Wheelchair Accessible Hotel In Karon, Kata Or ?

[Buddhaful]

I am looking for a wheelchair accessible hotel that isn't too expensive(3000 baht or less?) for my family and I in Kata or Karon thats near the beach.I hope thats possible, and I'm not just dreaming(please let me know ).my mother is an amputee but would like to be near the beach. if you have any information on hotels or other wheelchair accessible things to do, or best beach in Phuket??. I have been to Thailand a few times now and know it's not the most wheelchair friendly place, but I'm pretty sure we'll make it back alive.

[FritsSikkink]

http://www.tvtrip.com/phuket-hotels-amenity-Wheelchair+accessible

[Buddhaful]

Thanks for the link to tvtrip, I have seen the site but wondering if anyone has personal knowledge of wheelchair accessible hots in phuket that they would recommend? some hotels claim to be but are not .

http://www.tvtrip.co...hair+accessible

[simon43]

Sent u a PM

Simon

[Crutch]

I know there ARE wheelchair-friendly hotels in Kata. Every year around this time, I see what I've been GUESSING is some kind of convention of electric-wheelchair users. For about two weeks, guys in electric powered wheelchairs are scooting around in traffic, in the road. Their chairs have red brake lights, but no license plates.

Sorry I can't tell you more about it.

One place to carefully AVOID is, as you said, advertising that it's wheelchair-accessible when it is not, not, NOT.

That place is "Stone Inn / Yasoo", near the Mangosteen in Rawai. In fact, it's got narrow hallways, BIG insurmountable, unavoidable steps into the rooms and around the property (including the poolside and restaurant and front desk and public restrooms), and a big roadblock between the (rutted dirt) road and the walkway between the rooms. The "24 hour" front desk was, at so many points, abandoned and not answering its phone for hours and hours; likewise, the restaurant & room service would simply not pick up the phone at times. Staff expected tips for very substandard service, and was generally surly-- NOT what you want when you need physical assistance or just a little lunch!! For so many reasons, this was the worst place I've stayed in Phuket.

Also avoid the Mangosteen in Rawai. Although it's a really nice hotel with great staff and a fun, clean pool that wends its way like a crazed river around the property (complete with underwater tiled bench and little waterfalls), it's atop a very steep hill, so the property has unavoidable slopes and stairs.

It's too bad you didn't include Patong as a possible place to stay. The immense Hilton at the south end of Patong is on a very quiet road (I know...quiet in Patong! Can you believe it?) a half-block from the beach, with a quiet paved and garden-lined alleyway/garden behind it. I was there a month ago; I stupidly left my crutches behind but was very much feeling weak in the legs, and was verrrry pleased at staff that spoke good English and seemed genuinely happy to make a wheelchair appear, push me around in it, and even give me a golfcart ride down that alleyway/garden to & from an appointment at the far (far....far) end of the property. Their staff generally made me feel like applauding. The pool doesn't look too handicapped accessible, I think, but I only saw it at night.

[LivinginKata]

It's too bad you didn't include Patong as a possible place to stay. The immense Hilton at the south end of Patong is on a very quiet road (I know...quiet in Patong! Can you believe it?) a half-block from the beach, with a quiet paved and garden-lined alleyway/garden behind it. I was there a month ago; I stupidly left my crutches behind but was very much feeling weak in the legs, and was verrrry pleased at staff that spoke good English and seemed genuinely happy to make a wheelchair appear, push me around in it, and even give me a golfcart ride down that alleyway/garden to & from an appointment at the far (far....far) end of the property. Their staff generally made me feel like applauding. The pool doesn't look too handicapped accessible, I think, but I only saw it at night.

Point of clarification. There is no Hilton in Patong. It's the Hilton Arcadia on Karon Beach, about 10 km south of Patong Beach. A very very nice 5 star resort. Recommended.

[harrry]

There are degrees of wheelchair friendly. Thailand usually considers a place wheelchair accessible if you can be lifted or pushed to it. It does not seem to consider kerbs or one or two steps non accessible as they can lift a manual wheelchair up them and will gladly help. Where you get into trouble is if you have an electric wheelchair which cannot climb steps. Bathroom doors are usually very narrow too and often have a small step inise them.

Edited January 23, 2011 by harrry

[Buddhaful]

Thanks Crutch- I do remember seeing the Hilton in Phuket before and I'm looking in to it.I was HOPING for a smaller place along side the beach in Kata or Karon and doesn't need to be 5 star (I hope I'm not just dreaming this can happen). I appreciate everyones input on this subject and I'm sure will help others in a wheelchair in the future.

I know there ARE wheelchair-friendly hotels in Kata. Every year around this time, I see what I've been GUESSING is some kind of convention of electric-wheelchair users. For about two weeks, guys in electric powered wheelchairs are scooting around in traffic, in the road. Their chairs have red brake lights, but no license plates.

Sorry I can't tell you more about it.

One place to carefully AVOID is, as you said, advertising that it's wheelchair-accessible when it is not, not, NOT.

That place is "Stone Inn / Yasoo", near the Mangosteen in Rawai. In fact, it's got narrow hallways, BIG insurmountable, unavoidable steps into the rooms and around the property (including the poolside and restaurant and front desk and public restrooms), and a big roadblock between the (rutted dirt) road and the walkway between the rooms. The "24 hour" front desk was, at so many points, abandoned and not answering its phone for hours and hours; likewise, the restaurant & room service would simply not pick up the phone at times. Staff expected tips for very substandard service, and was generally surly-- NOT what you want when you need physical assistance or just a little lunch!! For so many reasons, this was the worst place I've stayed in Phuket.

Also avoid the Mangosteen in Rawai. Although it's a really nice hotel with great staff and a fun, clean pool that wends its way like a crazed river around the property (complete with underwater tiled bench and little waterfalls), it's atop a very steep hill, so the property has unavoidable slopes and stairs.

It's too bad you didn't include Patong as a possible place to stay. The immense Hilton at the south end of Patong is on a very quiet road (I know...quiet in Patong! Can you believe it?) a half-block from the beach, with a quiet paved and garden-lined alleyway/garden behind it. I was there a month ago; I stupidly left my crutches behind but was very much feeling weak in the legs, and was verrrry pleased at staff that spoke good English and seemed genuinely happy to make a wheelchair appear, push me around in it, and even give me a golfcart ride down that alleyway/garden to & from an appointment at the far (far....far) end of the property. Their staff generally made me feel like applauding. The pool doesn't look too handicapped accessible, I think, but I only saw it at night.