Costa del Sol

Montana Sol is a partly converted, partly purpose-built, complex designed to provide full board holidays for people with disabilities, their family and friends. It is built on a fairly gentle-sloping hillside about two miles from Torremolinos, and offers pleasant views out to sea. The complex can accommodate about 30 guests, and the standards of furnishing and equipment are high. The Proprietors are English (and are well acquainted with disability) , and they do their utmost to involve their guests in the holiday activities - inviting them to plan the menus , etc. Non-strenuous games and light entertainment is planned for some evenings, and the bar is almost always open. Disabled guests are required to bring their own helpers, but the complex is suitable for those with fairly severe disabilities - hoists are available, for example, and it is possible to hire powered wheelchairs. Most bathrooms have roll-in showers and plenty of grab rails. The complex has two mini-buses with tail-lifts, and these are used for transfers to and from Malaga Airport (about 30 minutes) and for optional daily excursions to local places of accessible interest. There is a non-heated swimming pool (with a fairly primitive but effective) hoist. Visitors should be aware that mid-summer temperatures can rise to the upper 30s (or more), whilst spring rains can be chilly and torrential. Electric fans and heaters are provided to overcome such eventualities. My wife and I have spent two very happy holidays at Montana Sol, and look forward to our next. ANTHONY SUTTON

This is truly a complete wheelchair friendly accommadation, with good sized bathroom including wheelin shower. Good homemade food and plenty of it. Some entertainment provided, bingo and live music when we were there. Wheelchair accessible transfers and trips out to where you want to go, and they will take you to town drop you off and arrange to pick you up later, the local resort is very flat.

Situated some 30 miles East of Malaga about 1 mile from Alumencar, is Tourismo Tropical it is an Aparthotel with 10 villas designed for wheelchairs. Each comprises of a living room, a kitchen (large enough for the storage of w/c's) a roll in shower, and a bedroom comprising of 2 single beds and a bed settee in the living room. On site was a swimming pool with a hoist. Night life/Entertainment was a bit thin on the ground, whether it was the time of year I dont know, but after 4pm I sat in my villa with a TV watching Spanish programmes til Dinner at 8pm. Going back to the entertainment there is a function room above the dining room with w/c accessible lift and a toilet. I stayed half board, which comprised of a buffet style continental breakfast and an evening meal with waiter service. There were bars/restaurants located every 100 yards or so along the promenade which was just across the road. All in all it is a well kept site with work being carried out everyday. The Spanish idea of dropped kerbs is funny,one didn't necsssarily follow another crossing a road so a lot of zig zagging was involved.

Almunecar (Granada) Spain,

Booked over the phone after receiving a brochure I had requested. Flew with British Airways from Manchester. We went for 2 weeks in August weather was hot, as you would expect. They organised a wheelchair accessible taxi to pick us up at Malaga airport and take us to the apartment building. The apartment had a wheel-in shower; in the bedroom it had 2 singles beds that had both been raised to help with hoisting or just a better height for transferring. There were remote control lights and a fan in the bedroom as well. Lounge area had a fold out bed, table, TV. Cupboards. Kitchen was separate and quite large, we were able to leave the electric chairs in there over night to charge up and they were not in the way. There was a hoist into the pool (very much needed), the surrounding area is flat, no steps a very nice position just across the road from the nice promenade (block paved) which runs for miles. We particularly liked the old part of town, quaint streets, little shops, taverns and ice cream parlours. A representative called on us after a couple of days to see if we were happy and to tell us about the resort, she also gave us her phone number if we should need anything, very helpful. It was a very nice peaceful holiday, not many English people there at all, but it did make us learn a little Spanish. --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Beach Club Hotel - Torremolinos

Thompson -