Advice needed about using mobility scooter in Spain

Welshlin

Has anyone been to Benidorm and either hired or taken a mobility scooter or power chair? I decided to brave it and try a holiday abroad with a couple of friends. I thought it would be fairly straightforward but it seems to be fraught with difficulties. I can’t walk independently at all and use a power wheelchair or a scooter. Indoors I can mobilise to the bathroom etc using a Zimmer frame. We’ve been searching for holidays and it seems that - even when we find a totally accessible and wheelchair-welcoming hotel (not an easy task), they don’t allow scooters inside the hotels or rooms. They have to be left outside and the charging ports are generally outside too. This leaves me with a dilemma- I won’t be able to mobilise from the charging station to my room without either my wheelchair or scooter. How have others managed?
Also it seems I’ll need to check the specs of my lithium battery to ensure that I have the right adapter that is compatible with the different voltage of the power abroad. How have others coped with this.
I’m feeling really disheartened and will welcome any advice, suggestions or recommendations. Thanks.

Rachel_Scope

Hi @Welshlin, sorry no-one was able to answer your question. I've just had a look and it seems that in the past there's been a lot of trouble with younger people using mobility scooters to cause a nuisance. This could be why they are not allowed in the hotel.

Could you use a wheelchair to get to your room if someone was able to assist you? They may have some in the hotel for you to use so it could be worth contacting them.

I hope you have a great time!

Welshlin

thanks.

Chris75_

I believe you can only have a 10 ah lithium ion battery on a plane. My Motion Healthcare Alumina has a 45ah Lithium ion battery, and i would need to purchase the 10 ah to travel on a plane ( not that I would be).

Welshlin

Thanks Chris. My battery is suitable for planes and cruises. I’m more concerned about charging the battery whilst in Spain.

Welshlin

Rachel -I’m still trying to work out the practicalities. I can ask the hotel before going so thanks for that. Keep well.

StarryEyed

Hi Welshin. I live in Spain and can communicate in Spanish, albeit not at a high level. So if you need any translation at all, I'd be happy to help.

I've never been to Benidorm, but they boast online that they are very accessible, even at beaches, so I'm wondering if there might be a misunderstanding. One thing that comes to mind is they use the term "scooter" here for both those two-wheeled scooters and mobility scooters. I've had a lot of confusion here about that. So I always specify a scooter for reduced mobility. That translate to "scooter para movilidad reducida". You might also specify with four wheels - "con cuatro ruedas."

If you want me to speak to the hotel for you, let me know.

Welshlin

starry eyed - thank you. How kind of you.

StarryEyed

Good morning, Welshin. You're most welcome.

Here is some great info re Benidorm travel with reduced mobility in English. Because I'm a new member, I can't post links. So I'll post without the www part of the address, then you can post some of the words until you find the address. Or not. As you wish.

benidorm.org/en/city-hall/departments/citizen-participation/benidorm-accesible

transfer4u.es/en/traveling-to-benidorm-in-wheelchair/

Welshlin

thank you so much

StarryEyed

You're very welcome, Welshlin. Any way I can help, let me know. Any way at all! I'm planning my first trip since I became dependent on mobility aids 2-1/2 years ago. So I'm in the spirit of traveling too. I'm not going far like you, but it's still challenging and exciting. Kudos to you for planning such a big trip!

Welshlin

I did my first trial run trip to Weston super Mare a few weeks ago. One step at a time.

durhamjaide2001

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1070043#Comment_1070043

how was that? Also well done for being the first person to post today

Welshlin

unfortunately I went on the week of bad weather where it rained every day and thunderstorm one day! It spoiled it a bit. I won’t go in September again 😂!

StarryEyed

Welshlin, do you mean that was your first trial run at a trip since being disabled?

Welshlin

starry-eyed - it was my first trip since I’ve become a wheelchair user. I used a stick before but after surgery I can’t stand at all without a zimmer frame, and am not totally steady even then.

StarryEyed

Congratulations on your first travelling milestone. Yay!

I can stand but not for long periods, so that's why I use a scooter or walker. I rarely use the walker because it's hard on my feet and back. If my scooter breaks down on my trip, I can't get it serviced so I've decided to rent a scooter on my trip, and use my walker before and after. I'll be taking the train. I'm going alone because I want to learn to be independent when travelling. There may come a time when I can't travel alone, but while I can I will. Once I've got it down pat, I'll travel with others.

Have you made any progress with your plans to visit Benidorm?