Ellerslie Palms Motel

I managed to get a good night’s sleep, and the room was perfectly functional, with a large empty area in the living room for activities. But for an accessible room, a few things were difficult. I didn’t see the plastic mat at first, slipped on the very slippery shower tiles while transferring to the shower seat, and was lucky to have people with me who could help. The light switches and air-con remote were very high up, and I could only just reach them. The card slot that powers the room was high too, with a bed in front of it, so it didn’t work for me. The bed was bouncy and dipped in the middle. With support, you can manage, but it isn’t the best for accessibility.

They advertise the room as accessible, but it really isn’t. I booked it because I use a wheelchair. No staff were on site, so I had to call to get the safe code and retrieve my key. Inside, the power slot for the key tag was about 1.6 metres up the wall, with a bed in front, making it impossible to use without transferring onto the bed and stretching. Plates and glasses were on high shelves I couldn’t reach, and the counters were standard height rather than lowered for wheelchair users. Shelves beside the toilet take up the space where a wheelchair would go for a transfer. The shower head was set at its highest position and pointed toward the door, so I couldn’t reach it either.

The beds were comfortable, the shower was huge, and the room was clean and nicely presented with everything we needed. The deck outside our room, number 23, was slimy and gross, though. The Sky TV remotes didn’t work either.

The bathroom was nice, but there’s no service if you arrive late, say after 5. Call ahead and make sure you have the safe code to get your key. You also have to wash, dry and put away every dish, or they’ll charge $30 for the cleaner. If you want a double bed, tell them at least twice. The curtains do a poor job of blocking light, so ask for a room without lights outside if you need a dark room to sleep.