Accessibility Review: Hotel Venecia Plaza Centro

I went back to Valencia!

It has been 10 years since I graced this glorious Spanish city and I fell in love all over again. The architecture, the history and culture still astounds me but today we are focusing on where I stayed as a wheelchair user in Valencia. As always, I focus on the room accessibility, how well adapted the bathrooms are and give you a general review of how much I liked the hotel itself. If you are thinking of staying in Valencia, then read on to find out whether Hotel Venecia is the one for you!

Location

Hotel Venecia is in the heart of the city. It is located in the Plaça de l'Ajuntament. This means there are great transport links to all parts of Valencia by bus, metro or walking. The location was the main reason I picked this hotel because I stayed here 10 years ago and it made getting around the city so easy (and cheap). It’s about an 8 minute walk from the nearest metro station and a 10 minute walk to Central Market. The plaza where hotel is located is also beautiful. There is a gorgeous fountain during the day and number of restaurant/café’s in the small side streets by the hotel. There is a definite buzz which makes you feel like you’re in the city centre. However, don’t be put off because they have gotten better at soundproofing the rooms since I last stayed there. As long as you keep your windows closed, you can get a good night sleep despite the people who may be enjoying Spanish night-time economy. For the location alone, I would recommend this hotel!

The glorious city hall located right next to our hotel!

The Adapted Room

As an ambulant electric wheelchair user, I would give this room 8/10 for accessibility. Here are my likes and dislikes:

What I liked

What I disliked

The room was big enough to accommodate an electric wheelchair and up to 3 adults. The accessible rooms in this hotel tend to be triple or quadruple rooms which is great if you’re travelling in a big group. The beds were lowered so for me it was easier to transfer. It is not as low as the beds in a Premier Inn or Travelodge so I did need some assistance but I didn't need to be lifted or hoisted onto the bed. The adapted bathroom was a good size for a wheelchair and a carer. The level access shower was wide and had a temporary plastic chair that you can sit on (I did bring my own because they did not have one last time so this shows a great improvement!). The toilet is a standard height.

The turning point to enter the bathroom is a little tight. My wheelchair is pretty narrow so if you have a wider wheelchair you might struggle to turn easily. The bathroom sink was too high for me.

Overall, this is an amazing hotel for a wheelchair user! The staff were extremely friendly and helpful when I had questions about the bathroom facilities and even sent photos via WhatsApp. There aren’t many places where I can confidently stay in Europe because I had found that they had different understandings of what made a bedroom accessible. However, I was pleasantly surprised that the small things that were really annoying about my previous stay had changed. As long as you are ambulant and don’t need a ton of space for medical equipment, the rooms at this hotel should accommodate your needs.

The Hotel Facilities

Shifting our focus away from accessibility, I should also mention the hotel is rather nice! It’s technically classed as a two-star hotel but it has a far more sophisticated charm. It might just be the architecture and the way they have chosen to furnish the common areas but the hotel doesn’t feel cheap. We stayed there for 4 nights and it cost us €591 and we all stayed in one triple room which averaged out at €197 per person. For me this was a steal when I considered the location and quality of the hotel. The beds are comfortable, the rooms are clean and the staff are friendly and professional. They also have a microwave and a mini fridge which makes it perfect for midnight snacks! Hotel Venecia may not be luxury, high-end indulgence but it is the perfect hotel for city lovers who are after clean and comfortable accommodation at an affordable price.

Would I stay here again?

Definitely.

For me, this hotel has the perfect location and is accessible enough for me to be comfortable in. I’m so glad that it is still a hotel I can recommend and hope they continue to be a place where I can stay whenever I visit Valencia!