Accessible holidays.

Hi, I’m trying to plan a holiday for me and my partner, who’s a wheelchair user preferably self catering in a cottage in the North Yorkshire area, it seems accesablity means to most simply adding a grab rail, what we need ideally is a wet room, theses requirements seem few and far between. If anyone can or has stayed at a suitable place or can suggest a web site, I’d be very grateful, thanks John.

Hi John, after enjoying years of holidays, motorhoming with my hubby, Ive had to admit that I need more than that now. Without the necesssary 50k-ish, to buy a bespoke van, motorhomes cannot offer me safety and comfort anymore.

I need the same equipment I use at home…ie hoist, commode, electric bed, roll in shower.

As you rightly say, all some so called accessible holidays offer is, a grab rail and a low step and think thatll do! Well it wont!

In May, 2 carers and me went to a hotel in Blackpool, which caters for us who need a bit more than the norm. It was fab and we had a great time.

In September, we are going to a purpose built caravan in Filey. It looks the bees knees and is reasonably priced, though not cheap. I think we have to pay a bit extra to get what we can`t do without, eh?

I spend a lot of time, just googling holidays for disabled and all sorts of ideas pop up.

Why not do the same and see what you find, eh?

luv Pollx

Hi, we need fully accessible accommodation including ceiling track hoists in the bedroom and bathroom and we have stayed at lots of places in the uk that are ok. Message me or look on the CHUC website (ceiling hoist users club) and also “can do holidays” and the disabled holiday directory. Hope this helps, Julie.

Hi John, have you found anything yet?

pollxx

We’ve just come back from CenterParcs in the Lake District. We also went there last year, but I’d forgotten just how bad the adapted comfort lodge was. For some reason they assume that the disabled person sleeps alone, and although there’s an adjustable bed, it’s a single. Last year, the normal double bed gave me bad back ache and I spent the last night in a chair. This year, the double bed was much better but I still spent the last night in the adjustable bed, which to be honest, was really comfy although the cable attached to the remote control was very short and you couldn’t operate the bed whilst in it! The bathroom was a wet room with a separate shower for the disabled person. Last year there was a chair to sit on. This year there was a small, plastic foot stool. We brought in one of the plastic patio chairs for me to use. There were a lot of hand grabs, but only in the bathroom, and they seemed in the wrong place for me. The disabled shower facilities in the Sports Plaza looked amazing. Our boys had a good time, even though I spent my time spectating. Everywhere is acessable though. Apologies for any spelling errors. I’ve not got my reading glasses on. Heather

Hi Heather, have you told Centre Parcs about the lack of suitable facilities there were?

It gets my goat that accessible facilities often fall short of what we really need…as if they have been designed and tested by able bodied and not the ones who really need them.

If we dont let them know whats not working, theyll never change them.

Ive been campainging for Changing Places loos. have you seen/tried any? They are popping up all over the country now. they are brill! If youd like to learn more, just google the title Changing Places toilets.

luv Pollx

Hi John, we have been to a place called Brimham Rocks Cottages, North Yorkshire twice. (Google it) There is one cottage that we stayed in there that has a wet room, Rowan cottage. It’s not very big and the entrance access is a little tricky with a chair but manageable. It really depends on the level of accessibility you require. It was ok for us when we went a few years ago however my husband now needs hoisting and it is now no longer an option. They also have an indoor pool on site with a hoist-chair. It is not a big complex just a few cottages set up in the hills with lovely views. They also allow dogs.

Hope this may be of some help to you.

Mel.

Hi John, we have been to a place called Brimham Rocks Cottages, North Yorkshire twice. (Google it) There is one cottage that we stayed in there that has a wet room, Rowan cottage. It’s not very big and the entrance access is a little tricky with a chair but manageable. It really depends on the level of accessibility you require. It was ok for us when we went a few years ago however my husband now needs hoisting and it is now no longer an option. They also have an indoor pool on site with a hoist-chair. It is not a big complex just a few cottages set up in the hills with lovely views. They also allow dogs.

Hope this may be of some help to you.

Mel.

Hi John This year we became accessible holiday virgins and through a friend of a friend we found a great website called Can Do Holidays. My husband now needs complex care that requires a daily district nurse visit, 2carers for moving and handling and all the equipment like hoists, commode chairs, a profile bed with sides, a wet room and downstairs or one level accomodation. Having 3 children we were desperately in need of a holiday and through Lisa at can do we have had a week in a beautiful log cabin in Louth within a hotel complex that had an indoor swimming pool and just come back from a week staying in a beautiful barn conversion in Nolfolk. There are many places that cater for various degrees of disability and we arrange for a care agency that is registered as care providers by the social services in the area that we have stayed. By registering my husband with the local GP he has been able to receive care from the district nurses. We have found that everyone has always been extremely supportive and understanding. I am starting to gain confidence in taking the 5 of us on holiday although it is tiring and hard work it is reassuring to know that there are some fabulous well equipped contemporary places to stay. There was a great little bungalow in Wales that we can recommend called safe haven. That again provides all you may need. Having just come back from Nolfolk I have just booked a lovely cottage in Whitby for next year. I hope this is of some use to you and others and that you manage to get away soon. Sue

Hello again, I am in the same situation as Sue as my husband has an extremely high level of need and as I said before CHUC website is one of the best, although it doesn’t list all of the accessible places.

Another good one is Bempton Holiday Villa at Filey and they have also just opened another villa on the same site which looks amazing. It’s called the Beach House and can be found on the Bempton Holiday villa website.

Can do holidays and the disabled holiday directory are also good sources of help. Also subscribe to “disability now” as they have lots of adverts for good places.

Places with ceiling tracks hoists can be few and far between but I have found that things are slowly improving with more places opening in recent years.

Julie

Hi, just got back yesterday after a week in a suitably adapted caravan at Haven holidays park just outside Filey.

We booked the caravan via an advert in Able magazine, directly with the owners of the caravan.

The main bedroom was spacious and had an electric bed, with a pressure care mattress and a ceiling hoist.

There was a commode/shower chair, which I used in the bedroom, as it wouldnt go over the toilet. The shower was good and roomy too.

However, I was disappointed that I couldnt sit in the lounge, with the rest of the people in my party. The portable hoist couldnt get me close enough to the seating to get me out of my wheelchair for a few hours. I ended up going to bed, as I need to stretch out after 3 hours or so in my chair.

There was an excellent ramped entrance to the caravan.

If you`d like more info, please pm me.

pollx