The Hotel
To get to the front desk as well as the restaurant and bar one must go past the lobby, down the ramp one of the banquet halls and around one more corner. The hotel is small so the was not too inconvenient. This pathway is also completely smooth so this made it easier. The check in desk was small and did not have a lowered section for wheelchair users but the staff a adapted and handed me my items to sign using a clipboard.
There was also no lowered section at the bar which was adjacent to the front desk but lowered tables and chairs were nearby. The restaurant was then next to the bar and had a tasty menu and a good happy hour. I highly recommend breakfast, especially the crème brûlée oatmeal with fresh berries. The tables in the restaurant were at a good height but the base of the table blocked me a bit so some maneuvering was involved. Room service of course is available.
The Rooms
Two elevators in the lobby entrance takes you up to the one handicapped room with a roll-in-shower on the 6th floor; otherwise rooms #200, #300, #400 and #500 are ADA rooms with a bathtub setup. The room is technically a suite but adaptions are added to make it ADA. The room is almost right off the elevator so foot traffic is present, especially when the other banquet hall just a hair down the hall is being used or shown by sales people.
This room did not have a lowered peep hole. When you first walk through the door there is a good sized hallway with a closet and semi-lowered bar. I say semi because the bar was pushed to the back which made hanging up clothes challenging and not really effective. Luckily, I could reach the regular rack otherwise, I would have called maintenance to alter because there was spot for the bar that would be more appropriate. Also in the hallway is the mini bar that was at a standing height were you can also make tea and/or coffee.
Across from the mini bar was the HVAC controls, which were just within reach. The desk, however, was too low to roll under. The automatic fireplace was next to the desk that could be turned on with a flick of a switch. During the colder months this comes in real handy. I stayed at Hotel Metro during the winter and kept the fireplace on pretty much all day and night. It was lovely! A small sitting area is available for use and within view of the swivel flat screen television, which can also be pointed at the bed. The king bed was at a terrific height, I wish my own bed at home was like it, and overall had a pleasant night’s rest.
Bathroom
The bathroom is real pretty but kept the door shut all the time because I believe that the windows in the bathroom are single pane so during the winter the cold air was getting in. To make up for this, the hotel has installed a heat lamp in the bathroom but it does not give off that much heat and only stays on for a maximum of fifteen minutes. So needless to say, getting out of the shower in the winter time a bit chilly. A safe at an accessible height (not on the floor) is available in the bathroom too along with a lovely roll-up mirror sink.
The bathroom is almost on big mirror but a full length one is hanging over the couch in the sitting area. The roll in shower was placed in front of the toilet so there is go space for transferring. The hotel adds handrails for the toilet on either side. The shower is pretty nice. It was easy to get in and out of. However, the shower chair that the hotel provided was a stool design without a backrest which can be challenging for some wheelchair users. A shelf in the shower was within reach and much needed.
More Amenities
Almost right next door on the 6th floor is the entrance to the event space and spa room. The hotel essentially contracts this to East Town Spa, which is located just down the street. One can visit the spa or have services done at the hotel itself. If selecting the hotel then one has the option of using this spa room in the event space or having an in-room massage. Some services, like facials, must be done in spa room.
The tables used for all services at the hotel are not automatic and do not lower so one may need assistance onto it. If looking into getting a relaxing massage then I recommend getting an in-room one because the event space is visited frequently by sales representative showing prospective clients and the area echoes quite a bit. The event space an accessible restroom on the ground floor where the spa is. The second floor area and main event space also has a sauna. This area can be accessed via lift, which in 2013 was working mighty fine.
