Impressive Premium Resort and Spa in Punta Cana, Domincan Republic

Impressive Premium Resort and Spa in Punta Cana, Domincan Republic is complete paradise. The white sand, blue sea, sunshine, beach and pure relaxation is what holidays are for. Caribbean music in the beach bar, the sound of the waves and frozen slush puppies and cocktails is heaven! The interesting thing is, although the pictures are beautiful and the holiday itself was amazing, to get there is always the challenge, when travelling in a wheelchair.

Although we requested bulk head seats on the aeroplane, so I can sit on the floor on the flight, we were not given them. Therefore the 9 hour flight meant I had to lie on my husbands legs and pray the time would go fast. Thankfully it did. I got on and off the flight using an aeroplane wheelchair, as I am unable to walk. The staff were so good. When we got to Punta Cana there was a gradual ramp going backwards and forwards to get me onto the ground. Never seen that before . Although we would love to take pictures to show the ramp, in reality our main focus was holding on and getting safely off the aeroplane. My husband took care of our luggage.

In advance of arriving in Domincan Republic we had done our research to find a wheelchair accessible transfer, using the company DAT. As I was travelling in my electric wheelchair we needed a ramp and lift into the van. It was a short transfer and we were soon at our hotel, greeted with a glass of champagne on arrival. I can't relax and settle until we get into our hotel room , I can see the walk-in shower and check the bed height. Fortunately, everything went smoothly. The bathroom was a wet room with really good non slip tiles and space to move around the room in my wheelchair. My husband Nath would have had to lift  me into bed. It was too high, so we asked the hotel to remove the bottom part of the bed. Then it was the perfect height to get into.

Before we go on holiday we always check hotel reviews and contact the hotel directly to check they have wheelchair access. We knew the hotel did have wheelchair access, but we were pleasantly surprised at just how good it was. All around the hotel there was ramped access, where there were any steps. At the beach they had a wooden walk way area for wheelchair users and a clear sign for a wheelchair user, advertising the area was reserved for disabled people. They also had a wheelchair sea buggy, so if you are unable to walk, you can sit in it and someone can pull you along across the sand and into the sea. I went into the sea twice, as at first I thought I may not be able to sit in it with my condition, but I managed and it was absolutely amazing! For the first time in 7 years, I managed to float in the beautiful turquoise sea with the help of a French Couple we met, Chantelle and Michel, a life guard and Nath, helping me in and out of the sea buggy. Such a fantastic feeling!

At the resort, there were two disabled toilets by the 'Grill', 'Italian' and 'French' restaurants. The disabled toilet upstairs in the Italian was larger, so much easier to transfer. When I go on holiday I get so excited when I see a disabled toilet, as I'm no longer able to use a standard toilet. It means I can relax and enjoy the holiday and drinks, knowing there is a toilet near by, otherwise it's a long walk to our bedroom.

The hotel had entertainment each night and a great entertainment team. One night there was a Beach Party, so we headed down to the beach. The party was on the sand, but a few strong men helped to pull my wheelchair across the sand, so I could join in the dancing!

The staff at the hotel were so lovely and very helpful. If Nath was getting my lunch or breakfast, they would come over to help carry plates, or drinks, etc.

On returning home, we used the DAT transfer company again, but unfortunately it was an hour late, as the wheelchair transfer vehicle had broken down! An alternative van turned up, but there was no ramp, so 5 men lifted me and my wheelchair into the van! My electric chair is really heavy!!! We were unsure if we would make our flight, but the company was very apologetic and said if we missed our flight they would pay for our new flight home, expenses and hotel. It was just a broken down vehicle, (could have happened to anyone), so if I returned to Domincan Republic, I would definately use DAT again.
Their manager was at the airport to greet us and apologise. He stopped to make sure we were checked-in & had made our flight on time! The airport had full wheelchar access. The disabled toilet was within the able-bodied female, or male toilets, but at least there was one!

There was a wheelchair lift to get me onto the flight. The flight wasn't the best journey home. It's never easy, but the shortage of space and cramped conditions, were worth it. Punta Cana, in the Domincan Republic, was paradise and such a fantastic holiday.

Once again thank you to my husband Nath for being my arms and legs, for the staff and other holiday-makers that helped and for Chantelle and her husband for helping me into sea. A holiday I will never forget!

Judith Smale
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London, The Arch Hotel, West Ham FC, London O2 and Covent Garden

In May my husband and I visited London for a long weekend. We travelled to London via train and booked the wheelchair assistance via Journey Care so the staff at Carlisle and London train stations were there to meet me with a wheelchair ramp to get me on and off the train. Once into London we used the bus just across the road from Euston to get to our hotel near Marble Arch.

My husband Nathan was fortunate enough to win a competition so we stayed at a beautiful boutique hotel called The Arch, just off Marble Arch. The disabled bedroom was allocated to us and it was lovely and spacious and the bathroom had a walk in shower and lovely sparkly tiles! The wheelchair access was really good to the restaurant and bar area. The hotel staff went out of their way to help us both from opening doors and getting us food and drinks. It was literally a 5 minute walk onto Oxford Street and so near to Selfridges that obviously a girl had to go in there to try out the make up and perfume stands!! It saved me doing my make up anyway!!!

On the Saturday afternoon we went to see West Ham play at their home ground. To get there we went via the tube.  When we got to the station next to West Hams Ground at Stratford there were disabled mini buses to take disabled people and a carer to the ground by an amazing team of volunteers. What a great idea! The wheelchair access at the Football Ground was really good. Large disabled toilets, a great location behind the goal for wheelchairs and their carers and lifts to get around the stadium. We had a great time at the match and decided after the match to stop for dinner and drinks at Westfield shopping centre at Stratford. We knew there was disabled access there with it being a modern shopping centre, wheelchair accessible toilets and plenty of places to eat before our evening entertainment!!

In the evening we had disabled tickets to see Take That play the O2 Arena. We went their via tube and it was so easy! The O2 Arena is my favourite arena to see Take That perform live. One of the wheelchair ramps is next to the stage on the side on the floor so it's a fantastic view. There is at seat service for food and drink from the venue staff and there is a disabled toilet very near the ramp so it makes the whole evening stress free and we can both sit back and enjoy the show! Take That as always were out of this world. After the gig we decided to have a drink in the O2 bar to let the crowds go down then 45 minutes later headed back into London via the tube!

On the Sunday we were meeting friends early afternoon at the O2 to have food and drinks before Take That at the O2 (Yes again!). We pre-booked a table at a Mexican as on concert days it gets really busy. We got there 3pm and it was a great time as it wasn't too busy and got seated straight away. I went to the concert with my friend Ren that night and like the previous night we had an amazing view of seeing Take That and a fantastic evening together! I just absolutely love the O2 Arena!!

On the Monday my husband and I went to China Town as every time I go to London it's a must. To be honest there are so many Chinese  restaurants it's hard to say I have a favourite and wheelchair access varies to get in and out of them. So I look for ones without a step or a low step and those that do dim sum. I've only found one restaurant that has a disabled toilet but I get round it as I enjoy the food then leave and find a bar for a toilet if need be! In the afternoon we went to Covent Garden to listen to some live music and have some drinks. It's by Punch and Judy and people look down at the entertainment and it seems like there is no wheelchair access. However if you ask security staff they can take you down a lift so you can enjoy the entertainment on the ground floor. There's also a disabled toilet down there to. Wahey!

In the evening we went for dinner at the Wardolf Hilton just off Covent Garden. All the staff were really helpful. Once entering the hotel there is a chair lift, but the staff helped so access wasn't a problem. We had a lovely evening there.

The next day we walked back to Euston from Covent Garden area and took just over 30 minutes which wasn't bad at all. London can seem huge and daunting for a wheelchair user but the tubes are improving with more wheelchair accessible stations, the buses have ramps to get onto and it's actually pretty easy just to walk between places to. All it takes is a little bit of planning :-)

We hope to visit London again soon!!

Judith

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