Published on: 23-04-2021
People with certain special needs are also entitled to a relaxing holiday, but very few holiday accommodations are adapted. We asked Floreal Holidays, owner of various holiday domains and campsites in Belgium, what we should look out for and how we can recognise a wheelchair-friendly holiday domain.
Many people have specific needs
There are more people with special needs than you might think. These can be wheelchair users, but also visually impaired people, people who need a carer day and night, people with food allergies and many others. Most holiday centres are not suitable for this, although these people are also entitled to a carefree holiday.
HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION NOT SUITABLE FOR A WHEELCHAIR USER
Life in a wheelchair is completely different from life as a person who walks. You are lower and you are wider. A door that is difficult to open, narrow doors, a door handle that is too high, a threshold, stairs, switches and kitchen cabinets that are too high, a bathroom without a walk-in shower, a toilet that is too narrow and too high ... these are everyday things that prevent you from having a relaxing holiday.
WHAT FACILITIES ARE IMPORTANT FOR A CAREFREE WHEELCHAIR HOLIDAY?
For a successful holiday, people with reduced mobility should therefore look for a wheelchair-friendly holiday destination. This includes, among other things, easy access from the public highway, wide doors in the common areas of the building and restaurant, a suitable height of the reception desk, adapted toilets, flat walking routes to the various facilities, large lifts with low buttons, a ramp for small differences in level and of course a wheelchair-friendly room, studio or flat.
THE NEEDS OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED HOLIDAYMAKERS ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT
For visually impaired people who want to go on holiday independently, it is important that there are as few obstacles as possible on walking routes. Stairs should also have handrails on the left and right and the first and last steps should have a warning area on the floor so that the start and end of the staircase are clearly recognisable.
A HOLIDAY DESTINATION ADAPTED FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS RECEIVES A LABEL A
When a holiday resort meets the specific needs of wheelchair users, it can be awarded an A-label by a specific committee, which grants this label after a thorough and objective check.
A HOLIDAY DOMAIN WITH THE A-LABEL BY THE SEA
The Floreal holiday domain in Blankenberge, for example, has such an A-label. It is a friendly holiday centre where you can rent rooms, studios and flats with breakfast, half board or even full board. No less than 6 studios have been specifically adapted for wheelchair users, with plenty of room to turn around, wide doors and an adapted bathroom and toilet. These studios are ideally located close to the lifts and right next to some of the rooms to accommodate carers or companions. Guide dogs are of course also welcome throughout the holiday domain.
A USER-FRIENDLY HOLIDAY DOMAIN FOR ALL
A stay in this centre has many advantages. It is located 400 metres from the beach and the sea wall, which can be reached by an easily accessible path. There is a private car park with large parking spaces near the entrance, reserved for people with disabilities. You can dine in the comfortable and easily accessible restaurant, where dinner is accompanied by warm entertainment and live music. In the restaurant it is possible to book in advance dishes that are free of certain allergens, or suitable for vegetarians, vegans or other special diets. The holiday domain even has its own minibus to bring or pick up wheelchair users from the train station.
THE ADVANTAGES OF A STAY AT THE FLOREAL PARK IN BLANKENBERGE FOR PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
In addition to the fact that a holiday by the sea is always a great destination for a relaxing holiday, this holiday area offers many additional advantages for people with special needs:
- Private parking with ample parking for people with disabilities:
- Easily accessible walking routes to the main areas: reception, lifts, restaurant, parking, beach and sea wall;
- Wide doors and corridors;
- Adapted public toilets;
- Stairs with a warning area on the floor and good railings for the visually impaired;
- 6 wheelchair friendly studios, with rooms for carers or companions right next door;
- An adapted minibus to bring or pick up to or from the station, bus stop... ;
- A lively restaurant with the possibility to order special menus (food allergies, vegetarian, ...).
Need more information on relaxing holidays for people with special needs
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