8 replies to this topic

[Jo W]

I am about to leave a spinal rehab unit where I have been since I became an incomplete T11 in September 2011. I am looking for an easy (ie short flight,small time diff) first holiday for me, my husband and 3 teenage children. We'd like some sun, pool (need a hoist) and fun for all....pref with stuff to do in the area. Have considered Mar y Sol in Tenerife but can tell kids are nervous it will be full of "old people" as it is so specialist in wheelchair clients!! Are they right or will we find other families with kids? Any other suggestions? Really grateful for any advice.

[russ1]

Jo W, on 05 February 2012 - 06:20 PM, said:

I am about to leave a spinal rehab unit where I have been since I became an incomplete T11 in September 2011. I am looking for an easy (ie short flight,small time diff) first holiday for me, my husband and 3 teenage children. We'd like some sun, pool (need a hoist) and fun for all....pref with stuff to do in the area. Have considered Mar y Sol in Tenerife but can tell kids are nervous it will be full of "old people" as it is so specialist in wheelchair clients!! Are they right or will we find other families with kids? Any other suggestions? Really grateful for any advice.

Try the Vulcano in Tenerife - I've been there twice with my teenage kids and it was great, pool has a hoist too but I've never actually used it - I just do a floor to chair.

[Jo W]

russ1, on 05 February 2012 - 06:35 PM, said:

Jo W, on 05 February 2012 - 06:20 PM, said:

I am about to leave a spinal rehab unit where I have been since I became an incomplete T11 in September 2011. I am looking for an easy (ie short flight,small time diff) first holiday for me, my husband and 3 teenage children. We'd like some sun, pool (need a hoist) and fun for all....pref with stuff to do in the area. Have considered Mar y Sol in Tenerife but can tell kids are nervous it will be full of "old people" as it is so specialist in wheelchair clients!! Are they right or will we find other families with kids? Any other suggestions? Really grateful for any advice.

Try the Vulcano in Tenerife - I've been there twice with my teenage kids and it was great, pool has a hoist too but I've never actually used it - I just do a floor to chair.

Thanks will google it now!

[Jo W]

Any more suggestions?

[julibugs]

We have just booked our holiday in Brittany, we went to the Il'de re last year, we have managed both times to get a villa with pool and all adaptations that I need. Last year my husband drove with four of our kids and a fith flew with me, it was nice to have the car for trips out and my husband was able to take the bulk of my medical stuff with him in the car which really helped. For us as a family it was nice having our own space so that the kids could just get used to life with me as a disabled person. The first holiday we had post my sci was lovely, nice hotel, pool, beach etc but the kids (all teens) spent most of their time avoiding me rather than coming to terms with what had happened.

Hope this helps

Julia

[Maltese Cat]

We usually go to France to a self- catered house, different one each time. there are quite a few nicely adapted ones about - although I would advise giving yourself plenty of time to wade through internet listings and call villa owners to check exactly what their adaptations are - as one person's idea of wheelchair access is a bit different from anothers!
accessatlast.com is a great place to start, but there are loads of sites that you can search for wheelchair adapted properties- frenchconnections and ownersdirect are ones we have used in the past.
my top tip would be to go with another family whose kids get on with your own. More fun for the kids, and also we have found that as long as there are at least 2 able bodied adults, then the vast majority of obstacles can be tackled with relative ease! (new areas are always full of surprises...)

also, if you are t11 then at some point you may be able to manage swimming pools without needing a hoist. A good cushion (or even inflatable lilo) beside the pool to provide some protection for your precious booty is a must. In is easy! out requires some upper body strength and a clever belly flop onto the cushion, followed by a most elegant flip over onto your back,and then shuffle back up into sitting. (i have to confess my husband still looks like a beached whale when he does this!)
Alternatively if there are roman steps in the pool, you can get someone to look after your legs while you just bum up each one and onto the waiting cushion at the end. If floor to chair transfer is still a way off, then floor to sunlounger is usually manageable, and from there onto chair.

hope you have a lovely holiday!

[megatrig]

I can understand you wanting your first holiday to be stress free!! But don't worry to much it will be fine. Just relax and enjoy!

Don't forget you are first on .. last off plane. Makes no difference as you still have to wait for the carosel.

I would take advice from people off here.

I now go anywhere and everywhere and bounce around happily.

Try transfering without a hoist after a while.

Enjoy ...

ps Mary Sol does look a tad disabled!!!!!

[Jo W]

julibugs, on 07 February 2012 - 04:58 AM, said:

We have just booked our holiday in Brittany, we went to the Il'de re last year, we have managed both times to get a villa with pool and all adaptations that I need. Last year my husband drove with four of our kids and a fith flew with me, it was nice to have the car for trips out and my husband was able to take the bulk of my medical stuff with him in the car which really helped. For us as a family it was nice having our own space so that the kids could just get used to life with me as a disabled person. The first holiday we had post my sci was lovely, nice hotel, pool, beach etc but the kids (all teens) spent most of their time avoiding me rather than coming to terms with what had happened.

Hope this helps

Julia

Lots of useful food for thought.... Thank you very much.

[Jo W]

Maltese Cat, on 07 February 2012 - 10:03 AM, said:

We usually go to France to a self- catered house, different one each time. there are quite a few nicely adapted ones about - although I would advise giving yourself plenty of time to wade through internet listings and call villa owners to check exactly what their adaptations are - as one person's idea of wheelchair access is a bit different from anothers!
accessatlast.com is a great place to start, but there are loads of sites that you can search for wheelchair adapted properties- frenchconnections and ownersdirect are ones we have used in the past.
my top tip would be to go with another family whose kids get on with your own. More fun for the kids, and also we have found that as long as there are at least 2 able bodied adults, then the vast majority of obstacles can be tackled with relative ease! (new areas are always full of surprises...)

also, if you are t11 then at some point you may be able to manage swimming pools without needing a hoist. A good cushion (or even inflatable lilo) beside the pool to provide some protection for your precious booty is a must. In is easy! out requires some upper body strength and a clever belly flop onto the cushion, followed by a most elegant flip over onto your back,and then shuffle back up into sitting. (i have to confess my husband still looks like a beached whale when he does this!)
Alternatively if there are roman steps in the pool, you can get someone to look after your legs while you just bum up each one and onto the waiting cushion at the end. If floor to chair transfer is still a way off, then floor to sunlounger is usually manageable, and from there onto chair.

hope you have a lovely holiday!

Many thanks for this advice and the web site... You're absolutely right that it's getting out of a pool that is the challenge.... I hope it will get easier but at the moment I can but dream of looking like a beached whale ;)

megatrig, on 07 February 2012 - 04:32 PM, said:

I can understand you wanting your first holiday to be stress free!! But don't worry to much it will be fine. Just relax and enjoy!

Don't forget you are first on .. last off plane. Makes no difference as you still have to wait for the carosel.

I would take advice from people off here.

I now go anywhere and everywhere and bounce around happily.

Try transfering without a hoist after a while.

Enjoy ...

ps Mary Sol does look a tad disabled!!!!!

Thanks