20/08/2026
We really enjoyed our stay at Mitzpe Hayamim Hotel. It is a beautiful, peaceful and pleasant hotel, with a professional and friendly staff, a wonderful spa, and excellent food.
But for me, as a guest who uses crutches for walking and a mobility scooter for longer distances, the vacation looked a little different.
On paper, the hotel appears to meet accessibility regulations. There is an accessible room, accessible restrooms, accessible parking spaces, and an elevator.
But accessibility is about much more than simply checking the boxes required by law.
I chose not to stay in the spacious but rather gloomy accessible room that was offered to me. Instead, I chose a smaller, beautiful room with a large balcony and an amazing view of the Galilee. I also deserve to enjoy the view and beauty of the hotel.
The room was very cramped, and moving around it with my mobility scooter was difficult — but that was my choice.
The elevator to the pool and spa became a real obstacle. Using it with my mobility scooter was almost impossible, and there were moments when I got stuck inside and had to go back upstairs just so the doors would open again.
Even in the public accessible restroom, the small sink and the location of the soap dispenser made it difficult for me to wash my hands comfortably.
There were several accessible parking spaces in the parking lot, but none of them was designated for a larger, adapted vehicle equipped with a wheelchair lift.
So my question is not simply: Is the hotel accessible?
The real question is: Can a person with a disability enjoy the hotel independently, with dignity, and on an equal basis with other guests?
I am sharing these observations not as a criticism of Mitzpe Hayamim — I genuinely enjoyed my stay — but in the hope of encouraging improvement and raising awareness among hotels about the right of guests with disabilities to have a good and equal experience.
When we talk about accessible tourism, we need to move beyond "compliance with regulations" toward a truly equal vacation experience.
Guests with disabilities also deserve to choose their room, enjoy a view, access the pool and spa, park their vehicle, and move around the hotel — without having to improvise or compromise.
I would love to hear from others who have experienced a sense of inequality at different hotels.
Have you ever stayed at a hotel that was "accessible on paper," but in reality, the experience was very different?
