The festive season has arrived and offers the perfect opportunity for a beach breakaway. Karin Coetzee, occupational therapist and content creator for the travel website Disabled Travel, reviews two stylish and accessible accommodations by the sea.
Noordhoek Beach Views House
Scott Raines, an American travel writer, consultant and advocate for people with disabilities, once said: “Access might be sufficient for survival. Only inclusion allows the joy of participation.”
At Noordhoek Beach Views every member of the family can enjoy the panoramic view of the sea from the top-floor balcony. Upstairs there is a large open-plan living/dining/kitchen room with bi-fold doors that opens onto the large balcony, which can be reached via the modern wheelchair lift. The second floor also houses the master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and roll-in shower.
The ground floor has three bedrooms, all of which come with roll-in showers, and a second, small lounge that opens onto the deck. One of the downstairs double bedrooms is fully adapted for wheelchair users. The ceiling-track hoist above the bed extends through to the accessible bathroom and ends above the bath.
The bathroom was designed as a wet room and includes a large roll-in shower area with an overhead and hand shower with lever taps. There is a drop-down grab rail next to the toilet on the transfer side of the seat. A mobile manual hoist is available on request.
Outside is an accessible private garden and a pool with a wide ramp down to the pool and patio area. The house can be accessed via a paved pathway from the double garage. The best surprise is the Vivaro Vauxhall vehicle, which can be rented by separate arrangement.
The vehicle, imported from the United Kingdom, has a low chassis, manual fold-down ramp, and space for one wheelchair user and seven seated passengers. To ensure participation in all the family activities, a beach wheelchair is included in the house rental for use at the nearby beach or swimming pool.
For more information about the Noordhoek Beach Views House, visit the Disabled Travel website here.
The View in Simon’s Town
“Being wheelchair-dependent should not be a hindrance to holidaying.” These true words are spoken by the family who rents out their lovely holiday house overlooking False Bay in Simon’s Town. Hiring this home will surely have you holidaying in luxury and style.
The Light House Suite, with its private balcony, has been comprehensively designed for a wheelchair user and 24-hour care can be arranged by Assisted Living SA, if required. It has a spacious open-plan bedroom/bathroom design with a bath and double basins. The large roll-in shower has two swing doors and a large, built-in shower seat with a grab rail.
The overhead and hand shower can be used simultaneously for a luxurious shower experience. The toilet is situated in a private en-suite room with grab rails and adequate space next to the toilet for sideways transfer. The small basin is within reach of the seat. A mobile hoist and shower chair with small wheels are available for use by the guests.
From the Light House suite, there is level access to the lounge, open-plan dining and kitchen areas. The well-equipped kitchen has two electric ovens, gas and electric hobs, Nespresso machine, dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer.
The other three bedrooms, each with a private balcony, are situated on a lower level and are accessed by stairs only. There is also a library, lounge and a small gymnasium on the lower levels. Assisted Living SA is owned by the family members and they will be onsite in separate accommodation at The View house during your stay.
Services include:
- Full-time live-in care provided by their staff. Carer costs vary according to needs;
- Respite care for families who need a break;
- Post-operative care;
- Airport transfers and tours in a rental vehicle with a hoist.
To learn more about the Light House Suite, visit the Disabled Travel website here. You can also learn more about other accessible accommodation including the 5 Pelican Place, Schaefer’s Halt Cottages, Warmbaths Forever Resort and Blyde Canyon Forever Resort.
5 Pelican Place
Self-catering unit with private garden, patio and braai.
Schaefer’s Halt Cottages
Fly-fishing and river fishing done from the grassy embankment at the dams.
Warmbaths Forever Resort
Heated swimming pool with hoist for water transfers.
Blyde Canyon Forever Resort
WIN with Disabled Travel
There are four accommodation vouchers up for grabs! Disabled Travel is a reliable source for all accessible accommodation across South Africa, with every establishment evaluated by an occupational therapist. To stand a chance to win a voucher, answer the following question:
Which website lists accessible accommodation evaluated by an occupational therapist?
Send your answer, name, contact number and email address to info@disabledtravel.co.za or 076 570 6581 (cost per SMS will differ depending on service provider) to enter. Pick one of the following vouchers (Include the letter in your email):
- Blyde Canyon Forever Resort in Graskop, Mpumalanga.
- 5 Pelican Place in Kommetjie, Western Cape.
- Schaefers Halt in Dullstroom, Mpumalanga.
- Warmbaths Forever Resort in Bela Bela, Limpopo.
- One year free subscription to Rolling Inspiration , sponsored by QASA.
Only one entry per person allowed.
A
Would like to get this holiday for my wife because she’s been taking good care of me
Thank you for making our dreams to enjoy a relaxing holiday come true. I have been eager to host these places, now is my time.
I would love to win this competition.
C
I’ve never been out of durban before and if a chance like this availed itself I’d grab it with both arms and legs.