Ligurian coast summer 2024

All trips are challenges, that's a fact. However, we don't let this stop us (anymore) from doing what we love most: spending time together, discovering new places, and being amazed and immersed in the Mediterranean atmosphere.

Summer 2024 was a vacation outside our comfort zone, a beach vacation. A fun time with grandma and bonus-grandpa. Normally we go for mountains, lakes, lush nature, and touring. So this is a different story for us.

We traveled in our own wheelchair-accessible van through Switzerland to the "Flower Riviera," the village of Pietra Ligure in Liguria, Italy. On the way back, we spent four nights at Lake Garda (our second home for about 20 years).

In this blog post, I (Lanah's mom) will take you along our itinerary, including accommodations, accessible activities, Italian hospitality, and how traveling with a disability is possible, provided you're well prepared.

Plan: outward journey via Switzerland, main destination Pietra Ligure, return journey via 4 days Lake Garda and 1 night in southern Germany.

Overnight stay on the way:

Switzerland - Lucerne Neuenkirch.

An IHG hotel, a chain we regularly book while traveling. It was a great hotel, in a convenient location along the highway.

One small thing overlooked: no air conditioning! Too bad.

Furthermore, the hotel had all the necessary facilities such as a lift, a small but nice breakfast, fast food chains next door, parking and a small bar and a room of approximately 20m2, sufficient for 1 night.

*TIP:

When traveling, we usually book simple but hygienic hotels, in most cases without special facilities in the rooms.

It's often a choice between expensive, large rooms and apartments for one or two nights, or compromising on budget for this short stay and being creative when it comes to lifting Lanah and showering. Since Lanah is still "small," we prefer budget-friendly and hygienic options.

Main destination

Pietra Ligure

We stayed in an adapted apartment of Barbacciu Vacanze Green .

The host was very friendly and easy to reach. He immediately shared his phone number for calls and texts, and after two days we had booked a modified room on the ground floor.

The apartment had:

• minimal threshold upon entering and through swing doors to the outside.

• an adapted bathroom with shower chair and grab rails,

• sufficient turning circle in the living room and bedroom.

• 1 bedroom and in the kitchen/living room a comfortable sofa bed 1.80m wide.

• Accessible terrace outside (small threshold)

• Accessible garden (mostly grass) with breakfast terrace

• A pool without edges. You could walk in just like at the sea or use a water-safe sports wheelchair. The pool did take a while to warm up (we were there in early June), as this is done in a sustainable way.

*Tip: When booking, don't just look at "accessible"; ask for photos or a floor plan. Sometimes an "accessible home" might have a little surprise, such as a 3 cm threshold that feels larger with a child's wheelchair.

Our stay with host Stefano and his family was fantastic. Communication was easy, we had pleasant conversations in the mornings and evenings, and we received lots of great tips. We were able to choose when we wanted to have breakfast and were treated to homemade pastries.

It was a real family business where you immediately felt welcome and generosity and pampering were continuous.

Lanah and Stefano had become real buddies who challenged each other a bit, chatting daily about everything Lanah had experienced. When saying goodbye Lanah and Stefano were both so so sad.

The best trips at a glance:

1. Andora Beach - Bagni Porto

Andora (in Liguria) has a beach pavilion with accessible facilities.

Think about:

• special walking mats over the sand,

• beach wheelchairs for loan,

• adapted toilets at the pavilion.

• Parking lot at the beach entrance (not always free, there's also a parking lot further down the road. Italians don't take parking rules too seriously ;) )

Although the beach wheelchair was still a bit big, we found a solution: a mini air mattress as a backrest!

2. Finalborgo

Highly recommended! For us, the perfect atmosphere, a village full of mountain bikers and climbers. The atmosphere is therefore very friendly and open. It's a small village with a charming center and wheelchair accessible.

However, typical Italian streets full of cobblestones. Probably too intense for wheelchair users sensitive to bumps and jolts. Luckily, Lanah wasn't experiencing much pain in her body (yet) and was doing fine: she slowly put her wheelchair on and slowly hobbled forward, even enjoying it. If it really got out of hand, she'd be in Mom or Dad's arms.

3. Noli

Noli is a charming fishing village with a quiet promenade that is perfect for wheelchair users. The historic center has narrow streets, many shops, and restaurants. Many are small and limited accessible for an electric wheelchair.

The promenade offers stunning sea views without steps, and there's a weekly fresh fish market. Fish straight from the fishing boats, for those who like it!

This village offers a rich morning of fun, strolling through the old town, enjoying a snack and a drink on the terrace. Lanah made friends with two Swiss boys and raced through the narrow alleyways. The beach? It's laid out like any other beach on the Flower Riviera, with rows of sunbeds for rent. It was a bit too cold for the sea that day for us, so we enjoyed the view.

4. Ventimiglia

This border town has Italian and French vibes. The The modern city center is easily accessible, with flat sidewalks and a wheelchair-accessible beach. The old town, located on the hill, is less suitable due to steep slopes and stairs. If you haven't parked your car nearby, you're guaranteed a brisk walk.

We were there for a few hours and strolled along the boulevard, walked to the modern city center and then had a delicious meal on the beach.

The modern part is (in our opinion) less charming, but the view of the old town and the harbor does retain its authentic charm. In the distance, there was also a view of Menton (France), the town of Monaco. We didn't walk to the old town because it would have made our route too long and tiring. The bus was parked at the beginning of the beach promenade in a residential area.

We briefly considered driving to Monaco, but we didn't get around to it. Some of our travel group had already been there, and we had to make some choices at some point.

5. Pietra Ligure

Pietra Ligure is a seaside resort with a long, flat promenade and several accessible beaches. It features "grey sand," a mix of pebbles and sand. The town center has partially paved streets, but is generally accessible for wheelchairs. The train station also has an elevator.

*Tip: Al Castello, a restaurant with an authentic pizza oven. Italians made up most of the guests (a good sign), and a little patience is required, haha.

What else did we do?

We were able to create a wonderful mix of excursions and relaxing moments at the accommodation. We explored new villages and towns, including those mentioned above, and took a drive to the mountain village of Calizzano, relaxed on the beach, enjoyed lots of ice cream, and especially enjoyed delicious Italian food.

Return journey overnight stays

Camping on the west side of Lake Garda

The return trip went differently than expected. We had been looking forward to four more days at the campsite on Lake Garda. My brother and his family had also booked a cottage at this campsite to spend our last days together in a familiar place.

The day of arrival was sunny but after that...we had 4 days of almost non-stop rain.

I've never experienced so much rain in my 20 years at Lake Garda...

There we were, in a special mobile home, with Grandma, step-grandpa, and my little brother and his family in a small house across the street. In the pouring rain, with a mudslide on the campsite, at a campsite we found disappointing, trying to do something between showers.

Was the rain a shame? YES!

Were we often frustrated? YES!

Did we try to make something of it? YES!

We went out twice for an afternoon and visited one of our favorite wineries. We also had a nice meal out, and the kids mostly entertained themselves indoors.

Positive conclusion: We waved goodbye to the lake and our beloved mountains again, briefly experiencing that "home feeling" before we started our way back.

A holiday can also go like this ;)

Return journey overnight stay 2

Buchenhain, South Germany

We booked this overnight stay last minute with Grandma and Grandpa. The day before our departure, we planned our return trip and then booked a hotel.

The website stated: wheelchair accessible with lift.

A charming, old-fashioned Bavarian hotel with German-Dutch owners, featuring a well-regarded restaurant and beer garden. What more could we ask for?

We were aware that there was no air conditioning, which was no problem as the temperature was luckily not as high anymore.

Once we arrived, the owner had provided us with a ramp to help us navigate the two steps at the entrance. It was steep, but still manageable. Then came the elevator... an obstacle we couldn't overcome. The elevator was tiny; we tried both wheelchairs, but alas!

We were allowed to leave the wheelchair at the reception and decided to carry Lanah up the stairs. It was already late, we were hungry, and there were no further plans except showering, eating, and sleeping.

The hotel room was more outdated than we expected; the photos looked a bit fresher. Nevertheless, it was clean and the atmosphere was cozy. The owners were renovating room by room, and the location was excellent, close to the autobahn yet surrounded by nature.

The food and the beer?

Even the local priests and nuns came to have a nice dinner and drinks haha ;)

The food was more than good and the service was super friendly.

The breakfast was also well taken care of the next day, on a small scale, something for everyone.

💡 Our tips for traveling with a child in a wheelchair

• Look for restaurants with street-level terraces and emphasize that you need space for a wheelchair.

• Italians and Germans with children? They love each other and nothing is too much trouble (well, let's say 90% of the owners).

• If possible, bring your own beach wheelchair or stroller if you need to be mobile off the paved paths.

• Use apps like Wheelmap or Google Maps with Street View to check accessibility.

• Plan well – spontaneous visits are fine, but exploring takes more time.

• Not sure about the weather? Then reserve a table indoors at a restaurant you know has no threshold and mention that you'll be using a wheelchair.

  You can always ask the owner of your accommodation for tips.

• Please prepare a short medical certificate in Italian (or English) from your primary care provider. If you require medical care, you can provide this in any case.

• If possible, bring your own toilet seat reducer and a foldable stool (as a footrest) for children who can still sit on the toilet.

• Always take a threshold aid with you to bridge thresholds between 3-8cm if necessary.

• Do you have a table that fits your wheelchair? Bring one along for the journey!

• If your wheelchair-accessible van doesn't have a fold-down bed, and your child is too big for a baby changing station, we'll use a thick fleece blanket to place Lanah in the trunk or on the floor of the van for changing.

• Pay attention to the travel time you plan.

  Lanah has a great time on the road, but we still think it's important not to leave her in the wheelchair for longer than 2-3 hours. That's why we regularly take breaks along the way and let her lie down on a picnic blanket, change her diaper, and eat and drink at her leisure. We also regularly stay overnight along the way.

• Bring spare inner and outer tires for your wheelchair

• Bring a pump to inflate tires.

• A toolbox for on the road is not an unnecessary luxury considering all the screws on the wheelchair and any bus equipment.

• When booking accommodations, always contact reception and explain your situation. Emphasize the size of your wheelchair and your minimum requirements. This will prevent disappointment and accommodations that turn out to be unsuitable upon arrival.

  
  

❤️ Reflection: Together we can conquer the world

Our road trip through Switzerland to Italy – Liguria and Lake Garda – was a wonderful and educational experience. Thanks to the adapted accommodation in Pietra Ligure, the region's accessibility, and the wonderful Italian atmosphere, Lanah was able to fully enjoy it.

In Lanah's case, no accommodation is 'perfect' to date, but that is of course not possible because every wheelchair user has his/her own possibilities and limitations.

Lanah has no standing ability and fragile torso balance. This makes showering and toileting a challenge. However, it's very helpful if you have sufficient space in the accommodation and minimal thresholds. Furthermore, we are creative and solution-oriented, and nothing is too much trouble for Lanah.

Will we ever visit Liguria again? Although we saw beautiful places, enjoyed delicious food, and were thoroughly spoiled by everyone at Barbacciu Vacanze Green , we most likely won't visit this region again. It was a "different piece" of Italy than we're used to and love so deeply. We feel that this region contains many places that fall under the category of "faded glory," and the mountainous areas are just a bit too far from Pietra Ligure for day trips. What this region did offer us were stunning views over the hills towards the sea during our many bus excursions, delicious food, practical learning opportunities, new memories, connecting with eachother and hospitality.

We have decided to continue discovering new places and enjoying all the beauty that Mother Earth and the different cultures have to offer.

This means that we will occasionally visit places that do not completely match our wishes and feelings, it happens ;) But travelling is about making memories and broadening your horizons and that is what we choose to do.

Outside your comfort zone, growth begins!

Ciao, arrivederci!