Downtown St. Louis is in the midst of a revitalization, with a flurry of new hotels, restaurants and bars opening their doors each year. The museum at the iconic St. Louis Arch re-opened this year after a multi-million dollar renovation, and now is the perfect time to visit. But, where to stay? If you want to be at the heart of the action — next to the arch and within walking distance of the Cardinals’ baseball stadium, Imo’s Pizza, Laclede’s Landing and more, I highly recommend the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch. The hotel offers wheelchair accessible hotel rooms that are modern, spacious and comfortable.
Planning a trip to the Gateway City? Don’t forget to check out the free Wheelchair Accessible Travel Guide to St. Louis, Missouri. The guide is packed with information on wheelchair accessible things to do, sporting events, public transportation and more!
Room Rates & Reservations
Room reservations for the Hyatt Regency St. Louis hotel can be made online. I booked a standard room with a king size bed and roll-in shower.
In looking at a random sample of dates through the end of the year, room rates ranged from $115 to $225 per night. Note that prices vary depending on the day of the week, month and level of demand. Flexibility is often necessary to score the best deals.
Wheelchair Accessible Hotel Room
My ADA accessible guest room was #1722, located on the 17th floor. It had a king size bed and a roll-in shower, and was just what I had reserved.
Measured from the floor to the top of the mattress, the bed was 25 inches tall. It sat atop a platform, which would restrict access to patient lifts.
The room itself was spacious, and it was easy to maneuver my power wheelchair throughout. Adequate space on both sides of the bed allowed me to set up my preferred transfer (on the left side).
I charged my wheelchair using a set of outlets provided on the bedside table. There were even USB ports for charging my mobile phone and Kindle e-reader.
A television and desk located opposite the bed were accessible. There was also a full-length mirror, which was a real asset to me as a wheelchair user.
The closet had a lowered rods for hanging clothes, which is an important accessibility feature. The in-room safe was unfortunately perched atop a shelf high in the closet and out of reach.
Although my room didn’t have a direct view of the St. Louis Arch, I was able to see a portion of it from my window. I could also see the Mississippi River!
Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom
The bathroom was designed according to the first set of ADA standards, but it is still functional. The roll-in shower has all of the required accessibility features, including the wall-mounted shower seat.
My only complaint is that the handheld shower spray unit stretches from the far corner of the shower, which limits its reach. Apart from that, the shower is ADA compliant with grab bars and water controls within reach.
The toilet and sink were placed side-by-side, leaving no space for a wheelchair to park directly alongside the toilet. The requirement for extra space next to the toilet was only added in 2010 ADA Standards, so this hotel gets a pass until its next renovation.
Clear space below the sink made it easy and safe for me to use while seated in my wheelchair. In all, I found that the bathroom met most of my accessibility needs and I was pleased with the accommodation.
Location & Transportation
The Hyatt Regency has one of the best locations of any hotel in St. Louis. It is directly across the street from the Gateway Arch & Museum, the Old Courthouse and the Old Cathedral Basilica. But there is much more to do downtown that is also in walking/rolling distance:
- Citygarden Sculpture Park
- Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals
- Enterprise Center, home of the St. Louis Blues
- Union Station & the Hard Rock Cafe
- Soldiers Memorial Military Museum
- Laclede’s Landing
- Lumière Place Casino
- Restaurants, bars and nightlife
Easy access to public transportation is also possible, with city buses stopping on the streets adjacent to the hotel. The wheelchair accessible MetroLink light rail is located only 4 blocks away, at the 8th & Pine Station.
Exploring St. Louis from the Hyatt Regency is easy & convenient, especially for wheelchair users!
Final Thoughts
I’m a big fan of St. Louis and of the arch, and the Hyatt Regency is one of my favorite places to stay, whether I’m visiting friends, going to see a baseball game, or just taking some time to relax. The hotel’s accessibility earns top marks, and it’s hard to beat the convenience of its location. If the price is right, the Hyatt Regency is where you’ll find me in the Gateway City.
Featured image courtesy Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch.
