Some more updates from our readers with their recommendations as to accessible places for visitors with reduced mobility in Lanzarote.
Here in their own words:
Barbara review of Costa Teguise after a holiday with her mobility scooter in October
We have just returned from 18 nights in lovely Costa Tequise,Lanzarote....I myself have mobility problems which require the use of a scooter so fair to say i can give a good honest review of Costa Tequise and its accessibility.
Our Accommodation:
We stayed at the Sol Apartments which were excellent they have a room where if you wished you could keep the scooter securely the room was kept locked from 8pm - 8 am but if you required it after 8pm you could leave it in reception on your return as reception was also locked and only guests have a key to enter the complex. Accessibility around the complex was good there was a small ramp which was accessible ie not too steep. The rooms were big and spacious, the beds were so comfortable with deep memory foam mattresses, and the staff were exceptional nothing was too much trouble for them i loved it there!
Leaving the complex:
Leaving the complex there was a good drop curb onto the road ok in a scooter, but my dad had to hire a powered wheelchair for the first 6 days as no scooters were available at all on the Island, he did have problems getting up this curb on returning. From the complex we had to drive on the road as no other drop curbs were available, this could be very hair-raising at times! We found a drop curb near Cactus Jacks so used that every day to proceed down avenue Acasias, at the end of the avenue there is a crossing with low curbs that takes you to Las Cucharas shopping centre the slope from the shopping centre down to the beach prom is very steep and we felt unsafe to use it so ended up going back on ourselves and using the access through the gardens at the right hand side of the shopping centre. The promenade along Las Cucharas beach is very uneven and bumpy and is in desperate need of resurfacing not only for disabled people but for able bodied too as i can see a few falling on that ground! Once at the top of CT drop curbs were available in the main areas so made the journey worthwhile. The problem we found in that area were the slopes some were far too steep for a scooter or wheelchair to use. Some of the shops were not accessible as they did not have a drop curb but we found the perfume shops and most of the Chinese gift shops were accessible.
Alternative route:
Ok so we worked out our route for going up to the top of Costa Tequise via the beach prom now we want to go via the main road, on leaving the apartment we proceeded along Acacia avenue like before via the drop curb near Cactus Jacks ....there's no drop curb on the other side so everyday we have to cross a busy main road, at the end of acacia we turned right using the crossing and proceeded past H10 hotel ....no drop curbs had to use the main road which was very busy and unsafe, hence we had to have help to lift the scooter and wheelchair onto the pavement which was quite high, as to proceed on the main road was too dangerous! We found that we need to go down side streets to find drop curbs and crossings.
Checking out other accommodation:
As for accommodation we found Sol apartments excellent and the staff too, just the area is not as good as up the top end ie near Pueblo Marinero, so we decided to check out a few more accommodations for our next visit in February. We decided to have a look around the Nazaret Apartments as we had not stopped there before......No disability access at all, my husband went into the complex and said there were steps everywhere so we could not even consider this property at all. We then went to a property we have visited quite a few times but did not need disabled access when we visited before, yes a nice drop curb leading into the reception area and good access all around the complex this is the one we will be booking. We have also stayed in the Tequise Playa hotel this also has good disabled access and the scooter fits well in the lifts and you can charge them in your room as plenty of space, they also have a room if you prefer to keep them out of your room.
Tours:
We did the Grand Tour whilst we were there I was able to put my scooter in the bus storage area with no problems, some parts of the tour I could not access but overall would recommend taking a tour of this beautiful Island.
I miss the freedom of getting on the local bus and going to Arrecife or Puerto Del Carmen for the day. Maybe next time I will book a taxi.
Beach:
This is the first time in 18 years and 24 visits we did not go on the beach. We saw an access to get a scooter or wheelchair onto a walkway at the beach but then you had to walk to get to the sunbeds as this was not possible we ended up not using the beach very disappointing to say the least. If you put a walkway in then you need to have immediate access to the sunbeds otherwise what is the point!
Recommendations:
More drop curbs needed
More accessible slopes
Accessibility to the beach sunbeds
Resurfacing of the beach promenade at Las Cucharas
Thanks for reading
Barbara
Shirley recommends Sadiv for airport transfers and day trips
An after thought regarding appropriate transport to and from Arrecife Airport. We have and still do use a company called Sadiv Lanzarote / Servicio de Ayuda a Domicilio.
They are very professional and caring and take you door to door.
We also use them for day trips which they can organise..
We have been all over the Island with them on excursions..and they are not over priced...I would recommend them 100 percent!
Kind Regards
Shirley
Linda recommends Paradise Island in Playa Blanca
We are coming over to Lanzarote on December 11th and staying at Paradise Island in Playa Blanca. This family friendly HL hotel has ramps for the disabled and I have noticed that the staff are really helpful to those with disabilities, especially children. We have stayed here several times and this will be the first time since they opened the new waterpark so I cannot comment on facilities there. We did stay at Lanzarote Village in Los Pocillos in April of this year where all is relatively new having been recently refurbished and 4 star category, and although they do have facilities for the disabled I would say that Paradise Island is much more friendly and they appeared to be much more helpful.
Hope this helps, and look forward to seeing the sun again along with all our friends – three weeks tomorrow and I can’t wait!
Linda
Richard contacted us regarding wheelchair friendly accommodation at Las Brisas in Playa Blanca
Las Brisas is in the centre of Playa Blanca, in total there are 144 villas and as the resort is all on one level it is very wheel chair friendly. In addition we have a hoist for the pool which is operated by the full time lifeguard, separate disabled toilets in the bar area and a special shower facility which we are currently redeveloping and are increasing the size of the room by 40% this will give sufficient space for a bed to be installed, this will allow carers to undress those who are severely disabled, longer term I plan to have a hoist installed in the shower room to enable carers to lift the disabled to the shower.
Also the resort has a Touristic licence.
I have attached some photos, but these will be up-dated in the next week when the shower room up-date has been completed.
Hope this helps
Regards
Richard