March 25, 2005
Here's an article by Simon Raines. Tetraplegic (known as Quadriplegic in USA). Age 40.
Disabled people find it very difficult to find holiday accommodation which is truly accessible. Travel agents will often tell you a hotel or villa is wheelchair accessible yet when you arrive, it may have steps up to it, or doorways are too narrow. Even if you do find a suitable venue to stay, including the equipment many disabled people require, there is the problem (especially for the more severely disabled) of getting to it from the airport you fly to. Not to mention travelling about to local towns, supermarkets, restaurants or sightseeing further afield once on your holiday. Wheelchair accessible transport where the wheelchair user may get in a vehicle without leaving the chair simply is not available. My wife and I have experienced all these issues and more which precipitated our decision to address all these issues with our villa detailed below. We hope you agree.
Casa Ourico do Mar has been adapted to suit people of all disabilities. It is situated 20 minutes from Faro airport and is just a 3 minute drive outside the market town of Loulé. Despite its proximity to Loulé the villa is set in a very quiet countryside location. The property is built into the side of a very steep valley affording breathtakingly stunning views down and across a valley and out to the sea.
There is a local café and shop selling essentials within a short distance of the villa as well as a restaurant a bit further down the road.
Loulé is not within realistic walking distance, so we offer an adapted van for use. Loulé offers many restaurants and cafes as well as plenty of shops including several supermarkets and the open air market which attracts visitors from afar every Saturday morning.
The accommodation can sleep six people and up to eight people with use of the bed settee. It comprises 3 twin bedrooms all with en suite bathrooms (2 with wheel-in showers and wardrobes). The larger wheelchair accessible bedroom with wheel in shower and wheel-in wardrobe, one of the beds in this room has a luxury memory foam Tempur mattress or Roho mattress to aid pressure relief. Second smaller wheelchair accessible bedroom also has wheel in shower and wardrobe. The non accessible bedroom has twin beds with ensuite including a bath and shower.
A large open-plan lounge/dining area includes a settee and a bed settee and TV with Sky digibox and card showing Sky World Family Package. There is a portable telephone to make local calls. You may also, with use of the access code we can give you, make international calls for which you will be charged (15 cents (10p)/minute to the UK). The kitchen includes an electric cooker and gas hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washing machine (in pool side store room), kettle, coffee maker and toaster. There is a large terrace with eating and barbeque area leading off from the lounge and kitchen (also accessible from car parking area), which has views out over the valley and to the sea - relax, enjoy the views and enjoy the sunsets!
Access to pool and large terrace area is from the lounge via a large 'straight in - straight out' 2 x 1.10 metre Otis lift. This area consists of a heated pool with hoist (both seat and sling options) and built in steps in the shallow end, pool side room with relaxed seating and fridge to keep your drinks cool, flat terracing surrounded by garden below. The salt water swimming pool is 4 x 10 metres in size and is heated to 25ºC (May to October incl.) but this can be increased up to 30º or nearly 35ºC on request (extra - see prices). The property also has central heating and softened water.
This property is built into the side of a very steep valley affording spectacular views and is therefore on split levels - each level is accessed by the large lift. The lower level is the pool and terrace area; the middle level is the 3 bedroom rental unit and the top level is occupied by us. Guests park their car on the middle level and have flat access to their property, using the lift to get to the pool where they have total privacy. My wife Denise is fully qualified in Aromatherapy Massage, Reflextherapy. Metamorphic Technique and Professional Energy Field Therapy and your stay entitles you to one free treatment per group. Of course, all of these are available on site to all at reasonable prices, why not relax and enjoy a massage by the pool!
Posted by James Trotta at March 25, 2005 12:22 PM