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Sheraton Fallsview Hotel and Conference Centre |
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View from hotel
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Large lobby
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Located on Fallsview Boulevard, just 300 yards from the brink of the Horseshoe Falls, the 4-diamond Sheraton Fallsview has 402 guest rooms and suites in the 32-storey hotel, three of which are accessible. The accessible rooms are 417, which overlooks the falls, 416 and 412. Each of the accessible rooms has an adjoining room, which is not accessible: 417 to 419, 416 to 418 and 412 to 414. Although the even-numbered rooms do not overlook the falls there are floor-to-ceiling windows at the end of each hall on each floor giving guests a close-up view of the cataract. The hotel underwent a $20 million expansion in 2000 and is anticipating renovating the lobby in 2004.
PARKING: The hotel provides valet parking as well as ample designated parking along the north side of the hotel, signed on the pavement and also on the wall. Two of the 5 OR spots would facilitate a side-loading van. There is a spacious outdoor parking lot as well as an underground parking facility.
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Lobby decor
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ENTRANCE & LOBBY: There is a flat sidewalk from the designated parking around to the main covered entrance to the hotel, but guests can also use the side door close to the designated parking. The main entrance is flat with double automatic doors opening onto a spacious marble tiled lobby. As you enter, there is a National Jewelry Boutique immediately on your left and the Piccadilly Place gift/souvenir shop on your right.The concierge and information desk is facing you and slightly to the left and is next to the bell desk. The concierge desk is 41" high while the bell desk is 42". The hotel has a TTY for hearing impaired guests and help is available 24 hours a day for all guests simply by dialing 0. The registration desk is to your right and is 44" high but staff will gladly provide a clipboard for people to sign things on. Across from the front desk is the Opulence Boutique (905 358-0414) specializing in jewelry and accessories. Down the lobby to your left is the lounge area complete with baby grand piano, and the lobby restaurants: Stanley's Pub and Grill on your left and La Piazza Café on your right. More on these later.
ELEVATORS, HALLS AND ROOM ENTRANCES: Just past the registration desk
is a bank of four elevators each with wide doors and roomy inside. The elevator
buttons are nice and low and although there is no braille, the numbers are raised.
The number of the floor you are on lights up. The elevator opens onto a wide
carpeted hallway allowing for easy manoeuvring. The accessible rooms on the
4th floor are located at the far end of the hallway. Ice and soft drink machines
are to the right of the elevator as is the emergency exit.
All room doorways are well lighted and entry is with a plastic card. Doors have
lever handles and do not stay open. The accessible rooms have a lower peephole
at 48" high. Doorways are 33" wide.
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Room 417 - king on legs
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Looking toward hall
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space between dresser and bed
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View from 417
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Table and chairs in 417
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Room 416
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ROOM 417: There is a ½" high lip into the room. The light
switch inside the door operates the hall ceiling light. The room has a king-size
bed on legs. We were told the hotel put in all new mattresses this past winter.
There is also a double pullout sofa, coffee table, two bedside tables, a dresser
with remote TV, a desk and two armless chairs. Three identical table lamps are
placed on the bedside tables and one on the dresser. These are operated with
easy-to-turn dimmer switches. A similar floor lamp is located beside the sofa.
A brass lamp with a flip switch and two plugs is on the desk. A single plug
outlet is to the right of the dresser. A clock radio is on the bedside table
and the telephone is on the desk, but it has a very long cord and there is also
a phone jack beside the bed. A coffee maker and the fixings are on the dresser.
There is a mirror over the dresser 32" high - low enough for a person in
a wheelchair. The room can accommodate a person with a wheelchair or scooter
and there is sufficient room to manoeuvre, especially if the coffee table is
removed. There is 28" space between the bed and the wall and if the coffee
table is removed the space between the bed and far wall is 8'. The space between
the foot of the bed and the dresser is 4'. The temperature is controlled with
a dial on the wall behind the pullout sofa and is 42"high. The heating/air
conditioning unit is 20" high and is beside the window.
This room has screened sliding doors opening out onto a patio, but a 4 ½"
lip would prevent accessibility outside. However, you need not be outside to
appreciate the incredible view of the American and Horseshoe Falls.The closet
is located in the bathroom behind the door. It has full-length mirrored doors.
The clothes rack is high at 62" and holds multiple clothes and pant hangers.
The shelf above it is 64" and has an extra pillow. There is also a luggage
rack in the closet as well as an iron and ironing board.
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Bathroom in 417
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Bars and handheld showerhead
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34" between tub and toilet in 417
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BATHROOM: Entry to the bathroom was a little tight, but manageable.
The hall is 38" wide by 94" long. There is a ½" high by
1 ¾" wide lip then lip down into the bathroom. The 35" wide
door opens inwards with a lever handle and stays open. The vanity is 34"
high and has a 26" opening under it to allow for a wheelchair. The oval
sink is just ½" from the edge of the vanity and has lever taps 11
½" from the edge of the counter. The counter is 100" long with
a soap dish beside the sink as well as soap and all other amenities. The mirror
is the length of the counter and to the ceiling. The light switch and two plugs
are on the right as you enter the bathroom and are 49" high. There is also
a reachable bottle opener in the vanity. At 54" the hair dryer is set too
high for a person in a wheelchair but there is a reachable telephone 44"
high by the toilet.
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Bathroom in 416 is identical but transfer space on
right
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Toilet: The toilet has a raised seat and is 18" high with 34"
between it and the bathtub. Two rolls of toilet paper are on the wall to the
right of the toilet. If toileting or bathing aids are needed, just dial 0 for
the services help desk.
Tub/Shower: If a bath board is needed there is a 1 ½" lip
from the wall to edge of tub and a 3" lip on the near edge. There is a
hand-held shower head, which can be lowered and draped over the 2' grab bar
on back of tub. A 2' grab bar is also located on the shower wall. A triangular
dial operates both the shower and the tub. Towels are on a low d on the corners
of the tub. There is no light in the shower area but the bathroom is very well
lighted.Although this is a smoking room there was no odor as the rooms are iodized.
The room is not huge but is clean, comfortable and well-appointed. The hotel
also has a room kit for the hearing impaired. In case of emergency, persons
with disabilities are coded when they register. Room service is available but
the times vary with the season. During the peak season room service is available
till midnight. Breakfast is available from 6:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Rooms 416 and 412: These are across the hall and similar to 417 but with 2 queen
beds, an armchair and ottoman.
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View from Fallsview Dining Room
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Interior
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Can't beat the view
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DINING ROOM AND RESTAURANTS: There are three restaurants in the hotel,
two in the lobby and the tiered Fallsview Dining Room on the 2nd floor,
overlooking the Falls, Upper Niagara River and parkway. The lower tier has steps
down and would not be accessible to guests in wheelchairs but the view from
the upper tier is not hampered in any way. My husband and I have had brunch
there and it was excellent and reasonably priced. The dining room seats 260
with tables, chairs (some with arms) and booths. Hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
with the Sunday brunch a popular item. The Fallsview breakfast menu ranges from
$8.95 for Continental to $15.95 for steak and eggs. A full lunch buffet is $14.95
but you also have the choice of a soup and salad buffet, soup, salad and dessert
buffet or just the dessert bar. The dinner menu features both International
and North American selections with entrees ranging from $26 to $43. The dinner
buffet is $26.95, and children 12 and under eat free from the buffet, one child
per paid adult entrée between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. only, but this policy
does not apply on holidays and special occasions. There is also a separate children's
menu. The dessert menu ranges from $6 for ice creams and sherbets to $8.95 for
the dessert buffet. All prices Canadian. Sugar free desserts available upon
request.
Stanley's Pub and Grill: Located in the lobby to the left of the main
entrance, this licensed eatery allows smoking. Hours are seasonal from 2 p.m.
to ? Stanley's has its own full menu including soups and appetizers, salads,
sandwiches, finger foods and pizza as well as a menu from the grill, which includes
fish, steaks, veal and chicken. Desserts top off the menu. Stanley's is also
a two-tiered restaurant with the lower level accessible. It features booths
for eating as well as sofas and tables, a games table and a computer with Internet
and a printer. They offer live entertainment on Friday nights.
La Piazza Café: Across the lobby from Stanley's is the café,
which specializes in breakfasts and just about anything else to get you through
the day, such as pizza, burgers, pasta, salads and finger foods. La Piazza is
open seasonally and depending on occupancy of hotel.
2ND FLOOR AND LOBBY WASHROOMS: There is an accessible washroom on the
2nd floor where the main ballroom is located along with the dining room. The
first of two doors into the washroom is 36" wide and opens inwards to an
area 80" by 60". The second door into the washroom is 32" wide.
The
accessible stall is located in the far corner of the washroom and it is tight
manoeuvring to get in as the 32" door opens out and doesn't stay open.
The baby change table was also in this stall when we visited making for tight
quarters. The toilet has a raised seat and is 18" high. There is a 2' grab
bar behind the toilet and a 30" diagonal bar on the wall beside the toilet.
A space of 25" is between the change table and toilet and 29" from
the front of the toilet to the door.
The 142" long by 31" high vanity holds five sinks with one open 29"
underneath. The sinks have lever faucets. The paper towel dispenser is at the
other end of the washroom from the accessible sink and near the door and the
blow dryer is 44" high, also close to the door.
Lobby washroom: There is an accessible washroom in the lobby across from
the Opulence Boutique and near the front desk. A 35" wide door pushes open
into an area 51" by 68". A second door to the left is also 35"
wide, opens into the washroom and stays open. A right turn through a 34"
wide opening takes
you into the washroom. The accessible stall is straight ahead and the 32"
wide door opens out into a 58" by 58" area. Once inside the stall,
closing the door is not easy, as it needs something to grab. It has a slide
latch, which is easy to use. The purse hook is too high to use if you are in
a wheelchair. The toilet is 17" high and has no tank attached. The toilet
paper dispenser is easy to reach. There is a 2' grab bar at back of toilet and
a 30" diagonal one on the right side as you are facing the toilet.
The long vanity has five sinks with the middle one open 29" underneath
for legroom. The sinks have lever faucets. The soap dispenser is beside the
sink. The paper towel dispenser is 46" high and there is a hot air blower
but its location over the vanity with no cutout underneath makes it impossible
to reach. To the right of the vanity there are two plugs 45" high, which
could be used for a hair dryer or curling iron. Another nice
touch in the hotel washrooms is the addition of paper toilet seat protectors.
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Hot tub
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Pool steps area
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POOL AREA: The indoor pool area is located down a short hallway to the left of the bank of elevators. You enter through a set of double doors 58" wide that have knob handles. The hot tub would be accessible to guests with disabilities as they could sit on the edge. There are three steps down into the hot tub with the third step going around the tub as seating. The sauna is not accessible, however. There are five wide steps down into the pool and a ladder on either side of the pool. The depth of the pool goes from approximately 4' to 4 ½' and there is no shortage of towels as we noticed dozens of them piled high on a shelf. There is also a pop machine in the pool area.
CONCLUSION: This is a lovely hotel that has won all kinds of awards and it has most of the amenities. If you do not need a roll-in shower, the bathroom would work for you. The rooms are comfortable, there is plenty of turnaround room especially if the coffee table is removed, and the view and the sound of the falls amazing, although a wheelchair user could not access the balcony. The restaurant is lovely, accessible and affordable.
Some of the awards the hotel has won are:
"Grand Misty Hotel of the Year" - Nine time winner
Niagara Falls Tourism "Progressive Development Award"
Recipient of the "Outstanding Business Achievement Award for Large Business"
Reader's Choice Award for "Best Conference Facilities"
"Sheraton Hotel of the Year" North America, Mexico and Hawaii - Two
time
winner
Highest Guest Satisfaction ratings in the Sheraton chain
"Sheraton Franchise Hotel of the Year" North America, Mexico and Hawaii
Audited May 5, 2003, revisited Dec., 2004