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Clarion President Hotel and Suites |
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Covered accessible entrance
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ramp and parking at rear
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Manager: Jonathan George
The Clarion President Hotel and Suites (formerly the Four Points by Sheraton
hotel) offers 192 rooms on eight floors and two rooms accessible to people with
disabilities, one partially accessible, plus 11 more rooms with wider doors
that might just work if you don't need bars everywhere. We looked at several
styles of rooms. Room 119, 209, 210 and Rooms 203 to 215.
The hotel is within walking distance of the falls but it is quite a walk. I
wouldn't want to do it in winter. You could easily drive down to the falls in
about five minutes and you are right in the hotel/restaurant section above the
falls. Room 119 has a large tiled totally flat roll-in shower with a pull down
seat, bars and hand-held shower head. It could be used by a person traveling
with their own shower commode or shower chair or by someone who simply cannot
navigate any kind of lip or by anyone who needs room to shower. Room 119 is
the very last of the rooms in the hotel to be rented as it is saved for those
who truly need it. Floors 3 and up are non-smoking floors. All rooms have internet
access.
PARKING: The designated accessible parking is to the right of the entrance
where there are two spots, one next to a narrow sidewalk where you could let
your lift down. If I was staying at the hotel, I'd park in the rear of the hotel
where there is plenty of parking for side or rear loading vans and use the ramp
at the back of the hotel (see picture above). The lot and front parking lots
are all asphalt.
ENTRANCE: The entrance is covered and ramped. Everything is flat. There
are two sets of large glass doors, not automatic. There isn't a doorman on regularly
but anyone trying to get in, in a wheelchair, can be seen from the front desk
and help will come.
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Front desk
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Karen Thorpe at the tour desk
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LOBBY: The lobby is intimate enough so you don't feel overwhelmed. Just
off to the left is the pool which unfortunately, is not accessible. There is
also a door to the restaurant and the front desk. To the right of the front
desk is a small gift shop and down the hall are the elevators, washrooms and
the rooms on the first floor. There is also an internet kiosk and two lowered
pay phones in the lobby area and from May to October there is also a tour desk
and information centrein the lobby.
ELEVATORS AND HALLS: Elevator doors are wide enough at 42" (metric)
for a scooter so a wheelchair shouldn't have any trouble. There are two sets
of elevators because the new addition to this 13-year-old hotel was built just
three years ago and a new elevator put in for that new addition. It would be
difficult for those who are vision impaired to tell what floor they are on as
there is no braille anywhere that we could find on the elevators. There is some
on the edge of the elevator once it opens. Buttons in the elevator are low and
easily within reach if you are seated. The halls are wide and carpeted.
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Beds in room 119
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driving space between beds and dresser
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opposite beds
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THE ROOMS: We first visited room 119 on the main floor. For
those of you who like to be able to get out of your hotel room by yourself,
this room is ideal. It is just several feet from the back entrance to the hotel,
the ramp and parking lot. It is on a smoking floor, and this room adjoins a
double room (#121) for a large group where one needs wheelchair accommodations
and others do not.
The room is entered with a plastic card key, there are two peepholes, high and
low, and a 1/8 " (metric) lip on the door that shouldn't stop anyone.
The door closes automatically as most other hotel doors do. Some are just slower
than others.
The hallway into the room is 47" (metric) wide and there is a switch in
the hallway that turns on the lamp between the beds. There is also another switch
just for the hall light. Room 119 has two double beds on legs with 51/2"
clearance underneath and a bed table between them, a lamp over them and a telephone
and clock/radio/alarm on the bed table. All lamps are operated by small turn
switches.
There is also a large chair and ottoman with a floor lamp in the room and a
table and chair suitable for dining. On the table is a coffee maker, cups, glasses,
ice bucket and telephone. The telephone on the desk has a computer data port
connection.
Ice and soft drinks can be had by calling front desk or the dining room.
There is also a dresser at the foot of the bed holding a large remote color
TV. We were told that as much or as little of the furniture can be taken out
of this room to accommodate equipment as the room isn't overly large. There
is no pullout in the room and not really enough room for a cot to be brought
in. The bedroom is 11'4" x 16 1/2' in size. I could get my scooter in but
I couldn't turn around anywhere in the room. A wheelchair would have a little
more space. If the chair and ottoman were removed I believe it would be possible
to turn a scooter around in the room.
There is no mini-bar in the room and small refrigerators are not available for
rent but there is refrigerator in the dining room kitchen that can be used to
store drugs that must be kept cold.
There is a large mirror behind the TV and a full length mirror on the hall wall
near the bathroom.
The closet doors need a good pull to open them and there is an iron, ironing
board, luggage rack, hangers and pant hangers in there. Anything else you need
like extra pillows or blankets can be requested through the housekeeper or front
desk and brought to your room. There is no lower rack to allow people in wheelchairs
to hang up their clothing independently.
There is no alarm for the hearing impaired in the room and no kit available.
The window opens a crack for ventilation. There are open plugs for charging
mobility devices.
BATHROOM: The bathroom has a 32" door on it that opens in with a
lever handle and stays open. It is a big bathroom. There is a 1/4" x 1
½" wide raised lip into the bathroom but I don't think it would
stop anyone. There is a 46" hallway to get you into the bathroom door but
that doesn't allow a scooter to turn around. Once in the bathroom you have a
turning ratio of 64" x 100". A wheelchair could manage just fine.
I found it tight for my scooter.
The oval sink is 32" high in a Formica counter with a 30" cutout for
your knees. Taps are swivel/up/down types and the counter gives you 3' of space
for toiletries. There is a large, tilted mirror 35"x32" over the sink
but the light over the mirror is on the wall so the mirror blocks the light.
The sink taps are 12" from the edge of the sink. There are also two plugs
near the sink, one for the hair dryer at 43" from the floor that simply
lifts off its stand. It takes no finger strength to dislodge it.
TOILET: The toilet is opposite the door. It is 18" from the floor
and has a tank on it. It has a 2' grab bar over the back of the tank and a 21/2'
grab bar on the right wall. There is 6' between the toilet and the edge of the
roll-in shower and another 3' (metric) in the shower to manoeuvre if needed.
There are two toilet paper holders at 20" from the floor.
If a Versamode or anything is needed to accommodate you in the bathroom the
hotel can get it, given time.
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huge roll-in shower
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no real lip on floor
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sink area - tilted mirror
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grab bars by toilet
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SHOWER AREA: The entire end of the bathroom is tiled.
There is no lip and you can easily roll into the shower. The hotel has taken
out the bathtub, tiled the area and put in a shower seat 19" from the floor
(18" wide by 14" deep) that folds up against the wall when not needed.
The shower seat has no arms. If you have to have arms to get up from a seated
position, ask for a plastic pool chair at the front desk. That would work beautifully
in this shower. There may be insurance ramifications if you ask for a pool chair
so check for sure.
There is a hand-held shower head attached to the wall 6' high at the end opposite
the seat. It could be taken down and wrapped into the grab bar on the back wall
for access. There is an L-shaped grab bar on the wall beside the seat and another
grab bar 7" outside the shower on the wall. It would be a bit of a stretch
to use this bar and try to sit down on the seat. There are two soap dishes and
shampoo and other body needs couldbe put on the tile floor for easy access.
The bathroom has medium light. There is no light in the shower. We've recommended
that the shower curtain be changed to a clear one and that a stronger light
fixture be put in so that it will shine into the shower and onto the vanity
area. A shower area this good should have plenty of light.
ROOM ENVIRONMENT: The heat and air-conditioning unit is under the windows
and is operated with push buttons and a knob. All of the rooms in the hotel
are designated smoking rooms but I couldn't detect an unpleasant odor in any
of them. The end of May 2003 there will be no smoking allowed in public areas
so that should help with the odors of smoke everywhere.
The room is small but the bathroom makes up for it if you need a truly roll-in
shower area.
There is room service from 7-11 a.m. and from 5-9 p.m. with extended hours in
the summer.
When you check in, and if you know you are going to need help in case of an
emergency, just tell the people at the front desk and your name and room number
will be recorded in their log book. You'll be one of the first people contacted
in case of an emergency.
OTHER ROOMS: We also visited several other rooms in the hotel with different
layouts:
Room 127
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Room 127 - tub
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plenty of roll around space
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king bed
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Room 127 - on a smoking floor. This large room has one king bed, a double pullout couch and is classed as a Deluxe Jacuzzi room because there is a huge raised tub in it as pictured above. The tub raise is 16 1/2 inches. A person could sit on tub edge and transfer to a tub seat although there is no hand-held showerhead or simply sit on the edge and sponge off if they were unable to actually get in and out of the tub. However the size of the tub is marvellous for anyone needing a good soak and jets to relax them after a hard day "doing the falls." The bathroom features a toilet and sink with wraparound counter top opposite a step in shower with a 7" high lip which is 6" wide. The shower door is 30" wide. On a scooter I could only use the toilet and sink if I left the bathroom door open. This room is not really for people needing grab bars etc. but it is large, has that marvellous tub if you can get in and out of it and plenty of turnaround space for a scooters and other equipment. It would also sleep four.
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Room 127 tub closeup
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more room
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toilet and sink area
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Room 203 - Two doubles plus seating area
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space between bed and dresser
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opposite bed
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Open sink ...toilet is separate area
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grab bars but no hand-held shower
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Room 127 has a two double beds, 32" (metric) door, bars by the
toilet but a wall between the toilet and vanity that would make it difficult
to transfer. There is 24" from the floor to the bottom of the sink. There
is 40" (metric)between the toilet and tub. There is no hand held shower.
We could say it is partially accessible.
Room 317
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Far end of 317 with fireplace
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two steps up to heart-shaped tub
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king bed in 317
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turnaround room
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small bath counter and toilet
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toilet and step in shower
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Room 317 is a larger room with one king size bed and a raised tub. It
also has a dresser wth RTV, two tub chairs and a small round table at one end.
This furniture could be removed if need be. The heart-shaped whirlpool tub is
up two steps. I'm thinking if you've always had your heart set on having a heart-shaped
tub in your room in Niagara Falls but can't access the tub via steps, you could
sit on the steps and slide over to the tub. There is 62" between the end
of the bed and the beginning of the steps to the 17" deep tub that would
easily hold two people. A fireplace cosies up the far end of the room and there's
a balcony in the room that isn't accessible but being able to open the door
and have fresh air is a plus.
The bathroom is laid out differently in that there is a counter with the sink
in it opposite the toilet. The toilet stands 15" high. Opposite the toilet
is a small glass-doored shower with a 7 ½" lip into it. This shower
is not for someone who can't stand and lift their legs. The tub area in the
bedroom is also mirrored and would make a very romantic spot for a honeymoon
couple.
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LOBBY RESTAURANT: Dahlia's Bistro is to the left of the front
desk overlooking the pool.. This 50 seat restaurant serves breakfast from 7-11
a.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. until whenever. Seating is all tables and chairs.
There is a small bar area.
A full breakfast of two pancakes, two eggs, home fries, toast, bacon, ham or
sausage, coffee or tea is $12.95 or you ay choose from the Canadian buffet Continental
section at $7.95 and dinner is also reasonable with a 12 oz. New York Strip
Steak at $19.95 and fettuccine primavera at $9.95. There is also a children's
menu beginning at $4.95.
LOBBY WASHROOM: The washroom is opposite the elevators and is wheelchair
accessible. The actual washroom door is very heavy. There is a 91" turning
ratio into the single washroom door. The washroom was very hot but the stall
was accessible to my scooter at 64" x 57". It was difficult to get
the 31" wide stall door closed as there was nothing to grab once you were
in and the stall door swung out away from you. I'd recommend you take someone
with you when using this washroom.
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Pool area right off lobby
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POOL AREA: The pool area is not accessible t not everyne wanta to go
swimming. We mention inaccessibl pools in some cases because the kids might
like to go swimming while mom is shopping or one half of a couple might love
to take a dip while the other is napping. It's just nice to know it's there.
CONCLUSION: A mid-range hotel with one good room featuring an exceptional
shower area for those who truly need roll-in capabilities with no lip or anything
to stop a wheelchair, shower commode or whatever you use.
Accommodating staff, not too far from the falls that you feel out of it but
far enough so you aren't paying super high room rates. This hotel is within
walking or rolling distance of a great many things to do and see and there are
accessible taxis to take you to attractions further afield or you can drive.
The hotel has two night packages available which include breakfast and a dinner
voucher.
2003/revisited 2004