(Disabled) In Bruges

[Luredbyapomegranate]

My DFIL would love to go to Bruges for a long weekend, he is mainly wheelchair using, although can totter with a stick.

Doesn’t want to do much - just sit and look at the canals he says. 💔Probably his last trip abroad and he is a very Dear DFIL so would really like to make it happen.

MIL will be with him - v able bodied but tiny so she can support but not carry a wheelchair around

Does anyone have experience of Bruges disabled travel or know of European holiday organisations that might organise this kind of thing??

I can't give any advice about travelling there as we drive there. It will be extra hard to get around because the place is covered in cobblestones.
One thing I know as a carer for a wheelchair user is that cobblestones and wheelchairs are not a good combination. Not only is it an extremely bumpy ride and very hard to push they can even cause tyres and in one case, wheels to come off.

Is it Bruges in particular that interests him or is it the waterways? DH and I once went on a very nice river cruise in Holland. We got to see a lot of scenery just from the deck of the boat.

As @msbevvy said, cobbles everywhere. I remember pavements being very narrow as well, might not be everywhere in the town but certainly off the main square walking to my hotel the pavement was very narrow. Info here though :
https://www.sagetraveling.com/Bruges-Disabled-Access
Would he like Paris, boat trip on the Seine? https://wheelchairtravel.org/paris/
Amsterdam, you can do a whole tour on the water.
Barcelona ? https://disabledaccessibletravel.com/top-7-wheelchair-accessible-activities-in-barcelona/

I missed out Amsterdam https://www.simplyemma.co.uk/3-days-amsterdam-wheelchair-users-travel-guide-amsterdam/

I haven’t been to Bruges but use a powerchair. I found the travel guides here https://wheelchairtravel.org/ useful in the past.

I’ve been talking to Limitless Travel about holiday options, I think they do Bruges so worth a chat maybe. They might be able to signpost even if they don’t have a group trip to Bruges coming up.

And a few general travel when disabled tips:
Anything removable from the wheelchair goes with you onto then plane (cushion, footplates)if you fly. Ask to preboard and gatecheck the wheelchair.
Alternative, Eurostar is very good and with a wheelchair space you get access to the lounge free.
Places like McDonalds and big name hotels are great for finding accessible loos.
Ask very pointed questions about accessibility of accommodation if you need that, don’t assume access means what it does here. I personally only stay in international chains but it sounds like your FIL is more able on his feet than me.

I'm not disabled, but have been to Bruges with wheely luggage. It was a nightmare just for that and I was amazed the wheels survived. I think it would be challenging as it's not just a bit cobbled, it's everywhere.

link

This one does make it sound like they've tried. I do love cobbley Bruges!

Beautiful place, not very big so easy to potter around, but as pp have said, absolutely everywhere, roads and pavement are cobbles so may be uncomfortable in a wheelchair and hard to push a wheelchair

Ah - thank you so much everyone

Not quite the news I wanted but really useful info and all the other thoughts are great and @NewYearNewUsername23 thank you for the limitless travel contact

Would your FIL consider hiring a sturdier mobility scooter for the trip? Less help required, smoother on cobblestones and if able to walk short distances ok for getting to the loo etc.

@QuickNameChangeForMeToday that’s a really good idea. Yes I’m sure he would.

Don’t have anything to offer to this thread other than that I hope you find a way to get him there to fulfill his wish. I remember being there on a school trip and one of the teachers had heels on - she fell twice! Very cobbled but also very pretty!

@Luredbyapomegranate

Did your father in law ever visit? I'm planning on going next week. I'm an ambulant wheelchair user and I'm a little bit worried about using a manual wheelchair on the cobbles.

Ideally I'm looking for a mobility scooter that I can hire for a day but I'm not finding anything online.

I took my elderly mother who walked with a walker. There were challenges but I found people very helpful, although the help was a bit more hands on than we might expect in the UK. For example getting on and off the boats two guys basically picked her up onto the boat. I would suggest borrowing a wheelchair in this country and taking it with you.