I figured I could wait till a week out to book my hotel for the last leg of my trip to Belize. I had already booked the first half of trip in the Northern Jungles, and was undecided as to what part of the country's coastline I wanted to visit for the last four days of my week-long visit.
I then discovered a surprising and time consuming truth. Belize is not exactly accessible to tourists in wheelchairs. Seriously folks, very little has really been done to open up this beautiful country to travelers with disabilities. Apparently, there are only a handful of hotels that have even a single accessible room.
Even Frommer's.com concurs:
"Most disabilities shouldn't stop anyone from traveling. There are more options and resources out there than ever before. However, in general, there are relatively few handicapped-accessible buildings or transport vehicles in Belize. A very few hotels offer wheelchair-accessible accommodations, and there are no public buses, commuter airlines, or water taxis thus equipped. In short, it's relatively difficult for a person with disabilities to get around in Belize." Read more:
I loved this travel bloggers assessment which I read prior to seeing the proof myself:
"The fact is, most of Belize simply isn't accessible for people with limited mobility. Or just for those of us who aren't as spry as we used to be.
Hotels almost invariably are built elevated from ground level. Walkways at jungle lodges or even at regular hotels are cobblestone or rough boards or loose gravel. Often the best rooms, those with the views, are on the top floors, up several flights of stairs.
I can count the number of hotels in Belize with handicap-accessible rooms on the arthritic fingers of one hand - Calico Jack's in Placencia, the original SunBreeze in San Pedro, Hok'ol K'in in Corozal Town, and maybe a couple of others. Aside from elevators in the high-rise hotels in Belize City, the Radisson Fort George, Renaissance Tower and the Princess, and the little one atCorona del Mar in San Pedro, here are almost no elevators anywhere in the country.
Even the new condo developments in Placencia and Ambergris Caye are going up two, three or four stories without elevators. (Surely, developers will figure out the average buyer of a US$600,000 condo is not going to be a 20-something marathon runner, but more like a retired couple with a hip replacement or two?)
I understand the problems of building in a hurricane- and flood-prone environment, on sand, on remote hillsides. I realize there are no laws requiring access for those with less than perfect mobility.
In today's world of aging Baby Boomers with bum knees, though, there's a market for hotels and condos with easy access. Somebody is going to figure out that wide doors, access ramps and elevators sell. Even if it's not mandated by law, it can make good economic sense to make new construction in Belize accessible to everyone." http://www.belizefirst.com/RamblesAroundBelize2008.htm
Banyan Bay www.banyanbay.com, located on San Pedro Island, was one ocean front hotel that was recommended and available (overlooking the pool - not ocean - as is typical for "handicapped rooms" are found to be placed in least desired locations), but I decided that I really preferred to go south to Placencia. A web search came up with Roberts Grove which prides itself on having an accessible room for those with disabilities. While they were incredibly gracious and helpful, by the time I was ready to book, the room was already reserved. Another wheeler was going to the resort that same week and they were going to have to build a ramp for him to a non-designated first floor room. They offered the same for me, but the bathroom wasn't accessible and they had a shower, no tub and no shower chair, so I declined this trip.
I looked to Hotels.com and used their search option for "Accessible room.
