Traveling with disabilities

The Costa Blanca is located in the southeast of Spain and is easily accessible by car, thanks to motorways and highways connecting with Madrid and Barcelona, but also with the South of the country.
Thanks to the excellent railway connections the Costa Blanca is also accessible from just about all points of the country.
The international airport of Alicante receives daily flights from and to the main Spanish cities and numerous destinations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France, Netherlands, Finland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, etc. From the Airport bus routes to Alicante, Benidorm, Elche and other places in the province are available.
The sea provides access to several marinas, for example Santander.

Driving to Spain

There are numerous routes you may wish to consider when you choose to drive your own car over to Spain. There are ferrie routes to Calais, and then a drive through France, or you can decide to travel with Brittany Ferries to Santander or Bilbao in Northern Spain. Naturally, thousands of people every year opt to take the route from the South Coast of England by Ferry to the Northern Coast of Spain. Whilst this route can not claim to be the quickest or cheapest, it does have advantages over driving the whole way through France and is certainly worthy of note.
Travelling by car is a good option, you save the cost of car hire and you can take a lot of (medical) luggage.

Flying to Spain

Travelling by air with a disability or restricted mobility may seem daunting, with many potential complications to overcome. However, with some careful pre-planning you will be able to take advantage of a range of special airport assistance to help keep your trip running smoothly.

When booking

• If you need help getting on the plane and to your seat, the EU law states that disabled and reduced mobility passengers have legal rights to assistance when travelling by air. You will need to request any necessary assistance when booking your ticket at least 48 hours prior to departure.
• Toilets on planes are generally small and can be challenging for those with limited mobility.
• Check whether you will require medical clearance before flying - particularly if you require oxygen.
• Certified Assistance Dogs are permitted on most flights. Check for specific airline policies.
• If you will be bringing a wheelchair you will need to provide your airline with as much information about it as possible, including dimensions, type of wheelchair, number of batteries, type of battery and weight. Check individual airline's policy on wheelchair and mobility aid allowances.
• There are certain cases in which disabled or reduced mobility travellers will be required to travel with a companion in order to fly. This is generally due to passenger limitations with regard to the comprehension and ability to carry out safety instructions or evacuation procedures.

At the airport

• Check in as early as possible to ensure you can secure the best seat for your needs. Be aware that, although emergency exit seats will allow for more space, the passengers sitting here may be required to open the door or aid others in the case of an emergency.
• Give yourself plenty of time to reach the airport and your departure gate with time to spare. Airlines generally recommend arriving two hours early, but it may be worth arriving earlier than this to avoid delays.
• All passengers, including those with disabilities, are required to undergo security searches, although you can request a private room for additional privacy. You may wish to alert security staff of any specific medical needs prior to a security search.
• Wheelchair users will not need to pass through the metal detectors, but will instead be subject to a body search. Make sure to inform security of any painful or sensitive areas before they begin.
• If you wear a prosthesis it is worth carrying a letter from your doctor providing details for security in case any complications should arise.

The concept of service and assistance for handicapped or people with disability at Alicante airport is much better than it was at the old terminal building. Various help points are located throughout the Alicante airport terminal building where you can call for assistance. Unfortunately the help points are not marked in english, but signage is clear. Btw if you would like to know 'Sin Barreras' means 'Without Bars/Obstacles'.

Guidelines for people with reduced mobility when travelling by air.

From all over Europe you can fly to Alicante. On the internet you can find various comparison sites to find the cheapest flights.
Alicante Airport is located 11 km south of the city of Alicante and approximately 20 min. of San Fulgencio.

Taxi

It's easy to get a taxi at the airport.
Several companies (for example holidaytaxis, taxistar and radio taxi Elche)offer the possibility to book a vehicle especially adapted for people with disabilities. This service is usually only for private transfers from 1-5 passengers including passenger in a wheelchair. You need to indicate this while booking. < br/> If you are travelling with a folding wheelchair and you can make a transfer to the passenger seat then you can usually travel with a normal taxi.

Car rental

International car rental companies and Spanish companies are working in the region of Alicante. There are offices of car rental companies located at the airports of Alicante and Valencia and in most cities. A rental car is called in Spanish "coche de alquiler". Car prices vary by rental and travel period.