Accessible updates and going on strong.

It has been two years since my last post. A lot has happened, private and business wise. Two years ago we could imagine the ride we have been thru, the trips we have made and the life time experiences. But with two wheelchair accessible pool villas in Hua Hin, Thailand close to restaurants, shopping mall, beach and so on we know for sure you will have a great holiday. And we still enjoy to welcome and spoil you.

Wheelchair accessible van with lift.

Accessible van with ramp access.

We didn't expect at all to buy a second car for the transport of our disabled guests. So next high season 2 accessible vans are running to service the needs of the wheelchair users in our accessible pool villas. For instance. An airport transfer at the same time as a day at the beach trip. Or a delicious vineyard lunch or a visit to Sam Roi Yot National Park. Our first van has ramp access and the new van has a wheelchair lift. This combination makes it possible to transfer people with different disabilities and all kind of wheelchairs, scooters, etc. Q-straint tie down systems and seat-belts make transfers safe for all passengers. And more important we can transport and accommodate groups up to 12 people with these vans and houses.

Another improvement is the second beach wheelchair. Our guests love to visit the beach and for most of them it has been ages since they have been into the sea. 

Did you see our Youtube movies? Or the pictures on our website? Have a look at both. Because with the service level in our houses and the provisions for disabled people we are the only one still standing in Hua Hin, Thailand due to hard work and personal commitment.

Holidays for Wheelchair Thailand

Holiday season, peak season. Many tourist and local Thai people enjoy the festivities, the atmosphere and the Christmas spirit all around. Street are lit, shopping malls are decorated and many shops, restaurants, etc. wish their customers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Just a few pictures to show you Hua Hin during Holiday Season.

Airport power Wheelchair check-in

Have you ever considered travelling with you powered wheelchair? And did you decide to leave it at home because you were afraid the handlers would damage it. Then watch this movie about me and my powered wheelchair preparations at the check-in of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol for my 20th flight to Bangkok Airport Suvarnabhumi. I made this movie as an example. When you want to travel you have to find a way how to prepare your wheelchair.



What do you see?

• A small toolkit with which you can handle bolds and screws.
• Tie-raps to tie down cables.
• Removal of joy stick to prevent damage to steering mechanism.
• Disconnecting the battery cable underneath.
• Minimize size of wheelchair. Some airplane loading doors are just 84cm high.
• Wheelchair parts in bag to prevent them to get soaked in the rain. And less weight in your suite case.
• Luggage straps to tie down wheelchair parts in bag.
• Instruction of airport staff how to handle manual breaks and wheelchair during transportation.

Do you have question about how to travel as a disabled? Don't hesitate to email us.

Or read more stories about travelling with a powered wheelchair on my Dutch Blog.

Wheelchair travel with caregiver

We proudly present a new service. Gehandicapten.com is now offering guided holidays to Hua Hin, Thailand for disabled people living in The Netherlands and / or Belgium. All inclusive holidays for wheelchair users who like to travel individually, with partner or with a group of friends and are in need of a licensed caregiver during their accessible holiday.

Qualified Dutch caregivers travel with disabled people to Thailand.
Wheelchair accessible holiday accommodations in Hua Hin.

Benefits of travelling with Gehandicapten.com to Thailand are:
- Best wheelchair accessible accommodations, mostly well adapted holidays homes.
- Dutch caregivers with Dutch nurse license to accompany during the complete holiday.
- On site medical equipment.
- Inclusive of tickets, accommodation, transfers, day trips, meals, overnight stay Bangkok, entrance fees, travel insurance, cancellation insurance.
- Handicapped in electric wheelchairs are welcome too.
- Over 8 years of experience in travelling with disabled people.
- English speaking Thai staff will help you with day to day life under supervision of Dutch caregivers.
- Friendly and very helpful Thai staff for housekeeping.

On the program:
Temple visits, cultural show, elephant ride, day at the beach, River Kwai, Tigers temple, Bangkok palace and temples, biggest flee market Thailand, vineyard, floating market.

Price indication € 3500 for one disabled person and one caregiver, 14 days / 12 nights.

Do you want more information? Write an email to info@gehandicapten.com .

Guided holidays to France and Hungary are possible too.

Accessible Bangkok beats London

Bangkok has narrowly beaten London as the world's top tourism destination in terms of visitor arrivals, according to the "MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index 2013". Paris, Singapore and New York fill the next three places.

In Asia, Bangkok is followed in the rankings by Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo.

The MasterCard study was conducted in 132 cities, with collated data from private and government sectors worldwide from last year through to the end of March this year.

It also collected data on travellers' spending from their arrival in a city destination, as well as cross-border expenditure. It was not based on MasterCard volume or transactional data.
Source: The Nation.

Wheelchair Thailand already roams around in Bangkok since 2006. He knows many accessible places to visit and wheelchair accessible accommodation to extend your holiday. Mainly in Hua Hin, but also in other parts of Thailand. And he has also information about wheelchair access of the public transport. For information read on here, Wheelchair Thailand Blog Spot, or visit the website of Gehandicapten.com

Wheelchair accessible airplane coming up

Hi everyone,

Here is a great initiative of a Dutch man with Duchene Muscle Disease. He wants to travel. He is unable to sit in an airplane seat. So his travel plans are limited. He has create a petition to make airplanes wheelchair accessible. We have signed this petition and we hope you do too. Together we can make this a worldwide request. But we need your vote to realize our needs.

Here is the link to the petition.




Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, assistance counter.

I do hope my wheelchair can take the forces in an airplane during take off and landing. Otherwise it would be great.

WheelchairThailand Hua Hin, see man or woman?

 

An half year ago Jan and I were looking for some entertainment at night in Bangkok. Wherever you stay you can find entertainment. Bars, puppet show, dance and dinner show, cultural show, girls and lady boys, etc. We wanted to see a show and went to the Asia Hotel in Phaya Thai, Bangkok. Sadly enough this theater was not wheelchair accessible.

This time we had a look in our travel guide book of Bangkok. Found a name of a show and looked it up at internet. And yes the show has moved to another location and the location, Asiatique, and the theater, Calypso, is wheelchair accessible. So we booked tickets online and drove there early saturday evening. Staff took great care of us and guided us to the elevator and the theater to our seats. Access for wheelchairs and people with recuded mobility is assured.

 

And what a night we had. Lots of international restaurants to choose from, many shops with beautiful and classy merchandise, bars with live music, boulevard along the Chao Praya River and the Calypso theater. We had a great time. We can recommend the show and ask you now: "Did you see men or women?"

Tours, trips and transfers, Hua Hin, Bangkok, Thailand

Airport Bangkok, Thailand

Since Februari 2011, Gehandicapten.com has his own wheelchair accessible Toyota Commuter Minivan.

This minibus with private driver is available for guests of our adapted and wheelchair accessible holiday homes for airport transfers and tours and trips in and around Hua Hin.

For information and suggestions for tours and trips in and around Hua Hin, Bangkok, Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi take a look here.

Book now. Accessible holiday home in Hua Hin.

Our wheelchair accessible rental home is available for holiday from Febuary 2, 2012 till April 10, 2012.

The pool villa has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. One bathroom has a roll in shower, drop down shower seat and drop down grips next to toilet.
One accessible bedroom has a electrical adjustable bed and a monkey pole.
Medical equipment like a shower wheelchair / commode are available on request and usage is free of charge.
Pool and whirlpool are accessible by pool hoist. Floats and life jackets are available.
A housekeeper maintains the house, garden and pool, washes the linen and clothes of our guests, prepares breakfast, shops for groceries and assists with planning trips.

Wheelchair accessible airport transfer on request. See here a YouTube movie Wheelchair accessible van with Q-straint wheelchair and passenger restraint system.
And in case you like you can have the same care takers to accompany you during daytrips and assist you with day to day life.

Every booking of 14 nights or more gets a free airport transfer from Bangkok to Hua Hin in this wheelchair accessible van.

Email for offer to Wheelchair Thailand Hua Hin.

Thailand flood, road map updated every day.

ดู แผนที่น้ำท่วมทางหลวง โดย กรมทางหลวง ในแผนที่ขนาดใหญ่กว่า

For those people looking for info about the highways in Thailand which are effected by the flood here is a map which will be updated every day.
Thai speaking people can call for more information about the highways. The phone numbers are 1586 and 1784.

According to this map the highway from International Airport Subvrnabhumi in Bangkok to Hua Hin is still open. Just a small part of this road, 3-6 km, is flooded with 20 cm of water.
Volunteers are helping out filling and piling up sandbags to protect the airport. It's not easy for disabled travel in Thailand at this moment.

Cultural Thai Dance and dinner show.

February 5, 2010
Bangkok, Siam Niramit.

A few days ago a friend asked us how the name was of that theater in Bangkok. "It is Niramit" we told her.
This theater close to Makkasan Airlink Station offers a beautiful Thai cultural Dance, Folk and dinner show. Before the show is a lot to see and the food is fine.
The show is really great and the building and surrounding areas are all wheelchair accessible. Restrooms, restaurant, public telephone, all made accessible for wheelchairs. This is the first time we saw this kind of adaptions for disabled in Bangkok. Wheelchair users are seated in the front row and their partners and/or companions are seated behind them on the second row.

Have fun and don't forget to share your experience here where you have found the information.

Bangkok Pratunam wheelchair accessible shopping

16 July 2011,
Bangkok, Pratunam district

A week ago I went to Bangkok to have my wheelchair fixed. Of this I made a movie and wrote two Blog messages. For a overnight stay I booked a hotel room for disabled at Baiyoke Sky Hotel and had a look at the Pratunam whole sale market.

For this I had to drive my wheelchair into the small streets of Bangkok, Pratunam district. The small alleys are alive at the afternoon and evening. And when you are looking for cheap clothes by the dozen this is the place to go. But in the area are many shops, shopping malls and big stores where almost everything is for sale. MBK, Siam Paragon, Siam Square, Big C, Pratunam, Panthip and even more coming. And all these are wheelchair accessible. Every shopaholic will find what he or she dies for.

And when you are looking for a accessible accommodation in this area search this Blog for a hotel with wheelchair access or write an email to me.

Accessible hotel, restaurant and look out.

July 15, 2011
Baiyoke Sky Hotel, Bangkok

Ever wanted to see Bangkok from the Sky? Then visit the Baiyoke Sky Hotel in the center of Bangkok, close to all shopping malls like Siam Paragon (fashion) and Panthip Plaza (computer, electronics, etc.), in the middle of the wholesale market Pratunam, close to the Airlink Station Ratchaprarop with disabled access and at walking distance of Skytrain station Siam Square.

You can visit this Skycraper of 83 floors for lunch, dinner or overnight stay. But what about the accessibility?

You can enter this building at the right side. Here is a ramp, little bit steep but with some support no problem. The rest is a peace of cake. Big elevators to all floors. No thresholds.

We made reservations by Latestays for a room on the 22nd floor. This is a Superior Suite with one bedroom, a bathroom, a walk in closet and a livingroom. Beautiful views two ways. The doors are wide, the bed is of good height and ample space to move around in my wheelchair. The bathroom is okay. No dropdown shower seat, no roll in shower, but grips at every place you will need. The shower has a threshold of 8cm. So when you are in a wheelchair this might be a problem. The toilet and the wash basin are okay. Their is a bath. With a bath seat some will be able to shower here. Or when you are able to stand up and step over a shower chair will do.

Breakfast, dinner, drinks and look out floor can all be reached by disabled people. At the time we stayed here the view was very clear and we could even see Suvarnabhumi airport and the sea. Remember Bangkok is a city were around 11 million people live.

Do you like to know more. Don't hesitate to write and email. In case you are staying in one of our wheelchair accessible accommodations for holidays in Hua Hin you can take a bath seat or a shower chair with you.

In previous posts more wheelchair accessible hotels are described. We all have tried them personally, so we have a lot of pictures and room numbers of these different hotels.

Wheelchair kadokkadek repair Bangkok

July 15, 2011
Wheelchair Kadokkadek.

Sometimes "big shit" happens.

Already in Holland I felt my wheelchair had some trouble. I also told Welzorg and the technician who takes care of my wheelchair. He just put some grease in my wheel.

A few days after my arrival my wheelchair broke down and I wasn't able to drive anymore. And still some time left here in Hua Hin before I could go home. Sitting in a manual wheelchair not able to move around is not an option for me. I would go crazy. Everytime asking my wife to move me from the porch to the computer, from the computer to the TV, from the TV to the swimmingpool, to the restaurant, etc. I feel so disabled. I like my independency in my electric wheelchair.

So I phoned my travel insurance Unive, the company Welzorg, Meyra Nederland and SOS service, etc. And it seemed they just didn't want to help me out. They even had the guts to tell me these things happen on a holiday and I had to help myself. How harsh can they be.

Luckily I shipped a very old wheelchair over from Holland 5 years ago. My wife turned two wheelchars into one. So I was able to move around very slow and with square tires. In Thailand they would say Wheelchair kadokkadek.

I contacted the company Siam Nissin in Bangkok and they were able to help me out. They ordered new parts with Meyra Germany and they send these parts over by DHL. Within a week the parts were in Bangkok. Siam Nissin wrote an email and we made an appointment two days later. Still a little bit uncertain if their first repair attempt of an electric wheelchair would be succesfull. But at the moment they started to fix the wheelchair I saw how professional their technician was. Within the hour they were able to change the parts. And just a few minutes later I was in my iron horse again. Feeling free to go wherever I want.

Congratulations Siam Nissin with your first Meyra wheelchair repair. And a very big "Thank you" to Siam Nissin and their staff.

And now to all my disabled followers I you never need but in case you do you know now where to go.

Wheelchair accessible transport in Thailand

Already a week ago we wrote about our wheelchair accessible Toyota Commuter minivan. In a previous post you could have seen a picture of it. And in Hua Hin you sure cannot miss it while it is driving around.
Now we have made a movie with help of a nice Thai lady who take care of Jan in the morning. She is making some shots while I'm driving the car. So have a look up here and see how (powered) wheelchairs can be restraint with the Q-straint system. Also manual wheelchairs and scooters can be transported in this taxi.

Guests of wheelchair accessible Pool villa Coconut Grove and wheelchair accessible apartment Tira Tiraa get a FREE TRANSFER from Bangkok Airport or a Bangkok Hotel to Hua Hin.*
On request our guests can book this car with driver for trips to Bangkok, Cha-am, Pranburi, Damnoen Saduak Floating market, Kanchanaburi / River Kwai, Tiger temple, Rose Garden, etc.

The handicap van can also take bookings of people who stay in other resorts, hotels and/or individuals who are coming to stay in the Hua Hin area and want safe transfers from Bangkok to Hua Hin visa versa.

For booking and / or more information please contact us by email info@gehandicapten.com  

* Conditions apply.

Accessible restaurants Hua Hin Thailand

January 19, 2011
Hua Hin, Thailand

Another possibility to eat European Food. This time Italian food. We love pasta and we love Italian salads and pizza. So sometimes we visit an Italian restaurant.

We already talked about Pizza Pizza near Villa Market. Mama Mia is a brandnew good Italian Restaurant. Prices are a little bit high because of the ingredients, location and entourage.

It has an access ramp and the door is wide enough for all wheelchairs. The only minor thing are the restrooms. These are on the first floor. It is located on the Naresdamri Road close to the corner with Chomsin Road.
And this is just a 700 meter walk from our wheelchair accessible apartment Tira Tiraa. So you can drink a nice glass of Italian wine and walk home.

But no problem. The Seafood restaurant Shangtai Seafood is just accross the street. If you ask nice I think it is not a problem to use their restroom.

Have a nice dinner.

Wheelchair accessible van manufacturer Bangkok

January 31, 2011
Bangkok

Since 2005 I have been visiting Thailand for many times. And all these times I have been travelling with a taxi with driver. Thailand doesn't know wheelchair accessible vans. So normaly I take ramps with me, ask a driver to take out a seat and make some space for my wheelchair. No floor fixings for my wheelchair, only the seat in front of me to hold me in case anything happens. This is not the way we are used to in Europe.

The traffic in Thailand is so intense, so dense and dangerous that I don't want to travel on the road anymore with these kind of threats. After 6 years I found a very professional company in Bangkok who is able to fit a wheelchair ramp, wheelchair fixings and removable seats. So now I couldn't resist to buy my own Toyota Commuter Van and get it adapted at the moment I speak. And when this is finished I can take my accessible van and go with friends, fellow wheelchair users or just my beach wheelchair and travel safe on the roads in Thailand.

Do you want to know more? Get in touch with info@gehandicapten.com

Holidays and summer holiday.

Patpong night market; child care in resorts necessary.

October 1, 2010
Patpong night market, Silom, Bangkok

Before you go and visit this night marktet make sure your children are well taking care of in the resort or hotel where you are staying. Because this night market where you can buy a imitation of almost everything is not the place to be for young children. But that is of course my Western opinion.

Patpong night market is wheelchair accessible and wellknown for its bars and girls. It is the famous red light district in Bangkok. Is this red light district in Bangkok accesible for wheelchairs? Don't worry. You can walk safe here. The people outside the bars try to lure you in. And it is up to you if you want.Only the menu of the "restaurant" is a little bit different. The first course is "Pussy Pingpong". But in case you like to watch people strolling by take a beer or soda on one of the terraces. It is fun to look what is happening in these streets and see that even small Thai children are present together with their parents who run a shop, market stall or work in one of the many bars.

Patpong night market can be reached with BTS Skytrain. You have to get out at the for wheelchairs adapted station Chong Nonsi or MRT Subway leaving at station Silom with access for handicapped. For more information about this public transport read this post with Google map.

Bangkok BTS Skytrain MRT Subway Airlink to Airport Suvarnabhumi

October 2, 2010
Bangkok, Raillink Suvarnabhumi to Phaya Thai.

Last time when we were visiting Bangkok we had to pick up a friend at the Airport Suvarnabhumi. We like to explore public transport in Bangkok. Why? For one we don't have a car. For two in a car you are always caught up in traffic. And three it is a challenge. We travel in and with an powered wheelchair. We already have discovered that the MRT Subway is wheelchair accessible and some BTS Skytrain stations also.

But now we know and can tell everyone the Airlink / Raillink to Bangkok airport Suvarnabhumi has access for wheelchairs too. Perfect. Within no time you are in the center of Bangkok. Price 15 Baht one way.

And down here you can find all the stations. When you click on one particular station you will get access info. Sometimes I have add a picture, some nice sights or shopping malls within walking distance of the stations.


View Wheelchair access BTS Skytrain MRT Subway Airlink Raillink Airport in a larger map