Accessible Budapest, Hungary near Lake Velence

If you plan to visit Budapest, the capital of Hungary, this page will provide you some useful information on the accessibility of important historical and heritage sites and of other facilities. First of all it must be stated that Budapest does not belong to the cities with high level accessibility in Europe, it is probably at medium level. This means, a part of the transportation, most parts of the built historical environment, most five and four star hotels, a few three star hotels, few restaurants, coffee shops and churches, some of the wellknown medical baths and museums, as well as all shopping centers have an access or are adapted to the needs of people first of all with physical disability, using wheelchair. Attention has been more and more devoted to people with visual, mental and other disabilities as well. Our aim is to create tourism for all in Budapest.

Covered market in Budapest, wheelchair access.

  

Historical and heritage sites and buildings in the Buda Castle  

Situated on a hill at the river Danube, the town Buda (Buda Castle) used to be the capital of Hungary between cca. 1250 and 1873. The historical town including the Royal Palace, surrounded by medieval walls – today 1st district of Budapest, generally called the Castle area – offers the most important sights, the most beautiful  places  to  visit.  The river side and the Castle area belong to the UNESCO World Heritage.

Access to the area:

• Cars are banned from the Castle District in order to protect historical built environment from pollution: only people who live or work in the area, guests of the hotels, taxis, bus nr.16, 16A, 116 as well as cars or microbuses taking persons with physical disability – placing their blue parking card (valid all over Europe) under the windscreen – have permission to drive in free of charge. Bus nr.16 has also a low-floor bus with ramp. Other vehicles will be charged or must be left in the parking place up in the Castle area. At the entrance gates in Hunyadi János Street or Várfok Street the button of „Hotel” must be pushed and the provided ticket taken from the equipment. When leaving the Castle area (on Palota Street) the ticket should be put into the equipment.

• The Funicular (Budavári Sikló) take people from Clark Ádám square (at Chain Bridge) up to the Royal Palace. It is the fully accessible, please see the wheelchair logo. One way costs 1.000 HUF, two ways cost 1.700 HUF. For further information please see www.bkk.hu. (Valid in 2014)      

• The Elevator (Gyorslift) take people from Palota street at Dózsa György Square up to the western side of the Royal Palace (National Széchenyi Library). One way costs 200 HUF (0,6 EUR). It is fully accessible and free of charge for people using wheelchair.  

Mátyás Church (1014 Budapest, Országház u. 14.) – In 2013 fresh renovated.This is the main parish church of the Castle area, a historical building, a symbol of Budapest. People with disabilities can visit the Church with a free ticket. The entrance which is close to the Fisherman Bastion can be used barrierfree. The free ticket can be obtained at the ticket office next to the Church, and at the same time it can also be requested to open that barrierfree door, which is otherwise not always open. In front of the Church the tactile modell of the Mátyás Church and Fisherman’s Bastion with braille inscription is placed.   For more information please see: www.matyas-templom.hu

Fisherman’s Bastion (Halászbástya) – near Mátyás Church: from the ground floor people can enjoy the beautiful view to the river Danube, the Margaret Island and the City of Pest.

Eastern in Hua Hin, Thailand





HAPPY EASTERN

Have fun searching for eggs and making these lovely eastern eggs with your children.

Gehandicapten.com

Eastern eggs in Hua Hin, Thailand by http://www.gehandicapten.com

Thai people don't celebrate Eastern. They are Buddhists. There big celebration time of year is around April 14 each year. Then Thai people celebrate New Year, so called Songkran. I already wrote a post about Songkran. Look further on this Blog and you will find lots of information about accessibility in Hua Hin and Thailand which is very interesting to disabled people from around the world.

 

Best Practices, Disabled parking in Hua Hin

Disabled Parking

Pranburi, feb. 2012.

The last few months I have been thinking of starting a new serie. Best Practices in Hua Hin and surrounding areas concerning accessibility.
We came across several disabled parking places, but always belonging to hotels or condominiums like Tira Tiraa. But yesterday I came accross the first disabled parking place near a public building.

This parking place is located on the parking lawn of the Pranburi Diver License Office. And yes it is wide enough, long enough and marked with a blue surface and a white wheelchair sign in it. The sign has a white wheelchair and "disabled parking" in Thai and English written.

Okay this is Pranburi and not Hua Hin. But good examples will be followed. So thank you Pranburi driver license office. We are very happy you include disabled people and provide them with accessible parking.

We do hope Hua Hin will follow this best practice of accessibility and make disabled parking places near the municipality, post office, banks, police stations, beaches, parks, shopping malls and so on.

Design for all, Society for accessible travel and hospitality

SATH, Society of Accessibility
for Travel and Hospitality, USA

September 2011
Design for all, India

A few months ago Mrs. Jani Nayar invited us to write an article about accessibility for the disabled traveller in Thailand. Mrs. Nayar is executive coordinator of SATH (Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality) in New York and was guest editor of the September newsletter from Design for all in India. We were very honoured with her request and happy about the possibility to promote accessible travel in Thailand.

In our article we wrote about accessible (public) transport, accessible accommodations and accessibility of tourist sights in whole Thailand, but mainly in Bangkok and Hua Hin.

Go here to read the article, page 55 to 64.

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.

Accessible shopping Hua Hin Nadpob market

February 24, 2011
Hua Hin Nadpob market

Some people are not amused in place the new shopping mall on Satukarn Square. But wheelchair users like me are happy. The old shops were not wheelchair accessible. High steps into shops, high curbs, no ramps, no adapted toilet, etc.

Last year I already wrote a Blogpost about this market / shoppingmall telling everyone it would be wheelchair accessible. In February during my last stay I have visited this mall and I can confirm the accessibility. An access ramp to overcome the curve close to the entrance of the garage, access ramps into the shopping mall, elevator with ample space for wheelchairs and scooters, accessible restroom for wheelchair users and nice shops.

So they made an effort to make this mall accessible. Let us show them that we appreciate this effort and visit them.

Airlink Bangkok Makkasan Station

Airlink, Suvarnabhumi Airport to Phaya Thai, Bangkok

February 7, 2011
Bangkok Makkasan

A few months ago we have updated you with information about the Airlink. We wrote about our trip from Suvarabhumi Airport to Phaya Thai Station. We took pictures to show the accessibility of the Airlink and published these pictures in our Picasa Webalbum.

This time we took a close look at the Makkasan Airlink Station. Here you can take both lines, the city line and the express line to Suvarnabhumi Airport. This station also has check-in facilities for every flight leavig from Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport. We saw just one person checking in. So no lines and no waiting here. And they also have an Oversized luggage counter where you can check-in your powered wheelchair or your golf clubs.
When you take the express train you will arrive within 15 minutes at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Makkasan Station is two stations before the end of the line. It is close to Petchaburi MRT Station. And when you have read our messages in this Blog about the subway you already know that the MRT subway is wheelchair accessible. This gives lot of possibilities. The MRT can bring you from Petchaburi to Sukhumvit where you can change to the Skytrain station Asok. From Asok you can travel to Siam Square.

Like this many hotels and tourist attractions are within reach of disabled people. Even wheelchair users can travel without a minivan in Bangkok. And we like it.

But in case you need a taxi with a ramp to bring you to Hua Hin look at this Youtube video of a taxi with wheelchair and occupant restraint system according to ADA and European disability standards.

Hua Hin Markets, wheelchair accessible?

February 23, 2011
Hua Hin Floating Market

A few weeks ago we came accross a road sign to the floating market. Not the wellknown floating market Damnoen Saduak near Bangkok but the on on Soi 112 in Hua Hin.

Following the sign we had to drive for about 6 km in our wheelchair accessible minivan along this road. We found the place where they are buidling this market and the sign telling they have a website.
It is in the middle of nowhere, 11 km out of the center of Hua Hin. The only thing what is near the Arrow wood factory and showroom where the furniture of our wheelchair accessible apartment Tira Tiraa in Hua Hin was made.

We still don't know anything about the accessibility. But what we have seen on their website it is not very promising. We keep you updated.

Wheelchair accessible hotels Bangkok

January 26, 2011
IBIS hotel, Bangkok

I have stayed in many hotels in Bangkok and always try another hotel in my search for wheelchair accessible hotels in Bangkok. I love Bangkok and like to explore this city together with my wife. I have a muscular disease since childhood which effects my whole body. I cannot walk, stand or transfer to another seat or toilet. I need help with almost everything. Therefore I use a powered wheelchair all the time to stay as independent as possible. When you use a powered wheelchair like I do you don't have an option. The hotel needs to be wheelchair accessible. And Thailand knows wheelchair accessibility in a lot of variations. So I was surprised by this hotel.

In this picture taken by my wife you see me at the reception of the IBIS hotel, my shower wheelchair and my Thai care taker Nahm. At first they gave us room 547 but this wasn't a room for disabled people. After a complaint they gave us room 406. And this was absolutely a wheelchair accessible room. The bathroom had a roll in shower, the bed was as high as the seat of my wheelchair and enough space for me turn my wheelchair next to the bed and in the bathroom.

The hotel itself is very good adapted for wheelchair users. The only minor disadvantage is a little step of a few centimeters from the hotel to the pool area. I needed help here, but a paraplegic can do this on his own.

The hotel is located at the Chao Praya Riverside. The terrace and garden along the river offers beuatiful views of the river, the passing boats and the Shangri-la hotel. And this for the nice price of 1800 Baht per night including taxes and breakfast.

For more pictures of wheelchair access of this hotel look at my Picasa Webalbum of IBIS Riverside Hotel.

You don't need a car and driver overhere. The Skytrain is closeby and this station is wheelchair accessible. For more info about the Public transport in Bangkok read my previous posts about BTS, Airlink and MRT.

Have a nice stay and leave your comments here.

Wheelchair Thailand Wishes

Restaurants and accommodations with wheelchair access in Hua Hin

September 30, 2010
Terrace 94

We had seen the sign "Terrace 94, 250m" before but didn't check this place out. There are so many restaurants closing and so many restaurants opening it is almost impossible to check out every new restaurant on accessibility. But on recommendation of our friend Hans V. we've paid it a visit.

This restaurant has two levels. A groundfloor and a second floor. The entrance is a little bit difficult. From the road you go down into the gutter and then you get a steep ramp onto the terrace of the restaurants. My safety wheels at the back of my wheelchair preventing to flip backwards were touching the pavement. My back wheels came of the pavement. So my wife had to push me through. Then the access ramp leeds you onto the terrace. This is the only spot where a wheelchair users can sit unless you take the big step into the restaurant. The second floor is out of reach.

We had diner here on friday night. It seams to be the restaurant which was located in the old Papa John restaurant opposite the Sofitel hotel on the Naresdamri Road. The menu shows different kind of foods. European, Thai and Mexican. Jan tried mexican food and I tried European. The Mexican enchillada was served with the inside still cold. The steak was okay.
The restaurant had live music on the second floor during this evening. But the music down stairs was not turned off. So we had to listen to two kinds of music at the same time.

Since one time is no time we are not going to judge this restaurant on its quality. But the wheelchair access to this restaurant remains difficult. Terrace 94 is located at Soi 94. Soi 94 is located in the middle of our wheelchair accessible accommodations, Apartment Tira Tiraa and Pool villa Coconut Grove.

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

Accessible restaurants in Hua Hin

September 24, 2010.
Hua Hin Center.

Downtown Hua Hin many good seafood restaurants are located on Naresdamri Road. The restaurant in the picture is Sangthai Seafood. One out of two restaurants which are frequently visited by Thai, foreigners, falang and tourists.

They have great seafood. We like the fried sun dried squid, the charcoal grilled tiger prawn, steamed fish in lemon sauce, fish fillet in curry, etc.

The service is good. The waiters and waitresses keep an eye on you and your table. They refill your glass, they serve complementary fruit at the end and the people are friendly.

The accessibility of the restaurant is perfect. And since a little while they even have a wheelchair accessible restroom. The first restaurant in this street who saw the potential of more customers. And for this they deserve at least one visit of every wheelchair using person.

Where to find Sangthai Seafood? Coming from Tira Tiraa wheelchair accessible apartment you walk, 100 meters, towards Soi 70. Turn left onto Soi 70 and walk down to Petchkasem road, 160 meter. Cross the road and continue walking on Soi 55. All the way down to the sea, 350 meter. You will see Sangthai seafood in front of you.

There are more wheelchair accessible restaurants. You can have a look at the pictures of these restaurants and even see where they are located.

Have a nice diner.

Accessible hotels Hua Hin, the Thai way

January 2010.
Jan in front of The Old Buffalo, Hua Hin.

A few months back I got an email from a Norwegian woman about her trip to Thailand. She found a place to stay and ask me for wheelchair accessible transport to Hua Hin. Since I was very curious where she was going to stay I asked the name of the hotel. It was The Old Buffalo. The same night we went to see the place already sure it wasn't what she hoped for. At instant we saw this place is not accessible. So we took pictures at the outside and wrote her an email that we would arrange her tranfer but that the hotel wasn't accessible. See the picture here.

She wrote back to us the owner would make a ramp. Since the entrance is on the road the ramps would be very steep. And so it was. The ramp was as long as the staircase is high. She tried the ramp and the first time she nearly fell over backwards. We went into the hotel helping here with the luggage, etc. And I took pictures to show to Jan later. He was staying outside because he tought the ramp was to steep and to dangerous. After the ramp and the entrance follows a narrow hallway (no turning here in your wheelchair). The elavator to the top floor is fine, but then the worst part begins. Step up, step down, only sun on the roof top terrace, etc. Barking dogs at night. Cars driving up and down the road, parking in front of the restaurants down stairs.
This is just another example of Thai accessibility although an Englishman is running this place. He should know better.

I have two positive things to say about this place. The view from the roof top terrace is great. And you are in the middle of the town.
So why not turn this roof top into a luxurious loungebar or first class restaurant? You already have a pub / restaurant downstairs appreciated by many people.

My advice. DON'T GO THERE WHEN YOU ARE IN A WHEELCHAIR.

Accessible travel. How to choose!

September 11, 2010.
Road down to Hua Hin.

Many years of traveling in my powered wheelchair doesn't make me the Guru of accessible travel. But I can tell a lot about my experience. I have traveled in a caravan, I have traveled to cottages, I have been flying to different parts of the World and stayed in different kinds of accommodations. Accommodations more or less adapted to handicapped people. Sometimes very satisfying, sometimes very disappointing.

So here some tips how to choose your accommodation.
1 Find the original website of the accommodation. Google the hotel, the resort, etc.
2 Read carefully the description. Try to find all the information about accessibility.
3 What is important to you. Write an email to the accommodation with all your questions about accessibility.
4 Location. In the center of town, at the skirts of the town center or in the middle of nowhere. Ask for proof. For instance the picture. A resort which aims to be accessible and tells you they are 10 min from the town center. Is this ten minutes of walking, driving a car, cycling a bike or what? I investigated the location. They are 12 km out of the center in the middle of nowhere.
5 How to get around. Most of the time you will and have to go out for lunch and/or dinner. Or you just want to walk and look around at your destination. I go crazy at the country side. I like to see and to meet people. I don't like to stay in a resort where the only distraction are the same people at the same pool every day. And I don't like to order a taxi every time I think of leaving the accommodation. I don't like to take shuttle service at fixed times. I like to be free in my wheelchair. So check how you can get around.
6 Price Price can vary a lot in Hua Hin. So check out the different possibilities like hotel, guesthouse, villa or apartment. Ask how many people can stay for this price. And what you get for your money. For instance the resort in the picture. This resort asks 15.200 Baht / 40.2 = 378 Euro per night for a groundfloor apartment in high season, max 4 persons, in the middle of nowhere. Compare this price to Tira Tiraa ground floor adapted apartment. Apartment per night, high season, 4 persons, down town Hua Hin, 167 Euro or 6713 Baht.

Do you have more tips. Please write a comment on this Blog. We and fellow disabled travelers will appreciate every positive input.

Accessible hotels Thailand

Febuary 5, 2010.
China Town, Bangkok

Thai accessibility is sometimes hazardous when you are trusting the hotel staff or a taxi driver. For instance this hotel. The main entrance has 5 steps. Luckily I had some ramps with me in the van. Once I got into the hotel the first/groundfloor was level. The elevator is good.

The size of the room is okay, the price is good, but the bathroom is off. No step here, but you cannot enter the shower in your shower wheelchair. Toilet height 38 cm, like expected. Only one single grip mounted too heigh on the wall. Not enough space to park your wheelchair next to the toilet, etc. Wash basin in counter top which leaves little space for your legs and knees.

The floor where the pool is located can not be reached with a wheelchair. The elevator doesn't stop at this floor.

Later on I found the back door. Here is a steep ramp for deliveries. You need help even when you are in a powered wheelchair. No guards, so everyone can come in.

Nice restaurant on top floor. Great view over Bangkok and Chao Phraya Rover.

Accessible villas Hua Hin, Thailand

17 February 2007.

With this Blog we try to tell people about the accessibility of Hua Hin in Thailand. And we like to tell people more about adapted accommodations. We would like to start with accessible villas. Holiday homes which can accommodate wheelchair users. We invite people to add their accessible villa in a comment.

Accessibility celebrated in America

The White House Blog

Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act with Substance.

The accessible world started here 20 years ago. Nearly 18 years ago we have visited Florida and in that time we already were able to rent an adapted car, accessible hotel rooms, visit theme parks, etc.
At this time the challenge of making the world a better place for disabled people has moved to the East. And with this Blog WheelchairThailand is making a small effort to contribute by rising awareness.

Access to Maruekatayawan Palace

January 31, 2010. The Palace of love and hope, Hua Hin.

During our first visit to Hua Hin, Thailand we have visited this Palace. And we were astonished by its beauty. It is located halfway Hua Hin and Cha-am. You could roam around freely on the Palace grounds and even in the Palace. You just had to take your shoes off and leave them. Since then a few things have changed.

There is a ticket boot at the entrance of the Palace grounds. Different prices for Thai and foreign people. An information centre was built with an exposition of the building. Only limited number of people can enter the Palace at the same time. You still have to take your shoes off but now you can put them in a shoe bag and take them with you. So you dont have to walk back to get them. Rooms are protectet with cords.

Now about the accessiblitly. The open plan Palace and the Palace Garden are beautiful and definitely worth a visit. The Palace garden and the information centre are wheelchair accessible. They have renewed the restrooms for handicapped people. The Palace itself is not accessible. Unless you have yourself and your manual wheelchair lifted to the second floor or are still able to walk stairs with some help. When you are in a wheelchair you can look into the Hall from the outside which is located at the ground floor. And afterwards look to the pictures and listen to the experience of your travel companions.

This visit will take about two hours. Afterwards it is very nice to visit Cha-am beach. Have some food, a few (soft)drinks and watch what is happening on the beach. A perfect lazy afternoon.

Hua Hin Nadpob market, wheelchair accessible

This is news. This is hot. Wheelchair Thailand is happy to announce that Hua Hin Nadpob Market will be wheelchair accessible. Hua Hin Nadpob Market is being built at Satukarn Square in the centre of Hua Hin. The building site is surrounded by a very colourful fence.

Nadpob Market will provide:
- Ramp access with rail at the front, the back and the side entrances.
- Elevators from the uderground car park to the 1st and 2nd floor.
- Wheelchair accessible restrooms on the 1st and 2nd floor.
- Ramp access to the hotel Baan Silarhom Hua Hin at the backside.

WheelchairThailand will take pictures of the accessibility when Nadpob Market is open and publish these on this Weblog and on our Picasa Webalbum. Hua Hin Nadpob Market is located just 500 meter from our apartment Tira Tiraa for disabled people.

Hua Hin Nadpob will have shops for products and services of premium quality for standard or lower price. The restaurants on the 1st floor will serve good quality food with fine taste. And the food court on the second floor will serve local food from Petchaburi, Hua Hin, Pranburi and Prachuap Khirikhan.

We like to thank Mrs. Primprao Punsoni for the information. We wish her and Hua Hin Nadpob Market good luck.