Destination Algarve - Portugal

Categories Disabled,Family, Singles, Over 50's
Travelled with Wheeling Around the Algarve www.player.pt
  
Length of Stay 7 days
 

When to visit Although its all down to personal preference you'll find the following helpful:

- peak season - july & august
busy, 26c to 32c, lots of night life, activities etc but prices at their
highest.
- mid season - may/june & sep/oct
not so hot (22c to 26c) and not so busy, prices middle-of-the-range. Good
time of year to enjoy the great climate but escape the hussle 'n' bussle of
the busy tourist season.
- low season - nov to apr
mild short winter rarely colder than 16 to 18c. Prices at their lowest and
climate good enough to enjoy long winter breaks.
  
The Experience I've been in a wheelchair for almost 15 years, after a car accident and breaking my back. Over the years I've searched high and low for holiday destinations that would be accessible for me and my wheelchair, and after reading about Wheeling Around The Algarve, I sent them an email. I got a reply right away from Dave Player, who answered all my questions and assured me that everything I needed was available. My first impression was, "I've heard this before!" but as Dave is also a wheelchair user also, this time I felt more comfortable that everything was as described and that I wouldn't find too many unexpected or nasty surprises, as I've found nearly every other time I've ventured off on holiday. I explained that I wanted to go on holiday with a friend and was looking for a villa that was accessible for me, yet 'normal' - not a 'hospital type' room or 'wheelchair ghetto'. I also wanted to rent a car with hand controls and wanted to do lots of site seeing and enjoy some sport & leisure activities. Dave kept saying, "No problem" and I was getting more and more excited about my upcoming holiday.
      

We booked a wonderful villa that was perfect, in a lovely country spot with spectacular views of the countryside, right down to the coast. On the first day we sat around the pool and relaxed in the sun. Dave's Rep, who met us on arrival at Faro airport and showed us to the villa, came around on the second day, as promised, with lots of useful information on things to do and places to go.

We wanted to get on to a beach and were given details of a beach that was accessible.

 

    

For some fun, on one day we decided to rent a Trigger, which is a fantastic buggy which is controlled only by hands only, so perfectly suitable for disabled people, and we popped my wheelchair onto the rack at the back, wheels in the boot and drove it down to the beach for some lunch (picture = gerda 099.jpg).

I met up with Dave one evening for a meal and he suggested I try out some karting. Dave set up the first international karting championship for disabled drivers (www.parakart.net) so there were karts available for us to drive.

In all my 15 years in a wheelchair I've never had an opportunity to drive something like a racing kart and was
really nervous at first, but was totally thrilled with the experience.

      

I really wanted to go sailing as Dave had found a few boats that were suitable but I didn't have enough time. Because of all my previous bad experiences, I only booked a 1 week holiday and when the time came to leave, I wished I'd booked for the normal 2 weeks. There was so much to see and do, and so many accessible facilities to enjoy, that I decided to pack Dave into my suitcase and bring him home, so he could do his magic where I live!

     
I've never enjoyed such a fantastic holiday and know I will not find another destination that offers so much. I will be going back to the Algarve for a longer holiday next time and can fully recommend Wheeling Around The Algarve to any wheelchair user looking for accessible holiday facilities.
 
 
Fab Tips Many people think the Algarve is a resort but it's actually Portugal's southern-most county, that runs the 170kms coastline from the Spanish border to Cape St Vincent (Europe's most south-westerly point). The EN125 main road and IP1 motorway, that run east-to-west and parallel with the coast, are excellent ways to get around the Algarve easily without getting lost. Nearly all tourist developments are south of the en125 and everything north of this road is untouched rural Algarve, where life carries on as it has done for 100's of years - markets, small farms, cork producers, fruit & veg stalls and lots of history and culture dating back to the Moors and Romans.
  

Little Known Facts Hannibal landed with his elephants on the beaches near portimao before his epic march on Rome.
The young Julius Caesar was the governor of the region and amassed the necessary wealth from the local mines that financed his massive campaigns around Europe.
Lagos was the first european city to trade in slaves, and also the first to abolish the trade. The slave market still stands.

 
Must See Attractions Get in a car and explore the interior of the Algarve, and eastern Algarve between Faro and Spain to enjoy some interesting sites - rural villages, roman ruins & bridges, fishing villages, churches and lots more.
  
Eating Out Black Horse beach is a secret little spot few visitors get to find as it's hidden away down a sandy track through a wooded area where you wouldn't expect to find anything. This typically Algarvean beachside 'shack' restaurant is very basic and serves only fresh fish caught the day before, piri piri chicken and ribs. It's like going back in time to the 60's when there was little or no development and everything was simple and easy. The views along the coast are spectacular, especially at sun set. Wheeling Around The Algarve can provide you with a list of accessible places when you're there.
  
Recommended Lonely Planet Travel Guide
   

Unwind on secluded beaches, explore the historic backstreets of Lisbon, escape to enchanting Évora, roam the rocky Serra da Estrela or sit back and enjoy a bottle of world-famous port. Whatever your interests, discover the real Portugal with this essential guide.

  • accommodation and eating options for all
  • insider’s guide to entertainment – from beachside bars to chic cafés
  • tips on where to surf, walk, dive and bike
  • detailed information on Portugal’s fascinating cultural heritage
  • user-friendly language guide
  • 85 detailed maps
   
   
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