The Traveling Wheelchair

188 Court Street
Plymouth, MA 02360
Phone: 508-746-2222
http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?propertyCode=22050

My friends and I headed back to Plymouth in search of a hotel within wheeling distance from the Historic Plymouth Waterfront that has a wheelchair accessible room with a roll-in shower. Nearly one million tourists visit the Historic Plymouth Waterfront every year and many are in wheelchairs. We thought it would be good to review some of the local hotels for wheelchair accessibility. Since many of us wheelers can only shower in a roll-in-shower we feel a roll-in shower is a priority and sadly we found this Best Western has NO wheelchair accessible guest room with a roll-in shower.

Best Western Cold Spring is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Plymouth and is within a short wheel to   Pilgrim Memorial State Park,   Plymouth Rock and Mayflower II all located on Historic Plymouth Harbor. There are handicap parking spaces located in the parking lot of the hotel. The main entry doors leading to the lobby are not wheelchair accessible for there are steps. A side entry is accessible yet the doors are not automatic so you will need with opening the door.

Once inside the lobby I was pleased to see a section of the Registration Desk is of a perfect accessible height. The only problem is this accessible area is NOT accessible for it is cluttered with a plant, a frame and a sign is posted: “If You Need Assistance Please Let Us Know”. I thought to myself why did they even bother to lower it to an accessible height if they are not going to use it?

Tony and I asked the clerk it there are wheelchair accessible guest rooms available with a roll-in- shower. We were told the hotel does have some wheelchair accessible guest rooms; but NONE have a roll-in-shower; the accessible guest rooms have a bathtub with safety grab bars and a seat in it. This kind of set up would be too dangerous for me and many other wheelers to transfer over and into a bathtub.

The Best Western looks like a nice family hotel. An outdoor heated pool is not wheelchair accessible for there is no pool lift.

I give Best Western Cold Spring in Plymouth ZERO STARS for wheelchair accessibility! In order to earn any Stars, they would first need to install a roll-in shower in at least one or two wheelchair accessible guest rooms. Then to earn all Five Stars they would need to install an automatic entry door at the accessible entrance leading to the lobby so a person in a wheelchair can enter independently; and provide a lift at the outdoor heated pool so a physically disabled person can access the pool.