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Mallorca
Hotel Bonsai - C'an Picafort
TOUR OPERATOR - Thomson - 1997
Submitted April 2000
Client - Ruby & Tom - Staffordshire
This was from the Thomson Small and Friendly brochure, it didn't have a pool but was only 50 yards to a lovely beach
. Rooms were adequate but bathroom door was too narrow to allow a wheelchair through, so if you put a patio chair in
the doorway and transferred to it and got your companion or whoever to drag you through, not really an ideal situation. The
food was very good.
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Rey dom Jaimey - Santa Ponsa
TOUR OPERATOR--High Street - August 1997
Submitted April 2001
Client - Gerald & Michelle - Derbyshire
Due to the main lifts being up 3 or 4 steps we had to use the service lift and my wheelchair only just went in
it, the bathroom was also limited for wheelchairs as once in it was difficult to move about, but I did manage. The
food was excellent and the resort mostly flat, the beach about 200 yds away.
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Sol Alcudia Centre - Alcudia
TOUR OPERATOR-THOMAS COOK - September 2001
Submitted October - 2001
Client - KAREN - STAFFS
I went with my mum, and my brother, his wife and young children, used my new Quickie w/chair so was unable to get through bathroom
door, I am sure that my NHS chair would have gone in, maybe would have been a little cramped. Apartment was well equipped
but we ate out most of the time, along the seafront was mainly flat. Check with agent to see if your chair would enter bathroom.
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Hotel Gala - Can Pastilla
TOUR OPERATOR-Booked on Internet - October 2002
Submitted October 2002
Client - Jed - Derbyshire
Very narrow lift and my wheelchair (25 inches wide) only just went in
it, and I could not get in the bathroom, despite emailing them with all the measurements, so next morning I went to reception
and got a room change, much bigger and better bathroom. Food wasn't fantastic but I have had worse. The footpath on the
seafront was very good, but watch for the dog dirt there is loads of it, must be the locals walking their dogs. The paths
away from the front are not so good and the drivers, if thats what they would like to call themselves are terrible, nearly
every other car has dents, scracthes on them, even the police vehicles. But the weather was very good, and the staff were
very friendly and polite.
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HOTEL PIONERO - Santa Ponsa
TOUR OPERATOR-DIRECT HOLIDAYS
Submitted AUGUST 2003
Client - WINNIE
Iam paralysed from the knees down and confined to a wheelchair. Edinburgh airport and tour operator were excellent,
really caring and helpful. Likewise Palma airport who supply an electric car to take you from the plane to baggage
collection. Hotel was good and offered disabled rooms with excellent large bathroom and shower. Room itself could
have been larger. Lifts could fit wheel chair easily.
Ramp access to pool area and hotel entrance. Santa Ponsa has a large flat area along the beach although alot of night
life happens up the steep hill towards the Irish bars and square.
Duck boards on the beach allowed wheelchair access to the sea shore.
One complaint was the lack of disabled toilet facilities in the resort. Most bars etc were unsuitable. The resort
itself has ramps on most pavements and the pavements are smooth and wide. Great holiday.
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ALCUDIA BEACH APARTMENTS - Alcudia
TOUR OPERATOR-THOMPSON - August 2003
Submitted-August 2003
Client - Steve Ciavucco - Stoke
My family of four have had a fantastic holiday in Alcudia. I use a wheelchair and found the flights there and back very well organised. The apartment block had 3 good size lifts and doors wide enough to get into and around the apartment and balcony. The bathroom door was very narrow and just accommodated my narrow chair. Once inside i could just manoevre around and lift onto toilet or into bath - no grab rails but a low bath.
All areas around bars, restaurant (fantastic breakfasts till noon!!), pool and sunbathing areas were level or ramped and all staff were very helpful and friendly, but no sunbeds as usual after 7.30am.
The local shops and areas were mostly accessible and most pavements had drops. Main road was rather awkward and you have to wander a few hundred yards to find a suitable place to cross.
The beach is easily accessible, having a slabbed walkway which seems to go on for miles. Some of it is a bit uneven, but otherwise ok. There are no toilet facilities for disabled near the beach.
The Luxury Adventure is a superb day out for wheelchair users, exploring the island in a people carrier with a funny, informative and helpful driver/guide and a super dinner was included with as much sangria as you could drink.
Son Amar and the Pirate Show were two evening trips which again were very disabled friendly, having special areas and toilets available. We did a boat trip, but you need to be able to leave the chair and walk a short distance.
Overall a terrific holiday and well suited to the less mobile. We didn't want to come home!!
Steve Ciavucco
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Voranova Hotel, Palma Nova,
TOUR OPERATOR Can-be-Done- jUNE 2003
Submitted-November 28, 2003
Client - Anthony Sutton
I visited the Voranova (arranged on both occasions by "Can-be-Done") twice in 2003. On both visits I was impressed by almost every aspect of the place.
The Hotel is basically self-catering, having 302 self-contained studio appartments on 3 floors. It is square in construction, with a largish, reasonably accessible swimming pool and sun-bathing area in the central courtyard. The courtyard is very attractive, with grass, palm trees, a bar (with hot snacks available most of the day), and showers. There is also a very warm indoor hydrotherapy pool with electric hoist which hotel staff will help with if requested.
Of the 302 appartments, 60 are slightly adapted for wheelchair users. In most cases this means that some furniture has been removed to create extra space, grab rails have been fixed next to the toilet and in the roll-in shower. Each appartment has twin single beds of normal (50 cm) height (though taller beds are available), plus a put-u-up settee which converts to a bed. There are cooking facilities and fridge, a small dining area, and a well stocked mini-market in the hotel. A generous-sized patio with plastic chairs and table overlooks the central pool area. There is double glazing and air conditioning in every apartment. It is possible to borrow commodes, shower chairs, wheelchairs and electric beds if needed.
If self-catering is not possible, it is easy to turn up at the main restaurant for any meal without formality. Full English breakfast cost 5 euros, and evening meal 11 euros. I rated the cuisine fairly high, and it was possible to have as much or as little as you wanted. Although self-service, the staff were very helpful, and were happy to carry plates, etc to the tables, if requested.
The Voranova is a fairly modern building, clean and well-maintained, and maid service is provided most days. It is about 20 minutes' walk from the nearly entirely flat sea front, and there are dropped kerbs almost everywhere. Almost all shops are ramped, though some ramps are alarmingly steep. The beaches are almost tropical, very white, and very clean. A number of very reasonably-priced restaurant/cafes and bars with entirely flat access are to be found along the sea-front. It is possible to walk or wheel the 2 miles or so from Palma Nova along the sea-front to Magaluf which is far busier and down-market.
The Hotel boasts excursions by converted minibus, but due to refurbishment of the vehicle these were not available during my visits. A number of well-converted taxis with rear-door ramped access for wheelchairs are available, but have to be pre-booked. They transport only one seated wheelchair user at a time, but are convenient.
The positive attitude of most staff, and excellent layout of the Hotel, meant a well integrated, pleasant holiday on both occasions, and I expect to visit again before too long. Look at the website www.voranova.com and you will see that the issue of a warm welcome for disabled visitors is taken very seriously.
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