These notes refer to the wheelchair access for the restaurant Bistro L'Aromate, 1410 Rue Peel, Montreal. If you want a food review there are plenty of websites where you can find them.
Access from the street is level. The restaurant has small, intimate tables on many levels. Only about 4-5 two seaters and maybe 1 four seater are on street level. It might be advisable to call ahead to explain you need one of these if you are a wheelie.
Space in the restaurant is a little tight, but okay. There is a large restroom on the ground floor. There are no grab bars, but the toilet is easy to manage and the hand-basin is at a good height. Should be no problem for most wheelies.
The food was truly excellent (ok - that's not a review, just an observation). Strongly recommended.
Showing posts with label Canada - Quebec. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canada - Quebec. Show all posts
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Montreal, Quebec - Hotel (Marriott Chateau Champlain)
These wheelchair access and travel notes refer to the Marriott Chateau Champlain, located in central Montreal just a few blocks from Rue St. Catherine. This is an older building and the rooms have a certain charm as a result.
The hotel is situated in an area with some fairly steep hills so be careful if you plan to do a lot of walking. But it is uphill to the main shopping/dining area so at least you have a downhill ride home!
There are many step to the front entrance. The wheelchair ramp is hard to spot, hidden off to the left and leading to a second door. Inside, the bar, restaurant and shopping mall are all on the ground floor and have level access. There is an elevator straight from the lobby to the metro - but that's not a whole lot of use since the metro is not wheelchair accessible (with the exception of 5-6 stations).
My room was medium sized, not large. Being older, it lacked some of the custom wheelchair touches you would expect, but it was perfectly adequate for me and rated 3.5 stars out of 5 for wheelchair friendliness.
There was plenty of circulation space.
The workdesk was a little small but usable. Electric sockets in the desk lamp (2) were easy to reach. In room wifi (free) was good. TV controls were left in easy reach. Coffeemaker and mini-bar easy to reach also.
The air-conditioning controls were difficult to reach because they were set high on the wall, but were usable.
The bed was a little high but transfers in and out were not 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 a good size and a comfortable height for hanging clothes.
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 but with plenty of knee space underneath and it was comfortable to use. My room had a bath rather than a roll-in shower. The shower rose was hand-held and mounted on a rail that was too high to reach when seated in the bath (although would be okay with a shower seat). The bell-boy who .brought my bags up offered me a shower seat without being asked - the first time that's ever happened to me. I declined as I prefer to operate without one. The grab rails around bath are too high for comfort. Towels were placed at a comfortable height and easily accessible. A nice touch is that the bath had an old-fashioned circular thermometer to tell you what temperature the water was at!
The hotel is a full-service hotel and welcoming. Definitely an option for a wheelchair user in Montreal.
The hotel is situated in an area with some fairly steep hills so be careful if you plan to do a lot of walking. But it is uphill to the main shopping/dining area so at least you have a downhill ride home!
There are many step to the front entrance. The wheelchair ramp is hard to spot, hidden off to the left and leading to a second door. Inside, the bar, restaurant and shopping mall are all on the ground floor and have level access. There is an elevator straight from the lobby to the metro - but that's not a whole lot of use since the metro is not wheelchair accessible (with the exception of 5-6 stations).
My room was medium sized, not large. Being older, it lacked some of the custom wheelchair touches you would expect, but it was perfectly adequate for me and rated 3.5 stars out of 5 for wheelchair friendliness.
There was plenty of circulation space.
The workdesk was a little small but usable. Electric sockets in the desk lamp (2) were easy to reach. In room wifi (free) was good. TV controls were left in easy reach. Coffeemaker and mini-bar easy to reach also.
The air-conditioning controls were difficult to reach because they were set high on the wall, but were usable.
The bed was a little high but transfers in and out were not 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 a good size and a comfortable height for hanging clothes.
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 but with plenty of knee space underneath and it was comfortable to use. My room had a bath rather than a roll-in shower. The shower rose was hand-held and mounted on a rail that was too high to reach when seated in the bath (although would be okay with a shower seat). The bell-boy who .brought my bags up offered me a shower seat without being asked - the first time that's ever happened to me. I declined as I prefer to operate without one. The grab rails around bath are too high for comfort. Towels were placed at a comfortable height and easily accessible. A nice touch is that the bath had an old-fashioned circular thermometer to tell you what temperature the water was at!
The hotel is a full-service hotel and welcoming. Definitely an option for a wheelchair user in Montreal.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Wheelchair Accessible Taxis at Montreal International Airport
On this visit to Montreal, I decided to find out if there really were wheelchair accessible taxis available at airport. I asked the guy marshaling the taxi line. He brought me outside at the front of the queue (saved at least 30mins waiting right there!). After a few minutes a van pulled up. This had a ramp installed and access was easy. The van is fully configurable internally, all seats could be removed and it had tie-downs for chairs. It seemed to me it could carry three wheelchairs easily. The charge was the same as for a normal taxi. This particular driver was with co-op taxi (www.cooptaxi.com - 514-636-6666). He siad call and ask for "Van adaptee" or an adapted van.
I stayed once again at the Hilton Garden Inn, previously reviewed here.
I stayed once again at the Hilton Garden Inn, previously reviewed here.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
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.
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.
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