to pass on a room that I need if I reserve it before someone else (who happens to be disabled) does. If anything, you are hurting a hotel by not taking the room, and businesses such as this who make voluntary investments to help people with disabilities are the ones that should be patronized.

A hotel room is not like a close parking spot. If the close parking spots fill up, than a person with diabilities must park further away. In a hotel, its not like they are going to sleep on the roof or something--they either get a room or they don't.

So if the price is low, I think its reasonable to assume there are plenty of accessible rooms available.

If its the last room, you have to ask yourself should you pass on the room and treat someone with disabilities differently because of their disability? I can see arguments on both sides but I think things work out better in a market economy when everyone acts in their own rational interest.

If the room is available to anyone (and it is) then a lower room rate for an accessible room is not a special benefit for handicapped people, it's just yield management.
^ then we are on the same page.

I believe there were some in this thread who would not book an accessible room for the lower price as they felt they were "taking it away" from a person who needed it.

There should not be a lower price for accessible rooms, simply a means to book one if needed.

I'm OK with Hilton decding how they want to run their business.

Without a lower rate for an accessible room I suspect that fewer of them would be rented.

So you screwed over a handicap person to make a point to the hotel? You didn't really even hurt the hotel, you just screwed over the handicap person. Nice. I've heard some low down things on here, but this just may take the cake. Do you trip old ladys and still candy from babys as well? :mad: :td: :td: :td:

Havent been here for a few days Guess I missed some nice posts.

Any way, to put it simply, Had that Hil Prop been the only game in that city, you might have a point. However, just as I might look for a Hil prop and if I see I can stay elsewhere for alot less I'll book elsewhere. Why cause the Props had alot of reservations that filled up the place, yet is it fair for Non-HH people to stay at a Hil prop, when maybe HH people would like to do so?

My Point is that the person who wanted or needed that room, could have booked elsewhere. Maybe they just wanted the HH credit, maybe it was the cheapest accessible room in that City for that night.

If I had to go thru it again Id do the samething. I dont see that I denied anyone anything Especially since the DC area has more Hotels and rooms then they know what to do with.

As a person with a disability, I consider it absolutely unacceptable to book an accessible room when one is not needed, no matter the circumstances or the price. It is the ethical equivalent of parking in an accessible parking space, whether it is illegal or not.

Those rooms are there for people like myself who require those design modifications in order to complete basic, everyday functions like taking a shower. It is possible that harm will come to me if I'm forced to use a shower or other facilities without these modifications.

In the end, it is possible that you end up screwing a person who really needs the room. What if your hotel is the only hotel in the neighborhood with appropriate accommodations in that price level?

Consider also that many people with disabilities are limited in their transportation options. Renting a car may not be practical. Taxi use may be neither practical nor economical. Public transportation is hit or miss depending on the city. That hotel may be the only one within reasonable distance of the person's final destination, and you have possibly taken the last room available to that person at that hotel, out of greed, laziness, or general disregard for others.

My parents both have disabilities and both have the Blue parking card.

There is a difference and a big one at that. 1st its not illegeal to book an accessible room, it is Illegal to park in a Handi-cap space.

I guess you feel that if All the Handi-cap spaces are taken that someone with the permitt should wait till 1 frees up, rather then park in a reg spot?

Are you willing to pay any Hotel for these rooms if they dont sell 'em? If the rate difference is high enough and at times it is, I will stay elsewhere, thereby causing that Hotel to have a non-Rented room for the night. Is that fair? Remember , its not against the law for just anyone to stay in an accessible room. A number of Hotels use these for their PriceLine customers.

I prefer a King Bed, the past 3 nights 2 Double Beds were between $20-$35 cheaper , so I took a room with Double Beds.

If the rates on all the rooms are the same I wouldnt book an accessible room, when its alot cheaper or the only Non-smoking room left Ill book it. Im not taking anything away from anyone else, as I dont recall ever staying in a Hotel where that was the only place in town or for miles around.

Why is it that few here are mentioning that the rate for an accessible room should not be any different than a reg room?
The scenario I can see is this. Let's say Hilton has 100 rooms available at some rate X - 98 standard, and 2 accessible - and some number of rooms at some higher rates Y, Z, ... They sell out the 98 standard rooms at X, leaving the 2 accessible rooms at that rate, and all the standard rooms at rate Y (and higher). Thus, it appears that the accessible room is "cheaper", where it's just that the lower rate buckets have sold out on the standard rooms.

I don't for a minute believe any person who deserves these rooms has ever been denied one because the hotel gave me one at checkin (and I've been given them way more times then I've reserved them).



Well, it probably wasn't because of you specifically, but I've certainly been unable to book at some hotels on some days because the accessible rooms were all already booked, sometimes by people who had no need of them.

And to the poster who felt that those of us who need wheelchair accessible rooms should book earlier - I'm a business traveler, like many people here. Sometimes I have advance notice, sometimes I'm asked to travel tomorrow. Should I tell my employer that I'm unable to travel unless I've got a week's notice? I don't think so.

The fact that I use a wheelchair does in fact mean that there is a *much* smaller stock of rooms for me to choose from than there is for you.

I work for a non profit where most of our clients are or some day may be disabled. Do I use the accessible toilet in the office? If there is nobody in the office who is handicapped at the time, yes. If there is anybody in the office, even if I just passed them going the other way at the other end of the hall and there is no way they could get to the bathroom before I'm done, not a chance.

It's the same thing with the rooms.

I wound never, ever take one away or keep one if anybody else needed it. If I was asked in the middle of the night to switch for somebody, I would, and I make it very clear to the people up front not to hesitate.

But that has never hapended.

And personally, given the choice, I like the bigger bathroom, don't really care about the few feet it loses in the bed side.

I use the accessible one all the time. At our office, it has a little ledge next to the toilet, so that's where you find all of the good reading material. People generously leave all sorts of magazines and newspapers there. ^

:o

And to answer the obvious follow-up question: yes, I would yield the accessible loo to someone who really needed it. I might ask 'em to shove Wired Magazine under the stall wall though. :p

How would you know that someone was waiting who really needed it?

I hear this a lot - "Oh, I'm just parked in the permit space for a minute; I'll move if someone needs it" - well, I know there are 2 permit spaces in that lot, I drive by and see that both spaces are occupied and so I go to another lot further away. You never knew that I was there and needed that space, because I'm much too polite to drive up behind you and honk at you.

"Oh, I'll get out of this stall if someone needs it" - when I'm at DIA and go to FIVE RESTROOMS IN A ROW (true story) looking for one in which the accessible stall is not occupied, I assume that the person using it needs it, just like me (*especially* if they are taking a long time), and I'll either wait my turn or try to find another one. I'm much too polite to rattle the door and say "Hey! I'm disabled and I bet you're not, so come out there!" My mother raised me better than that.

How would you know that someone was waiting who really needed it?People who aren't in wheelchairs have to wait for bathrooms too sometimes. It happens.

People who aren't in wheelchairs have to wait for bathrooms too sometimes. It happens.

I understand that. And I understand that people (in and out of wheelchairs) have to park in undesireable spaces and have to settle for hotel rooms that they may not have wanted. Resources are scarce.

The difference is that while you have the choice of 6 restroom stalls and 200 parking spaces and 500 hotel rooms, I have the choice of 1 restroom stall and 2 parking spaces and 2 hotel rooms, so who is likely to spend more time waiting, you or me?

Ideally, all restroom stalls would be wheelchair accessible. Then we wouldn't even be having this conversation, and I'd wait on line right behind you.

But our society has chosen to implement a "separate but not equal" solution to the problem of access, just like coloured and white lunch counters and bus seats. This creates unequal access to facilities.

And frankly, whether I wait or not is not the point of my reply. My point is that if an able-bodied person believes that no one is ever turned away due to his/her use of accessible facilities, that person has a mistaken perception.

the problem with Restroom Stalls at least at Airports is that most people are traveling with Carry-On Rollerboards that they cant get into the stall with them and still be able to close the door.

2nd alot of the restrooms have only a handful of stalls to begin with, so its a better chance that someone who doesnt need the accessible one will be using it.

It would be nice if all the stalls were larger so that Rollerboards could get in, but that will mean less stalls to begin with so unfortunately I doubt that this will occur.

How about on a Plane, do you really think that people who dont especially need the accessible Lav, shouldnt use it but rather wait for one of the others? I use them simply cause they are usually located in the Middle of the a/c where the ceiling isnt curved and I can actually stand up straight which is difficult for me to do in the other lavs due to my height. And Yes when in Biz or 1st, I will walk back into Coach in order to use 1

But our society has chosen to implement a "separate but not equal" solution to the problem of access, just like coloured and white lunch counters and bus seats. This creates unequal access to facilities.While I generally agree with everything you have said, Katje, I believe that unequal access to facilities for people with disabilities is chiefly based on economic decisions by the providers of such facilities rather than based on discrimination. That is not to say that discrimination does not currently exist towards people with disabilities, but I do not believe that is a conscious and deliberate choice amongst the majority of people and corporations.

Disabled people require larger stalls in public bathrooms for wheelchair access and additional equipment such as bars in hotel room bathrooms. Although it would be an ideal situation, to outfit every public or hotel bathroom to qualify as accessible for people with disabilities would simply cost more. Also, in the case of public bathrooms, there would be fewer stalls if all of them were expanded to qualify as accessible for people with disabilities, as there is only so much real estate with which to work.

These are merely observations, not arguments for or against the ideal solution of equipping every facility to qualify as accessible for people with disabilities.

Assuming that I am correct and economics are the major factor in determining the amount of facilities created for people with disabilities, what would you propose as an equitable solution for what is being discussed in this thread, Katja?

Are there any circumstances in which a person who is not disabled could reserve a room specially designed for people with disabilities?

Your points are very valid. It will never be possible to design a society in which everyone has access to everything they need and/or want.

Your distinction between economic decisions and social dictates is also very valid. One of the reasons we find it necessary to legislate public behaviour is that in a capitalist society, behaviour is frequently driven primarily by profit motivations above other considerations. Even *with* legislation like the ADA, many facilities and businesses choose not to provide accessible facilities, due to cost considerations and the perception that there is no added value to them to serve and provide access to people with disabilities.

Are there any circumstances in which a person who is not disabled could reserve a room specially designed for people with disabilities?

I am not telling anybody what to do. I am not telling any able-bodied person on this thread not to reserve or accept an accessible hotel room.

What drew me into this thread were statements by (presumably able-bodied) posters that this practice did not have an impact on any disabled person ("I don't for a minute believe any person who deserves these rooms has ever been denied one because the hotel gave me one at checkin"), or that the poster would be able to detect such an impact and would react appropriately ("yes, I would yield the accessible loo to someone who really needed it.").

I submit, based on personal experience, that such impacts do occur, that an able-bodied person using an accessible resource will not necessarily realise this, and that even if s/he does, that person will not necessarily yield the resource.

Those of you who do use these resources and believe that this is morally acceptable because you plan to yield them if needed may wish to consider this alternate perception.

There are of course also people who do not believe these resources are scarce (witness the "how come there are so many permit parking spaces - that's not fair to able-bodied people" and "how come the Routemaster busses were taken away when nobody ever uses the lifts" discussions).

I stand by my statement since I was quoted, I would always give up my room if it was needed, and each time I've asked I've been assured that it was not needed and would indeed go empty if I didn't take it or the next person or whatever.

I am very comfortable saying the times I've had that room nobody was denied it who needed it (though it wouldn't really matter because they assured me they had others available).

My husband is deaf and disabled, and although this is somewhat off-topic, I wanted to report about a room we were given at a new Marriott in Burbank that was specifically for a Deaf customer. I can't remember if it had other accessible features in the bathroom such as grab bars(I think it did, as my husband needs them, although he is not in a wheelchair). The room was great in that it offered flashing lights when someone rang the doorbell, or if the fire alam went off, etc. This innovation is great for those like my husband, who are rather anxious about staying in hotel rooms alone. Usually he has to tell the front desk that he is deaf and then be at the mercy of anyone who is therefore told about it--meaning that he can easily either be a victim of a burglary while asleep, or risk that someone remembers he can't hear a fire alarm if the need arises. Therefore, he rarely goes anywhere alone, and this room at the Marriott was really great.

Bottom line is I think they only had one, and I assume that they don't have a Deaf person stay there every night, but it would be nice to know it would be available to us when we need it. I have never seen it before at any other hotel, but I have to admit that I have never asked for it when I travel with my husband since I am not Deaf.

Bottom line is I think they only had one, and I assume that they don't have a Deaf person stay there every night, but it would be nice to know it would be available to us when we need it. I have never seen it before at any other hotel, but I have to admit that I have never asked for it when I travel with my husband since I am not Deaf.

I've seen a number of such rooms - at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach they combine all possible accomodations in a single room - there was a fire alarm while I was there, and the strobe light went on several seconds ahead of the audible alarm. I nearly fell out of bed from the shock before figuring out what was going on. Then I broke a speed record for getting into a wheelchair, out of the room and into the elevator before they shut it down.

Somewhere (probably a Marriott), I requested a wheelchair accessible room and received instead a room designed for the use of Deaf or HI guests; I couldn't even get into the bedroom due to the furniture configuration.

I've stayed at several Courtyards and Residence Inns where the room had a doorbell with a switch that could be flipped to enable a visual bell.

It's happened to me on several occasions, I have a reservation with no special requests and find that I'm in a handicapped room. I don't know if I got the last room in the house or if the desk clerk just didn't care or what. I never thought much about it, really, assuming that the hotel knew what they were doing and that there must have been other similar rooms in the event they were needed. Now I feel bad!

It's happened to me on several occasions, I have a reservation with no special requests and find that I'm in a handicapped room. I don't know if I got the last room in the house or if the desk clerk just didn't care or what. I never thought much about it, really, assuming that the hotel knew what they were doing and that there must have been other similar rooms in the event they were needed. Now I feel bad!

Hey, Vicki!

Seems to me that's a completely different situation than TABs who deliberately reserve an accessible room, or hotels that underprice the accessible rooms.

I just read this entire thread and as a frequent traveler and HH Gold member I feel that I should tell my experience. I travel quite often for work and due to my disability I am in a wheelchair. No where on the Hilton Honors profile does it ask if you NEED a wheelchair accessible room it just list that as a room preference. Well this is something that I NEED in order to get in and out of the bathroom. The bathroom doors in a non-accessible room are often less wide and my wheelchair cannot fit in. I frequently have stayed at the DT in Little Rock and on SEVERAL occassions when I made a reservation online and request as my preference an accessible room, I have gotten to the hotel to find that they had me on the HHonors floor in a non accessible room and that none of the accessible rooms were available because other guests were in them. Once they walked me over to another hotel of much lower quality. The other time they just said that there were no room available and that they could not find me another hotel to stay in so I was out of luck. Now I should say that I was staying at this particular Hilton property once a month for at least two days or more while in Little Rock for business. This went on for almost a year. I always made the reservation online and then had to call the hotel and get assurance that I would be given the wheelchair accessible room. I was sad to see that NONE of the rooms on the HHonors floor were wheelchair accessible. Granted I was always allowed to use the HHonors floor facilities such as the manager's reception and the breakfast buffet. The front desk manager said that they were not certain that I just wanted the accessible room for the extra bathroom space or if I indeed did need the room for the accommodations it provides to someone with a mobility impairment. I think HHonors needs to make a place in the profile where you can designate that you have a specific need for an accessible room and not just a desire to have one because the bathroom is larger.

Once when I was staying in Washington DC I had a reserved accessible room...or so I thought...only to find out that my room was given away before I arrived and they had no other wheelchair accessible rooms available. They of course had plenty of non accessible rooms available in this instance but I cannot use those rooms. It took a hotel maintenance man to suggest having me go up to the JR. Suite and see if I could use the bathroom in there because he felt the bathroom door in there was wide enough for me to use...and indeed it was. Luckily for me they did upgrade me to this room at the regular rate I was staying in.

When I was younger and in college I played wheelchair sports. Often we ( a team of 10 wheelchair athletes) had to deal with the fact that no single hotel would have enough wheelchair accessible rooms to accommodate us. Often we'd have to find ways around the inaccessble rooms and adapt. The ADA requires a certain percentage of rooms in hotels to be accessible for people with disabilities. As a businessman I can understand filling all the rooms in the hotel with paying guests. It is just ultra frustrating to find out that someone who does not have a disability is in a room that is designed for people with disabilities, especially when I have reserved a room that is wheelchair accessible with a credit card.

If I were not disabled I would not book a room designed to specifically meet the needs of people with disabilities. Now if I was given one of these rooms I would be certain to let the hotel management know that I am more than willing to switch into any other available room if someone who has needs that this room was specifically designed for does show up.

That being said. I am lucky that I do not have an extremely severe disability that leaves me to be a quadrepeligic. I have and will continue to give up priority seating on planes, or hotel rooms for someone who has a more severe disability than myself.

Nothing annoys me more than when someone who does not have a disability sees me coming and uses a rest room stall that is designed wider so that my wheelchair can fit in it. I've seen tall men use these stalls for the extra leg room and I've seen overweight men use these stalls too. Now I don't mind if a person who does not have a disability uses these facilities if there is no one waiting, however, when you see someone waiting and you use that facility when it's the only one that a person with a mobility impairment can use and someone with a mobility impairment is waiting to use the rest room then I do have a major problem with that. I can't tell you how many times someone has climbed over me to get to the accessible bathroom stall and they did not have a disability. I have incontinence issues as do many people with disabilities who are paralyzed and we cannot always hold out and wait for you to read "War and Peace" while stretching out your legs in comfort to finish.

The ADA mandates a certain percentage of parking spaces and hotel rooms be made accessible for people with disabilities. ( There are many more issues set forth in the ADA but these are the one's that are being brought up here in this thread) As our country's population is getting older with first generation Baby Boomer's now looking to retire we need to make this world a barrier free environment. For those businesses that do not make themselves more accommodating to people with dsabilities you are missing out. Our population overall is getting older and many of these people will develop medical issues as they continue to age. Those businesses that do not make themselves more friendly to people with disabilities are going to have a tough time competing with those who do meet the needs of people with disabilities as our countries population continues to live longer.

You make a very good point. These hotel programs should have a permanent field for required ADA/accessible rooms. I have been given more of these rooms than I care to have ever had (and didn't want nor request), and from time to time, that is all that is available to book (or is substantially less rate than others, not even requesting it). If this is the option provided, I always put a note in the comments field that I DO NOT NEED the accessible room. I would certainly hope that with advance reservation, most hotels would be able to accomodate you most of the time, and advise you IN ADVANCE if they can't.

As a person with a disability, I consider it absolutely unacceptable to book an accessible room when one is not needed, no matter the circumstances or the price. It is the ethical equivalent of parking in an accessible parking space, whether it is illegal or not.

Those rooms are there for people like myself who require those design modifications in order to complete basic, everyday functions like taking a shower. It is possible that harm will come to me if I'm forced to use a shower or other facilities without these modifications.

In the end, it is possible that you end up screwing a person who really needs the room. What if your hotel is the only hotel in the neighborhood with appropriate accommodations in that price level?

Consider also that many people with disabilities are limited in their transportation options. Renting a car may not be practical. Taxi use may be neither practical nor economical. Public transportation is hit or miss depending on the city. That hotel may be the only one within reasonable distance of the person's final destination, and you have possibly taken the last room available to that person at that hotel, out of greed, laziness, or general disregard for others.

I have a wife who is physically challenged and have had occasion to try and get her a room that was accessible. While I FULLY understand why you are upset I think you are pointing your anger in the wrong direction. While the OP "did not do the right thing" by booking the room to save $100.00, it is the property management that is being greedy here. They are offering an accessible room, at a discount no less, to anybody willing to pay. More over, they are discounting that room to get it filled so they can get to THEIR financial goal of 100% of capacity. I happen to agree with you that these rooms should be "held" for someone who needs them but the property management is not willing to take the hit on those rooms when they have no physically challenged guests, so much so that they are willing to “auction” the room off by lowering the price. Trust me on this- if they had NOT sold the room to the OP they would have given the room to the next person who walked in the door if it were the last room in the house, period, end of discussion. The end result would be exactly the same whether the OP took the room or not. Moreover, I book my stays on the website 100% of the time and have it down to a science. I FLY through and book my room always ticking the cheapest price offered as that is the correct thing for a Diamond to do (you will always get the upgrade if available regardless of the rate paid) and I can not tell you honestly that I really don’t look at the description just the price. Does that make me just as bad as you feel the OP is? I want a room at the cheapest price possible and I expect Hilton TO DO THE RIGHT THING and keep us out of it. I think that this is what the OP was trying to say, though I do not agree with his/her methods. The parking space analogy is a good one. This is like the local shopping center using a plastic, removable, accessible placard on the parking spaces and removing them when they are really busy to get more people in the store. That is the despicable part IMHO and someone should propose legislation that states “just having accessible rooms is not enough; they must be designated for use for those who need them.

AvidFlyer-

While the OP "did not do the right thing" by booking the room to save $100.00, it is the property management that is being greedy here....

...if they had NOT sold the room to the OP they would have given the room to the next person who walked in the door if it were the last room in the house, period, end of discussion.

Does that make me just as bad as you feel the OP is? I think that this is what the OP was trying to say, though I do not agree with his/her methods....

AvidFlyer-

Just want to point out that the OP (me) did not fail to "do the right thing" as believed by several people unable to comprehend SIMPLE ENGLISH.

The OP ASKED A FEW QUESTIONS and didn't DO anything.

The OP hasn't reserved a room with Hilton in months and has no plans at present to do so.

The OP was initiating an academic inquiry by asking more knowledgeable people for their opinions.

Sheeeeeeeeeesh.

Just want to point out that the OP (me) did not fail to "do the right thing" as believed by several people unable to comprehend SIMPLE ENGLISH.

The OP ASKED A FEW QUESTIONS and didn't DO anything.

The OP hasn't reserved a room with Hilton in months and has no plans at present to do so.

The OP was initiating an academic inquiry by asking more knowledgeable people for their opinions.

Sheeeeeeeeeesh.

The "right thing" refers to your refusal to give the room up to someone who needed it even after an upgrade at the same price was offered. I was pointing out that no matter what YOU did (or did not) do, the result would be exactly the same because the property will not let those rooms go un-occupied.

The "right thing" refers to your refusal to give the room up to someone who needed it even after an upgrade at the same price was offered. I was pointing out that no matter what YOU did (or did not) do, the result would be exactly the same because the property will not let those rooms go un-occupied.

Agreed - that's the key here, and really what GimpysRevenge is talking about: we all know that people use the accessible facilities when they don't need them. In the hotel case, it's sometimes because the hotel leaves us no other choice because of either how they price the rooms or how they assign them. The question is are you willing to give it up for someone who really needs it? If your own personal answer is "yes, I would switch to a regular room if someone needed the accessible room", then I don't see any ethical problem with booking the "last room at the inn" when it is the accessible room type.

WOW! I've now just discovered this lively debate and read through all 6 pages. Firstly, I must be missing something because I don't think I've ever seen an accessible room available for booking at a lower rate whenever I've done a search (or maybe I have and simply discounted it after reading the description)

Personally, I would probably never book an accessible room, but I don't blame anyone who would, given a full $100 a night inducement. The fact that the price is so much lower tells me that the hotel is very confident that the room will go unfilled unless an economic incentive is provided to the general public to fill it. The corollary to this is that the hotel is also very confident that the room won't actually be needed. In the case that it is, the ONLY right thing to do is to give it up to someone who actually needs it.

The "right thing" refers to your refusal to give the room up to someone who needed it even after an upgrade at the same price was offered.


To be fair to the OP, he wasn't the one who refused to give up the room to someone who needed it after an upgrade was offered. Please read post #2.

To be fair to the OP, he wasn't the one who refused to give up the room to someone who needed it after an upgrade was offered. Please read post #2.

Agree 100%

1) I understand the reason that each Hotel has these type of rooms. But I dont believe that any 1 person has a right to stay at any particuliar Hotel. If there was but 1 Hotel in any locale thatwould be different. So a person wants to stay at a Hilton prop to earn HH pts and credits, thats fine but there is no reason that this should be a gaurantee. Even a reg person cant be 100% sure that they can get a room at any Hotel anytime.

2) want to make it a law OK, so who will pay the Hotel if the room goes empty overnight and they could have filled it? Its Wrong to make any Hotel lose a nights earnings , just in case there is a walk-in that needs such a room.

3) Its not the same as a parking lot. Except if its a lot that charges for parking that is Private. Where its a mall lot there is no lack of earnings with the free parking, if no one occupies that space.

4) Maybe Hotels should also have to have beds that are extra long so that Tall people can get a reg nights sleep. and dont forget the Showers where the nozzle is usually very low for a tall person. I know its not the same as someone who has REAL SPECIAL NEEDS. Its just how much should Private Enterprise have to pay out of its own pockets. Should Airlines have to leave extra room or have extra wide seats and no seats in front in order to enable people with NEEDS to fly in coach, why should a person with needs have to buy a 1st class tkt instead of a coach tkt. etc etc

Both of my parents are people with Special Needs and I feel that no particuliar Hotel should ahve to guarantee them a room, yes it should have said rooms but No my parents should not be guaranteed a room there. Just as when the cheap seats are gone a person can decide to either pay more or fly on a different day. Should a non-smoker be able to sit in a smoking area, after all they will taking away the possibilty of a smoker from being able to eat or drink in that Place.

Sorry but I see nothing wrong with anyone occupying an accessible room, nor should it be against the law either, like that will be able to be enforced. Nor do I see it as Morally Wrong. And yes Ive parked in spots far from where I needed to be cause the only ones available were Handi_Capped ones and the Plates on the car are Handi-Capped Plates but neither of my parents were with me, so I see the plates then as if they were reg plates and I do NOT park in those spots.

Maybe Hotels should also have to have beds that are extra long so that Tall people can get a reg nights sleep. and dont forget the Showers where the nozzle is usually very low for a tall person.

Dude, circulate the petition now! :D I'll sign it!! 7-ft long King beds in every room!! ^

1) I understand the reason that each Hotel has these type of rooms. But I dont believe that any 1 person has a right to stay at any particuliar Hotel. If there was but 1 Hotel in any locale thatwould be different. So a person wants to stay at a Hilton prop to earn HH pts and credits, thats fine but there is no reason that this should be a gaurantee. Even a reg person cant be 100% sure that they can get a room at any Hotel anytime.

2) want to make it a law OK, so who will pay the Hotel if the room goes empty overnight and they could have filled it? Its Wrong to make any Hotel lose a nights earnings , just in case there is a walk-in that needs such a room.

3) Its not the same as a parking lot. Except if its a lot that charges for parking that is Private. Where its a mall lot there is no lack of earnings with the free parking, if no one occupies that space.

4) Maybe Hotels should also have to have beds that are extra long so that Tall people can get a reg nights sleep. and dont forget the Showers where the nozzle is usually very low for a tall person. I know its not the same as someone who has REAL SPECIAL NEEDS. Its just how much should Private Enterprise have to pay out of its own pockets. Should Airlines have to leave extra room or have extra wide seats and no seats in front in order to enable people with NEEDS to fly in coach, why should a person with needs have to buy a 1st class tkt instead of a coach tkt. etc etc

Both of my parents are people with Special Needs and I feel that no particuliar Hotel should ahve to guarantee them a room, yes it should have said rooms but No my parents should not be guaranteed a room there. Just as when the cheap seats are gone a person can decide to either pay more or fly on a different day. Should a non-smoker be able to sit in a smoking area, after all they will taking away the possibilty of a smoker from being able to eat or drink in that Place.

Sorry but I see nothing wrong with anyone occupying an accessible room, nor should it be against the law either, like that will be able to be enforced. Nor do I see it as Morally Wrong. And yes Ive parked in spots far from where I needed to be cause the only ones available were Handi_Capped ones and the Plates on the car are Handi-Capped Plates but neither of my parents were with me, so I see the plates then as if they were reg plates and I do NOT park in those spots.

There IS a law (actually many laws) that says a property must be accessible to those with special needs. The problem is the hotel is meeting the law by having the space set aside but selling it at a discount if they do not have any special needs folks in the hotel on a given date. The problem with that is of course, what happens when someone who needs the room comes in after the room is committed to someone who does not need it? That is the spirit of this string. This has more to do with what one should do rather than what one has to do. The hotel should at the very least sell that room for the same $$ and make that the LAST room for the hotel to sell. By discounting it they are insuring that the opposite happens.

Don't get me wrong, I know what you are saying and I would not expect anyone to NOT use the bathroom if the only stall open is the handicapped one. But on the other hand I would hope that if other stalls were open MOST people would not use it in case someone who needs it comes in.

Dude, circulate the petition now! :D I'll sign it!! 7-ft long King beds in every room!! ^


I am nearsighted so 60" plasmas are a must too :)

There IS a law (actually many laws) that says a property must be accessible to those with special needs. The problem is the hotel is meeting the law by having the space set aside but selling it at a discount if they do not have any special needs folks in the hotel on a given date. The problem with that is of course, what happens when someone who needs the room comes in after the room is committed to someone who does not need it? That is the spirit of this string. This has more to do with what one should do rather than what one has to do. The hotel should at the very least sell that room for the same $$ and make that the LAST room for the hotel to sell. By discounting it they are insuring that the opposite happens.

Don't get me wrong, I know what you are saying and I would not expect anyone to NOT use the bathroom if the only stall open is the handicapped one. But on the other hand I would hope that if other stalls were open MOST people would not use it in case someone who needs it comes in.


That is really the answer that Hotels shouldnt discount the price of the room from any other of the same type. Thusly it will end up being the last ones to be taken, unless all that are left are more expensive rooms due to type of bedding, suite, Club/Exec floor. Everything wont be perfect, nor should a Hotel be forced to raise the rate on that room if its the only one available among its type, so that it will constantly have other rooms same in price although a higher class room. But a Hotel shouldnt from get go discount that room either.

As for Handi-cap stalls, did you ever try and get into a reg stall with your roller-board and then try to close the door? This could have made for a good Seinfeld episode.

Maybe there should also be a law against anyone who has to go #1 from using a stall. Sorry when it comes to stalls its simply 1st there gets 1st choice.

The "right thing" refers to your refusal to give the room up to someone who needed it even after an upgrade at the same price was offered. I was pointing out that no matter what YOU did (or did not) do, the result would be exactly the same because the property will not let those rooms go un-occupied.

avidflyer, go read toomanybooks original post again.
If you read that again, you will see all they were doing was asking questions.

In some folks rush to judgement they have mistakenly mis-identified who has done what... please quit accusing people who have not done anything other then ask some questions of wrong doing.

Those who have done wrong, well you can flay and roast them alive, I guess.

Edited to add:
I was getting tired of some people accusing toomanybooks of not giving up their room, so jumped to the end and posted.
In reading to the end of the thread now, I am leaving the above only because there was no "my bad", just a "100% agree". :rolleyes:

And I read this thread because I recently had a accessible room booked for me. It was booked because it was the only room available at the corp rate that our company could get. The next rate level up, was about $110 more a night.

I had requested before arriving an upgrade or even a move to a non accessible room. I was told I would have to speak with the hotel when checking in. :rolleyes:

I did and was told that they were full and could not move me for the next two nights but I could check back in with them on my 3rd (and final night) to see if they have any availability. I told them that if they needed the room I did not require the accessability so to call me if they did need it. Never heard from them so assume they did not need it.

Regarding the room itself, larger bathroom and walk-in shower... which I actually liked. There was a doorbell, that rang so loud that it made me jump when room service rang it.

There was also what appeared to be two fire alarms but now after reading this thread realize that one was hooked up to the doorbell. There was a light switch that I thought was broken or at least I thought it was an extra one as I could not figure out what it did. I now realize that when switched on it would light up, what I had thought was, the 2nd fire alarm to indicate someone was at the door.

This was the first time I have seen an accessible room that was cheaper then a regular room.

Utterly different situations.

There are laws against using a handicapped parking space if you aren't entitled, and you will be fined and/or towed if caught.

I know there aren't laws against me occupying a handicapped room, as I have been placed in them by hotel managements, most recently two weeks ago at Disney.

One of my business partners prefers the "car wash" showers in the handicapped rooms and books them whenever possible. They also tend to be closer ot the elevators at some properties. He is clearly able and no oe has ever said a thing.

--PP

avidflyer, go read toomanybooks original post again.
If you read that again, you will see all they were doing was asking questions.

In some folks rush to judgement they have mistakenly mis-identified who has done what... please quit accusing people who have not done anything other then ask some questions of wrong doing.

Those who have done wrong, well you can flay and roast them alive, I guess.

Edited to add:
I was getting tired of some people accusing toomanybooks of not giving up their room, so jumped to the end and posted.
In reading to the end of the thread now, I am leaving the above only because there was no "my bad", just a "100% agree". :rolleyes:

"but was told under no circumstances would The Hotel give me areg room at that rate. Now that The Hotel can use my room , you want to move me, Now I dont want to be moved."

My bad, it was post number 2 not the OP. Please replace "OP" with "post 2" for all of my comments. My appologies to the real OP, my comments were not directed at you. BTW, if you really read my post you will se that I was actually defending "post #2" except for the part about not giving up the room just to prove a point. As I said, this is a subject that hits home and all of my points are about the way the accesible rooms are discounted. I do see it often, and usually with Hampton Inn.

Please find the quote where I am roasting anyone alive INCLUDING post # 2. If you consider my responses "attacks" then you have not read them.

If, however, you book an accessible room at a cheap rate, and are unsuccessful in demands to a different room, you should be willing to move at a later date (in essence, getting your way) when a person who actually needs the room shows up. Just my opinion.

I agree, as long as the analogy is not extended to handicap stalls in the bathroom. I'm not leaving there until I've finished what I started.

Maybe there should also be a law against anyone who has to go #1 from using a stall. Sorry when it comes to stalls its simply 1st there gets 1st choice.
LOL, let's not forget that some of us are female...

"but was told under no circumstances would The Hotel give me areg room at that rate. Now that The Hotel can use my room , you want to move me, Now I dont want to be moved."

My bad, it was post number 2 not the OP. Please replace "OP" with "post 2" for all of my comments. My appologies to the real OP, my comments were not directed at you. BTW, if you really read my post you will se that I was actually defending "post #2" except for the part about not giving up the room just to prove a point. As I said, this is a subject that hits home and all of my points are about the way the accesible rooms are discounted. I do see it often, and usually with Hampton Inn.

Please find the quote where I am roasting anyone alive INCLUDING post # 2. If you consider my responses "attacks" then you have not read them.

As being the owner of Post#2 and also as I posted just above, with Parents who are both of Special Needs. Let me just add that if at any time that Hotel had told me that they would move me to a reg room, since the room I had was the last Accessible Room left in the area that wasnt gonna be occupied by someone who especially needs such a room, I would have switched. But all it was was a case if that Hotel would be able to sell another room, or would that party stay at another Hotel nearby. Yes in my pettiness I decide to let that party stay elsewhere and thusly deny that Hotel an extra room being sold for that night. FWIW when I stayed there another time and booked the same Accessible Room, they had no problems moving me then and there which was 3 weeks before the actual stay, for that stay it was an Upgrade to a larger room with a Fridge etc as that was all that was left for that night. I called and offered them the room right then and there and also told them if they have a cancellation of a reg room that I would have no problems with them downgrading from the room that assigned me at that time.


The fact that someone of SN wanted to stay with them and couldnt , I didnt and still dont find as a compelling reason to vacate said room after I was denied the same by the Hotel to begin with. Sorry, many will disagree with me thats OK. (Keep in mind that within a block of that Hotel were/are appx another 6 Hotels but that was the only Hilton prop anywhere nearby).

[B]If you consider my responses "attacks" then you have not read them.

Re-read my post, I never used the word "attacks", I said you "accused"... which is different. But it is all good, toomanybooks is no longer the bad guy/girl. My mission is complete. ;)

To be fair to the OP, he wasn't the one who refused to give up the room to someone who needed it after an upgrade was offered. Please read post #2.

Well, we have at least a couple people who can read (Thanks, too, "infinity"). Thanks.

The only choice I had recently at a certain Hilton HHonors property was to select a smoking room for disabled people whose rate was a minimum of US$50.00 per night less than the other rooms.

I selected it.

Fortunately, I was able to switch that room at the last minute at check-in for a non-smoking room not reserved for disabled people, although I almost was unable to do so due to the property claiming to be sold out and full.

I explained my situation to Katja in person. We both felt that this absurd policy of charging significantly less for a room reserved for disabled people was absolutely ridiculous.

YIKES! Chill, bud. He hardly "screwed over" anyone. He just reserved a room that happens to be accessible, usually at Hilton meaning a few design changes in the bathroom. Doesn't mean he'll get it. More of a reserving of the RATE, not the room.

Did we forget to take our meds today? :p

No, he screwed over someone who needs that room. People need high toilets, lights instead of alarms etc.

There is one HHonors property at LAX and one near Disneyland that routine have the handicapped rooms significantly cheaper.

When I reserve those I always put a note in the comments field to the effect of DO NOT NEED ACCESSIBLE ROOM; BOOKED ONLY FOR PRICE; REQ AVL DMD UPGR TO NON-ACCESS ROOM

This reminds me of someone waiting, with the motor running, in a handicap parking spot with no handicap sticker to pick up someone. So the poor handicap person that needs the spot for parking can't because another car is in the spot. In Santa Monica, CA thats a $341 parking violation. It would sure be appropriate for Hilton to get fined for making reservations for handicapped rooms to non-handicapped. Hope you never have knee replacement surgery and experience the pain I've had for the last 4 months.
That handicap room is a God send to me.

This reminds me of someone waiting, with the motor running, in a handicap parking spot with no handicap sticker to pick up someone. So the poor handicap person that needs the spot for parking can't because another car is in the spot. In Santa Monica, CA thats a $341 parking violation. It would sure be appropriate for Hilton to get fined for making reservations for handicapped rooms to non-handicapped. Hope you never have knee replacement surgery and experience the pain I've had for the last 4 months.
That handicap room is a God send to me.In Vista, a town located in the California county of San Diego, the fine for parking in a parking space reserved for disabled people is substantially greater than $400.00.

I should know. I received a parking ticket, courtesy of the San Diego County Sheriff.

I parked a van for fewer than 10 minutes in a parking space reserved for disabled people at a motel. There were plenty of other parking spaces, but I decided to park there, and the rented van that I was driving had no sticker nor any other indication that the van should park in a parking space reserved for a disabled person.

I might have deserved the parking ticket had I not been assisting three disabled people with their wheelchairs into their accessible motel rooms with exterior entrances.

Needless to say, I fought the law. I did not have to pay the fine.

...It would sure be appropriate for Hilton to get fined for making reservations for handicapped rooms to non-handicapped. ]Hope you never have knee replacement surgery and experience the pain I've had for the last 4 months.
That handicap room is a God send to me.

It certainly sounds like it. To be clear, I've never actually taken the handicap room at my initiative.

However, more than once, I have been assigned the handicap-accessible room at check-in. In each case I've gone through the hassle of calling the desk and asking if another room was available, gone back to the desk to get new keys, etc.

The last time I made an award reservation, the only room showing available was a handicap-accessible room. I even called the Diamond Desk to ask if they would make it a non-handicap-accessible room and they couldn't do it.

If there were some way to limit reservations for such rooms to the disabled -- some electronic equivalent of the disabled licesne plates -- I'd support it.

In Vista, a town located in the California county of San Diego, the fine for parking in a parking space reserved for disabled people is substantially greater than $400.00.

I should know. I received a parking ticket, courtesy of the San Diego County Sheriff.

I parked a van for fewer than 10 minutes in a parking space reserved for disabled people at a motel. There were plenty of other parking spaces, but I decided to park there, and the rented van that I was driving had no sticker nor any other indication that the van should park in a parking space reserved for a disabled person.

I might have deserved the parking ticket had I not been assisting three disabled people with their wheelchairs into their accessible motel rooms with exterior entrances.

Needless to say, I fought the law. I did not have to pay the fine.

Did you have to go to court? Did the hotel management become involved?

Did you have to go to court? Did the hotel management become involved?Hotel management was involved, and I did not have to go to court.

The officer who wrote the ticket was prompted to return to the scene after the hotel management called.