Marriott Niagara Falls Fallsview Hotel & Spa 6740 Fallsview Ave., Niagara Falls ON Tel: (905)357-7300 Fax: (905)357-0490 Web site: www.niagarafallsmarriott.com e-mail: contactus@niagarafallsmarriott.com
	View from Marriott Fallsview Room 1511	Room 1511

PARKING: There is 24 hour valet parking at this hotel because it is built on the brink of the hill overlooking the falls and there is no place for a big open parking lot. If you drive a special van or do not wish to have your car taken away for any reason there are several spots right in front of the hotel, under cover, where your van or car can be parked for you. Cars with lifts and hand controls are no problem for these fellows, they've seen just about everything.

ENTRANCE & DOORS: The entrance to the hotel is large with a covered drive through. There is a doorman on 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and the valet parking people are there all of the time. The entrance is a huge glass automatic double door system and everything is flat marble flooring matted in the winter so people won't slip.

LOBBY: Once in the door you can turn to your left to obtain information about or access to, the Spa, visit the gift shop and jewelry store or arcade. Or take a right for the concierge desk, Starbuck's Coffee Shop, and then the front desk. There is also the Lobby Lounge beside the front desk that overlooks the falls and serves drinks and light finger foods. The Lobby Lounge is open from noon until 1 a.m. every day. The lobby is really quite lovely and was decorated for Christmas when we visited with a huge tree and garlands everywhere. There is a large crystal chandelier in the second floor ceiling and it cascades down into the lobby space.
The front desk is not lowered but they will bring anything you have to sign to you on a clipboard. The concierge desk is lower and I found it very easy to access material there and speak to the woman manning the concierge desk. She said they have many visitors with disabilities with them during the summer and can rent anything you need. There is also rack after rack of information on the falls and on Niagara but again much of it does not mention accessibility. The concierge desk does not have a TTY. The concierge desk is manned from 8 a.m. until midnight in the summer hours and until 11 p.m. in the winter.
If wheelchair accessible transportation is needed to Casino Niagara, given enough lead time, Niagara Falls Taxi and Elite Taxi haves roll-in vans for hire. The casino is within walking distance but it's quite a trek. The new casino will be closer.
There are three low level sit-down pay phones at either end of the main floor area. There is an accessible washroom in the lobby area.
Those with hearing difficulties can simply ask for the hearing kit at the front desk and it will be set up in their room. All rooms have strobe lights to alert people of an emergency and a built in PA.
I asked what they do when a person who cannot use stairs checks in and was told that a special code is given their registration. In the event of an emergency, those room numbers are given to the hotel engineers or the fire department immediately upon their arrival. This is standard procedure in most upscale hotels.

ELEVATORS, HOTEL HALLS & ROOM ENTRANCES:
There are several sets of elevators and all have braille on the outside telling a visually impaired person what floor they are on now. The elevator keys, which are low, all have braille under them. The elevators "talk" so you know what floor you have reached without straining to look at the lighted display. The elevators stay open long enough for you to get out but may not stay open long enough if you have to manouevre from one end of the entire bank of elevators to the other to reach an available one.
Once at your floor the hall floors are carpeted and the top room that we visited first (Room number 1511) was five rooms from the elevator so it is not a long walk if you are using a walker or manual wheelchair. The halls are wide and bright if they have windows and bright enough to see where you are going, if they do not.
The ice and pop machines were next to the elevator. Ice would be no problem as the machine is low but the pop machine money slot is almost impossible to reach for anyone seated.
There are also three emergency exits on any given floor.
Once at your door, you'll see the doorway is well lighted. Your room key is a plastic card. There is a very small lip into the room and the door handles are lever style. There is no lower peephole in this door or in 1411 but there is in the other three rooms.
There is a light switch immediately into the hall which turns on an overhead light in the hall.

BEDROOM:

King bed in room 1511	Armoire in room 1511	Looking towards bathroom- 1511

Room 1511 has one king bed in it, Room 1411 can be changed to have one king or two queens in it.
The room is bright with a shoeshine machine on your left as you enter and a luggage rack. This area also has an exposed plug in it that would be ideal for charging a scooter or electric wheelchair. Next to those on the left is an armoire with remote color TV, a small self-programmable safe and a mini bar. The mini bar is opened by a large metal key but I am assured that if you do not shut it tightly and can make sure the housemaid doesn't, it will stay open enough to access easily without the key. I always find it almost impossible to get things out of a low mini-bar while trying to bend over and peer sideways and grasp items under and in the mini-bar. This mini bar had extra shelves to store special food, insulin or other drugs that need refrigerating. The mini-bar lock was only 25" (63.5 cm) from the floor.
Next to that is a desk and chair with a telephone. Internet access can be made here. There is also Web TV access. There is a coffee maker with fixings on the desk as well as a selection of packaged snacks, a price list and printed hotel information.
In the far left corner of the room is a fireplace with an electric fire that looks very real. Just a flip of a switch and you've got flames and a nice cosy ambiance in the room.
At the end of the room is the piece de resistance, you might say. A large set of windows overlooking the entire falls. This view is spectacular and the young lady who showed us around told us that many people often ask for extra chairs so they can sit and just watch the falls and the people below. There is a nice comfortable armchair with foot stool in front of this window and a floor lamp but several more chairs can easily be accommodated for viewing.
The thermostat for the room is on the right wall and it is too high 60" (1.52 m) for anyone in a wheelchair or who cannot stand to reach. If the room temperature had to be adjusted and you couldn't do it, a bellboy or housekeeping would gladly oblige. When the thermostat was turned on there was only the sound of a fan. The fireplace made no sound when on and does not produce heat. There is a window in the room that can be opened about four inches and there is a slight continual background roar coming from Niagara Falls all of the time.
The king size bed looks very comfortable and offers five large pillows. More pillows and blankets can be had by calling housekeeping. The bed is flanked by two bedside tables with lamps operated with push button switches, and telephone and alarm clock. There is five feet of open space between the bed and the bathroom wall. Enough to manouevre a Hoyer or park a wheelchair. The bed is open underneath to accommodate a lift.
An unusual feature in this room and in 1411, the wall to the bathroom opens with double frosted glass, sliding doors to a Jacuzzi tub in the bathroom. If you are able to access a Jacuzzi, you can climb in, dim the bathroom lights, relax and watch the bedroom TV which is on a pull-out swivel.
I'm told the room rate is for the room, not the number of people who use it. A cot can be arranged to be brought into the room and if the room has two queen size beds, four or five people could use the room.
The hall into the bathroom has a closet in it with floor to ceiling mirrored doors. Inside is an ironing board and iron but no lowered rack for people in wheelchairs to independently hang clothing. The turning ratio into the bathroom from the hall is a bit tight for an electric scooter 42" (1.07 m) at the narrowest and almost 60" (1.52 m) at the widest. I could get in very carefully but had to really manouevre to get out backwards. A manual or electric wheelchair would likely have no problem at all. My scooter is longer than either so I present a challenge to the design.

Sink and counter in bathroom beside Jacuzzi	Roll-in shower in same bathroom	Jacuzzi in same room - hatch looks out into bedroom

BATHROOM: As far as I'm concerned, the best thing in the entire bathroom was the roll-in shower. Absolutely! I can get excited about a roll-in shower. It is a true roll-in and you don't see many of those in Niagara hotels. It has no lip and anyone could either roll in on a portable commode chair or sit down in it on a portable bath chair or, of course, stand in it. The floor of the bathroom slants somewhat to allow it to drain but most could easily accommodate the pitch.
The door of the bathroom is 33 inches (84 cm) wide, has a lever handle that locks with a push button in the handle and opens into the bathroom blocking off part of the Jacuzzi but I can't see any other way it could be designed considering the room plan. I'd estimate the Jacuzzi is big enough for two and is 20 inches deep. There is really no place to sit on the side of the Jacuzzi and some people with disabilities would not be able to get in and out of it.
The oval sink is set in a 54" (1.37 m) green marble counter top next to the Jacuzzi. The taps are 12" (31 cm) from the edge of the counter top. The single tap is an up, down, swivel lever for temperature type. There is a wall-to-wall mirror above the sink and it is all well lighted. There is room for legs under the sink and shelves for extra towels and washclothes to the right of the knee cutout. The hair dryer is high, too high (51")(1.30 m) for some people in wheelchairs. There is an electrical outlet beside it so that anyone can plug in their own hair dryer or shaver.
The roll-in shower with grab bars three foot (metric) from the floor all round and a hand held adjustable shower head are next to the counter. There is a light in the ceiling of the shower and a shower curtain to pull. A small shelf will hold soap and shampoo in the shower. The water control in the shower is a simple lever that pushes around a circular temperature dial.
The toilet is located 33" (84 cm) from the roll-in shower. It is 17" (43 cm) from the floor and has bars on the back of the wall and the side. The toilet paper is within easy reach and an extra roll is on the toilet tank. There is only a foot of space between the toilet and the outside wall of the bathroom so any transfers would have to be done in front of the toilet or to the left towards the shower.
The light switch for the bathroom is next to the door, low enough to be used by anyone and features a dimmer switch for the bathroom ceiling lights.
There are towels in the shower, below the sink and on the Jacuzzi.
All in all, I'd say this bathroom is one of the best I've seen and the shower is excellent. There are armed, plastic slatted chairs in the pool area and I'm sure if you needed a chair with arms to sit in while taking a shower, one of those could be provided for you quite easily.
This room (#1511) and room #1411 are identical in all but the fact that the beds in either rooms can be switched from queens to a king and back if need be. Just ask for what you need.
The accessible rooms on the lower floors (#s 527, 622 and 722) are identical. If you need adjoining rooms to accommodate more people, room 622 connects with 621 and room 722 connects with room 721. Both of the connecting rooms have two queen beds and standard baths.
All of these rooms have two queen beds and a bathtub in the bathroom and no roll-in shower. Everything else is pretty well the same except there may be a slight difference in the furniture. Each of these rooms has a huge picture window overlooking the falls.
The bathroom door in these rooms is 33" (84 cm) wide and bathroom turnaround room is 7' (2.13 m). There is a 1/4" (6 mm) lip into the bathroom. There is a hand-held shower head that could be let dangle if you needed it low to hold and a bath board could be fastened across the tub although the far lip isn't very wide at 1 ½" (4 cm) and it us slightly sloped. The tub is 11" (28 cm) deep and 23" (58 cm) across inside tub dimensions and 30" (76 cm) outside dimensions. There are two soap dishes, high and low, bars on back and end of the tub. There is no light over the tub. Bath chairs are available from housekeeping but it is always best to let the hotel know you'll need one before you come. Any special toilet arrangements can be accommodated as well with adequate lead time given.
There is 53" (1.35 m) to the left of the toilet in these rooms, a nice long counter with full-length mirror and the hair dryer is actually lower than it is in the other rooms at 45" (1.14 m). Again, the hallway into the bathroom is a little tight for a scooter at 4' (1.22 m) but would work fine for an electric or manual chair.
All of the accessible rooms at this hotel are quite lovely and I found them not only accessible but usable. The overwhelming view is absolutely breathtaking and when the colored lights are on the falls at night, you'll have a ringside seat to beat them all. When we visited in January, the trees on the American side of the falls were coated with ice and there was a double rainbow over the American Falls.

RESTAURANT: The Terrapin Grille is on the mezzanine level just one above the lobby. This is fine dining at its best. The restaurant overlooks the falls and seating is all table and chairs with carpet underfoot. We had a hard time finding a chair with arms so I sat in an armless chair and parked my scooter directly behind me so I could lift myself with one hand on the table and one on the scooter armrest. It worked.

Gary serving in the Terrapin Grille	Cheeseburger, anyone?

The restaurant is open for breakfast from 6:30 a.m. and features a buffet as well as a full breakfast menu. There is also a lunch menu and full dinner menu including a five course special. Remember, this is fine dining. The breakfast buffet is $24 Cdn and $15.50 U.S. Luncheon soups are $8.50 Cdn and sandwiches are around $14.50 Cdn. Dinner entrees range from $24. Cdn for ricotta and portobello cannelloni to $54 for filet mignon and $62 Cdn for surf and turf. A five course dinner including a glass of dessert Ice Wine will cost you $75 Cdn or $48.40 U.S. plus tax and gratuity. The restaurant is open continually from 6:30 a.m. until 11 p.m. and later on weekends in the summer if it is busy. Room service from the restaurant is available.
There is an accessible washroom right around the corner of the restaurant. We found the door heavy to that washroom. You might need help getting in and out but everything else in the washroom should work for someone in a wheelchair or scooter.

Pool area	Railing and steps into pool	Ramp into pool area	Flat shower in pool area

POOL & SPA AREA:
The lower level of the hotel features a spa and swimming pool. The spa is lovely but nothing is truly wheelchair accessible. The washrooms are tiny and the doors are not wide enough to accommodate most mobility devices but you could get a manual wheelchair into a massage room and enjoy a wonderful massage which is just great for sore muscles from wheeling too far. If you are really looking for relaxation, I'd suggest you ask at the spa what they can do for you considering your mobility limitations and their equipment. There are all kinds of soothing therapies that only take a quiet room, expert hands, fragrant soothing oils, low music and time to work their magic. If climbing up on a high table is impossible for you, a manicure or half body massage (the upper half) doesn't take getting up on a table. Be creative and I'll bet the spa people will be more than happy to work with you. They may also make appointments to do massage in your room.
There is a small gift shop attached to the spa where they sell all of the products used in the spa and you could take the bath oils and other wonderful things back to your room to enjoy.
The pool area, however, is just great. The change room is accessible and there is a large wheelchair stall in there. There is braille on the change room door.

The actual pool area has a lipless roll-in shower where you can shower off before getting in the water and you can sit on one of those plastic chairs with arms if you don't want to get your wheelchair wet.
There is a handrail down some wide steps into the water and I can see a person who cannot walk sitting on the floor and slowly lifting themselves with their arms down those steps until they float. A person who cannot stand or walk could also be carried down the steps or helped to sit on the side of the pool and then just slip over the edge.
There is also a hot tub and steam room with low benches in the pool area as well as a separate lounge area where you can just sit and relax. A wall of water makes this room special. The pool area does not have a lifeguard on duty and is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. You can see part of the falls and part of the edge of the park from the pool.
Just adjacent to the pool is a full fitness workout room. Because our disabilities differ so much, I'll not venture to suggest you can use these machines, but you can certainly take a look to see if you can. A guest laundry is also located on this lower level.

This is a lovely hotel and the rooms can be quite expensive but you can check the hotel Web site for very moderately priced special packages at any time. Winter can be lovely in Niagara and you could just stay in the hotel for a couple of days, recharge your jets, go swimming, shop a little, eat well at the Terrapin Grille, venture down to the edge of the falls, visit the casino which is adjacent to the falls, take in the Niagara Parks greenhouse, maybe eat at Table Rock Restaurant which is right on the falls and go to bed by the fire with the roar of Niagara Falls lulling you to sleep. Sounds like a plan doesn't it and it's all accessible. There is accessible parking adjacent to the falls so you don't have to roll down if it is too cold to do that.

Jan. 2003