Located inside a historic building at the heart of downtown Washington, D.C., Le Méridien Washington, D.C., The Madison is a 356-room hotel that has recently undergone a substantial renovation. Part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, the hotel is situated on the corner of 15th Street NW and M Street NW, just a few blocks from the White House and within easy reach of many of the city's most iconic landmarks.
I recently stayed in one of the hotel's wheelchair accessible guest rooms and found it to be a solid option for wheelchair users visiting the nation's capital. Let's take a look inside.
Room Rates & Reservations
Room rates at the Le Méridien vary considerably based on the time of year — I visited during a holiday weekend, which meant my cost was significantly lower than the typical room rates of $200 to $400 or more per night. Note that, in addition to the room rate, the hotel charges a daily destination fee of $36 plus tax. As of the time of publishing, the destination fee includes the following:
- Daily $18 food and beverage credit
- Educational Tours – Tickets to Old Town Trolley for 2 guests per stay
- Daily 1 hour bike rental for 2 guests
- Daily Enhanced Hi-Speed Internet Access (Wi-Fi)
- Bonvoy Elite Amenity (Gold members and above) – Daily Beverage at Lady Madison Bar
The destination fee offers no true value to guests, but the practice is par for the course in central Washington, D.C. Room reservations for wheelchair accessible rooms can be made via the Le Méridien Washington D.C., The Madison website.
Wheelchair Accessible Hotel Room at Le Méridien The Madison
I was assigned a room on the seventh floor (#701), and entry to the room was via a door that measured 34 inches (86 cm) wide.
The entry door featured a secondary knob-like fixture at its center, which actually proved to be quite a barrier (I had to be careful not to crash my wheelchair into it). Door frustrations aside, the room featured a clean design consistent with the Le Méridien brand aesthetic.
The king size bed sat at a height of 22 inches (56 cm) from the floor to the top of the mattress, which is lower than what I typically encounter at Marriott-branded hotels. There was 7.5 inches (19 cm) of clearance underneath, which should accommodate many patient transfer lifts.
With the exception of the bathroom, the entirety of the guest room was carpeted —it would likely frustrate some manual wheelchair users.
Opposite the bed sat a desk and entertainment center with a television. The desk measured 34 inches (86 cm) in height with a generous 32.5 inches (83 cm) of clearance underneath. I had no difficulty pulling my wheelchair up to work comfortably here, and there was ample space on the tabletop for my laptop and other electronics.
Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom with Roll-in Shower at Le Méridien The Madison
The bathroom had an older layout and had some barriers that detracted from my stay, but I still managed to use its facilities.
The bathroom was accessed by a door that measured 34.5 inches (88 cm) wide.
The sink was set at a height of 34 inches (86 cm) with 29 inches (74 cm) of clearance underneath. While the clearance height was adequate, the depth of the roll-under space was limited, and I found myself needing to approach the sink from the side rather than head-on in order to shave. This is a common issue in hotel bathrooms where the vanity cabinet restricts how far a wheelchair can roll underneath, and it is worth noting for travelers (especially those with long legs like me).
The toilet measured 18 inches (46 cm) from the floor to the seat — a comfortable height that falls within the ADA-standard range. A grab bar was mounted on the adjacent wall at a height of 37 inches (94 cm). The toilet was positioned between a wall and the vanity, meaning there was no space to park a wheelchair directly alongside the toilet. I transferred onto the toilet by parking my wheelchair in front of the toilet seat.
The roll-in shower was a disappointment due to these accessibility barriers:
- The shower featured a folding seat mounted to the wall at 18 inches (46 cm) in height above the floor, which is great, but the seat was too small, measuring just 18 inches (46 cm) wide by 14.5 inches (37 cm) deep. Additionally, the seat was mounted 7.75 inches (20 cm) from the back wall, which left an uncomfortable and potentially dangerous gap.
- The grab bar in the shower was mounted at a height of 36 inches (91 cm), which is within a reasonable range. However, it was affixed 27 inches (69 cm) from the side wall behind the seat — meaning it was positioned quite far from the seat and not easily reachable. The placement diminished the grab bar's usefulness because I could not use it for support.
Dispensers for bath products, including soap, shampoo and conditioner, were installed where the grab bar should have been. The water controls and handheld shower head were placed within reach, however.
Dining
I was drawn to the hotel restaurants not because I wanted to eat at the hotel, but because I had an $18 daily credit to use from the hotel's resort fee. In fairness, though, the hotel's Lady Madison lobby bar and restaurant served up some fantastic food.
The restaurant serves American cuisine with creative touches and, since I was in the mid-Atlantic, I sprung for the crab cakes. They were so good that I ordered them on back-to-back nights. The restaurant is located just off the lobby and was easily accessible.
Location & Transportation
Le Méridien The Madison occupies a prime location in the nation's capital; The White House is roughly a ten-minute wheel from the hotel, with many more landmarks accessible from there. The hotel is well positioned for access to public transportation, with the McPherson Square (Blue, Orange, Silver lines) and Farragut North (Red line) Metro stations only four to five blocks away. The Metro offers connections to attractions including the National Mall and Smithsonian museums, plus a connection to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport via the Blue line, and Washington Dulles International Airport via the Silver line.
Sidewalks in the downtown D.C. area are generally well-maintained, with curb ramps and pedestrian signals at intersections. Wheelchair taxis and wheelchair accessible rideshare is also available.
Final Thoughts
Le Méridien Washington, D.C., The Madison is recently renovated hotel in a convenient location, making it a comfortable base for exploring the nation's capital. The wheelchair accessible room provided the essentials — a roll-in shower, accessible toilet, and a comfortable — though accessibility could be improved. While I have not typically written detailed reviews of hotels that have potentially significant accessibility barriers in the bathroom, information is beneficial and this hotel may meet your needs, or the needs of other disabled travelers.
