Help for a disabled member abroad
Hi,
My husband and I are planning to go to europe in 2023 for our 20th Wedding Anniversary and we are looking to go from eurotunnel to france to Switzerland but I need some questions if you guys would be able to help me please:
1. In france do they have toilets like we do that you would get in Spain and Greece?
2. In Switzerland we are looking at the JungFrau site and we would be booking everything with the club as its our first time but I have poor mobility and can't walk for long periods but im also a little concerned with the activites and excursions and now wondering if this part of Switzerland is the wrong choice for me.
3. Also we will be taking our dog with us and wondering how friendly the places are for dogs.
4. If you think Switzerland is the wrong choice for us where would you recommend for first timers?
Sorry if my questions are not very important but they are to me and my husband.
Thanks
Cheryl
Comments
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Cheryl
I am imagining that the toilet question is whether they have UK style toilets or Turkish style hole in the floor type toilets. On motorway rest areas the disabled toilet will always be a UK type but might not have a separate seat. In service areas the toilets will be UK style. On campsites it's pretty unusually just to have Turkish style toilets although there could be a mix particularly on old Municipal campsites. Most of the bigger commercial sites have standard UK toilets.
Although we have passed through Switzerland a few times we have only had one holiday in the van there and never really been tempted back. Preferred the French speaking area in the south around Lake Geneva. Obviously Switzerland is a very dramatic country scenery wise. Difficult to say whether it's the right place for you to go but if its somewhere you have always wanted to visit they go and make up your own mind. If you get the bug for overseas travel then Europe is your Oyster.
Can't really answer some of your more specific questions but I am sure you will enjoy the trip.
David
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Thanks David Im thinking im going to have a look at other places just incase but thanks for your quick response
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1. Yes they have toilets in France like we do.
2.I would have thought you will miss the best of Switzerland if you don’t walk and if you are in a wheelchair it will rule out a lot. I can only offer sympathy on that point.
3. Dogs are tolerated but charged for on on most overseas campsites, but separate dog walks are for the most part only found on UK Club sites. I have never seen those campsite dog walks overseas.
Whether you can take dogs with you on Swiss cable cars into the mountains will need checking individually.
4. Surely your choice depends on your personal interests and your mobility, but our own first overseas trip was a series of gentle hops from one site to another down the French coast from Calais to Deauville and back again. And outside July and August that needed no advance bookings.
2023 is a long way off and that gives you time to think things out. Good wishes to you.
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Hi Cheryl
I too have limited mobility and although I haven't ventured into Switzerland, I have been to Austria via France Belgium and Germany.
I found the service areas to be of similar quality to ours, most were far, far better, particularly in Germany & Austria (with self-cleaning toilet seats). The differnce is you need to pay 50Cents at most, but if you keep your receipt, it normally gets deducted off the price of your coffee/meal. The campsites we stayed at had first class facilities too.
We noticed that both the Germans and Austrians were animal friendly.
As far as excursions go, dont have any fears. Wheelchair users and the less mobile are well catered for. As always, it's worth doing your research on specific items, but I didn't have any problems, including the ski-lifts.
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If you want more food for thought have a look a >our web pages< We have spent time in Switzerland and thoroughly enjoyed it. Our write up on the visit we made in 2002 is >here< Do keep in mind it is an expensive country, at least it was, especially the use of public transport which to access many of the great tourist attractions it would be wise and enjoyable to use. You have plenty of time to do your research. My tip, don't rule Switzerland out, for us it was one of the highlights of our many Continental visits.
peedee
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Hi Cheryl
Our very first trip overseas back in 1993 was to the Jungfrau site. We thoroughly enjoyed it as we were fit and able in those days. The scenery is spectacular in that area but everywhere was expensive and. I believe much more so today.
We decided to return to an Alpine region a couple of years later but it was suggested to us that we tried the French Alps. We stayed at a fantastic site at Le Grande Bornand and have been back several times. The main thing that we noticed, apart from much lower prices for everything was that there are many more roads so touring by car gives many more opportunities. This is limited in Switzerland. As far as toilets go, although there are many of the Turkish style (squatting over France as a friend referred to it,), English style are very common in most places.
Depending on the time of year you are planning to go, (outside the July /August mad months you wouldn't need to book although L'Escale at Le Grand Bornand can be booked direct and they speak very good English). The run to Le G.B. Is about 540 miles from Calais.
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We are very fond of Austria and whilst perhaps not as dramatic as Switzerland is a lovely country and friendly.
However just a point on dogs. I have come across this on some sites in Austria and Germany. If the campsite has access to lake swimming they may not accept dogs, so always best to check.
If you want to have a look at what is on offer across Europe I have a series of Blogs here http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/travels_in_europe.htm, including our trip to Switzerland with associated photographs.
David
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Regarding easier places to walk, it might be worth considering a lakeside site where the landscape tends to be more level, especially around the larger lakes.
As an alternative to Switzerland, you could have a look at Lake Annecy which is in France but still has some pretty dramatic scenery.
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Our tips for your first trip would echo those already given but in addition we would suggest that you consider the distances involved and the duration of your trip.
France is a large country compared to UK but, thankfully, the Autoroute (motorway) system is first class and 200 miles a day is achievable without stress. On the 'Peage' ( toll roads) you might be advised to get an emovis tag from the Club to pay the tolls, and to avoid queues at the pay stations.
The autoroute also has the advantage of frequent Aires ( rest areas) all of which are equipped with disabled toilets (and somewhere to exercise your dog).
Finally, avoid July and first two weeks in August. Outside of that period you should have no difficulty in getting an emplacement (pitch)
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thanks guys appreciate all your feedback which im going to check out
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Hi Cheryl, Well you are starting off right with the planning! It’s a beautiful country, we have camped there a few times, and if it’s where you want to be you can make it work for you.
It is a very well organised place, as it’s reputation shows, but can also be very expensive but you will have time to save.
There is a wealth of info re the country in general and advice for those with a “disability”, which may help re your mobility, on the internet so you should be able to plan on an informed basis.
As regards “la toilette” we have very infrequently come across a toilet on an acre de repos that was unsavoury but sites are now pretty much “normal” in their provision and you always have the vans facilities.
The time you go will have quite an impact on what you find and using public transport, which you will have to if you want to visit a lot of places, will be less daunting out of peak season.
Often on CT there is debate about the merits of going “over there” and beautiful as the UK is the scenery in Switzerland makes a trip well worth it.
Enjoy the planning, and the trip!
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