Written by Julie Jones, Have Wheelchair Will Travel, February 20, 2025
Airport hotels are usually a stay of convenience. Just a place to stay before or after a flight but no matter how short a stay it’s important the accommodation meets your needs, offers good dining options and is conveniently located. On a quick trip to Melbourne I had the opportunity to review the accessible accommodation at Novotel & ibis Styles Melbourne Airport Hotel.
Novotel & ibis Styles Melbourne Airport Hotel review
The dual-branded hotel houses both Novotel and ibis in one building, with the two wings sharing the general facilities. My stay was hosted in the Novotel wing of the hotel in an all abilities room.
Novotel & ibis Styles Melbourne Airport Hotel is conveniently located a four minute walk or wheel from Terminal 4 and 10 minutes from Terminal 1. The area was still undergoing construction when I stayed and I did find it challenging to find a step-free route from the terminals to the hotel. I have provided this feedback as it is essential for wheelchair users but also desirable for parents with prams and anyone wheeling a suitcase to the hotel. Hopefully this will be rectified.
The Novotel Melbourne Airport Hotel offers 10 All Abilities rooms. I found the 25 sqm room spacious and comfortable with good circulation space on either side of the bed for transfers.
Book accessible accommodation at Novotel & ibis Styles Melbourne Airport here.
It’s good to have a table and chair set for in-room dining without it encroaching on the circulation space.
Bedroom facts – bed height 62cm, under bed clearance 12cm.
Adjoining the bedroom is a large bathroom fitted with shower bench with height-adjustable shower head and lever taps. Grab rails surround the toilet and it is fitted with a backrest.
Space under the bathroom sink makes it accessible but as is often the case, there’s not much room for a toiletries bag.
Bathroom facts – bathroom door clearance 90cm, shower bench height 48cm, height to toilet seat 45cm and to pan 43cm.
Novotel Melbourne Airport Hotel caters well to travellers of all abilities including people with hearing and vision requirements. Guests with a hearing impairment are able to request one of the eight rooms with a television with caption decoder, visual fire alarm and doorbell. Four of the hotel’s rooms have been designed with features suitable for travellers with a visual impairment, including furnishings and features that contrast and offering low reflective surfaces.
The hotel has a 25m indoor heated pool which is equipped with a pool seat to assist guests with a mobility restriction to enter the pool. When I was visiting Melbourne the pool seat had been removed for repair. I haven’t been able to access a photo but will add one as soon as it is available. I suggest checking with the hotel’s reservations team prior to booking if access to the pool is important to you to make sure it is operational.
I love a good hotel buffet breakfast and Novotel & ibis Styles Melbourne Airport Hotel provides an excellent one including a great variety of hot and cold offerings. I hope the current trend for using cast iron pots with heavy lids for hot items disappears as quickly as it arrived because they are so difficult to use for so many people.
I noted that gluten-free cereal, bread and a separate toaster are also available on the buffet breakfast bar.
I was hosted for my stay at Novotel & ibis Styles Melbourne Airport Hotel but as always my opinions are my own.
Book accessible accommodation at Novotel & ibis Styles Melbourne Airport Hotel here.