Novotel, Auckland International Airport, NZ
November 16 & 17, 2015

This lovely 5-star hotel only feet from the International Airport is very accessible in many ways, though there are some serious safety issues within the bathroom itself. 

Aside from being very convenient to the terminal, the staff is both welcoming and will do almost anything to help guests have a great stay.

The hotel room itself could have been slightly bigger to accommodate someone in a wheelchair, though it was generally set up well to accommodate all guests.

The shower was uniquely designed to keep the modern look with the glass door. The bench was long enough for me to sit on and then slide over to be under the water. I could easily reach the controls to adjust the water temperature.

After taking the shower, however, there was a huge "lake" that was within the bathroom. Since the drain is only located against the wall, the water was very slow to drain. To make matters worse, the tile that was used has no grain to it. After waiting nearly 15 minutes to allow the water drain and then using towels to "mop up" the remaining water, we were able to transfer me to my wheelchair.

Additionally, as the pictures will show, the toilet is positioned very awkwardly. This definitely made it a challenge.

After informing the hotel of the accessible issues we had through a survey, it was determined that the Novotel may have several room configurations to meet the needs of disabled guests.

I received an email from the Guest Relations Manager, who stated that disabled guests should email h7485-re1@accor.com to specify any specific requirements.

Aside from the room itself, the hotel was set up well. Elevator buttons were easy to reach and the revolving entrance was able to accommodate a wheelchair.

Lastly, I would like to touch on the restaurant. Guests must enter the restaurant through the bar. There are bar stools on the right and tables along the left. While I could get through this space, it was very challenging when there was a lot of people present. People entering this area need to take extra care to avoid obstacles.