The Hyatt Regency Long Beach is a wheelchair accessible hotel in Long Beach, California, located within walking distance of Rainbow Harbor, ShoreLine Aquatic Park and the Aquarium of the Pacific. It is also only a short taxi or city bus ride from the 1930s ocean liner, RMS Queen Mary.
I recently stayed for one night in a wheelchair accessible hotel room at the Hyatt Regency, due to an extended layover at LAX. I was very pleased with my room and the hotel’s affordable taste of luxury. For those considering a visit to Long Beach, this hotel is accessible, well-appointed and centrally located – the perfect place for tourists and business travelers alike.
Reservation & Check-in
I booked my room through the hotel website and secured a discounted nightly rate of $161 including tax, thanks to my AAA membership. I was able to select a wheelchair accessible room with a roll-in shower during booking.
The hotel’s rates can stretch quite a bit higher, due to its proximity to the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. When major conferences or entertainment performances are in town, expect the cost of staying at Hyatt Regency to increase substantially.
Check-in was a breeze, and I was given a room on the 5th floor.
Wheelchair Accessible Hotel Room #533
The rooms at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach offer plenty of space to roll around, and make for a really comfortable space.
The king-size Hyatt Grand Bed has become one of my favorite beds in the hotel industry. It is large, inviting and, best of all, comfortable! The duvet can keep you warm or cool, and the pillows are available in various levels of firmness. It’s a fantastic set-up for a good night’s sleep.
Power outlets above the nightstand were within easy reach of the bed, and made the process of charging my electric wheelchair very simple. No stretching cords across the room!
To the right of the bed, along the wall across the room, was a TV, desk and set of drawers. Each of these were adequately accessible, and the TV was easy to see from the bed.
The desk chair on wheels was easy to move, and there was plenty of space for me to roll my wheelchair underneath the desk. Power outlets and A/V inputs were built-in to the desk, making this the perfect spot to accomplish some blogging!
Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom
The bathroom is one of the most important components of any wheelchair accessible room. Hyatt is a small and still developing hotel chain, and they’ve not normalized their design procedures with respect to ADA hotel rooms. This is why wheelchair travelers need photographs of hotel accommodations, so as not to face unexpected barriers.
I have stayed at quite a few Hyatt hotels, but this room’s roll-in shower was unlike any I had seen to date. While the shower featured all of the expected features – handheld shower nozzle, shower bench, grab bars, soap rack within reach and level entry between the shower and bathroom – all of this was placed behind a glass door.
The door was easy to open, and it opened out from the shower, but it was still unnecessary. If you are like me, you move your wheelchair away from the shower once you’ve transferred to the shower seat or bench. Then, you pull the shower curtain to protect your wheelchair from the bath water. Sadly, the rigid glass door made it impossible for me to place a barrier between the shower water and my wheelchair.
The first photo above shows the accessible bathroom sink, which is next to the roll-in shower. In this photo, the glass door is closed to provide perspective.
Although the shower design is frustrating, the toilet meets ADA regulation. It is at the appropriate height for easy transfers, and there is plenty of room to park a wheelchair alongside. Grab bars on each of the walls are sturdy and make transfers safe.
Swimming Pool!
The Hyatt Regency Long Beach boasts a fantastic swimming pool and a hot tub, both with accessible lifts.
The swimming pool is an especially nice place to hang out in the late afternoon and early evening, with a fantastic view of the beautiful sunset over California.
Location & Transportation
Because I was on an extended layover, I needed to get to Long Beach from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). I booked an affordable ride with SuperShuttle to save some money, and was not disappointed with the service provided.
The hotel is just across the street from a number of restaurants and attractions. Before my check-out the next day, I had the time to take a 45-minute harbor cruise with Harbor Breeze Cruises. I also toured the incredible Aquarium of the Pacific.
Several city bus routes operate nearby the hotel, but the “Passport” route connected Downtown Long Beach with the Queen Mary on the other side of the harbor. The Passport bus is fare-free for everyone, so it’s a fantastic way to get around the city’s top attractions without spending any money. For more information, visit www.lbtransit.com.
Accessible taxis are also available, with wait times typically under 30 minutes. I used the services of Long Beach Yellow Cab – www.longbeachyellowcab.com.
Final Thoughts
Long Beach is a wonderful city inside the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, and the Hyatt Regency makes accessing its popular tourist attractions extremely easy. If the Hyatt Regency Long Beach will suit your accessibility needs, consider adding a day or two to your L.A. vacation to explore all the area has to offer. Should my travels take me back to Long Beach, I won’t hesitate to book a room at this wonderful hotel.
