With most vacations, planning doesn’t end when you book a hotel. You need to think about dining options, sometimes making reservations well in advance. Then there are activities and excursions, plus transportation to and from the airport, and possibly a rental car for your stay.
Some travelers, including many seniors, prefer to simplify the experience. An all-inclusive vacation can provide many amenities with a single booking.
Typically, an all-inclusive resort provides lodging, meals, and activities. The extent of the dining options, activities, and other amenities vary widely from one resort to another. Some go the extra mile to accommodate seniors with mobility challenges, from shuttle services to wheelchair-accessible beaches, and more.
Here, we highlight some of the best all-inclusive resorts for seniors with limited mobility.
1. Sandals Halcyon or Sandals Antigua
Sandals is a well-known all-inclusive resort brand, but these two locations have been voted among the best Sandals resorts for seniors and best Sandals resorts for mobility issues.
- Location: St. Lucia (Sandals Halcyon), Antigua and Barbuda (Sandals Barbuda), Caribbean Islands
- Accessibility: Amenities for seniors with limited mobility include accessible rooms, elevators, ramps, accessible pools, and specialized transport. Gentle pathways and wheelchair-friendly beach access make exploring the grounds a breeze.
- Limited mobility activities: There is plenty to do at this all-inclusive resort for seniors, like gourmet dining, spa treatments, accessible guided tours and sightseeing, and sunset cruises. Or simply relax on the beach or in a secluded tropical garden.
- Starting price: A one-week stay at a Sandals resort for a couple can range from $4,000 to $7,000, depending on the season and the type of room.
2. Angama Mara and Ol Pejeta Bush Camp
If you’ve always dreamed of going on an African safari, mobility challenges shouldn’t stop you. These two camps, both in Kenya, are examples of safari accommodations that welcome guests of all abilities. Angama Mara offers floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the famous Maasai Mara wildlife reserve. Ol Pejeta Bush Camp gives you a front-row seat to the Ewaso Ngiro River, where elephants stop by to drink.
- Location: Kenya, East Africa
- Accessibility: Each has accessible pathways and ramps, plus staff trained to help guests navigate any challenges. Even in the seemingly rustic campsites of Ol Pejeta, en suite bathrooms provide convenience.
- Limited mobility activities: While the resorts offer walking safaris to those who want to participate, you don’t have to exert yourself to see wildlife. Whether from your window or front porch, you may see elephants, giraffes, or other once-in-a-lifetime sightings. The resort even supplies binoculars. Other low-intensity activities include beading, photography, and shopping for locally made art and jewelry.
- Starting price: With rates not for the faint of heart, an African safari can run $1,400 or more per night, but there’s nothing like it on Earth.
3. Beaches Negril
Part of the Beaches brand of all-inclusive resorts, Beaches Negril goes above and beyond to give people of all abilities a memorable experience in the island nation of Jamaica.
- Location: Negril, Jamaica
- Accessibility: The resort offers a selection of room categories for guests of any age with disabilities. There are ramps and wheelchair accessible lifts throughout the resort, as well as wider clearance on doorways, bathroom rails, lower light switches and faucets, bathroom benches, and more. They can also tailor a custom menu to fit special dietary needs.
- Limited mobility activities: The beach is accessible with beach wheelchairs available for guest use. You can also relax at the spa, take part in inclusive wellness activities, or dine at one of eight wheelchair-accessible restaurants.
- Starting price: Rooms start at $300-400 per night, and a lot of special deals are available through the resort’s website.
4. Bungalows Key Largo
This adults-only resort puts you right in the middle of the Florida Keys, a short drive from Miami. A tropical paradise awaits for people of all ages and abilities, including seniors with limited mobility.
- Location: Key Largo, Florida, USA
- Accessibility: Accessible rooms can accommodate people with physical, visual, and hearing disabilities. Features include roll-in showers, a bathroom emergency cord, lowered sinks, and raised toilets with grab rails.
- Limited mobility activities: Relax and enjoy spa treatments, massage, Jacuzzis, and live entertainment.
- Starting price: Room rates range from $999 in the summer months to $1,500 and up during the busy winter tourist season.
5. Everline Resort and Spa
This resort is located in Olympic Valley, a popular ski destination, but if not everyone in your group is a dedicated slope shredder, there are plenty of low-key activities, too. The units are actually one-, two-, or three-bedroom condominiums, which the owners rent out individually and are managed by Hyatt.
- Location: Lake Tahoe, California, USA
- Accessibility: Lodging staff is trained to meet the needs of guests with disabilities. Units include roll-in showers, bathtub benches, and wheelchair accessible sinks and vanities. Around the property you will find plenty of ramps and elevators with easy access to the resort’s restaurants.
- Limited mobility activities: Enjoy the golf course, full-service salon, year-round heated pools, and wheelchair-accessible fitness center.
- Starting price: ADA-compliant units range from around $700 for a 379-square-foot room to $1,000 or more for a suite.
6. Oasis By The Bay
This place goes all out to give people with mobility challenges, especially those using wheelchairs, a great vacation. It sits on scenic Wasaga Bay, the largest freshwater beach in the world, and seniors with limited mobility can explore every inch of it.
- Location: Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Canada
- Accessibility: A ceiling lift system can help someone move from the bed to their chair and back. Wheel-in or walk-in showers with benches or shower chairs are available. There are also wheel-up vanities, accessible barbeque areas, and fire pits.
- Limited mobility activities: The resort’s provided beach wheelchairs can handle sand, grass, or gravel, so enjoy the beach and virtually all other areas of the property. Guests with mobility devices can also fish, explore nature trails, visit nearby Elmvale Jungle Zoo, and take boat cruises.
- Starting price: Rooms and suites start at just over 100 Canadian dollars.
7. Sandos Benidorm Suites
Located on the Mediterranean coast of Spain — a country that boasts a commitment to accessibility — Valencia has several wheelchair-accessible beaches. Options at this family-friendly resort range from room-only to all-inclusive packages. Plenty of activities for children make it a great destination for a multigenerational getaway.
- Location: Benidorm, Valencia, Spain
- Accessibility: The hotel has accessible rooms and facilities, as well as elevator access throughout. The outdoor pool has a pool hoist and lifeguards for your safety.
- Limited mobility activities: In addition to enjoying the beach and pool, you can enrich your vacation with wine and paella tastings or Spanish language classes. You can also play pétanque, catch a live musical performance, or indulge in a massage.
- Starting price: A room alone starts around $120 USD, with suites and packages in the $500-700 per night range.
Top Features of Accessible All-Inclusive Resorts
When making travel plans, sometimes you can’t take the word “accessible” at face value. Make sure to scan a resort's website for details, read reviews, and call them directly with specific questions. There are a few things to look out for.
Wheelchair accessibility
While certain accommodations may be required, such as ramps and wider restroom stalls, there is much more to accessibility than these features. Look for roll-in showers, wide doorways, grab bars, lowered sinks and vanities, and elevator access. If you will be using a wheelchair provided by the resort, even for short parts of your visit, ask questions about its features and functionality.
Walking distances and terrain
For travelers walking with the assistance of a cane or walker, or who experience difficulty with exertion, unexpected challenges can pop up. Ask whether paths around the resort are paved or include a lot of stairs. Try to get a room on the ground floor or near an elevator. At large resorts (even on large cruise ships), distances from one spot to another can be expansive. Try to get a room close to amenities that matter most to you, whether it’s a certain restaurant or the pool.
Amenities for medical needs
If you need to plug in an oxygen tank, refrigerate medication, or conduct any routine medical procedure like daily injections, make sure your room or suite will make this convenient for you.
Personal safety
Make sure your resort is attuned to safety. This might mean lifeguards at the beach or pool, emergency medical facilities on site, or specially trained personnel to help you navigate your stay.
Service animals
If you have a service animal, check to ensure they can be accommodated everywhere you plan to go during your vacation. Make sure they can be with you when you need them and that the animal, in turn, has all their needs met.
If you’re traveling internationally, not all countries have the same laws regarding service animals or even allow them to enter the country. You may not be able to bring your service animal within their borders without certain certifications, vaccine records, or a quarantine period.
An overall accessible destination
Even staying in an all-inclusive resort, you will need to think about accessibility at airports or train stations, transportation to and from the resort, and the ability to get out and see things beyond the resort property. Take some time to learn about the accessibility of the destination itself to make sure it meets your needs.
Travel Tips for Seniors with Limited Mobility
For the most memorable and stress-free all-inclusive vacation, consider these tips:
- Thoroughly research your destination as well as the resort itself.
- Ask questions tailored to your personal mobility needs.
- Check that any devices you use, such as a wheelchair, walker, brace, or oxygen tank, are in full working order and approved for travel.
- Check with your transportation provider, if traveling by air, train, or boat, about any accommodations you may need.
- Make sure everyone in your group understands the needs of those with limited mobility so everyone can work together for an enjoyable trip.
- Protect your trip with travel insurance for seniors.
Travel Insurance for Seniors with Limited Mobility
The best travel insurance for seniors should offer a wide range of benefits. Look for plans with trip cancellation, lost baggage protection, medical coverage, and emergency medical evacuation.
Remember that your health insurance at home — and this includes Medicare and Medicaid — typically does not cover you overseas. If you get sick or hurt during your trip, travel insurance can help keep you from having to pay for treatment out of pocket.
As soon as you book your all-inclusive resort vacation, contact us for a quote and learn more about our travel insurance options that best fit your needs.
