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The Sheraton Buenos Aires Hotel & Convention Center is located only a short walk/roll away from Torre Monumental and General San Martin Plaza in beautiful Buenos Aires, Argentina. Guest reviews of the hotel give it a rating of 3.7 out of 5, which is essentially how I felt. The hotel is not luxurious enough to be a 4-star, but it’s nicer than a typical 3-star hotel.
Accessible accommodation in Buenos Aires is not widespread, but the Sheraton stands out as one of the city’s most accessible hotels. The roll-in shower met my needs and the bed was comfortable, so the most important things were covered. Read my full review below and let me know if this hotel will meet your own accessibility needs.
Reservation & Room Rates
Reservations can be made online via the Marriott Hotels website. Be sure to tick the box for a “mobility accessible room” (found under the Room Features tab) before checking out.
Because of the hotel’s proximity to the Buenos Aires cruise port, rates fluctuate and increase as the check-in date approaches. When booking in advance, rates typically range from $150 to $200 USD per night, but there are outliers in both directions. I ‘ve posted a screenshot of sample room rates for the month of July, 2019 above.
Argentinian residents must pay a 21% VAT in addition to the room rate. Citizens of other countries (including U.S. citizens) are exempt from the tax by presenting their foreign passport.
Please note that the only accessible room type available for booking on the hotel’s website is one with a tub. If you need a roll-in shower, make a reservation for a standard room online, then immediately call Marriott to secure the roll-in shower. You can call Marriott toll-free at +1 (888) 236-2427 and an agent will help you confirm the roll-in shower.
Wheelchair Accessible Hotel Room
My accessible hotel room was the most basic offered at the hotel, but it was sufficient. There was enough space to move around in a wheelchair and to access my preferred left side of the bed. A chair partially blocked the right side, but could have been moved if necessary.
The bed was typical of a Sheraton hotel — plush, with soft pillows and a warm duvet blanket. Since I prefer to sleep in the cold, I had the room’s air conditioning set to the coolest setting and was comfortable. I slept well each night!
From an accessibility standpoint, the bed was 24 inches tall and had 7 inches of clear space underneath to accommodate a Hoyer lift.
The first picture above looks towards the guest room door and its entryway. You’ll notice that there is a connecting room door, which is great for families and those traveling with a carer. A flat screen television is also partially visible, but I only used it a few times to check the news and weather report during my stay. There is just too much to do outside the hotel to watch TV in Buenos Aires!
The second photo depicts the left side of the bed, and a power outlet on the parallel wall. This power outlet was extremely convenient for charging my power wheelchair. Note that electricity in Argentina is delivered at 220 volts. Travelers from the U.S. and North America may need to use a step-down power transformer to charge wheelchairs that use the 120V standard. Please see the guide to charging a power wheelchair abroad for more information and tips.
Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom
Accessibility in the hotel bathroom is critical, and the roll-in shower at the Sheraton was the best I’ve found in Buenos Aires so far.
The roll-in shower had a wall-mounted shower seat and grab bar. The water controls were within reach and a handheld shower head was provided. There was also a shower curtain which, when drawn, kept my power wheelchair dry.
The toilet was placed in the middle of a wall, but folding grab bars on either side made it accessible. Unfortunately, the toilet paper rolls were attached to the wall behind the toilet, which is an accessibility no-no.
Access to the sink was difficult, as an angled enclosure took up some of the space where my knees should have been. Since it was a wide countertop, I was able to park sideways in front of the sink to brush my teeth.
I managed to make use of this bathroom, but you should take all of this into consideration when selecting a hotel.
Club Lounge
Guests staying in a room on the hotel’s club level, or who have Platinum/Titanium status in the Marriott Rewards loyalty program, receive access to the club lounge.
The views from the lounge were spectacular and much better than those from my own room (which was on a lower floor). Pictured above is the Torre Monumental (I told you it was close!) and the Retiro Railway Station, one of the largest in Argentina.
The lounge offering included a full breakfast (with made-to-order omelettes), light bites in the afternoon and a substantial selection of evening hors d’oeuvres. Juice, soda pop, water and other beverages were also provided.
Everyone likes free food, so the club lounge was always busy at breakfast and at night. I always managed to snag the last table, but it also possible to collect some items to go. All-in-all, I thought this was a nice lounge offering for the price.
Swimming Pool & Fitness Center
A swimming pool and fitness center occupies the one of the hotel’s lowest-level rooftops. On a sunny day, it’s a beautiful place to relax.
There is no pool lift or ramp for wheelchair users, so the pool is not accessible. Though, if you have someone to help lift you, it’s like any other pool. I was traveling alone, so swimming was not in the cards. It is a shame that major hoteliers like Marriott will not mandate accessibility worldwide. A swimming pool lift for wheelchair users is a cheap upgrade and a fixture that will benefit guests for many years.
Location & Transportation
Buenos Aires is a big city and tourist attractions are spread out, so you’ll expect to do a lot of rolling or riding public transit. At the Retiro Railway Station, the Line C subway is not accessible. However, work is currently underway to expand the accessible Line H to Retiro, which will finally connect the area to accessible underground transit! There are many city buses that stop at Retiro, most with a wheelchair ramp.
Since I had a power wheelchair, I typically left the hotel on my own, connecting with city buses and the metro at other locations in the city. The nearest accessible Subte station is at Tribunales – Teatro Colon (Line D), approximately 1.8 km away (and uphill).
For longer distances, I ordered a wheelchair accessible taxi.
Final Thoughts
My stay at the Sheraton Buenos Aires Hotel & Convention Center was comfortable. The hotel served as a great place from which to explore the city. If you are able to score one of the lower rates of around $150, you’ll be hard-pressed to find another hotel that will match its accessibility and convenience at that price point. On my next trip to Buenos Aires (which I hope is soon!), I will certainly consider this hotel.
Featured image courtesy Marriott Hotels.
