Holiday ideas for mobility restrictions

Sorry, just to add I can probably manage 2 miles tops on flat even ground.

Somewhere flat, also book a wheelchair for the airports, through your holiday company, much easier Also take any walking aids with you.

I was going to suggest a beautiful Masseria in Puglia (Southern Italy) which is an area that's pretty flat. It has beautiful Lecce, history and gastronomy... but cobbles and uneven ground is an issue over a lot of Italy.

Do you want to be away from the crowds?

We took our son and his girlfriend to Playa Blanca in Lanzarote, which is very flat.
She uses a mobility scooter, which we also took with us, and she managed very well.

We've also taken my mother-in-law and her wheelchair abroad many times.

Talk to the assistance department of your airline before you travel.
As an example from what you say you'll want to book a place in the ambulift to get you on to the plane, rather than try and climb up the steps.
Book a seat towards the front of the plane so you haven't got too far to walk down the aisle and you're nearer the toilet.
Don't be afraid to tell people your limitations, and ask for and more importantly accept any help you need.
Even walking through the airport can be a trek, but the assistance people can help you with a wheelchair, which they will push.
They do need to know you're coming though!

It sounds to me that you may want something less built up and more rural?

I second V3ra’s recommendations regarding the actual getting wherever.
When DD2 was first disabled, we were recommended the Canaries, as there are miles of wide walkways around the popular coast resorts, suitable for wheelchairs.
Still waiting to go thought, as she much prefers City breaks.

www.long-travel.co.uk/

Is worth a phone call as they used to really know their hotels and the area around them... they were exceptionally helpful when we wanted to take a very elderly relative away.

Have you thought about a cruise? The ships, although large, are very easy to move around. Lifts everywhere and all walkways are flat. You see so many places and excursions vary in the amount of walking required.

A cruise with a good company, not one aimed at youngsters with lots of noise and people, but something more sedate.

You don’t have to go ashore, though the trips are normally graded for mobility purposes.

Some great suggestions, thank you very much.
I think we don't want to be in a very busy place but a bit of a buzz would be nice.

My DH has mobility problems, which also means that carrying luggage is also difficult so last year we went on a river cruise.

Most companies offer door to door transport. We handed our luggage over on our doorstop and didn't have to move it again until we got home.

The cruise itself was fascinating, I found it much more interesting than an ocean cruise. Even when the boat was moving, or moored alongside in a town, there was so much to see and because you could go on torus or just potter on or off the ship as when you wanted to, you could plan visiting a town around your own requirements.

Unfortunately DH went down with a respiratory illness during the week and on several days stayed on board either in the cabin watching everything happening onshore (and there was a lot to see) from huge patio windows, or in the lounge chatting with other people, so it was possible for me to either go on tours or just stay boat based but going onshore to visit the town we were moored in the centre of.

Hi! If you’re looking for a relaxing holiday with gentle walks and lovely beaches, Northern Cyprus is a great spot. The coastal towns are mostly flat, easy to get around, and the sea is great for swimming almost all year round. The area is very safe, quiet, and has lots of spots to enjoy nature without steep hills or crowds. I’ve been living here for three years, and I love it.

M0nica - would you mind telling me which company you went with and where? I did look into river cruises a while back but there were one or two things that put me off - and of course the travel insurance for me would be massive - dicky ticker and other things!

Costa Adeje in Tenerife is great for walking. Big, wide promenades and you can hire motorised chairs which seat two and even three!

Just back from a Fred Olsen cruise with my sis who has knee/hip issues. Smallish ship, embarked locally in Lpool and staff so helpful. She even managed a couple of on shore tours. All in all a lovely way to see many places in comfort!

I would very much second Mancjules idea of Fred Olsen, and I think they are very good for various reasons.Firstly smaller ships, so not a huge amount of passengers and they can get into smaller areas of places like Fjiords etc. Then the really do have what the others dont, in that they have good libraries, opportunities to play cards and games at different levels. The food was excellent always. I never paid for the separate special meals as the ordinary menus had plenty of choice as far as I was concerned. They have excellent speakers who can talk with real knowledge about places you are visiting etc. I travel alone, and do not have a lot of money so watch out for things where there is no single supplement and am happy to go in an inside cabin as I dont spend a lot of time there. I use a mobility scooter at home, but do not yet have a lightweight one for cruises. Cost but also the weight means that at the moment cant find a very lightweight one I could use in my car, but quite a few people had buggys that they used on the ship , but think you have to book them early to have the space to take one. I have been to the Arctic with them and been involved in a whale watch trip. If I could afford it would go on a lot more. Have never had any complaints with them at all, and my only problem was how far to have to walk from the ship to a bus or whatever, and that is partly as I dont know how I will be from one day to the next. I have once been on a large ship coming from Australia getting on at the last port of call in Lisbon. Was not at all impressed!! Staff are also good if you want to ring them up and discuss a specific cruise and can tell you things. so one or two had a port of call where you went by boat from the ship, so you might not be able to go on that , but they will explain it to you and you can work out if it suits you. Best of luck finding something you enjoy. Who knows we might even meet on a cruise. Oh and of course as I live in the north have no intention of traipsing down to Southampton and I can get cruises from Liverpool, Rosyth, sometimes Newcastle etc.

Interesting, thank you, madeleine45

Luckygirl3

M0nica - would you mind telling me which company you went with and where? I did look into river cruises a while back but there were one or two things that put me off - and of course the travel insurance for me would be massive - dicky ticker and other things!

Our neighbour keeps recommending river cruises but I'm not sure who they go with, must ask when I see her.

Allira

Luckygirl3

M0nica - would you mind telling me which company you went with and where? I did look into river cruises a while back but there were one or two things that put me off - and of course the travel insurance for me would be massive - dicky ticker and other things!

Our neighbour keeps recommending river cruises but I'm not sure who they go with, must ask when I see her.

I’d second a river cruise. I’ve only done one - Budapest to the Black Sea. Like Monica says there is always something of interest as you pass by as well as stops on the way. Usually very easy to get on and off because the boat is at the same level as the ground more or less😬

My cruise was with Saga but a lot of companies just charter the same boat for a few weeks each, so the basic experience on board would be pretty much the same whoever you went with I guess.

The difference would come in the ‘extras” maybe? On board reps? Entertainment like quizzes, guided tours, door to door??

You can still have a really nice abroad trip, it just helps to choose a flat, compact place with easy transport so you can sightsee in short loops, swim, and rest without feeling “stuck.” I keep a few destination ideas in the middle here lifecircu.com/travel-destinations/, but think along the lines of: a beachfront base with a promenade (so you can walk little-and-often), boat trips instead of long hikes, hop-on/hop-off buses or taxis for hills, and a hotel close to the water and restaurants so you don’t need big walking days. If you share your rough budget and what month you want to go, people can suggest the best “flat + scenic + sea” options.

I also think a cruise would be good . Alvor in Portis flat with wooden walkways make sure you pick a hotel near the fishing village .

aonk

Have you thought about a cruise? The ships, although large, are very easy to move around. Lifts everywhere and all walkways are flat. You see so many places and excursions vary in the amount of walking required.

My mobility was temporarily impaired last May due to weakness following treatment for a sodium deficiency but we still managed our long awaited cruise to the Keukenhof Gardens wth Fred Olsen. We used a company called Mobility at Sea and found them excellent. My wheelchair was awaiting our arrival at the terminal building in Southampton, ready for DH to push me on board. It was useful for walking from ship to coach for tours and, best of all for our visit to the gardens.