Inclusive Travel · Methodology
How we document accessibility
At AquaFonte we believe mineral and thermal water should be within everyone's reach. That's why we document each spring's accessibility with a clear standard: we distinguish between building access (ramps, elevators, adapted rooms and restrooms) and water access (submerged ramps, hydraulic chairs, transfer hoists, pool lifts), because for wheelchair travelers these are very different things.
What we evaluate
Building access
- Step-free entrance — direct access from the exterior without portable ramps
- Elevator — vertical access in multi-floor properties
- Adapted restrooms — wheelchair-accessible: turning space, grab rails, shower seat
- Adapted rooms — number of rooms designed or fitted for people with reduced mobility
- PMR parking — designated spaces with regulatory dimensions
- Braille signage — availability for visitors with visual impairment
Water access
- Pool ramp — fixed or semi-permanent ramp allowing pool entry from a wheelchair
- Hydraulic chair — hydraulic mechanism that raises and lowers the user from poolside into the water
- Pool lift — electric or mechanical device that descends directly into the pool
- Aquatic wheelchair — wheelchair designed for in-water use (may or may not be self-propelled)
- Assistance required — whether the mechanism requires a third person to operate (critical for solo travelers)
⚠ Warning about pool lifts: Pool lifts fail with significant frequency. The most recently documented case is Széchenyi Baths in Budapest, where lifts have been out of service with no confirmed repair date since at least 2025. We strongly recommend confirming lift status on the day of your visit — not just before booking.
How we verify
Every accessibility listing includes its source and verification date. Sources we use by region:
- Spain: Equalitas Vitae (most granular: door widths, heights), Termalistas.com, Omnirooms.com, ViajerossinLimite.com, SpaRelajarse.com, Balnearios.bz
- United States: wheelchairtraveling.com, nps.gov (per-park accessibility pages), official resort websites
- Japan: Accessible Japan, enjoyonsen.city.beppu-jp.com (official Beppu guide, barrier-free section)
- Italy: hotspringsguides.com, official terme websites
- Hungary: szechenyibath.hu, hungaryunlocked.com, accessible travel specialist guides
- International: official establishment websites as primary source; specialist secondary sources for cross-checking
What we do NOT do
- We do not certify facilities or guarantee current conditions
- We do not score accessibility with stars or automatic badges based on number of completed fields
- We do not publish listings with
hasData: falsein the accessible guide — only verified entries appear - We do not infer that adaptations are absent when a field is empty — unknown values are shown as "no data", never as a negative
See our full legal disclaimer →
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