Yeah, you’d think it would be easy right?
After almost 21 years overseas I moved back to the UK at the end of last month. But I needed a few nights in a hotel after I left my apartment before flying out for good so I could tidy up any loose ends. So what better way to spend it than in 4* or 5* luxury.
But it took me more than month of searching and endless emails asking for photos of so-called accessible rooms to make a decision.
The hunt for hotel heaven began way back in January when I tried the Intercontinental. It was where I first stayed when I moved to KL in November 2005. It was the Nikko then but it seemed fitting to end my time in Malaysia where it all began.
Next on the list: Traders. Nice view of the Twin Towers, great pool and bar.
Something here obviously got me excited, though looking at these pictures now I’m not sure why. But I was sufficiently interested to visit in person.
But glass walls prevented me from even getting close to either shower or toilet. Had to scratch that too.
Third on my list: Hilton Doubletree. It’s in sight of my home. What could possibly go wrong?
Yes they could for the shower chair, including a photo of the same chair I had at home.
But what about a commode for the toilet?
So three strikes, but I wasn’t prepared to quite say out. Just moving on again.
The toilet was passable, but like the Intercon – the shower area offered a micro seat and…. join the chorus…. not enough railings. Not really any railings of use. And this was the hotel’s newly renovated disabled friendly room.
When I pointed out I could not stand and the installed railing was too high and too far away from the seat to be of use, the hotel did offer me a chair to be closer to it. But still missing the point of the railing being too high.
I didn’t dismiss it but it was not 100%. There was still time to check more.
But I was getting desperate. I’d booked the shippers, had my flight and cancelled the satellite tv.
Where was I going to stay? Surely it couldn’t be that hard?
In quick succession I contacted the Novotel, Pullman, G Tower, and the Mandarin hotels.
Common thread: Not enough railings. What about the toilets?
L-R: Novotel, Pullman, Mandarin and G Tower.
I dismissed the Novotel straight away, the whole bathroom space being too small. Ditto G Tower and The Pullman, even though their toilet did have two railings. Their shower area however did not look particularly accessible so dismissed that option. So my final option of the four was the Mandarin. I emailed with suggested pictures of what would work for me, but they couldn’t help.
This wasn’t sleepless in Seattle. More bedless in K-helL….
Surely there was a room in the city that could meet my needs?
I’d been speaking to Radhika, the Reservations manager, since mid February. Their facilities weren’t perfect but they had a toilet with two railings and promised me a shower chair – which was really a commode but I could live with that.
We’d been playing email tag trying to find a solution. Then I had a moment of inspiration. Could Hilton Doubletrees loan their shower chair to the Ritz?
Hotels might be rivals for guests but inter-hotel hospitality? Surely can? Malaysia Boleh, (Malaysia can) as residents of Malaysia are so frequently told.
Sorry tak boleh. No. Malaysia Cannot.
I booked the Ritz anyway. We’d figure it out. Time was up.
When I finally checked in and got to my room disaster loomed. The two railings either side of the loo were too far apart. Standing up? Tak boleh.
Ok lets use the commode for what it’s meant to used for and we’ll switch it round for the shower in the morning.
I slept on it and the next day had another idea. Could, would, the hotel buy a proper shower chair like the one the Hilton and I had?
After a bit of checking with the boss Radhika came back to me. Yes we can! One chair safely delivered while I celebrated my birthday with some friends nearby.
So five days of being pampered by the staff and the wonderful Butler service ladies (Jelena, Abigail, Amy and Sin Yee) and I checked out with a tear in my eye.