These notes are intended for wheelchair users visiting San Antonio Riverwalk district. They supplement more detailed notes recorded previously here.
Drink Cocktail Bar (200 Navarro St.)
A small, comfortable, contemporary bar serving wines, beers and cocktails. Friendly staff and clientele and (at least the night I was there) more locals than tourists.
There is a very large step from the street into the bar. However, there is an accessible side entrance. You may need to attract the attention of the bar staff to get someone to open the side gate for you (it is open only on some nights). Large, fully accessible toilet available.
Club Rive (245 E. Commerce St.)
The only barrier to entry here are the tough looking bouncers at the door.
This is a dance bar, a very popular spot at weekends. Fully accessible with fully accessible toilets. Loud, popular, and can be crowded.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
San Antonio, Texas - Hotel (Crowne Plaza Riverwalk)
This entry addresses the handicapped (wheelchair) accessibility of the Crowne Plaza Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas.
Access to the hotel from the street is level. Note that the self parking garage is in a different block from the hotel itself. If using the self-parking, take the elevator from the parking garage to lower level (LL) and connect to the hotel via an underground corridor. There is a handicapped parking area at street level (seperate from the "normal" entry to the garage). To access the elevator from this, wheel towards the corner of Soledad and Martin, and go throuh the pedestrian door to the parking garage (it's a heavy door!). Like all city centre hotels in San Antonio the Crowne Plaza charges an exorbitant daily parking fee (about $24/day at time of writing, and add $10 for valet parking). Another point about location is that this hotle is a block or two off the beaten path for the heart of the riverwalk action.
Breakfast and dining area is on the same level as reception. There are two step to the bar area, there is a ramp near the front door.
Hotel corridors have deep pile carpet that is tough to wheel through.
The room I had was large with two double beds. There is too much furniture, but the room is easy enough to get around. Work desk was a little low. Electric sockets and wired ethernet were very easily accessed (electrical sockets in desk lamp). There was wireless ethernet also.
Beds were at a comfortable height for transferring and bedside lights were easy to reach. It is not possible to control main room lights from bed.
TV controls were left by bed, and air conditioning controls were at a comfortable height.
Room closet had clothes hangers at a good height for wheelchair users.
Bathroom was large. Toilet was easily accessed and grab bars well placed. My room had a roll-in shower with large shower seat (floor-standing, not attached to the wall, adjustable height). The shower was hand-held with a mounting bar at perfect height. Shower controls and grab bars were well placed. Sink had plenty of room underneath, mirror was at a good height. Towels were stored at an easily accessible height.
One of the better rooms I have stayed in.
Access to the hotel from the street is level. Note that the self parking garage is in a different block from the hotel itself. If using the self-parking, take the elevator from the parking garage to lower level (LL) and connect to the hotel via an underground corridor. There is a handicapped parking area at street level (seperate from the "normal" entry to the garage). To access the elevator from this, wheel towards the corner of Soledad and Martin, and go throuh the pedestrian door to the parking garage (it's a heavy door!). Like all city centre hotels in San Antonio the Crowne Plaza charges an exorbitant daily parking fee (about $24/day at time of writing, and add $10 for valet parking). Another point about location is that this hotle is a block or two off the beaten path for the heart of the riverwalk action.
Breakfast and dining area is on the same level as reception. There are two step to the bar area, there is a ramp near the front door.
Hotel corridors have deep pile carpet that is tough to wheel through.
The room I had was large with two double beds. There is too much furniture, but the room is easy enough to get around. Work desk was a little low. Electric sockets and wired ethernet were very easily accessed (electrical sockets in desk lamp). There was wireless ethernet also.
Beds were at a comfortable height for transferring and bedside lights were easy to reach. It is not possible to control main room lights from bed.
TV controls were left by bed, and air conditioning controls were at a comfortable height.
Room closet had clothes hangers at a good height for wheelchair users.
Bathroom was large. Toilet was easily accessed and grab bars well placed. My room had a roll-in shower with large shower seat (floor-standing, not attached to the wall, adjustable height). The shower was hand-held with a mounting bar at perfect height. Shower controls and grab bars were well placed. Sink had plenty of room underneath, mirror was at a good height. Towels were stored at an easily accessible height.
One of the better rooms I have stayed in.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Hermosa Beach, CA - Hotel (Holiday Inn Express)
These wheelchair access and travel notes refer to the Holiday Inn Express in Hermosa Beach, CA, about 15 minutes from LAX airport.
There is level access to the main lobby. The reception desk has a low level surface at one end for easy check-in.
My room was large with plenty of space to manoeuvre.
Good workdesk. Comfortable to sit at. Electric sockets in the desk lamp (2) were easy to reach. I room wifi and wired Ethernet is free and worked well. TV controls were left on top of TV, a little high, but could still be reached.
Air-conditioning unit was below the window and easy to reach.
The bed was about wheelchair cushion height and easy to transfer on and off. Bedside light easy to reach from the bed, but the room lights could not be turned off from in bed. Closet had sliding door and was a little difficult to get at.
Bathroom was large with plenty of turning space. Toilet was easily accessible. The grab-rails were a little too high and far away for comfort. Sink was a comfortable height. This room had a bath rather than a roll-in shower. Hand held shower rose could be fixed to a wall mounting or on a rail. Two sets of grab rails around bath suitable for both a wheelie and ambulant disabled.
Recommended.
There is level access to the main lobby. The reception desk has a low level surface at one end for easy check-in.
My room was large with plenty of space to manoeuvre.
Good workdesk. Comfortable to sit at. Electric sockets in the desk lamp (2) were easy to reach. I room wifi and wired Ethernet is free and worked well. TV controls were left on top of TV, a little high, but could still be reached.
Air-conditioning unit was below the window and easy to reach.
The bed was about wheelchair cushion height and easy to transfer on and off. Bedside light easy to reach from the bed, but the room lights could not be turned off from in bed. Closet had sliding door and was a little difficult to get at.
Bathroom was large with plenty of turning space. Toilet was easily accessible. The grab-rails were a little too high and far away for comfort. Sink was a comfortable height. This room had a bath rather than a roll-in shower. Hand held shower rose could be fixed to a wall mounting or on a rail. Two sets of grab rails around bath suitable for both a wheelie and ambulant disabled.
Recommended.
Lancaster, CA - Restaurant (Fresco II)
Fresco II is a Greek/Italian restaurant in the Palmdale/Lancaster conurbation in California. These notes address the wheelchair access to the restaurant.
Level access from the street. Table furniture is quite close so navigating around the dining room is a little difficult. Large accessible toilet down a corridor, but the corridor is used for storage of chairs and so on so access is a little tight. Staff will move items if necessary.
Recommended.
Level access from the street. Table furniture is quite close so navigating around the dining room is a little difficult. Large accessible toilet down a corridor, but the corridor is used for storage of chairs and so on so access is a little tight. Staff will move items if necessary.
Recommended.
Palmdale, California - Hotel (Holiday Inn)
These wheelchair access and travel notes refer to the Holiday Inn in Palmdale, CA, a mid-range, fairly decent hotel.
There is level access to the main lobby. The bar and restaurant are just off the lobby, easily accessible. Restaurant furniture is comfortably spaced, no trouble navigating with a wheelchair.
The reception desk has a low level surface at one end for easy check-in, which is a nice touch.
My room was medium sized, not large. The space between the end of the bed and the TV furniture was a bit tight - about 36" (900mm). Past that bottleneck though, there was plenty of room.
Good workdesk. Comfortable to sit at. Electric sockets in the desk lamp (2) were easy to reach. IN room wifi was very weak and effectively unusable. TV controls were left in easy reach. Coffeemaker was easy to reach also.
Air-conditioning unit was in the corner and, although low, the controls were difficult to reach because they were partially blocked by the workdesk.
The bed was very high and transfers in and out were difficult. Bedside light easy to reach from the bed, but the room lights could not be turned off from in bed (so remember to turn them off before getting out of your chair!). Closet was open (no door) and a comfortable height.
Bathroom was large with plenty of turning space. Toilet was of the raised ADA compliant type. The grab-rails were a little too high and far away for comfort. Sink was also high and set back making it a little awkward for washing. This room had a bath rather than a roll-in shower. There were two shower roses - one fixed to the wall and one hand-held. Unfortunately, the switch to direct water from one to the other is at the wall mounting and therefore out of reach for wheelies. Handheld on a wall bar and at a good height. Grab rails around bath too high for comfort. Towel rack was at a comfortable height and easily accessible.
All in all, this room would be perfect for an ambulant disabled but is not great for a wheelie unless travelling with a companion.
There is level access to the main lobby. The bar and restaurant are just off the lobby, easily accessible. Restaurant furniture is comfortably spaced, no trouble navigating with a wheelchair.
The reception desk has a low level surface at one end for easy check-in, which is a nice touch.
My room was medium sized, not large. The space between the end of the bed and the TV furniture was a bit tight - about 36" (900mm). Past that bottleneck though, there was plenty of room.
Good workdesk. Comfortable to sit at. Electric sockets in the desk lamp (2) were easy to reach. IN room wifi was very weak and effectively unusable. TV controls were left in easy reach. Coffeemaker was easy to reach also.
Air-conditioning unit was in the corner and, although low, the controls were difficult to reach because they were partially blocked by the workdesk.
The bed was very high and transfers in and out were difficult. Bedside light easy to reach from the bed, but the room lights could not be turned off from in bed (so remember to turn them off before getting out of your chair!). Closet was open (no door) and a comfortable height.
Bathroom was large with plenty of turning space. Toilet was of the raised ADA compliant type. The grab-rails were a little too high and far away for comfort. Sink was also high and set back making it a little awkward for washing. This room had a bath rather than a roll-in shower. There were two shower roses - one fixed to the wall and one hand-held. Unfortunately, the switch to direct water from one to the other is at the wall mounting and therefore out of reach for wheelies. Handheld on a wall bar and at a good height. Grab rails around bath too high for comfort. Towel rack was at a comfortable height and easily accessible.
All in all, this room would be perfect for an ambulant disabled but is not great for a wheelie unless travelling with a companion.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Las Vegas, Nevada - Hotel (The Hard Rock Hotel)
Revisited this hotel lately (first visit report is here).
Glad to report that not much has changed and this is still one of the most comfortable handicapped rooms I have stayed in.
Still recommended.
Glad to report that not much has changed and this is still one of the most comfortable handicapped rooms I have stayed in.
Still recommended.
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