Travel

When I travel, I require a wheelchair accessible van (either a taxi or a hire-van for my PA to drive) and adapted accommodation with a roll-in shower. This page has the details accessible accommodation and transport providers, as well as specialist tour operators I have used on my travels. In some places, I stayed with friends or used my own car, so I do not have accommodation or transport details in some cities. If anyone has details of accessible hotels or transport providers or any questions, please email me at info@abilient.com . N.B. As everybody has different accessibility needs, I strongly recommend contacting and confirming your individual requirements with the service providers listed below before you book with them. Also, keep in mind that many of the taxi companies listed below do not have large fleets of accessible vehicles, and hence you may have to book the taxi well in advance.

Equipment

 I also take the three following pieces of equipment whenever I travel

1. Powered wheelchair - Ottobock A200
http://www.ottobock.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/ob_uk_en/hs.xsl/5580.html
I have found this wheelchair to be really good for travelling. It is readily foldable, not too heavy and sufficiently robust to withstand air travel.

2. Portable Hoist - MoLift Smart
http://www.molift.com/uk/smart.htm
This is hoist is the only hoist I have found which can fold down to a manageable size that allows it to be stored in a van. I have also found it to be quite tough and resilient to damage when travelling

3. Portable Shower Chair - Borringia Chameleon
http://www.borringia.com/
This is the only shower chair I have ever found that is collapsible allowing it to be easily transported. When collapsed, the chair can fit into a medium sized suitcase or travel bag

Destinations

Belgium
- Brussels
Accessible hotel - Mercure Brussels Center Louise
http://www.mercure.com/gb/hotel-7863-mercure-brussels-center-louise/index.shtml

France
- Paris
Accessible transport - Taxis G7
http://www.taxisg7.com/choisissez-votre-taxi

Indonesia
- Bali
Tour operator - Bali Access Travel
http://www.baliaccesstravel.com/ (Accessible transport provided by Bali Access Travel)
Accessible accommodation
1. Gardenia Guest House, Sanur, Bali
http://www.gardeniaguesthousebali.com/Gardenia/home.html
2. East Bali Resort, Batu Belah, Tulamben, Bali
http://www.eastbaliresort.com/

Italy
- Florence
Accessible transport - Autonoleggio Patrizia (Taxi) (No website)
Tel no: 055 68 44 40 or 330 64 31 53
Email: autonoleggiopatrizia@virgilio.it
(Please note that the owner of this taxi service does not speak much English and her fleet of vehicles is small)

- Rome
Accessible transport - Fausta (Taxi)
http://www.faustatrasporti.it/

Poland

- Warsaw
Accessible transport - Wawa (Taxi)
http://www.wawataxi.pl/
(This company has a small fleet of wheelchair accessible "London Cabs". However, the person you contact at the taxi call centre might not speak much English, so advisable to use the help of the hotel you book)
Accessible accommodation - Westin Warsaw Hotel
http://www.westin.pl/en/

Scotland

- Edinburgh
Accessible accommodation - Holiday Inn Express, Edinburgh Waterfront
http://www.expressedinburgh.co.uk/Holiday-Inn-Express-Edinburgh-Home/holiday-inn-express-edinburgh-waterfront.html
(A adjoining room for a "carer" is usually free of charge at Holiday Inn hotels in the UK)

Spain

- Barcelona
Barcelona Disability Tourist Guide - http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/transport/disabled/access-barcelona-disabled.html

Accessible transport - Taxi AMIC
http://www.taxi-amic-adaptat.com/
(Call centre staff and drivers might not speak much English)

Singapore

Accessible transport
1. SMRT Taxis
http://www.smrt.com.sg/taxis/our_services.asp
(Fleet of accessible London cabs is small so you will need to book well in advance)
2. Singapore Metro (MRT) - The Singapore Metro system called the MRT has very good wheelchair access

Accessible accommodation - Marina Mandarin Singapore, Singapore
http://www.meritushotels.com/en/hotelinformation/marina-mandarin-singapore/about

South Africa
Tour operator - Endeavour Safaris
http://www.endeavour-safaris.com/
Accessible transport provided by Endeavour Safaris
- Johannesburg
Accessible accommodation - Protea Hotel Parktonian, Johannesburg
http://www.proteahotels.com/protea-hotel-parktonian.html
- Kruger National Park
Accessible accommodation
1. Bohm Zeederberg Country House
http://www.bohms.co.za/
(The accessible room has a shower unit with a small step. The shower unit becomes "roll-in" with the use of portable ramps available at the hotel)
2. Skukuza Rest Camp
http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/camps/skukuza/tourism/accommodation.php

USA

- Boston, MA
Accessible accommodation - Best Western Terrace Inn
http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?propertyCode=22029
Accessible transport - Premier Accessible Van Rentals of New England (Van hire)
http://www.newengland.premiervanrental.com/

- Orlando, FL

Accessible accommodation - Wyndham Orlando Resort
http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/MCOWD/main.wnt
Accessible transport  - Wheelchair Getaways Florida (Van hire)
http://www.wheelchairgetaways.com/franchise/florida_orlando/home.htm

- Las Vegas

Accessible accommodation - MGM Grand, Las Vegas
http://www.mgmgrand.com/

- San Francisco

Accessible accommodation - Crowne Plaza, San Francisco International Airport
http://www.sfocp.com/
Accessible transport  - Wheelchair Getaways California (Van hire)
http://www.wheelchairgetaways.com/franchise/california_sanfransisco2/home.htm