Toulouse, France - Restaurant (Michel Sarran)

Restaurant Michel Sarran (21, Bd Armand Duportal - 31000 Toulouse)

This is currently considered one of the best restaurants in Toulouse. These notes are intended as a guide to a wheelchair user or disabled person who plans to visit (and I recommend you do!).

The restaurant is situated about halfway along Blvd Armand Duportal. Be careful wheeling along this route. Like most streets in Toulouse, it lulls you into a false sense of security as you wheel along well maintained and smooth path only to be ambushed by a trench bug across the way just big enough to trap the front casters, or a pothole, or a stretch of unfinished paving. Just keep one eye fixed on the road and you'll be fine!

Access to the restaurant from the street is completely level. The restaurant itself is spacious enough to move comfortably between tables. There is a courtyard at the back that is down four steps. Staff will carry you down if need be, but you can just as easily eat at street level.

There is no accessible toilet. However, the toilets are on the same level as the dining room and have sliding (pocket) doors which open to about 28" (70cm) or a little more. Although maneuvering was tight I was able to get my chair into the toilet enough to have access to the toilet and the sink which was sufficient for my needs. A power chair, or a wide or long manual, would have more difficulty.

The food was outstanding - an epic meal so I recommend you give it a try if you are in the area.

Los Angeles, CA - Hotel (Crowne Plaza LAX)

The Crowne Plaza LAX is located just by LAX airport. They can arrange a handicapped accessible shuttle from the airport. Since not all the shuttle busses are accessible, you need to call the hotel from the airport to let them know you need an accessible one. In my case it took about 15mins for one to arrive.

Access from the street is level. There is no "low counter" at reception. There is level access to the bar, restaurant, a Starbucks and a Sushi bar. Toilets on ground floor are accessible.

My room (single king size bed) was large and easy to move around.

Workdesk was not very big, but very usable and a perfect height for me. Sockets (two) in the base of the desk lamp were easily accessible. There is wifi internet access.

The bed was slightly above wheelchair cushion height, but easy to transfer onto. There is a hook in the ceiling to attach a transfer harness. The main lights cannot be controlled from the bed, but the bedside light is easy to reach. Controls for the A/C and the TV were easily accessible.

Closet was easy to access and had a low rack for hanging clothes.

The bathroom was very large with plenty of turning space. Toilet is at wheelchair cushion height, grab bars well positioned. There is a hook in the ceiling above the toilet to attach a transfer harness if required. The sink has plenty of knee room underneath. Towel rack is at wheelchair height and easily reached.

My room had a tub with well-positioned grab rails. The shower hose is a hand-held but the bar on which it slides is too high to reach when sitting in the tub. Controls for water are easy to reach. However, for many people the shower would need the assistance of a walkie to use.

Overall, the room decor and fitting were a little "tired" and in need of a refurbishment. However, it was a perfectly comfortable room and functionally fine from a wheelchair access point of view.

Montreal, Canada - Hotel (Hilton Garden, Montreal Airport)

The Hilton Garden Inn at Montreal Airport is located just a few km from the airport. The airport shuttle is not wheelchair accessible so you will need to take a taxi (there is a minimum charge as this is a very short journey and you will have an unhappy taxi driver!). Although wheelchair taxis are available (I am told) I did not see any and took a regular car.

Access is level to lobby. I was given a free glass of champagne at check-in for some reason. Not complaining! THe restaurant and bar are off the lobby - also level access.

My room was on the ground (first) floor. It was a comfortable size with plenty of room to move around. The work desk was very comfortable to work at. Sockets were at a perfect height and position for accessibility. There is free wired and wireless internet. A nice touch is that there is a wired internet connection by the bed, so you can sit in bed and work on your computer if you so desire.

The bed itself wsas a little too high to transfer easily, but not a big problem. The lights were not particulalry well thought out or positioned. You can reach the bedside light with some difficulty, and cannot control the room lights from the bed.

The A/C controls are at a comfortable height, and the TV controls were left by the bed in easy reach.

There was a fridge, coffee maker and microwave in the room. The coffee-maker was difficult to reach and use and the micro-wave was out of the question (for me at least). You need a walkie with you if you want to zap something!

The bathroom was a comfortable size with a good turning circle for the wheelchair. Toilet seat is about wheelchair cushion height. Grab bars are well positioned. The sink had plenty of knee space and was easy to use. My room had a bath tub, low, well positioned grab bars. The shower hose was fixed to the wall and the spray control mounted on it could not be reached. You are at the mercy of whatever the previous guest left the setting at. Soap holder too high to use.

All in all a usable, even comfortable, room but a few details overlooked that would have made it perfect.

Dublin, Ireland - Restaurant (Fire)

Fire restaurant is located by the historic mansion house on Dawson Street, Dublin 2 - just off Stephen's Green. Access from the street is level, through some gates (use the pavement on the left hand side facing the building to avoid the cobblestones). There is a long but fairly gentle ramp to the entrance itself. One of the two doors is ramped. Inside, the restaurant is spacious and easy to get around. The toilets have a fully accessible cubicle.

This restaurant is very comfortable for wheelchair users. The service is excellent and the food is good. Recommended.