St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest city in the United States, is a charming destination that blends centuries of history with the Sunshine State's beautiful Atlantic coastline. The Hampton Inn & Suites St. Augustine-Vilano Beach is situated steps from the Vilano Beach access point and approximately two miles from St. Augustine's Historic District.
Stevie, Robert and I recently stayed at the hotel during a trip to Florida, and while the hotel's convenient location was a genuine highlight, our stay was not perfect.
Room Rates & Reservations
Room rates at the Hampton Inn & Suites St. Augustine-Vilano Beach vary by season, with peak summer and holiday rates running higher. Typical rates range from around $130 to $280 per night. The hotel charges $16 per day for self-parking in the on-site lot, which is worth factoring into your budget. As with all Hampton by Hilton properties, the rate includes a complimentary hot breakfast and free WiFi, though I would not place too much value on the breakfast — it was of very low quality.
Accessible rooms are priced in line with standard guest rooms of the same category. Room reservations can be made via the Hampton Inn St. Augustine-Vilano Beach website.
Wheelchair Accessible Hotel Room at Hampton Inn & Suites St. Augustine-Vilano Beach
We stayed in Room 309, a "2 Queens Mobility Accessible Room with Tub" room type. Our room was located on the hotel's third floor. I typically prefer a high floor room, but this property had only a single elevator. During our stay, there was often a line to use the elevator and it operated slowly — this was especially inconvenient during the morning breakfast rush. If you stay at this property, it would be wise to request an accessible room on the ground floor.
The room itself was a standard Hampton Inn layout with two queen beds. The beds sat at a height of 25 inches (64 cm) from the floor to the top of the mattress, with 7 inches (18 cm) of clearance underneath, suitable for most patient transfer hoists.
The beds were comfortable, and the room provided adequate space for the three of us. There was plenty of space for our wheelchairs, though Robert did struggle using his manual wheelchair on the carpeted areas (both in the hotel room and in the hotel's hallway).
Opposite the beds, a long built-in desk and dresser unit ran along the wall, with the television mounted above. The desk measured 31 inches (79 cm) in height with 27 inches (69 cm) of clearance underneath — sufficient for me to pull my wheelchair up to work, though this was a mini-vacation for us! A luggage rack provided a convenient place to keep bags off the floor.
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Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom with Bathtub at Hampton Inn & Suites St. Augustine-Vilano Beach
Robert prefers to use a bathtub so, when we travel as a family, I try to reserve rooms with an accessible tub. If you prefer a roll-in shower, the Hampton Inn St. Augustine-Vilano Beach does offer one room with a roll-in shower and a king size bed.
The sink was set into an open vanity with space to roll a wheelchair directly underneath the countertop. The vanity measured 34 inches (86 cm) in height with 27.25 inches (69 cm) of clearance underneath.
The toilet measured 18 inches (46 cm) from the floor to the top of the seat. Grab bars were mounted on both adjacent walls at a height of 34 inches (86 cm). The rear grab bar rested directly atop the toilet's water tank, restricting one's ability to wrap a hand fully around the bar.
The bathtub measured 13.75 inches (35 cm) from the bathroom floor to the top of the tub rim. When we checked-in, there was no bathtub seat, so I went downstairs to ask for one.
What followed was a frustrating interaction with the front desk staff and duty manager, who insisted that the hotel did not have any bathtub seats and that we would simply have to do without. That was unacceptable, given that bathtub seats are mandatory accessibility features. After some back-and-forth argument and a call to the hotel's general manager, the staff located an ADA-compliant removable bathtub seat that could be securely attached to the tub. It is a good thing I was persistent.
Once installed, the seat spanned the width of the tub and sat at a height of 19 inches (48 cm) from the bathroom floor. While there was a handheld shower head provided, it was attached to a fixed point, rather than the mandatory height adjustable positioning bar.
Location & Nearby Amenities
The Hampton Inn's location in Vilano Beach was the strongest aspect of our stay. The hotel sits extremely close to the Vilano Beach entry point, making it easy to get to the waterfront — though it is worth noting that the beach does not have a wheelchair accessible beach mat, so sand access remains a barrier. Visitors can reserve a free beach wheelchair through St. John's County, which can be delivered to Vilano Beach.
Also nearby is a Publix supermarket, several local restaurants and a fishing pier — all within walking distance of the hotel. Downtown St. Augustine and its Historic District are about two miles away. I grew up in North Florida, and have visited St. Augustine many times — the city's famous landmarks, including the Castillo de San Marcos and the pedestrianized St. George's Street, are worth a visit.
The hotel also offers complimentary bike rentals for those who can use them, as well as an outdoor pool with an accessible pool lift.
Final Thoughts
The Hampton Inn & Suites St. Augustine-Vilano Beach is a solid choice for wheelchair users looking for beachside lodging near one of Florida's most historic cities. The proximity to Vilano Beach, nearby restaurants and downtown St. Augustine is genuinely convenient, and the room itself provided the basics of what we needed for a comfortable stay. The bathroom, once properly equipped, worked well for our family.
If you are planning a trip to St. Augustine and want to stay in a beach town, this Hampton Inn is worth considering. There are several other hotels in Vilano Beach, but the Hampton Inn is closest to the beach.
Featured image courtesy Hilton Hotels.
