The Omni Dallas Hotel is a wheelchair accessible hotel in Dallas, Texas that is only a short walk (or roll) from many of the city’s top attractions. At night, the hotel’s exterior illuminates in a fantastic LED light show, boasting of its status as the “crown jewel of Downtown Dallas.”
Earlier this month, I spent four nights at the Omni and was treated to unparalleled luxury and service. Rated as a 4-star property, I found it to be 5-star in terms of accessibility and service. From the public areas to my room, the Omni Dallas was the perfect place to rest after a full day of exploring the city. I’d like to take this opportunity to share more about my stay, and highlight some of the amazing accessible features of my room.
Reservation and Check-in
Because I visited Dallas as part of a press trip, Visit Dallas picked up the cost of my room. As such, I did not need to make a reservation online, but doing so is possible (and easy!) through the hotel website.
Room rates for the time of my stay ranged from $150 to $200 per night, plus tax. Due to the location of the hotel – right next to the Convention Center – rates may be higher at other times of the year.
Check-in was a breeze, and I had my keys within just a few minutes. A bellman offered to assist me to my room and carry my bags. The bellmen and porters at the Omni Dallas were an excellent resource throughout my stay, particularly with information, local tips and transportation assistance.
Wheelchair Accessible Hotel Room #1251
I was assigned an ADA Deluxe Room, number 1251, on the 12th floor. The door was easy to open, and I fell in love with the room’s decor almost immediately. The king size bed looked particularly inviting:
The king size bed was accessible on both sides, with a bit tighter of a squeeze along the window. The bed height was quite tall, relative to my powered wheelchair. Manual wheelchair users may need to consider using a hoyer lift, or traveling with someone to assist, if lacking in upper body strength.
Despite the taller height of the bed, it was incredibly comfortable. The bed liners and comforter were of top quality. The diverse selection of pillows allowed me to get some of my best sleep in a long time. Shame I couldn’t fit the entire bed in my luggage, or I would have taken it home with me!
One of the most important features in an accessible room is availability of power within reach of the bed. I was happy to find power outlets built-in to the side of the nightstand. Here, I was able to charge my power wheelchair and mobile phone. The nightstand on the opposite side of the bed also had this feature. The television remote and in-room telephone were also within reach, placed right on top of the bedside table.
Small reading lights, attached to the headboard, were easy to operate and came in really handy. The reading lamps generated enough light to allow me to turn off the room’s other lights, and still navigate my wheelchair to the bed. If you’re someone who needs to sleep in total darkness, bedside reading lights are a dream!
Although the deluxe room is the smallest of the Omni’s ADA room types, there was still plenty of space to maneuver my wheelchair. A large, accessible desk area and high definition TV were also great features to have.
Accessibility was not forgotten in the closet, with lowered clothes hanging rack and shelf. The fantastic bath robes, extra pillow, blanket, iron and ironing board were all within reach.
Bathroom Accessibility
An accessible hotel room isn’t truly “accessible” unless the bathroom can be safely used by the wheelchair user. I am happy to report that the Omni Dallas Hotel has placed ADA-compliant bathrooms in their accessible rooms. It is amazing how many hotels do not.
For wheelchair users, the roll-in shower may be the most important part of the bathroom. Showers designed well, like tis one, making the process of bathing/showering much easier and safer.
My room’s roll-in shower featured a sturdy bench, built-in and attached to the wall. Grab bars along the walls made transferring to/from my wheelchair safe. The handheld shower nozzle was adjustable and within reach. The shower curtain could be drawn to protect my wheelchair (and the larger bathroom) from the spray of water.
The photo above is a close-up view of the shower seat. Housekeeping prepared the room for my arrival by placing the toiletries on the bench, making them easy to track down and reach. The Mokara toiletries were absolutely fantastic, and you’ll definitely want to take some home with you.
If you are traveling with your own shower chair, or with an able-bodied person, the built-in bench can be folded up against the wall and out of the way.
A bathroom would not be complete without a sink and a toilet. The sink area was nicely designed, and the basin extended out over the cabinetry below. This allows wheelchair users to safely roll underneath the sink without banging one’s knees. An adjustable mirror nearby allowed me to get a magnified view of my facial imperfections. Towels and other toiletries were all within reach. The mirror even had a built in television!
The wheelchair accessible toilet featured plenty of space to roll a wheelchair alongside it. Side-to-side transfers, aided by the grab bars affixed to the walls, ensure a safe environment. The larger bath towels hung on these grab bars.
In total, I was extremely pleased with the en suite bathroom, and it only made me love the hotel more.
Restaurants
Multiple restaurants can be found inside the Omni Dallas Hotel, each with unique and variable menus.
I had the opportunity to dine at two of the restaurants, The Owner’s Box and Texas Spice. The Owner’s Box is a restaurant and sports bar serving food you might find in a typical ale house. I had dinner here, and was honored to be joined by a WheelchairTravel.org reader, who found me on Instagram! I’m sorry, but we forgot to take a photograph of the meet-up. 🙁
At Texas Spice, I enjoyed a very traditional breakfast omelette – ham, cheese and bacon. It was fantastic.
Swimming Pool
Given that it is December, I did not take a dip in the swimming pool. But, I was able to check it out. Located on the rooftop, you’ll gain a unique view of the neighboring buildings and of the hotel’s main tower itself.
The infinity edge hot tub and swimming pool were both filled with clear blue water. Surrounded by lounge chairs, the space looked like a great place to relax in the warmer months.
A portable pool hoist is available for use. While I’m no expert in pool lifts, it appeared to be manually operated. If you have a chance to visit the Omni in the summer, let me know how you enjoyed the pool!
Final Thoughts
The Omni Dallas Hotel served as my “home base” for exploring the city and its many neighborhoods. I found the location – just a few blocks from the light rail and streetcar, and only a block from local buses – to be one of the hotel’s greatest selling points.
Of course, as a wheelchair traveler, accessibility is at the top of my consideration. The Omni did not disappoint – with a room that met and exceeded my needs. From the comfortable bed to extremely usable bathroom, I couldn’t come up with a complaint if I tried.
If you are traveling to Dallas, Texas, I encourage you to consider The Omni for your wheelchair accessible accommodation needs.
