Our disabled daughter is happily getting married next September and as she is
unable to work she is hoping that we will pay for the honeymoon as well as
the wedding. She needs to use a wheelchair most of the time although she can
painfully walk short distances. Can you suggest somewhere that would be
special but not cost us too much money? Fiona Gosling, Lanercost,
Cumbria
Ginny McGrath, Times Online Travel News Editor, responds: I have got
some advice for you from Tourism
for All, (email info@tourismforall.org.uk)
a charity that provides infomartion about tourism services to disabled
people, people in a wheelchair and their carers.
For an exciting city trip, London offers loads of accessible attractions,
taxis and buses, as well as nights out at the theatre. For accommodation,
Tourism for All suggests the "honeymoon package" at the Holiday
Inn Bloomsbury. It is close to Kings Cross station which has step free
access and next to theatreland.
Tourism for All has special rates if you book through www.tourismforall.org.uk
or 0845 124 9971. The hotel recently won a "best accessible facilities"
award, and has eight accessible bedrooms including one with a fitted hoist.
For information about access to theatres, and assisted performances across the
West End, look at the brochure for the Society of London theatres on www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/access.There
is also a disability access London information service that offers a
comprehensive guide to arts, museums, attractions, up-dated daily on their website.
Or for a buzzing destination in the North, try the Big
Blue Hotel in Blackpool which is on the Blackpool Pleasure Beach. You
can enjoy the Blackpool illuminations until November 4.
If it's a romantic countryside break they are after, here are a three
suggestions (most of these will involve travelling by car although you could
check about public transport and taxis using the government’s Door-to-door
website.
Redlands in Somerset
(Courtyard Room) is in a lovely setting, and the people that run it are
really nice. It is tucked away down a country lane. The wheel-in shower room
is shown on their website. They can do B&B in the room and do the
washing up as well.
The Malthouse
in Shropshire is in rolling countryside. Once more there is a wheel-in
shower and a lift to the first floor bedrooms. There are low-beams in the
main bedroom and ambulant guests need to be aware of these.
Mortons House Hotel at Corfe
Castle in Dorset is romantic location if ever there was one, an accessible
Elizabethan Manor House with some new accessible rooms in the garden. These
rooms have wheel-in showers.
If their hearts are set on a trip abroad, it is best to use a specialist
travel agency. There are several, including Access
Travel, Enable Holidays
(part of Libra Group) or Accessible
Travel and Leisure. The holidays have been checked out by the company to
make sure they are accessible and your travel needs are taken care of.
Lastly, for a range of providers of specialist holidays, offering everything
from sailing adventures to holidays with help, see www.holidaysforall.org.uk
Check out Good Access Guide www.goodaccessguide.co.uk
Paul, Gloucester, England