Sheraton Baltimore Washington Airport - BWI

1100 Old Elkridge Landing Road

Linthicum Heights

MD 21090

USA

http://www.sheratonbwiairport.com/

This review focuses on the wheelchair accessible aspects of this hotel. Refer to tripadvisor for information about other aspects of the hotel. In summary, the room I had was unwelcoming for a wheelchair user. Not recommended.  

There is ample free handicapped parking spots, and access to the lobby is completely level through automatic sliding doors. The restaurant and bar are all on the lobby area and easily accessible. 

My room was on the 3rd floor and had two queen beds and a roll-in shower.  It was some distance from the elevator, and a tough push over deep pile carpet.  There was adequate space to get around the room to the window and, just barely, between the two beds.  The TV remote was left in easy reach and the wall mounted A/C controls were easy to operate comfortably from a chair. 

The closet was easy to access but the hang rails were too high to reach from a wheelchair making it impossible to hang shirts.  The work desk was pretty small but usable. The window shades were difficult to close from a wheelchair because the line was behind the work desk and out of reach.  The bed was not as high as some - about  two inches above my wheelchair cushion level - but still made transferring difficult. The room lights were not controllable from the bed, so remember to turn them off before you get in. 

The bathroom was  large. The toilet was easy to access for anything from a 0 to 180 degree transfers but the grab rails were mounted too high to be of any use and the toilet itself had a cheap and wobbly toilet seat that offered little purchase for transferring.  Dangerous. There was plenty of room under the sink for knees. The shower had no wall mounted seat but guest services can provide you with a free standing shower seat on request. There was a hand held shower hose mounted on a rail and a fixed wall mounted shower hose.  The towels were left on a few shelves mounted high on the wall behind the toilet. Had I not been travelling with a walkie it would have been impossible to get them after my shower. The hand towels were reachable from a wheelchair but not the bath towels.  

The room was in need of a face lift and with the various small frustrations such as the useless closet and the badly designed bathroom it did not come up to the standards of modern handicapped accessible rooms. I will not be staying there again - not recommended. 

Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi

1-11-1 Maronouchi

Pacific Century Place

Chiyoda

Tokyo 100-6277

Japan

Website

This review focuses on the wheelchair access aspects of this hotel. For other aspects see tripadvisor.  In summary, the room was not totally barrier free, but was large enough to accommodate my two small children, my wife and myself. It therefore offers a very rare option in Tokyo for a wheelchair user traveling with a family. 

I ended up in the Four Seasons because I found it very difficult to find any hotel in Tokyo that offered a wheelchair accessible room that could accommodate two adults and two children (6yo and 7yo). There were plenty of accessible rooms (max occupancy 2) and some family rooms (not accessible) but very few with both. After much emailing I settled on the Four Seasons because they offered to put a roll out bed into their large premium bedroom. The service and engagement I received from the staff at the FS during this search phase was excellent and certainly influenced my decision. 

The hotel is hidden in the bottom seven floors of a skyscraper in tokyos central business district. There is level access from the street to a small reception area wiht hard flooring.  The restaurant and bar are on the seventh floor and fully accessible via elevator (lift). 

Our room was on the third floor and a short distance from the elevator over deep pile carpeting. The room was spacious with plenty of space around the bed (although of course the roll out bed made it difficult to access part of the room by wheelchair). The work desk was very large and the power socked were outed on the front and very easy to access. The TV remote was left within easy reach. The minibar and accoutrements were all easy to access as was the closet. All room light could be controlled from switches by the bed as could the electronic window blinds. The bed was at a very comfortable height for transfers - about 24" or 600mm. 

The bathroom was very spacious. There was a shower and toilet, each enclosed in their own smoked glass cubicle. Out side of these was a bathtub and sink. The door to the shower cubicle was too narrow for a wheelchair to fit through - not even the front castors so I did not use that (despite the hotel provided free standing shower seat). The door to the toilet was 82 cm wide and there was enough room to execute a 180 degree transfer to the toilet. There were grab rails on either side of the toilet for support and assistance. The bathtub was easy to access but was very deep (about 27" or 675mm) and getting out could be a challenge if you don't have good upper body strength. The hotel will supply a bath bath chair if required. The bath had a hand held shower rose as well as taps (faucets). The sink had ample under space for knees. 

Despite some nice decor and excellent personnel the hotel has a kind of impersonal feel to it. The staff were superb and our children were welcomed wiht personalized guide books and gifts. The room worked for me and I would recommend this hotel if traveling with family. For a wheelie on their own or traveling as a couple I would recommend checking out some of the other barrier free hotel rooms. 

Shangri-La Bangkok

89 Soi Wat Suan Plu

New Road

Bangrak

Bangkok 10500

Thailand

Website

This review, like all of my reviews, will focus mostly on the wheelchair access aspects of this hotel. For other reviews check out tripadvisor. However, I should say that the level of service and attention to detail that I experienced at this hotel was second to none. In summary, the hotel presents some challenges for a wheelchair user, but the service and accommodation level means that I am in the odd position of not recommending it for wheelchair users but I will definitely consider it for my next stay when in Bangkok! 

We ended up staying there as I was looking for a mid to upper range hotel that could accommodate two adults and two small children in a wheelchair accessible room. This turned out to be more difficult than expected in Bangkok.  Eventually, after many e-mails with different places the best value seemed to be offered by a twin deluxe balcony room in the Krungthrep wing of the Shangri-La. The rate included various extras like free wi-fi, free breakfast, afternoon tea and pre-dinner drinks and personalized check-in. Getting there by public transport involved several transfers and since we had two young children and lots of bags and would be quit jet-lagged I booked an airport pick-up from the hotel. The vehicle used for such a large group is a Mercedes  Vito. This is challanging to get in to if you cannot stand or walk (like me!) but we managed with the help of a hefty wedgie from my wife.  Access into the hotel is level and check-in could not have been easier. The breakfast/lounge area is down two shallow steps. The hotel has a ramp that it supplies when you need to access this area. The staff are very quick to leap to assistance - almost too quick! You can hardly pause to look around before someone asks you if you need help. That's not a complaint - it's a bit surprising at first but I could get used to it. 

The room was located very close to the lifts (elevator).  There is a mixture of stone and deep pile hard-to-roll-on carpet on the floor.  The room is just large enough to accommodate two twin beds and a rollaway and leave room for a wheelchair to move around. There is a balcony with a lip.  It is difficult, but possible,  for a chair to get in and out of the balcony. The work desk is easy to access and at a comfortable height. The sockets are all easy to reach. The TV remote was left in easy reach. Switches by the bed control all the lights and the blinds. The beds are a comfortable height for transferring without difficulty.  The safe, mini-bar and tea/coffee maker were all easy to reach although some of the glasses and so on we're too high. 

The closets were easy to access although the hang rail was very high - barely reachable from a wheelchair. Some of the other items (e.g. iron and laundry bags) were too high to reach. 

The bathroom was large with a wide door. The toilet was positioned to enable a 0 to 180 degree left handed transfer. There was a grab rail on the wall but not positioned ideally. The toilet is low, about 500mm (20").  I like this much more than the extra height toilets common in adapted rooms, but I know it does not suit everyone. There was no knee room under the sinks, but they did project a little so were usable. The room had a bathtub with high sides. Grab rails were well positioned to provide assistance in transferring and the hotel will provide a transfer seat for the bath if requested. There is a hand-held shower rose as well as a tap in the bath. 

All in all the room felt like a normal room adapted for handicapped use and is perfect for ambulant disabled although it could present come challenges to a wheelchair user. I was totally comfortable there. 

Getting around the property presents its challenges. The Krungthrep wing is separate from the main hotel area and there is no barrier free access between the two. To get from one to the other you need to find a member of staff, and they will lead you through some sub-terranean service tunnels to the other building. This is not as bad as it might sound and the only comment I can make is that the bits of the hotel that regular guests don't normally see are spotlessly clean and everyone seems to be moving with determination and efficiency!  

There is no access to either of the two hotel pools. You can leave the hotel and explo the surrounding streets (full of the contrast and wonder that is Bangkok) but there is a very steep hill to negotiate to get back to the hotel entrance. 

All in all, I have mixed feelings about the Shangri-La, Bangkok as an option for wheelchair accessible accommodation. It presents challenges and is not ideal on many levels but I was totally charmed by the ambience and service and spent many peaceful hours looking out ove the river and enjoying myself. Normally I either recommend or don't recommend an establishment. My head says not commended, my heart will bring me back.  

Novotel on Collins

270 Collins Street

Melbourne

VIC

Australia 3000

http://www.novotelmelbourne.com.au/

These notes are intended to provide guidance for wheelchair users considering this hotel. If you are looking for comments on the hotel experience see tripadvisor. The conclusion: a well located hotel with excellent wheelchair facilities, recommended. 

The hotel is located about midway on Collins street so is right in the bustling center of Melbourne. We were able to explore the city on foot (or wheel) from here. The hotel is surrounded by shopping malls and many tiny alleys with interesting cafes for breakfast lunch or dinner. Many cafes are not accessible, but have outside tables. 

There is a ramp from the street to the ground level concierge station.  A lift (elevator) from here goes up one floor to the reception area. On this level there is a bar and restaurant, all of which are fully accessible.  There is an accessible toilet off the bar area but it is a bit cramped and may not work for all chairs. Another toilet past reception and the lifts, near the meeting rooms, offers a better option. 

The wheelchair accessible room I booked was a Queen bed with a pull out sofa bed. I initially intended to use this for the kids but since a third adult joined our group we ended up taking two rooms - the accessible and an adjoining superior room (non-accessible).  The room was very large, one of the largest I have stayed in, and there would have been plenty of circulation space even if we had used the pull out sofa.  As it was, moving around the room was no problem. 

The room was located fairly close to the lift (elevator) down a carpeted corridor. The work desk was very large and easy to use with electric sockets easily accessible above the desk.  The mini bar and accoutrements were accessible and the TV remote control was in easy reach. The a/c controls were easily reached. The closet was easy to get to and the hang rail was a normal walkie height. A light switch by the bed controlled this main room lights, but not the desk light and floor mounted lamp so you had to remember to turn those off before getting into bed.  (A master switch by the door turned everything off - a pity there wasn't one by the bed). The bed was about 20" (50cm) high and easy to transfer in and out of. 

The bathroom was very large with plenty of circulation space. There was a shower with a large, wall mounted, fold down seat and a completely separate bathtub.  The shower rose was a hand-held unit mounted on a vertical rail. It was possible to reach the top of the rail while sitting on the seat. The controls were easy to reach and there were well positioned handrails. The bath had no shower rose attachment and was a standard height. 

The toilet had plenty of space around it and was suitable for a right-handed 0 to 180 degree transfer. There were well positioned grab rails. The sink had good knee space and was easy to manage. The mirror was tilted and provided excellent visibility. 

All in all I found the hotel very well suited for wheelchair and handicapped accommodation and would use it again. The staff was very friendly and helpful.  Recommended. 

The Darling Hotel, Sydney, Australia

80 Pyrmont Street (at The Star), Sydney, New South Wales 2009, Australia

Visit Hotel Website

These notes are intended to provide guidance for wheelchair users considering this hotel. If you are looking for comments on the hotel experience see tripadvisor. The conclusion: a lovely hotel with interesting and elegant features, but the high bed in the accessible room means I would not recommend it for wheelies.

The hotel is located close to Darling Harbour. We arrived without a car, walking up Union St.  Access to the hotel was a little hard to find. You can go through the Star Centre but you can also access the hotel from Union St. directly. Looking from the street you see a rotating door, with steps behind so it does not look accessible. In fact, there is a button operated automatic door and a lift to the lobby hidden from view. It’s easier if you arrive by car at the front door!

The lobby area is fully accessible with hard floors. There is level access to the star complex with its shops, restaurants and casino. Sokyo restaurant and bar are directly accessible from the lobby.

The wheelchair accessible room I booked was a King bed. I was told that the hotel does not offer any other configuration in an accessible room. The room was close to the elevator with carpet flooring in the corridor. The room is large with sufficient space to get around. The work desk is at the end of the bed, and a circular utility table was also placed at the end of the bed. The table had to be moved in order to make room for the chair between bed and desk. One that was sorted there was plenty of access around the bed. All light switches are easy to get to, as is the control for the blinds and the air conditioning.  The TV remote control was left in a leather pouch by the bed. 

The minibar and its accoutrements is easy to get to. The clothes closet has two sliding doors. The hang rails are not lowered but I could still reach them.  The iron was out of reach from a wheelchair.  While there are light switches placed close to the bed to control all lights in the room, it is quite a challenge to reach them from the bed without falling out! However the TV remote had a "room off" button which turns off every light in the room. Unfortunately there is no equivalent "room on" button!

The bed was about 28" (700mm) high and  was nearly impossible to get into from my chair.  It is disappointing to see The Darling following the current trend for very high beds. This one was way too high for a comfortable transfer and the act of getting into bed was exhausting and risky.

The bathroom is large with plenty of circulation space.  The toilet has plenty of space around it and would support anything from a 0 degree (parallel) to a 180 degree transfer. It is very far from the wall with no back support which makes sitting on it and balancing very tiring and ultimately dangerous. However, this seems it be an Australian access regulation requirement more than a specific design of the hotel as I have seen it in many public toilets. The grab rails were well placed which helps. The sink was easy to access with ample under sink knee room. The shower was large with a good solid large fold down shower seat. All controls were easy to reach from the seat. There was a hand held shower rose and a centre ceiling mounted "rain shower". The rain shower kind of misses you when you are on the seat though. The hand held rose was clipped to a rail on the wall that had a clever lever coming down which meant you could adjust the rose right up to even its highest level. Towels were placed in easy reach and there were plenty of them.

The Darling is a high end hotel with great design, great finishes and lots of attention to detail. The electrics in the room suffer a bit from design over function.  Ultimately, a well designed and functional accessible room was completely negated by an inaccessible bed. Not recommended...unfortunately as I loved so many things about this hotel.

Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa

25135 Park Lantern · Dana Point, California 92629 USA

Visit Hotel Website

These notes are intended to provide guidance for wheelchair users considering this hotel. If you are looking for comments on the hotel experience see tripadvisor. Conclusion: A lovely resort, fully accessible despite many different levels, let down by a bed in the accessible room that is too high to use.

The hotel has a fine location at beautiful Dana Point. It is located high on a bluff with a steep set of steps leading to the beach and harbor area below.  The hotel is on many levels with steps but all areas of the hotel are wheelchair accessible - although you may have to follow a convoluted route to get to some places!

There are three steps up to the entrance, with gently sloping ramps on both left and right. The front doors are automatic. The reception area is fully accessible. Off reception is a bar/cafe area up a couple of steps, with an outdoor seating area with fabulous views. Both are accessible via ramps but it is kind of hard to find them. Best to ask a staff member to show you.  The restaurant is one floor down, accessible via lift (elevator).

All areas of the grounds, including the swimming pool, seemed to be accessible. The pool has a lift chair attached to one corner to enable transfer in and out of the pool.

The wheelchair accessible room I booked had two double beds since I was travelling with my family. The room was a long way from the elevator over thick pile carpet which made wheeling difficult. The room itself was very large with plenty of space around and between the beds. Sliding doors opened onto a balcony and there was no trouble wheeling over the small lip to access it.

The work desk was a comfortable size and help.  The power sockets were below the work desk and a little awkward to reach, but not impossible. The closets, minibar and coffee maker were all accessible although the mini-bar dry goods and menu were out of reach. The TV remote was in a cradle in front of the TV and easy to reach. A/C controls were also at a good height. The bed was nearly impossible to get into. There is a trend at the moment for very high beds. This one was way too high for a comfortable transfer and the act of getting into bed was exhausting and risky. The room lights could not be controlled from the bed.

The bathroom was very large, the shower enormous! The shower had a fold down seat and the controls could easily be reached from that seat. There was a single hand held shower hose on a wall mounted rail. The toilet had plenty of circulation space around it suitable for anything from a 0 to 180 degree transfer, and well positioned grab rails. The sink had plenty of knee room and was easy to access.  A large mirror gives a decent view of your upper body but it is not tilted making it difficult to get a full length view. The towels are hung on a bar in the shower and are accessible from a wheelchair. 

We had two minor problems with the room - not worth complaining about at the time as we were only staying one night. However, when we mentioned them on checkout they immediately waived the resort fee as a courtesy gesture.  This is a lovely hotel, with great facilities and service. However I don't think I can recommend it, or use it again myself, simply because of the ridiculously high beds. Is there an ADA guideline for bed height?  If not, there should be!

Carton House, Maynooth, Co. Kildare Ireland.  

tel. +353 (0) 1 5052000

 

http://www.cartonhouse.com/

These notes refer mainly to the wheelchair accessible aspects of this hotel. For comments on the hotel service and facilities see tripadvisor.

Carton House is a hotel, golf course and spa located in a fine example of a typical home of the old Irish landlord class. It is located about 30minutes from Dublin Airport and maybe 45 minutes from Dublin city center. Despite being built long before anyone thought of wheelchair access, the modernization of the hotel has produced a fine hotel with excellent access throughout. Wandering the grounds might present some challenges, but since I did not have time to explore I cannot really comment on that.

Entrance to the hotel lobby is through a modern entrance at the side of the original old house. Access is level through automatic doors. The lobby level, bar and restaurant are all on one level and easily accessible although the distances between them are great. The flooring is mostly hard cover with occasional sections of carpet – easy to traverse in any case. There is a dedicated large accessible toilet near reception.

My room was on the first floor of a modern extension to the old house and had a king bed. The lifts (elevators) are quite a way from the reception, but are large, and my room was very close to the lift.

The room itself was large (very large by Irish hotel standards) and easy to navigate. There is a large, comfortable workdesk and enough room between the desk and bed for my chair (680mm) to pass through with plenty to spare. Power sockets were easy to reach at desk height, as was the desk lamp. The bed was slightly below wheelchair cushion height so transferring was very easy. The bedside lights and room lights had switches by the bed. The air conditioning controls were easy to reach. The TV controls were left by the TV within easy reach. 

The closet had no door and was easy to reach and hang clothes on. All storage was accessible.

The bathroom was spacious with easy access to the toilet for a 90 degree or a parallel transfer. A folding handrail from the wall was well positioned. Sink was easy to use with plenty of knee room underneath. There was a roll in shower, with a small sturdy foldable shower seat on the wall. I found balancing on the shower seat a little precarious, but the handrails helped. The shower rose is fixed and protrudes from the wall above the seat giving plenty of coverage although it means there is no way of avoiding the couple of seconds of cold water that runs when you start the shower! The controls were easy to reach. Even at the hottest setting the water temperature was not dangerous although I did not notice any marking to suggest that it was temperature limited. All towels were left within easy reach.

 

I was attending a business event which utilized meeting rooms in the old house. All the rooms we used were on the ground floor, but I did notice on elevator running up the center of the old stairwell. All rooms we sued were fully accessible and there was an accessible (albeit poorly signposted) toilet nearby. The floors are the original floors and can present occasional hazards to a wheeler with broken stone slabs and so on. But I would not have them any other way – the character of the old house is great and the meeting rooms had a lovely old world, sophisticated feel to them.

The room really had nothing to fault it. Given that, and the excellent service and ambience of the hotel I would strongly recommend it for any wheelie seeking a country “feel” in a location not far from Dublin and Dublin airport. .

 

The Novotel Toulouse Centre Compans Caffarelli is convenient to the conference centre in Toulouse, and about a 20min wheel from Place Wilson in the centre. The hotel is set in pleasant surroundings with a nice urban park just behind it. These notes are intended to assist wheelchair users or handicapped travellers considering it as a place to stay while in Toulouse. I stayed here four years ago (see review here) and found it good, but I can no longer recommend it. The main change is to the bedroom.

The room was difficult to navigate. When I stayed here before, the gap between the end of the bed and the workdesk was a little tight, but I could reach all areas of the room with no great difficulty. However, now the gap between the bed and workdesk was much tighter – I estimate 600mm or less (24”) – and I was unable to pass through. This meant that half the room was inaccessible to me, including the workdesk, the power sockets, a chair and table, and the TV and TV remote control.  Apart from that the points made in the original review are still valid.  

Because of the difficulties navigating the room and getting in and out of the bath I would not recommend this hotel for wheelchair users travelling alone. Ambulant disabled, or wheelchair users with walkie companions would get by okay.

 

Novotel Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil

Avenida Dr. Nelson D'Ávila, 2200 Vila das Acácias, São José dos Campos - SP 12245-031

Phone:+55 (12) 4009-7826

http://www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-0472-novotel-sao-jose-dos-campos/index.shtml

These notes refer only to the wheelchair accessible aspects of this hotel. For other reviews see TripAdvisor.

There is a flat entrance to the hotel with automatic doors. There is level access throughout the lobby, bar and restaurant area, and accessible toilets off the lobby. Circulation in the public areas is excellent. Hardwood floors make wheeling very easy.

My room was a standard double bed wheelchair accessible room. The room was large enough – just! There was a very tight space between the bed and the edge of the minbar unit. Initially I couldn’t fit through, but by pushing the bed over be about 15cm (6”) I could get through comfortably. (My chair is 680mm – 28” – wide). The work desk is very narrow and has to be to accommodate a wheelchair between the desk and the end of the bed. Once past the bed there is adequate turning space. There is a sofa bed in the room also, but if it was pulled out and made up the room would be barely usable for a wheelchair. The bed is at a very comfortable height for transfers. There is no bedside locker or shelf which was a bit awkward.

The workdesk was at a good height, and although narrow it could accommodate my laptop comfortably. Power sockets were easy to reach. Light switches were at a comfortable height, and all room lights could be turned on or off while lying in the bed. The A/C was controlled by a remote control device which was left in easy reach beside the TV remote.

The closet had no door and had a clothes hang rail that could be pulled down to wheelchair height. While some storage was too high to reach there was adequate drawer and storage space down low.

The bathroom is large with plenty of turn space and has a very wide door sliding door.  There was ample knee room under sink. A large mirror gives a decent view of yourself and is tilted downward.  The toilet is easily accessible for a 90^o transfer. It is a standard toilet with a plastic fitting to raise it to a height suitable for ambulant disabled. Personally I find those very uncomfortable and difficult to work with, but your mileage may vary. Grab rails are well positioned and the towels are hung on the grab rails within easy reach.

The shower is one of the room’s better points. It is a roll-in shower with a sturdy fold down shower seat mounted to the wall suitable for a 90 degree left hand transfer. There is a hand held hose mounted on the wall in a fixed position, and a second rose in the middle of the ceiling which soaks you nicely when seated on the seat. Water controls were within easy reach. The water never got dangerously hot.

Although the room is a bit on the small side, I found the hotel from an access point of view and I would recommend this hotel for wheelchair users.

 

 

 

Novotel London Greenwich

173-185 Greenwich High Rd., London, SE10 8JA, United Kingdom. +44 20 7660 0682

http://www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-3476-novotel-london-greenwich/index.shtml

This hotel is located in the heart of Greenwich village in London. It is just 10 minutes wheel from the Cutty Sark and the maritime museum as well as a host of quintessentially English pubs and shops. These notes refer to hotel facilities for wheelchair users only.  For other aspects of the hotel service see TripAdvisor

There is a flat entrance to the hotel with automatically rotating doors that can be slowed to allow a wheelchair to use them. An alternative “straight access” door is available and the staff will open it if necessary. There is level access throughout the lobby, bar and restaurant area, and accessible toilets off the lobby. Circulation in the public areas is excellent.

The wheelchair accessible room I booked has a single double bed, which was actually two singles pushed together. There is not enough space in the room for a second sofa bed so if you a travelling with family you will need a second room. Novotel offered us an adjoining room for half price. The room was on the fourth floor and very close to the lift (elevator). The room is a little tight but thankfully not over crammed with furniture. There is just enough space between the end of the bed and the desk for my chair to pass through with some width to spare (my chair is 680mm – 26.8” – wide). The work desk is a comfortable height. There is easy access to a socket and to the wired Internet (extra charge).

Closet is an open type with easily accessible bars for hanging clothes. The bed is low, about two inches (5cm) below the height of my wheelchair cushion. All room lights can be turned on or off from the bed.  The heater controls can be easily accessed on the wall. 

The bathroom is large with plenty of turn space and has a very wide door with an "accordion style" opening door.  Ample knee room under sink. Large mirror gives a decent view of your upper body but it is not tilted making it difficult to get a full length view.  Toilet is easily accessible for transfer and is higher than a standard toilet - about level with the wheelchair cushion. Grab rails well positioned. The towels are hung on a bar in the shower and are accessible from a wheelchair. 

There is a roll in shower with an independent free standing shower chair that can be moved to wherever suits.  There is a single handheld hose, mounted on a rail on the wall, and well positioned grab rails. The controls can be reached easily. I wasn't sure about the temperature cut-off - even at the hottest setting the water was not scalding so it seemed it be safe.

All in all, the room was fine from an access point of view and I would recommend this hotel for wheelchair users.

 

 

 

Washington Dulles Airport, VA, USA - Hotel (Hilton)

Hilton Washington Dulles Airport,  13869 Park Centre Road, Herndon, VA 20171, USA

This entry describes my experiences at the Hilton Washington Dulles Airport, and is intended to assist wheelchair users or disabled travelers considering this hotel.
This hotel is just a few minutes from Dulles International Airport (IAD) and offers a wheelchair accessible shuttle bus. But only one of their shuttles is accessible so it has to be booked. On the night I stayed here, the accessible shuttle was "in the shop" and unavailable which is frustrating in the extreme. Perhaps having two accessible shuttles would be a good idea? the hotel staff were very apologetic, and booked a taxi for the morning which the hotel paid for. 

Flat entrance to the hotel with automatic doors. There is level access throughout the lobby, bar and restaurant area.

I stayed in a two double bed room with tub (kudos to Hilton website that allows you to select a room to this level of detail). Room was on ground floor, a bit of a haul to get there from the lobby over thick carpet and a short ramp.  The room is large and spacious, not over crammed with furniture.  There is enough room between the beds to fit a wheelchair comfortably, access to either bed is no problem. The work desk is a little low and I was unable to wheel under it. The desk lamp has two easily accessed electric sockets. No wired internet that I could find, but the wifi worked well. 

It took me a while to find the closet - unusually it is located in the bathroom.  Closet has a bar at a comfortable height for hanging shirts etc. There are three light switches between the beds that allow you to turn off certain room lights from the bed. Experiment to find what which ones!

The bed is at a reasonable height for transfer, not too high.  

Air conditioning unit has an easily accessed wall mounted temperature control (old style analog slider) but the on/off control is high on the wall and blocked by the armchair.

The bathroom is large with plenty of turn space. Ample knee room under sink. Large mirror gives a decent view.  Toilet is easily accessible for transfer. Grab rails well positioned. The towels are stored on a shelf above the bath tub that is totally inaccessible from a wheelchair. 

The tub is easy to access but the grab rails are badly positioned and too high to assist in a transfer they are fine for ambulant disabled.   This is a common problem in hotels. It seems that a rom with a tub is assumed to be for ambulant disabled, and a rool-in shower for wheelchairs.  But, of course, many wheelchair users prefer a tub as it is often safer than a shower seat. Once on the tub, the water controls are easy to reach.  However, the hand held shower rose is mounted on a rail but even at its lowest point is too high for a wheelie to reach.   There is no temperature cut-off so you need to be careful  when adjusting the temperature to avoid scalding de-sensitized areas of your body.

Overall, the room is a bit tired and in need of a refurb. It's acceptable, but the recently redone rooms in the Marriott are nicer.  But the Marriott only offers king size beds in the handicapped rooms which makes it useless if you are travelling with young kids.  I would use the Hilton again if the price was right, or I needed to have two beds in the room.

Sao Jose Dos Campos, Brazil - Hotel (Mercure Colinas)

Mercure Colinas - Av. Dr. Jorge Zarur, 81, torre 2, Jd. Apolo, São José dos Campos, Sao Paulo, Brazil

This hotel is set right next door to its sister hotel,  the IBIS, reviewed here. Mercure is a slightly more upmarket brand of Accor hotels. The hotel has one wheelchair accessible room.

Flat entrance to the hotel with automatic doors. There is level access throughout the lobby, bar and breakfast area of the Mercure.

Handicapped room is on the first floor (the lift/elevator is of small but adequate). The room is compact but well designed and there is space to maneuver. There is enough room between bed and wall and bed and built in furniture. The workdesk is at a comfortable height. The electric sockets and wired internet connection (there is also wifi) are located in the wall behind the desk and are very easy to reach. Closet has a bar at a comfortable height for hanging shirts etc. Light switches are by the bed and easy to reach from the bed. I like this feature, you can turn all the lights in the room, except the desk light, on or off from the bed.

The bed (queen size) is at a perfect height for transfers and is comfortable.

Air conditioning unit is operated by a remote control and works fine. TV remote control stored beside TV at comfortable height.

A sliding door leads to the bathroom which is large with plenty of turn space. Ample knee room under sink. Slanted mirrors make for easy viewing when seated. Toilet is easily accessible for a 90° transfer. Grab rails well positioned. The towels are stored on a shelf that is high and access to it is blocked by the toilet. This may put the towles out of reach for some wheelies.

The shower is an open, roll-in, design with a fold up, sturdy, shower seat mounted with plenty of access room for transfer. Shower controls are easy to reach. There is a combined hand held hose and wall mounted rose, with a control on the hand held unit to select which one you want. The wall mounted unit is positioned directly above the seat. The seat is small, and I found I always needed one hand on the grab rail to help me balance. However the grabrails are sensibly positioned.  There is no temperature cut-off so you need to be careful when adjusting the temperature to avoid scalding de-sensitized areas of your body.

The staff are very friendly and quick to help with carrying trays or moving furniture.  The restaurant is accessible and provides breakfast, lunch and dinner. The nearby Colinas shopping centre has shopping, food and an excellent chascurria, all with good wheelchair access. It is possible to walk to the shopping centre although you have to cross a few busy roads to get there (pedestrian crossings are plentiful).

All in all, a very comfortable, accessible option in SJC.  

Newport, RI, USA - Hotel (Marriott)

These notes refer to the Marriott, Newport Rhode Island. They are intended as guidance to wheelchair users or disabled travellers thinking of using this hotel. They do not address general service issues which are more than adequately covered in reviews on other sites such as this one.


There is level access from street level to a front lobby. Reception is up one floor, and there is a long ramp to the elevator from the front door. (It is actually easy to enter from the parking lot, as that door brings you directly to the elevators). Once at reception, there is level access to the restaurant, bar and shop. I was directed to a room on the same level as reception, down a long corridor with a carpet that had a pile that was difficult to roll-on.

My room (double, accessible, bath) had a bit too much furniture for the size but it was still possible to get around. The work desk was a good size, easy to access, and all plugs were at desk height and easily reached. Wired Internet (extra charge) did not work at first but a visit from a service person determined that the plug at the desk level was not working, and he plugged directly to the difficult to access wall point instead. Closet was a high and difficult to hang and remove clothes. Air conditioning controls were on the wall and could be reached from a chair. TV controls were by the TV and easy to reach. Room light switches were easy to reach, but not from the bed. The bed was a good height and easy to transfer in and out of.

The bathroom was a comfortable size. Plenty of knee room under the sink. Mirror was not tilted and was ok for viewing head and shoulders but not much else. Toilet was standard height (not raised) with well positioned grab-rails. My room had a bath. Grab rails were well positioned. Shower hose was fixed to the wall and directed at a very poor angle. I was unable to adjust it. Water controls were easy to reach while sitting in bath. Towels were left at an easy height to reach.

All in all, the room was an average ADA accessible room with some annoyances (e.g. the closet). Access into and out of the hotel, including the long trip to the room, would make me avoid this hotel on future visits. Service, staff and restaurant were excellent.

Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, Ireland - Hotel (Mount Errigal Hotel)

This entry describes my experiences at the Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny and is intended to assist wheelchair users or disabled travelers considering this hotel. I do not address general features of the hotel - you can find plenty of those reviews here.

Entry to the hotel is via a very steep ramp from the car park. This is more than 1:12, maybe 1:10, and a hefty push to get up it. Once up, entry to the lobby is via automatic doors. Access to the reception desk is up two sets of steps, each set has a ramp to one side for us wheelies. These ramps feel like regulation 1:12 or perhaps slightly less and are manageable. The bar and restaurant area is off to the left. This also has several levels and each one can be accessed through doors from the reception. There is no ramp between levels within the bar/restaurant area itself - you need to go into the reception area to use the ramps to move between levels. The hotel seems to have many levels and all seem to be accessible, but the frequent ramps can be exhausting especially with luggage although staff will help you if you ask.

My room was a handicapped accessible family room. The reason we stayed at the Mount Errigal was because it was the only hotel that has a room available that was both wheelchair accessible and could sleep two adults and two children. The room was large and easy to get around. The two double beds were both accessible with adequate room between them to get the chair between. The workdesk was comfortable and easy to use. Electric sockets were easy to reach in the wall behind at desk height.  The closet made no concession to wheelies and was awkward to use. It contained a fold-out ironing board that I've never come across before, and I was able to use it to iron a couple of shirts with ease (or as much ease as ironing can be!). Bedside light switches were well positioned, but main room lights could not be controlled from the bed. There is no air-conditioning (not really needed in Ireland!) but a heater could be turned on or off easily. The TV controls were easy to reach.

The bathroom was very spacious with plenty of turning space. It had a bath, and was more suited to an ambulant disabled rather than a wheelie. The main thing lacking was appropriately placed grab bars. However, it was usable. The shower hose was handheld, and the rail was fixed to the wall and very high. The sink was tiny - this is a common feature in Irish handicapped rooms and is due to some daft regulation laid down by the authorities. Clearly the people who write the regulations are not actual users. This sink was slightly larger than the usual but still barely bog enough to wash hands or equipment. The toilet was easy to get to with well positioned grab rails. Towels were left at a low level and easy to reach.

To get to my room from reception involved going through a heavy set of doors, a short steep ramp (very steep) to a small lift (elevator). Up to the next floor, up two more ramps (regulation - not too steep) and around two corners over deep carpet. Good for exercise but certainly not conducive to running down to reception to ask a question!

The hotel staff were warm and friendly and the atmosphere was family oriented and relaxed - more genuine than the US chain hotels I'm used to, if quirkier. I would stay there again, although if I was travelling without the kids I would probably check out one of the more modern hotels in Letterkenny.

LaGuardia, NY - Hotel (Lexington Marco LaGuardia)

This entry describes my experiences at the Lexington Marco LaGuardia Hotel and is intended to assist wheelchair users or disabled travelers considering this hotel.

Entry to the hotel is via a very steep ramp from street level. This is more than 1:12, maybe 1:10, and a hefty push to get up it. Once up, entry to the lobby is via automatic doors. There is a restaurant adjacent to the hotel (the Magna) that is accessible direct from the hotel.

My room (Accessible, two doubles, bath) was large and easy to get around, although the two double beds took up some space. The workdesk was comfortable and spacious. Electric sockets were easy to reach. Closet was easy to access and use. All lights, with the exception of the work-desk lamp could be turned on or off from the bed - a rare touch that I like.

The bathroom was very spacious with plenty of turning space. It had a bath, and was more suited to an ambulant disabled rather than a wheelie. The main thing lacking was appropriately placed grab bars. However, I found it very usable. The sink had knee room underneath, the toilet was easy to get to and not too high. The shower hose was fixed to the wall and very high. Towels were left at a low level and easy to reach.

All in all a decent, comfortable, accessible room located in Chinatown in Queens. I'd stay there again.

El Segundo (Los Angeles, LAX), CA, USA - Hotel (Hilton Garden Inn)

The Hilton Garden Inn LAX/El Segunda is located almost two miles from LAX (Los Angeles International airport) in the business district of El Segunda. These notes are intended to assist wheelchair users considering using the hotel. I do not review hotel facilities except where they impact wheelchair users since there are plenty of sites on-line (e.g.www.tripadvisor.com)  that cover that stuff! This hotel is within easy striking distance of LAX and has free self-parking which is a big advantage in this area.

Level access from parking lot through automatic doors. The lobby and restaurant are fully accessible.

My room on this occasion was a king bed, ADA accessible, with bath. The room was very large with plenty of space to maneuver and just enough furniture. Very comfortable to move around.  The workdesk was of a good size and height and easily reached by wheelchair. Two sockets were mounted on the wall at table height and easy to use. Wired Ethernet in the room worked well (free).

The bed was slightly higher than the wheelchair but still relatively easy to transfer in and out of.  Bedroom closet was fine - split into two, one section for wheelies and one for walkies. A/C controls were at a comfortable height. The TV control was left by the TV and easily accessible. Coffee maker, microwave and fridge were all easily accessible.

The bathroom was large with plenty of turning space. The sink was easy to use, and the toilet was low. Grab bars were well positioned. A plastic seat was left in the bathroom for use if necessary. The bath was low and easy to get in and out of, although the grab bars are positioned high - more for ambulant disabled than for wheelies. The shower was a hand-held rose, on a sliding bar. This was a little high for reaching from the bath but the controls are easy to reach. The towels were placed on a low towel rack and easy to reach.

All in all this room was extremely comfortable and strongly recommended for wheelchair users visiting the area. It is worth noting that there is a Green Line metro station right by the hotel, with an elevator although I did not use the metro myself.