I have stayed at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center Gainesville multiple times over the years. Located on the southwest corner of the University of Florida campus, the 248-room hotel is conveniently situated near the Harn Museum of Art, the Florida Museum of Natural History and UF Health Shands Hospital. It is a property I know well, and one I have mixed feelings about.
Stevie, Robert and I recently flew to Gainesville to visit family and I booked a room at the Hilton for the benefit of its location, and because I knew its accessible bathtubs would work for our family. An important warning: the hotel's roll-in shower rooms should be avoided — I will explain why later in this review.
Room Rates & Reservations
Room rates at the Hilton vary depending on the season and whether the university has a major event, but typically range from $120 to $250 per night. College football games and graduation weekends push rates significantly higher. Self-parking is complimentary.
Room reservations for accessible guest rooms can be made via the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center website.
Wheelchair Accessible Hotel Room at Hilton UF Conference Center
The hotel rooms at this property are beginning to show their age, and the hotel is in need of a renovation. The furniture, carpet and fixtures all have a dated feel. That said, the room was clean and functional, and it served us well for our stay.
The two queen beds sat at a height of 25 inches (64 cm) from the floor to the top of the mattress, with approximately 6.5 inches (17 cm) of clearance underneath — enough for most patient transfer hoists. The beds were comfortable, but felt a bit narrow.
A desk was positioned along the opposite wall, measuring 29 inches (74 cm) in height with 25.5 inches (65 cm) of clearance underneath. The clearance was on the tighter side for my power wheelchair, but I was able to pull up to the desk to check emails. An armchair sat between the desk and the window.
Warning: Dangerous Roll-in Showers at Hilton University of Florida Conference Center Hotel
Before I get into the details of our room, I want to address the hotel's roll-in shower rooms directly, because this is information that could affect your booking decision.
The roll-in shower rooms at this hotel have fold-down shower seats (pictured above) that are improperly affixed to the back wall of the shower. This is a violation of the ADA Standards for Accessible Design, which require shower seats to be mounted on the side wall and within reach of the water controls and handheld shower head. The improper shower seat location would force a wheelchair user into a dangerous transfer. It is an unsafe and non-compliant configuration.
I have informed hotel management of this issue on multiple occasions over a period of years, but no action has been taken. If you require a roll-in shower, I would strongly recommend looking at other hotels in the Gainesville area.
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Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom with Bathtub at Hilton UF Conference Center
Robert prefers to use a bathtub, and an accessible bathtub with a securely attached seat works for me as well. The Hilton has that bathtub seat.
The bathroom sink was set into an open vanity with space to roll a wheelchair underneath. The countertop measured 34 inches (86 cm) in height with 27 inches (69 cm) of clearance.
The toilet measured 15.75 inches (40 cm) from the floor to the top of the seat — much too low for me, which made getting off the toilet and back into my wheelchair difficult. The ADA standard calls for a seat height of 17 to 19 inches, and this toilet was not compliant. Compounding the problem, the grab bar was mounted at a height of 35.5 inches (90 cm). The low seat and the high grab bar made the bar less useful as leverage when trying to transfer.
The bathtub measured 14 inches (36 cm) from the bathroom floor to the top of the tub rim. Upon request, the hotel provided an ADA-compliant removable bathtub seat that could be securely attached to the tub. Once installed, the seat sat at a height of 17 inches (43 cm) from the bathroom floor.
The tub was equipped with multiple grab bars, although they were not the appropriate length. There was a handheld shower head, and the setup worked well for both Robert and me.
Location & Nearby Attractions
The hotel's location on the University of Florida campus is its strongest asset. The Harn Museum of Art, the Florida Museum of Natural History and the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts are approximately half a mile from the hotel. Stevie, Robert and I enjoyed visiting the art museum one afternoon, which offers free admission to all.
Downtown Gainesville is approximately four miles from the hotel. Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) is about eight miles away. Self-parking at the hotel is complimentary.
Final Thoughts
The Hilton University of Florida Conference Center Gainesville is a property I returned to for its location and because the accessible rooms with a bathtub work for our family. This is not the best hotel in the City of Gainesville but, at the right price, it can be a good choice.
Remember that, if you require an accessible hotel room with a roll-in shower, you should look elsewhere.
Featured image courtesy Hilton Hotels.
