I use a portable hoyer lift when I travel, so I need a open-frame bed in order to use the lift. I’ve noticed that quite a few properties are now using pedestal beds. Can you tell me why? Isn’t an open-frame bed required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? Do you have any suggestions on how to find hotels with open-frame beds in their accessible rooms?

Under the ADA beds are required to be usable, but there are no specific regulations or guidelines to define this usability, outside of clearance specifications around beds. Hotels have moved to the pedestal beds for the most part because they are easier to keep clean. Trust me, you never want to look under a hotel bed as you never know what you’ll find. That said, I understand your predicament.

The best thing that you can do is to call the property directly to see if they have an open-frame bed, or if perhaps they could provide one. If the person at the front desk doesn’t know the answer to your question, contact housekeeping, as they are intimately familiar with the room furnishings.

Alternatively, you might want to book a room with a sofa bed, or request a roll-away to get a bed that has adequate clearance.

On the plus side, both New Jersey and Florida have state regulations in place that require open-frame beds in accessible rooms. Additionally, the Department of Justice has also indicated that the ADA regulations need to be updated to cover bed height and type, so perhaps this will change sometime in the future. Until then, ask a lot of questions to make sure you get a usable accessible room.