Tag Archives: quingo scooters

Accessible Routes, Holidays

Accessible getaways abroad: Accessible Kraków

This is a beautiful city, steeped in history, right in the heart of Europe. With wonderful markets, great churches and some classic architecture to satisfy all tastes, the Polish city of Kraków should be on every traveller’s list. It is also a city that is very welcoming and accessible to visitors who use mobility scooters.

With that in mind, here are just a few of Quingo Scooters’ favourite sites across the wonderful city of Kraków.

Visit the main square

It’s hard to miss the Rynek Główny, or main square, right in the centre of Kraków. It’s one of the largest medieval squares in Europe and is in many ways the beating heart of the city. When you are in this central square, you are in a part of the city that has changed very little over the last 900 years or so.

Over the centuries, it has been the site of everything from executions to coronations, religious celebrations and flower markets. The square is also ringed with beautiful buildings and as you move around it you’ll find plenty of places to eat, drink and soak up the atmosphere. It’s big, flat, and as you’d expect, completely accessible.

Go down a salt mine!

Heading down a salt mine might not be the first choice for many people when they think of a relaxing getaway, but stick with us. The Wieliczka Salt Mine is a remarkable place – and also accessible to those of us with different mobility needs (it includes an accessible elevator).

People have been mining salt here since Neolithic times, and it is genuinely one of the most incredible places we’ve ever visited. It is absolutely vast, with winding passageways and also a number of remarkable underground chapels. This is somewhere that really has to be seen to be believed.

Chill in the botanical gardens

If the salt mines and the busy historical centre all get a bit too much, then there is nothing better than relaxing in Kraków’s beautiful botanical gardens. They were created in the 18th century and are a part of the Jagiellonian University of Kraków.

They’re open from April to October and are packed with a wonderful collection of plants, including some stunning magnolias. The paths are generally flat and access is good.

Botanical gardens Krakow
Editorial credit: CoinUp / Shutterstock.com

Visit an Art Nouveau masterpiece… or take in some Brutalist architecture

Kraków is the perfect place to see a huge range of different architectural forms, and we thoroughly recommend that you head to the gorgeous Art Nouveau St Francis Basilica. In our view, it’s the most beautiful church in Kraków.

But we also wanted to mention another area of this city that became famous in the late ‘80s as the home of the trade union movement, Solidarity. There couldn’t be more of a contrast between the communist-era Brutalist style Nowa Huta area of Kraków and the Old Town – but it is well worth checking out.

One of the most remarkable buildings to visit is the incredible Nowa Huta steelworks, but really the whole area is worth exploring. It might not be the prettiest part of Kraków, but Nowa Huta’s role in the long journey towards the fall of communism makes it one of the most interesting, and historically significant places in Europe.

Guided tours of the area are available here. Give the team a call before you book to discuss your individual needs.

St Francis Basilica Krakow
Editorial credit: akturer / Shutterstock.com

Did you know?

Kraków is the home of the zapiekanka: a mind-blowingly tasty toasted baguette with cheese, mushrooms and tomato ketchup.

Getting to Kraków

You can fly direct to Kraków from the London airports, Edinburgh, Bristol, Leeds and Manchester. Make sure you let the team at Kraków airport know your particular mobility requirements a couple of days before you fly and they will provide an assistance service if you need it. There is also special blue path that will lead you through the airport smoothly.

It’s simple to get in to the city too. You can either get an accessible taxi, take a shuttle bus (just head to the stop outside the terminal entrance) or one of the regular trains into the city centre. The trains run every 18 minutes and are all accessible.

Once you’re in Kraków, you’ll find that it is a fairly straightforward city to get around in. Even the Old Town is relatively level and is pedestrianized. There is no metro in Kraków, but there is an extensive bus and tram network. The new vehicles are all accessible, but there are still a few older ones that unfortunately aren’t. There’s a good general guide to getting around in Kraków here.

Travelling with scooters

The great news for those of you travelling abroad is that Quingo Scooters are all approved for air travel by IATA so you won’t have any problems taking them on the plane. That said, it is always well worth getting in touch directly with any train, bus and airlines you want to use just to double check their rules on scooters before you go. For more handy tips on travelling with your scooter by air, take a look at our page here.

Share your accessible getaways abroad with us

Do you have any accessible getaways abroad recommendations? In Europe or perhaps further afield? If you do, we’d love to hear from you, so drop us a line and we’ll feature them.

About Quingo Scooters

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 30847

Attractions, Holidays, Quingo Scooters

Accessible getaways abroad: Accessible Valencia

The Romans founded Valencia originally as a kind of retirement home for their bravest warriors. And it’s not hard to see why plenty of people would have fought hard to try and end up here.

It’s a beautiful, historic city and one of the oldest on the Iberian continent. It is also often unfairly overlooked, thanks to its noisy Catalan neighbour, Barcelona. So, here is Quingo Scooters’ take on the best things to do in the city of Valencia.

Gaze in awe at some incredible Gothic architecture

Valencia is a city built on trade and La Lonja, the silk exchange building from the late 1400s, is an excellent illustration of how wealthy it has been over the years.

The stunning barley sugar style twisted columns in the Hall of Columns are a remarkable architectural achievement and well worth seeing.

This is also a cool and calm place to spend time if the heat of the city gets too much. There are a couple of very small steps at the entrance that should be easily negotiable with a mobility scooter.

The Silk Exchange - Accessible Valencia
Editorial credit: Photeaud / Shutterstock.com

Browse in one of Europe’s largest covered markets

Although it is from a very different era, Valencia’s Mercado Central is an equally stunning piece of civic architecture. The building is art nouveau, and huge: there are over a thousand different stalls to explore.

You’ll need to access it via the side entrance but once you’re inside it is largely accessible for those of us who use a mobility scooter.

This is a fantastic place to explore and get a sense of the thriving heart of the life of the city. It is the perfect place to browse for gifts or even for something to eat or drink. We recommend a cooling glass of the local almond drink, horchata, to refresh you.

Visit one of the best modern zoos in the world

Valencia’s zoo is relatively small but is perfectly formed. The BIOPARC Valencia, as it’s known, really is a zoo with a difference. It is fully accessible, and has been designed to make you feel as if you are actually right there, in among the animals.

This isn’t the kind of zoo where you feel like you’re separated from the natural habitat they have created. Instead, you might suddenly find yourself face-to-face with a hyena (alarmingly close!), only to realise that it actually on the other side of a cunningly-designed hidden trench. An incredible experience.

BIOPARC Valencia - Accessible Valencia
Editorial credit: Helena G.H / Shutterstock.com

Relax on the Green River

Once, the city of Valencia had a river, which devastated the city in a flood in the 1950s. The solution that the city came up with is a lesson in sound and sensitive city planning.

The city authorities moved the river, and transformed the bed that remained into the Jardi del Turia. This ‘green river’ is now a network of interlinked parks, sports pitches and level paths that gently embrace the historic heart of the city.

There is ramped access down to it, and then an accessible and level surface for many kilometres once you are on the ‘river’ itself.

Did you know?

Valencia was where the famous Spanish leader El Cid finally met his end, during a siege in 1099.

Getting to Valencia

Although not as many fights go to Valencia as nearby Barcelona, it is still relatively easy to get to from the UK. You can fly from Edinburgh, Bristol, Manchester and the London airports.

Once you’re there, the airport is very accessible to those of us who use scooters, with barrier free access to all areas. There is also an excellent assistance service available too, although you will need to get in touch with the team beforehand to arrange. Find out more here.

Transfering from the airport into the city itself is also straightforward. There is the option of taking one of the two wheelchair-accessible metro lines (lines 3 and 5). Alternatively, there are also regular accessible buses with ramped entrances that connect with the city centre.

If you’d like more general information about getting around within the city itself, this site is a great place to start planning your journey.

Travelling with scooters

The great news for those of you travelling abroad is that Quingo Scooters are all approved for air travel by IATA so you won’t have any problems taking them on the plane. That said, it is always well worth getting in touch directly with any train, bus and airlines you want to use just to double check their rules on scooters before you go. For more handy tips on travelling with your scooter by air, take a look at our page here.

Share your accessible getaways abroad with us

Do you have any accessible getaways abroad recommendations? In Europe or perhaps further afield? If you do, we’d love to hear from you, so drop us a line and we’ll feature them.

About Quingo Scooters

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 30847

Accessible Routes, Holidays

Accessible getaways abroad: Accessible Athens

Once one of the most important cities of the ancient world, Athens is obviously still a huge draw for those of us with a passion for history. From the Acropolis itself to the Temple of Hephaestus, there are plenty of incredible historical sites to keep you busy.

But the modern city of Athens is also about a lot more than just the ruins of the past. Great food, wonderful museums and galleries (many of which are accessible) and friendly people make this a great getaway. Here is Quingo Scooters’ pick of some of the best accessible things to do in the Greek capital.

Enjoy an authentic taste of Greece

One of the great joys of visiting Greece is sampling the wonderful food. As you would expect there are literally thousands of places to eat in Athens – not just Greek food but also from all around the Mediterranean.

But we were particularly impressed with a small Greek restaurant called A Little Taste of Home which had a wide range of truly delicious dishes. There is a mouth-watering choice, but our pick has to be the caramelised Talagani goat’s cheese from the Peloponnese. Gorgeous.

Take in the views from the Acropolis

The Acropolis is Athens’ most famous landmark, and a must for any visitor. One of the best things about it is the fantastic view from the top. It is a great way to get a lie of the land here.

Getting up there is fairly straightforward. We’d recommend taking a taxi up the hill and then using the lift on the north west side of the hill. There are lots of cobblestones in the area but try to get your taxi to drop you off by the green entrance gate and you will avoid the worst of them.

Surprisingly there are no guided tours once you’re up there, but the going is fairly level, leaving you free to explore.

Acropolis - Accessible Athens

Take in some contemporary art

If all the magnificence of the ancient Athenian ruins gets a bit too much, then some world class art might be in order. Times have been tough recently for Greece’s art scene given the country’s economic woes. But the Museum of Cycladic Art has a vibrant collection of both modern art and exhibitions of antiquities.

Its collection of ancient art from the Cyclades islands to the south of Athens is unparalleled, while it has recently had exhibitions from modern masters like Picasso too. There is access via a wheelchair ramp into the main building and lifts to the exhibition floors.

Stroll among the ruins in the National Parks

Even the parks and gardens in Athens have ancient ruins to enjoy. Athens sometimes has a reputation as a busy, traffic-clogged city, but it does actually have some beautiful gardens and open spaces too.

The National Park is one. It’s centrally located and dotted with fascinating remains from the Classical and Roman periods. It is easy to access and the terrain is level for those of us using a mobility scooter or a wheelchair. If you’re travelling with kids there’s even a shady playground for them to let off a bit of steam.

Athens National Park

Did you know?

We all know that Athens was the birthplace of democracy. But as the Greek capital it has also been home to monarchical, capitalist, communist and socialist governments too over the years!

Getting to Athens

There are regular flights to Athens from the London airports as well as Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Bristol. Athens International Airport offers an assistance service to travellers with mobility needs. There is a link to an online guide on the airport website here but unfortunately it doesn’t currently seem to be working. Our advice is to call ahead to arrange the service you need. Give the airport team a call on (+30) 210 35 30 000)

Getting to the city centre is also relatively straightforward. There are trains on Metro Line 3 into the city, which leave every half an hour. The metro in Athens is actually excellent in terms of accessibility and you’ll find that the vast majority of stations have lifts to the platforms. It’s a cheap and easy way to get around this great city.

If you’d like more information on getting around in Athens, take a look the city’s main transport page here.

Travelling with scooters

The great news for those of you travelling abroad is that Quingo Scooters are all approved for air travel by IATA so you won’t have any problems taking them on the plane. That said, it is always well worth getting in touch directly with any train, bus and airlines you want to use just to double check their rules on scooters before you go. For more handy tips on travelling with your scooter by air, take a look at our page here.

Share your accessible getaways abroad with us

Do you have any accessible getaways abroad recommendations? In Europe or perhaps further afield? If you do, we’d love to hear from you, so drop us a line and we’ll feature them.

About Quingo Scooters

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 30847

Accessible Routes, Holidays

Accessible getaways abroad: Accessible Prague

Situated right in the heart of Europe, the beautiful city of Prague has to be on any list of great European getaways. Historic churches, secret gardens, an imposing castle, fascinating museums and beautiful bridges: Prague has it all. For many years, the city was not the most accessible for travellers with different mobility needs, but happily the situation has improved considerably in recent years. So, here is our guide to visiting the very best sites in Prague for those of us who use a mobility scooter.

Cross the historic Charles Bridge

This beautiful crossing is the most famous of all Prague’s ancient bridges and has been around since the 1300s. There are sculptures of the saints to take in on the way over, as well as many different street sellers offering everything from paintings to jewellery. It is always busy, but with good reason, and it is still well worth taking in. If you’re a night owl, an alternative is to cross it late at night or in the early hours before dawn: having this wonderful bridge all to yourself is a uniquely special experience. It also played a starring role in Mission Impossible!

Charles Bridge - Accessible Prague

Explore Prague’s Jewish heritage

The Jewish Quarter is one of the most fascinating parts of town, haunted by the ghosts of the victims of the Holocaust, and of course Franz Kafka who lived in the area. We recommend the excellent (and accessible) Franz Kafka museum for fans of the novelist It is well worth heading to the Old Jewish Cemetery, which is a fascinating place to explore. It has been around since the 15th century and is surprisingly accessible too. Head to the entrance by the Klausen Synagogue and The Ceremonial Hall.

Enjoy an evening of opera

If you have always wanted to see an opera but have been put off by the thought of smart suits, pearls and expensive tickets, then Prague is the place for you. Opera here has always been accessible – tickets are cheap and the dress code is casual. The standard is also extraordinarily high. The Stavovske Divadlo (Estates Theatre) was where Mozart premiered Don Giovanni, and it is still possible to see world class opera right across the city. The team at the Narodni Divadlo (National Theatre) in particular have done a great job of making every performance accessible. Find out more here.

National theatre - accessible Prague

Get a retro-futuristic view of the city

The Communists left their mark on the city, and one of the most prominent reminders of this time is the giant Žižkov TV tower that dominates the centre of the town. It looks like some sort of Soviet science fiction artist’s idea of a spaceship, and is the kind of building you will either love or hate.

In a sense, the building sums up Prague. Named after the proud working class area around it (in turn named after Czech national hero General Žižka), and yet visually an unwelcome reminder of the difficult years under the Communists. Whatever you think of it, the views from the top are spectacular and there is an accessible lift up to the observation deck. Just look out for the giant babies crawling up the legs…

Did you know?

The Czech language is notoriously difficult. One important thing to bear in mind is that they often say ‘no’ (short for ‘ano’) for ‘yes’, and ‘ne’ for ‘no’. Confusing. The word for ‘four’, ‘čtyři’, is also incredibly difficult to pronounce – even for Czech people!

Getting to Prague

Thanks to its growing popularity as a short break destination, Prague is incredibly straightforward to get to by air. You can fly into Vaclav Havel Airport from Leeds, Stansted, Liverpool, Bristol and London Gatwick. Once you’re there, you’ll find the entire airport is barrier free for wheelchair and scooter users. The team at Vaclav Havel Airport offer a free assistance service, although you do need to get in touch with them 36 hours before to arrange. Give them a call on +420 220 111 220.

There is also the option to book an accessible taxi into the city centre: they leave from both terminal one and two. Alternatively there is an accessible public bus service too (buses 100,119 and 191).

Within the city, one of the best ways to get around is via the metro system. Note that you can only change lines at Florenc and Muzeum stations. This is an old system, built during the Communist era. And, like the city’s equally excellent tram system it is largely (although by no means completely) accessible.

For more information on accessibility on Prague’s public transport system, see this excellent guide here. It is also worth taking a look for the latest updates on the Prague transport system’s official website here.

Travelling with scooters

The great news for those of you travelling abroad is that Quingo Scooters are all approved for air travel by IATA so you won’t have any problems taking them on the plane. That said, it is always well worth getting in touch directly with any train, bus and airlines you want to use just to double check their rules on scooters before you go. For more handy tips on travelling with your scooter by air, take a look at our page here.

Share your accessible getaways abroad with us

Do you have any accessible getaways abroad recommendations? In Europe or perhaps further afield? If you do, we’d love to hear from you, so drop us a line and we’ll feature them.

About Quingo Scooters

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 30847

Accessible Routes, Holidays, Quingo Scooters

Accessible getaways abroad: Accessible Reykjavik

For this latest in our series of blogposts on great accessible European destinations, we head to Reykjavik. This small but perfectly formed capital city is a fascinating place, full of rich experiences and an endlessly fascinating history. The scale of the city makes it an easily accessible place to explore too: nothing is ever too far away. Of course, the one slight issue is the weather, but in common with most northern European countries (excepting maybe the UK!) the authorities are generally good at clearing the pavements of snow. Here are just a few of our favourite highlights from the wonderful city of Reykjavik.

Take in the splendour of Hallgrímskirkja

Reykjavik’s main church, Hallgrímskirkja is quite rightly world famous: for us, it is up there with Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia in terms of breathtaking architecture. But there really isn’t another church in the world like it, and whatever your religious beliefs, it is a must visit. The building itself has been designed to evoke the dramatic volcanic landscape of the country, with beautiful flowing lines like lava. It is generally accessible and we also highly recommend that you take the lift up the tower in order to enjoy stunning views of the Icelandic capital. Unmissable.

Hallgrímskirkja Church Reykjavik

Roam along the Reykjavik waterfront

The Icelandic capital sits on a bay, with stunning views (particularly around sunset). It is a dramatic and peaceful place to spend time, and the great news is that there are accessible trails all the way along. One of the highlights of this area is the world famous Sun Voyager sculpture. It is a beautiful piece of art that many people think is supposed to be a Viking ship. This isn’t actually what was originally intended: rather it is a ‘dream ship’ that represents peace and hope for all those that see it. It is a stunning installation in an even more remarkable location, and highly recommended.

Experience Icelandic history

One of the things that makes Reykjavik so fascinating is the way that it mixes modernity with history and tradition. Nowhere is this more evident than in the National Museum of Iceland. Here, you can see and hear the stories of the formation of this tiny nation and see exhibits from right throughout its history. It is absolutely stuffed full with treasures, as you would expect, but one of the highlights for us was the stunning Valþjófsstaður medieval carved church door, as well as many Viking artefacts. Like the very best Icelandic sagas, this place tells a magnificent story of Icelandic history.

Soak away the stress in a volcanic spring

if there is one thing that Iceland is famous for (other than Vikings!) then it is its volcanic hot pools. Reykjavik is actually a great place to go for a dip and there is plenty of choice, even in the city centre, but the one we recommend is actually out of town. The Blue Lagoon is a huge geothermal spa in the south west of the country and is just a wonderful place to relax and unwind. It is under an hour away from the Icelandic capital and there are regular accessible excursions available to this stunning location. An incredible experience.

Blue Lagoon Reykjavik

Did you know?

Ice cream is remarkably popular in Reykjavik, despite the average summer temperature being just 13ºC!

Getting to Reykjavik

Getting to Reykjavik is easy, with regular, direct flights from many of the UK’s major airports. And, as you’d probably expect, Keflavik airport in Reykjavik is also very well set up for visitors with special mobility requirements. They offer an extensive assistance service at the airport itself, and they ask that you get in touch with them before you arrive to arrange the service you need. There are also regular accessible public bus services into the city as well as an affordable and excellent taxi service too.

The city itself is small, and easy to get around on wheels, with level pavements and specially designed curbs. A great place to find out more general information about getting around the Icelandic capital can be found on the Reykjavik Tourist Board’s site, here.

Travelling with scooters

The great news for those of you travelling abroad is that Quingo Scooters are all approved for air travel by IATA so you won’t have any problems taking them on the plane. That said, it is always well worth getting in touch directly with any train, bus and airlines you want to use just to double check their rules on scooters before you go. For more handy tips on travelling with your scooter by air, take a look at our page here.

Share your accessible getaways abroad with us

Do you have any accessible getaways abroad recommendations? In Europe or perhaps further afield? If you do, we’d love to hear from you, so drop us a line and we’ll feature them.

About Quingo Scooters

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 30847