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A couple years ago we took the kids to St. Louis for a weekend. Now this was one of our first trips as a disabled family. We consider us a disabled family because when one member of the family is disabled, it invariably affects the entire family. Especially if that family member is Mom, the go to, get things done, organize everything, make all the plans, if we're gonna do something she'll get it done MOM.
About 3 weeks before this trip I was watching TV one night and a commercial for a travel site appeared in between shows. It promised to save lots of time and lots of money. Well, I want to save both time and money, obviously this wondrous site promising caviar wishes and champagne dreams is for me! I hadn't used a travel site much but booked a handicapped accessible room for us and thought, "Wow, that was cheap, easy, quick and I can mark that off my list."
When we got to the hotel, Hubby went in to check us in and then he came out shaking his head. But he was actually smiling when he came to get me out of the car. I, confused as to why we weren't heading to the room, swore I heard him say "I warned 'em". So, I look at the desk attendant and Hubby smiles again and says "Alright, now tell her." The poor guy at the desk couldn't even look at me when he said, "You have to take a regular room, because handicapped rooms aren't guaranteed." Hmmm? What was that? "Yes ma'am, handicapped accessible is an amenity and can't be guaranteed." He just said this to a very tired woman sitting in a WHEELCHAIR.
"Well now, I can guarantee I am handicapped now, I can guarantee to stay handicapped throughout my entire stay and guarantee to even be handicapped when I leave. So, what do you suggest I do?"
"You'll have to stay in the regular room you booked ma'am."
Ok, when I was in the workforce I worked in customer service for a very long time. It's a rough job, I get that and I try so hard to be polite and courteous to every customer service rep I encounter. Sometimes it is REALLY hard.
I pulled out my receipt that showed I booked an accessible room and sorta politely demanded a refund and was told I couldn't have one. Then in no polite way what so ever demanded to speak to a manager and was told, he was gone. Hubby, concerned for the young man's health suggested he call the manager and so he did. Finally when I brought up health codes, The Disability Act and various news agencies he not only gave me a refund but helped us find an accessible room at one of there associated hotels in the area for a discount.
The point of this story: Browse travel sites for available rooms and prices, then call the hotel DIRECTLY and book your room. Make it extremely clear you need an accessible room and you can guarantee you will be handicapped ;)
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