Hotel stays with MG: What to request ahead of time

If you or a loved one is living with myasthenia gravis (MG), you know that travel doesn’t just require booking your flights or packing your bags. It’s critical that your MG travel accommodations work for you. 

Fortunately, there are steps you can take ahead of time to ensure your hotel stays with myasthenia gravis are a success.

Why planning hotel stays matters when you have MG

Visiting a new place often involves changes in routine, environment, and activity levels. For people with MG, these shifts — along with travel-related stress — may lead to fatigue and muscle weakness, requiring extra recovery time.

When it comes to hotels, small decisions can make a big difference in your energy usage and the time you have to explore and enjoy your vacation.

It’s important to choose a hotel with a convenient location, consider how the hotel layout may affect your energy usage, and make sure you can get the accessibility features you need.

Room features that may help conserve energy

Not all hotel rooms are created equal. For guests with MG, certain features can make a huge difference in comfort and accessibility. While you may not be able to secure every option, prioritizing what matters most to you can help make your stay more manageable.

Room location considerations:

• Request a ground-floor room or one near an elevator or escalator to prevent fatigue from using stairs
• Book a room close to key amenities, such as dining areas or the pool
• Prioritize quieter room locations to support better rest

Hotel room features to look for:

• Accessible bathrooms with walk-in showers, seating, or grab bars
• Reliable climate control (air conditioning, fans, or dehumidifiers in humid climates)
• Shaded balconies or rooms with tree cover

Be sure to discuss your MG travel accommodation needs with your hotel well in advance so they can ensure everything is set up for your success.

Requests that make arrivals and departures easier

After a long day of travel, having an easy check-in experience at your hotel can help reduce stress and fatigue. Flights can be delayed — or jet lag can set in — which may lead to increased weakness and fatigue.

When booking your stay, ask hotel staff for earlier check-in and later check-out times to build extra rest time around your travel schedule. Having some flexibility can reduce stress levels and conserve your energy.

Other practical requests include:

• luggage assistance or bell service so you don’t have to lift heavy bags
• digital or mobile check-in to eliminate standing in line and waiting during busy hours
• transportation coordination to and from the airport, if necessary
• valet parking to reduce longer walks

Communicating your needs with hotel staff

Clear communication is key to getting the accommodations you need. Before booking a hotel room, call the hotel directly to make sure your specific needs will be met. Sometimes, third-party booking sites don’t have the most accurate information.

Try to communicate your specific needs rather than your symptoms. You don’t need to disclose your specific illness or symptoms, but you can mention your limitations if you feel it will improve the hotel staff’s understanding of your needs.

For example: “I need a room close to the elevator due to limited walking endurance” or “I need a shower with grab bars.” You can also ask for photos of the room to be sure it has what you need.

It’s often best to make these requests when reserving your room, and then follow up with a call or email to confirm your conversation. A few days before your trip, send another email to confirm you are getting what they agreed to provide. This gives staff time to prepare and note your preferences in your reservation.

Sometimes, accommodations simply can’t be made. It’s up to you to decide how flexible you can be and what your own nonnegotiables are.

Other things to keep in mind before your adventure

In addition to choosing hotel accommodations, you may want to think through a few other aspects of trip planning that can affect your health, comfort, and peace of mind while traveling with MG. These considerations may include:

• making sure you’re up to date on any recommended or required vaccinations
• confirming airline policies for medications, mobility devices, and assistive equipment
• purchasing travel insurance in case illness forces you to cancel or change part of your trip
• looking into medical insurance coverage in case you need care while traveling, especially abroad
• packing a travel health kit with medications and other essential items you may need

You can also wear medical ID jewelry so that in the event of an emergency, healthcare workers are aware of your condition. Finally, if you are concerned about potentially needing medical aid at any point, try to book a hotel near a hospital or clinic.

Doing some advance planning can help ensure your MG travel accommodations are exactly what you need for a relaxing, stress-free trip.