Disabled and let's do it?

Parva

I'm pretty disabled (ok, not pretty) but I do have a car and can drive and have insurance and breakdown cover for the whole of Europe. My Mum is itching to go abroad again (as am I if I'm honest). This wouldn't be flying obviously but driving doesn't deter me, I would like us to end up (and return from) Majorca at a minimum, Cyprus would be my ultimate though.

Has anyone that's wheelchair limited along with a 65+ relative (can't expect her to haul my !!!) done this sort of thing? Any tips welcome.

sazaccount

Hi Parva,

Please don't take this the wrong way but why don't you want to fly? (Is it a fear?) As long as its pre-booked and the airline know in advance the assistant at the airports, onto and off the planes can be very good. wheelchair accessible transport at the other end and checking out trip adviser forums etc for hotel/accommodation reviews and calling the hotel for advise on the best rooms to book for ease and accessibility?

Cyprus is only 4 hours on the plane, google says give around 4 days to drive from uk to cyprus, but than I may just be me and impatient on wanting to be somewhere sunny and chilled out...

Savvy_Sue

I guess it may be the difficulty of hiring a suitable car at the other end ... or being 'stuck' wherever you've landed.

Mojisola

Parva wrote: »

I'm pretty disabled (ok, not pretty) but I do have a car and can drive and have insurance and breakdown cover for the whole of Europe. My Mum is itching to go abroad again (as am I if I'm honest). This wouldn't be flying obviously but driving doesn't deter me, I would like us to end up (and return from) Majorca at a minimum, Cyprus would be my ultimate though.

Has anyone that's wheelchair limited along with a 65+ relative (can't expect her to haul my !!!) done this sort of thing? Any tips welcome.

Why not try a shorter break somewhere just across the Channel and see how it goes?

Morglin

Parva wrote: »

I'm pretty disabled (ok, not pretty) but I do have a car and can drive and have insurance and breakdown cover for the whole of Europe. My Mum is itching to go abroad again (as am I if I'm honest). This wouldn't be flying obviously but driving doesn't deter me, I would like us to end up (and return from) Majorca at a minimum, Cyprus would be my ultimate though.

Has anyone that's wheelchair limited along with a 65+ relative (can't expect her to haul my !!!) done this sort of thing? Any tips welcome.

I would start 'smaller' and increase as you go.

I did a long weekend, in New York, with all it's arranging, but that was with a fit person!

Lin

Indie_Kid

sazaccount wrote: »

Cyprus is only 4 hours on the plane, google says give around 4 days to drive from uk to cyprus, but than I may just be me and impatient on wanting to be somewhere sunny and chilled out...

It's not you just being impatient. There was a school trip to Germany by coach, which took roughly 24 hours. It was awful. We did a few stops along the way to walk around, get some food, etc. But it took too long imo and was rather uncomfortable.

DigForVictory

+1 for a booze cruise first. (Customs will let you lug all you can load, police will pull you for an overloaded vehicle.)

See how mum does as passenger, navigator, tendency to car/motion sickness? How long before you run out of energy & how best to refuel? (Not Judging! I need coffee & a nap after 4 hours driving & on paper I'm normal.)

Test the Sat Nav (if you want to try one) - can it wind you in & out & around Calais OK? Would you trust it with you on the Boulevard Peripherique (think M25 as in around Paris, but with Every Other driver channelling Ben Hur.)

Start modest. The bigger trips become loads easier as you know both need. All the best!

Parva

sazaccount wrote: »

Hi Parva,

Please don't take this the wrong way but why don't you want to fly? (Is it a fear?) As long as its pre-booked and the airline know in advance the assistant at the airports, onto and off the planes can be very good. wheelchair accessible transport at the other end and checking out trip adviser forums etc for hotel/accommodation reviews and calling the hotel for advise on the best rooms to book for ease and accessibility?

Cyprus is only 4 hours on the plane, google says give around 4 days to drive from uk to cyprus, but than I may just be me and impatient on wanting to be somewhere sunny and chilled out...

I was just looking for something different. I'm certainly not afraid of flying, indeed 3 / 4 holidays abroad a year were the norm prior to my disability in late 2011 (which incidentally occured whilst on holiday in Cyprus - well, the end result did anyway).

On most of my holidays I've hired a car and explored the region, something that wouldn't be easy now given I have only my left leg and require a left leg accelerator pedal adapted automatic. Prior to the disability I have throughly enjoyed driving in various countries (Fuerteventura in the Canaries, if you've never done that one, wow, it's amazing!)

Anyway, that wasn't the point of this post. I'm certainly not afraid of flying but given that I'm currently a man of leisure I could easily drive onto and back off a ferry to France and travel with no time restriction on a return. I just wondered if anyone had tried this (judging by the replies, maybe not). I was hoping it may be possible without military planning but I'm guessing that the military plan is going to be the only way. Thanks for all the replies anyway.

Parva

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I guess it may be the difficulty of hiring a suitable car at the other end ... or being 'stuck' wherever you've landed.

And yep on both points there.

jules8542

Sorry can't advise much as not travelled far but you can always drive your car on the Eurostar and drive onto Spain etc from there of course. Hope it helps a little. Enjoy yourself once you get there:j

Parva

I've put out feelers with a good friend as opposed to my mother (would be too hard on her with the wheelchair business), would love to do this. We shall see.