AbilityTips
Make sure you fit the flight
Airplanes can have different size cargo doors, depending on the size or type of aircraft. Check with the airline in advance to verify that your motorized wheelchair or scooter will fit the plane.
LATEST DESTINATION REVIEWS
Portugal
Portugal is a beautiful and highly developed country in southwest Europe. Despite being old, the country has many wheelchair accessible destinations and features – including beaches, historic sites, wineries, port and many others. Overall, accessibility can be tough unless you know where to go.
For general accessible travel information you can read more at Visit Portugal – Disabled Access.
There is a specific brochure regarding beaches Visit Portugal Disabled Access Brochure.
There is also a travel agency called Accessible Portugal specifically dedicated to people with reduced mobility who offer accessible sightseeing tours.
Regarding the public transportation system there are new buses that have the same ability as the ones in Manhattan, but they are not the majority for now. For taxis, it is better to schedule earlier with one. Normally, taxis in Portugal are Mercedes E or similar and not vans or SUV, and they do not have lifts or ramps. Accessible transportation should be booked through Accessible Portugal.
Sagres, Algarve, Portugal
Sagres, a small town located on the southwest tip of Portugal, offers the traveler a chance to experience a quaint beachfront village and more fresh seafood dining than one could believe. There is an accessible resort hotel located on the bluffs overlooking the ocean. However, many of the historical attractions nearby can be difficult to navigate via scooter or wheelchair due to the steep, bumpy terrain and lack of curb cuts.
Sintra, Lisbon Region, Portugal
Sintra is a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site, undoubtedly due to its breathtaking views and 19th century architecture. A short drive from Lisbon, Sintra feels like a city from a different time and place. Due to the age of Sintra, accessibility is challenging – cobblestones, steps, and steep elevations all present obstacles that the physically challenged traveler should take into account when planning a visit.
Faro, Algarve, Portugal
Faro is located in southern Portugal, and is the capital of the Algarve region. Faro can be accessed from Lisbon via high speed train, which is wheelchair accessible. The city can be difficult for the physically challenged traveler to navigate, as many sidewalks do not have curb cuts or wide access.
Lisbon, Lisbon Region, Portugal
We visited Lisbon on a vacation to Europe during the summer of 2006. Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, is a city rich with maritime trade history. The architecture of this city is simply breathtaking, with vibrantly colored porcelain tile clad buildings contributing to the old world charm of this quaint city. Even though Lisbon has narrow roads, cobblestone streets, uneven pathways, steep hills, and buildings with steps – which pose serious challenge to the physically challenged traveler – there are many things to see and do in this beautiful city that make a visit highly worthwhile, and there are definitely accessible ways to get around the city.
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