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.

Hungary, wheelchair at Lake Velence

Hungary, land of peppers, garlic and onions. But also land of beautiful lakes, gipsy music and part of the European Union. Changing fast in a modern community with wheelchair access.

One of the lakes in Hungary is Lake Velence. A small shallow lake, partly nature reserve, and partly a favorit destination for tourists and local people. Lake Velence has very pleasant water temperatures. So in springtime it is already busy at the lakeside with walkers, bikers, swimmers, wakeboarders, etc.
A smooth bike path around the lake gives handbikers, mobility scooter drivers and wheelchair users the opportunity to enjoy the lake the way they can.

To show you this Lake and all the things you can do around here watch this movie.

 

Within 100 meter from this beach you will find a wheelchair accessible holiday home, which can accommodate 6 people and which has a private pool. More information can be found on the website of Gehandicapten.com.

Questions? Don't hesitate to write an email to Gehandicapten.com

Wheelchair access to holiday accommodation

In Southern France within walking distance of the Mediterranean Sea you will find this wheelchair accessible condominium. Adapted to the needs of wheelchair users, slow walkers and senior travellers.

The video shows you the entrance of this adapted holiday rental by car / wheelchair with remote control and the private back entrance of this condo with wheelchair access.

The owner, starring in this video, is wheelchair user himself due to a muscular disease.

 

More information about this holiday accommodation for rent can be found on this website.

Or email to the owner.

The apartment is located in Canet Plage. Within walking distance you will find the beach and the boulevard, supermarket, restaurants and pubs with sunny terraces, ATM, take away food, shops, markets and even McDonalds for those you don't like French croissants, wine and cheese.

News for disabled on holiday in Thailand

A year has gone and and new year has begun. And now WheelchairThailand likes to tell you about the changes realized in 2012. These changes allow you to have a holiday of a lifetime in Hua Hin, Thailand.

Pool villa Si Daeng (red)
Our second pool villa was bought in 2012. After a serious reconstruction and renovation this pool villa is wheelchair accessible througout. A modern interior design in combination with Thai art gives this pool villa its own caracter. You will feel at home within a day.

Pool villa on Coconut Grove, Soi 102, Hua Hin, Thailand.

 

 

 

This holiday homes in the Land of Smiles has 3 wheelchair accessible bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with roll in shower. Each bedroom has at least one hospital bed integrated in the normal beds. In the bathrooms have a drop down shower seat and drop down grips. More informationon the website of Gehandicapten.com .

This luxury villa is located at only 30 meters of the first holiday home. Both houses together can accommodate 12 adults at the same time of which 8 wheelchair users. So a group of friends, more than one family or disabled living in care resorst can enjoy the friendly service of Thai people during a adventurous holidays.

 

Pool villa Si Khiao (green)
Our guest book in this holiday home is our guide to improvement. So once a while we update our pool villa according their wishes. This time we have changed / renewed the pool hoist with a comfortable seat with drop down armrests. The seat can be adjusted to wheelchair seat height.

A new wash basin, imported from Europe and designed for wheelchair users, has been installed in the wheelchair accessible bathroom. A tap with one long handle is within easy reach of those with a reduced arm and hand function.

On top of the desk in the living room a printer has been installed which can be used for free by our guests.

Medical equipment
Guests staying in our houses could already use our manual adjustable hoist. Now guests can also use our electric hoist with different kind of slings adjustable with clips or loops.

Beach wheelchair in Hua Hin, Thailand.

And a new kind of beach wheelchair is added to our collection of medical aids.

Mobility scooters
Many disabled people travel with only their manual wheelchair although travelling with an electric wheelchair is possible. But we have a solution. Mobility scooter are for rent now in Hua Hin. For more information please send an email to wheelchairthailand@gmail.com  Guests of Gehandciapten.com get a discount of 10% stating "Olarit" with their booking.

Staff
Our staff is great and gives excellent service. Our general manager, the housekeeper in our first pool villa and the cleaning lady in our apartment welcomed a welcomed a fourth staff member, the housekeeper for the second pool villa. Every staff member stays in close touch with our general manager.
And we have welcomed our steady driver who drives our guests from the airport to Hua Hin and back. He enjoy taking guests on trips and tours in and around Hua Hin.

More information about our holiday homes, tours and trips can be found with the links below. When you have questions left don't hesitate to send an email to info@gehandicapten.com .

Website NL                 http://www.gehandicapten.com

Website DE                 http://www.behinderten.eu

Website GB                 http://www.wheelchairaccessibleholidayhomesfordisabledpeople.com

Website FR                 http://www.handicapes.eu

Website NL/GB          http://www.tiratiraa.nl

Blog EN                      http://wheelchairthailand.blogspot.com

Blog NL                       http://vakantie-gehandicapten.blogspot.com

Transfer/trips           http://wheelchair-thailand-tours.weebly.com/index.html


Maps                         https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=205687434391224233082.00047b1c34a356a98f153&msa=0&ll=12.55381,99.964299&spn=0.024547,0.049567

Twitter                       http://twitter.com/gehandicapten

Youtube                       http://www.youtube.com/user/WheelchairThailand

Picasa Photos              https://picasaweb.google.com/108872149653766238486

Facebook                     http://www.facebook.com/wheelchairthailand

Facebook                     http://www.facebook.com/Gehandicapten

New arrival in Hua Hin Beach Resort

Beach wheelchair in Hua Hin, Thailand

WheelchairThailand Hua Hin has imported the first really floating beach wheelchair. Now disabled, dlow walkers, wheelchair users and otherwise handicapped people can enjoy the water of the Gulf of Thailand. With this Beach Resort Hua Hin is changing into Care Resorts Hua Hin.

You want to use this beach wheelchair? Contact wheelchairthailand@gmail.com for more information.

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.

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.

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 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

Accessible restaurants in Hua Hin

January 17, 2011
Fuji Restaurant

This Japanese restaurant is located on the second floor in Market Village. The restaurant has a level entrance to the terrace in front and a level entrance into the restaurant. The restaurants in Market Village don't have toilets in the restaurant. The toilets also for wheelchair users can be found on all floors of Market Village.

Jan and I also go to this restaurant to eat Sushi. Well I eat sushi and Jan eats something else. He doen't like raw fish. We can recommend this restaurant. Try it yourself and you know it. And you can shop till you drop before and after dinner.

Market Village is just 2,5 km from our wheelchair accessible holiday home Coconut Grove.

There is another Japanese restaurant in town. It is in front of the Sofitel hotel on the corner of Naresdamri Road and Thanon Damnoen Kasem. But this has one huge step in front. So the accessibility is lousy. You have to bring your the ramps of one of our accommodations to overcome this step.

This restaurant is close to apartment TiraTiraa adapted for disabled people in wheelchairs and scooters. And also close to our Studio74 suitable for travel companions of handicapped persons.

Accessible holidays in Amazing Thailand 3

Accessible hotels in Hua Hin, Thailand are booming business. In the previous post I talked about a beautiful 5 star hotel where we have stayed 5 years ago.

The hotel in this post is new. It opened its doors in winter of 2010. It is located between Petchkasem Road and the beach, opposite Soi 98.

We have visited this hotel once and it is wheelchair accessible till you come to the swimming pool and beach area. The beach cannot be reached and also the beach / swimming pool bar and restaurant is out of reach for wheelchair users. The deck chairs are near the restaurant. So your companions can not have a sun bed.

Never the less it is a beautiful hotel and it has excellent service. The price is around 7.000 Baht for a double room ex breakfast, 7,7% vat and 10% Service charge.

The hotel has no medical equipment and does not offer wheelchair accessible transfers or transport for disabled.

Compare this to the pool villa Coconut Grove.

Treats for all guests in 2011. Wheelchair Thailand celebrates anniversary.

Here is some wonderful news for our present and future guests in 2011. But also good news for everyone who is planning to stay with us this year in one of our wheelchair accessible holiday homes. We are celebrating our 10th anniversary.


Wheelchair Thailand celebrates its Birthday.
In 2011 Wheelchair Thailand exists 10 years.
Therefore we treat our guests to presents.

In the past 10 years we could welcome you as our guest in our wheelchair accessible holiday homes. Or we are welcoming you in Hungary, France or Thailand for the first time in 2011. Your loyalty, your trust and your feedback in or about our resorts is highly appreciated. To show our gratitude we treat our costumers / guests in 2011 to a local experience like wine tasting, a visit to a wellness center, a daytrip, etc. Naturally all accessible to wheelchair users.

In the future we will continue to make an effort to keep your trust and use your comment or feedback to increase our level of service and improve our accommodations to your needs.

So let us take care of you in beach resort Canet en Roussillon, France or in Royal beach resort Hua Hin, Thailand or Lake Velence beach resort, Hungary.

HannekeFronik

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.

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.

Wheelchair accessible hotels Bangkok Thailand

October 2, 2010

Sofitel Hotel, Silom, Bangkok

Like we already have proved before we always try a different hotel. Why? Because we want to tell our customers and fellow wheelchair users who want to visit Bangkok which hotel is accessible to them.
Well this time we made a reservaton in the Sofitel Hotel Silom in Bangkok. Why do we want to stay here? It is Silom. Very alive at night, nice shopping, nightmarket Patpong, and accessible public transport all   within walking distance.

But what a disappointment for a wheelchair user like me. At the time of booking the promised me they had an accessible geust room. When I arrived they didn't have a room like this. The bedroom was okay after moving some furniture. But he bathroom was completely inaccessible. Two small 30cm doors turning outwards into the already narrow hallway. So turning into the bathroom in your wheelchair was absolutely impossible. The door into the shower was even smaller. No grip near the toilet. A built in wash basin with no space underneath for my knees. And for wheelchair users a horrible useless bathtub. So for one night my wife and I managed.

But the second surprise came the morning after. The breakfast restaurant had two steps. And like we all know a powered wheelchair is to heavy to lift. So we had to make a complaint at the front desk. Two options were open. Breakfast at the 27th floor or room service. Well we had breakfast like we expected, but the relaxing stay we had hoped for was gone.

Wheelchair hotels Thailand

June 12, 2007.
Kanchanaburi.

Three years ago we have visited Kanchanaburi for the first time. The first day we took a look at the graveyard, the death railway and the museum. We only didn't want to visit the WOII memorial sights but also the surrounding areas. So we had to look for hotels which could accommodate me in my wheelchair.

In March we had received an email from a Dutch couple. They just opened a small resort with cottages for up to 2-6 persons. Two of these cottages would be wheelchair accessible. So of course I had to check this out. We booked a cottage for us and our house keeper. And what they said was true; the cottage was well adpated for wheelchair users. Only the path to the 6 pax cottage was very steep and long. But the view over the River Kwai and the surrounding lush tropical garden was breath taking.

After a nice breakfast we took Djo's advice and visited Khmer temples and a big dam used to make electricity. The Erawan National Park is closeby but hopeless for wheelchair users. And some people vistit the Hell fire pass. But not wheelchair friendly either. So after this day we went back to Hua Hin.

Wheelchair tour, part three.

February 2008, Rose Garden.

On your way to Bangkok you will pass Rose Garden. This themepark consists of a beautiful tropical garden around a lake, riverside restaurants, shops and Thai houses. Everyday performers entertain people with a stunning cultural Thai and elephant show. All accessible to wheelchair users. Don't miss this oppurtunity when you visit Hua Hin or Bangkok.

This tour can easily be matched with the Floating market trip. We can provide you with an accurate time schedule for both tours.

Wheelchairtours, part one.

February 2, 2010.
Bangkok.

Thailand is known for his beautiful sights. All tour operators offer trips, but they don't offer wheelchair accessible tours. Backpackers can take the train, bus or the boat. Able bodied tourists can book a trip and join the group. People in wheelchairs have to take a minibus. Problem is to find a minivan for wheelchair users.

Guests of our accommodations will be offered a package of exclusive tours and trips to a variety of sights, events, shopping centers, etc. Tours in minivans with wheelchair fixations. Tours which we have checked personnally on accessibility for powered wheelchairs. We even know a few luxurious and well adapted hotels and resorts for an overnight stay. We have stayed there ourselves, we have pictures to show you and we can tell you about it first hand.

Accessdisabled, Thailand Trains

February 22, 2005.
Hua Hin train station.

The first time we were in Thailand we have visited Hua Hin Train station and the Royal Waiting Room. And every time we have visitors we show them the station. When you see pictures of Hua Hin you will always see this waiting room. Hua Hin is famous for this sight. Lovely to see. Back in time. And although wheelchair users can access the station the access to the trains is disabled.

We always tell people they have to take a look at the sign which points out where the wheelchair accessible toilet / restroom is. And the western world is debating the correct word for people in wheelchairs, impaired, etc. What is in a name?