Healdsburg Inn Hilton Tapestry

Healdsburg Inn Hilton Tapestry Leaves Me Wanting More

I hope you’re enjoying your summer, my polite travelers.  It’s been a scorcher, just about everywhere. 

What’s not hot is the Healdsburg Inn, a Hilton property.  Yes, it has many of the amenities one would want in a summer getaway, like a pool and games—chess, checkers, cornhole, and Jenga.  But they don’t have a fitness room, and the self-serve laundry is in a different hotel.  Weird. 

It’s also disappointing that this hotel is similar to the Tapestry in Sonoma: small rooms, the ADA room is lacking, and the reception room is…well, pretty much all there is.  It is where guests sign in, grab packaged food, and purchase overpriced beer and wine on tap.  It’s not Hilton quality.  Comparing this property to the Sacramento Tapestry leaves me shaking my head in disbelief. 

The one bright spot is the people.  The staff is engaging, efficient, and pleasant.

ADA Room 424—Sigh

At first glance, this is a well-appointed but simple room.  It’s laid out well, with simple furniture spaced out well for both the mobility-challenged and those who are able.  The room includes a desk, plenty of outlets, a dresser with a mini fridge, a television, a chair, a table, and a bed.  The bathroom includes a floating sink in an ample-sized counter—great for wheelchairs—and a large open, walk-in shower.  Inside the shower is a fold-down seat, a shower wand, and a wall-mounted shower head.  Yep, it looks great, until one looks closer

Living in a space reveals a room designer’s misses.  Arg.  Now, for most people, these small issues are exactly that: small, mundane, a nothing burger.  For those who are struggling with each step—wheelchair, cane, and walker users—these issues are a challenge.   

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Here we are with the unfortunate missteps. 

The dresser is too tall for wheelchair users.  For me, it’s fine.  Tall with a glass top, plenty of drawers…great.  I’d just like a microwave in the room.  I’m a tea drinker.  With only a coffee maker in the room, I have no way to make tea.  Using the coffee maker gives me coffee-flavored tea.  Nope.  Espresso yes.  Coffee no.  So, strike two with the dresser and its accessories.   

Many Hilton hotels have complimentary coffee and tea in the lobby.  This hotel has complimentary coffee only in the morning.  Hot water is available on request.

Moving on to the bed.  A queen bed is fine for us, but this bed is, well, hmm.  I’ve never experienced this issue before.  This is a queen mattress on a sturdy metal ‘king’ size platform.  Yep.  The platform frame sticks out from the mattress.  The consequence of rolling out of this bed is hitting our legs on cold, hard metal.  A cold, hard strike three. 

We now travel to the bathroom.  At first glance, this is a beautiful ADA-compliant bathroom: grab bars in the shower and next to the toilet.  Yep.  Looks good so far.  Yet, the toilet is too short.  For older, mobility-challenged people, a taller toilet is a must.  The walk-in shower looks inviting with its two shower heads and pull-down chair, but the shower curtain is too short in length and height.  It’s three inches from the floor and at least a foot too short on the sides.  Interesting.  Strike four.

Will we return?

Other than those issues, the hotel’s location is perfect for wine tasting and exploring the lovely small city of Healdsburg, CA.  This hotel has partnered with several excellent wineries, including one of my favs: Dry Creek Vineyards.  Still, I’d rather be pampered a bit more, with simple amenities like either a microwave or an electric kettle in my room.  I’d also like an on-site fitness center.    My hubby needs a bed with a frame that doesn’t hit him in his legs when he rises.  Those simple wants are better found elsewhere.