Any suggestions for a first holiday abroad for mobility impared person.

CathyMoran

Hi - my mum currently uses a wheelchair most of the time, can walk short distances with assistance but is severely mobility impared. We would all love to take her on a well earned holiday - does anyone have any suggestions as to somewhere suitable, hopefully in the sun. Would be nice if my father could take a break also as he is her primary carer. Both of my parents are in their mid 60's but they are young at heart. My appologies for my ignorance on this subject - it is a steep learning curve for us. We would be looking for somewhere that would encourage my parents to go on more holidays. Thanks.

FranknFurter

New York and Florida are great, possibly the 2 most wheelchair friendly places on the planet.
Paris is a big no-no trust me.
Holland is v accessible also.
Barcelona, dont even consider it.

Over the years, I have found, with few exceptions, the more "historical" a city, the less chair-friendly it tends to be.

Amz

Thanks for that Barry.

Any links for tour operators/travel agents etc. that might be of help?

CathyMoran

We are thinking of trying mum out on a weekend away in Ireland first - would appreciate any suggestions for good places in Ireland also. I do not think that mum is up to a very long flight yet - Europe as far as the Canaries is as far as we think she could take it. My mum will probably be having further surgery around September so we are trying to make the most of her before then as well as take her mind off the surgery so we would need places that would be suitable from June to then. Thanks again.

K2

I've used the go ireland site to book my last two family holidays in ireland. Some holiday homes are wheelchair friendly and have bedrooms/bathrooms on the ground floor (as indicated on their descriptions).

www.goireland.com

btw i have come across a site for renting cars in the states that will carry wheelchairs, but I've not found any for europe to date.

smileygal

Hi, I wouldn't recommend Fuerteventura in the Canaries - steps everywhere, and no soft landings. Also our neighbour nearly killed himself severing artery when he tripped on uneven pavement while carrying vino!He was seriously lucky.
Also bear in mind that many apartments in the Canaries are actually/near building sites, so dusty, uneven and sometimes not on public transport yet. Taxis cheap tho.

Victor

You could consider getting two apartments and not have your father doing all the pushing / pulling. It gives both sides privacy and proximity.

smileygal wrote:

Hi, I wouldn't recommend Fuerteventura in the Canaries - steps everywhere, and no soft landings.

Similar in Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. You would have to seek out something that was specificly wheelchair friendly. The pattern seems to be quite mixed with some areas accessible and others, right next to it, not.

Also our neighbour nearly killed himself severing artery when he tripped on uneven pavement while carrying vino!He was seriously lucky.

Could ahve happened anywhere.

Also bear in mind that many apartments in the Canaries are actually/near building sites, so dusty, uneven and sometimes not on public transport yet.

Thats a bit unfair, both place I stayed were well developed and busses stopped within 100m.