Guests with Disabilities
Page updated January 2022.
Profiling bed, pool hoist, moveable hoist, wet room, shower chair commode, level access, warm heated pool and so much more…
I, Irene, was involved in the concept and design of accessible Villa Ampelitis which is unique in Cyprus and Europe, as it has a profiling bed, similar to those used in hospitals. This can be used together with the moveable hoist on wheels.
I have been renting villas with private pools since the late 1980’s, and I called upon all my experience with disabled people to ensure we had a truly accessible property. A good example of a useful lesson learned is from the late 1980’s when I had a villa rental in Paphos where the owners mother was a wheelchair user, and a regular visitor there. The owner had built a wonderful wet room and the outside was fully ramped. All was great with various disabled guests until I had an amputee guest arrive, and I received a call to say she could not turn her wheelchair at the threshold to the house. Not enough turning space. You are probably ahead of me here, but I did not realise that power chairs are wider than standard chairs. The owners mother had not experienced any problem with her manual chair. I, however, was distraught, but my client found a way to cope, and was just advising me so that I was aware in the future. Like you, she was used to this type of challenge and overcame it. A good lesson for me though.
Since then I have come a long way and have 2 wheelchair accessible villas with hoists and wet rooms. Villa Ampelitis is an astounding success, as along with its beautiful HEATED private pool to a warm 30° Celsius or more, it has; level access, pool hoist, moveable hoist, wet room by pool, wheel in showers, self-propelling shower chair commode and much more. A while back a client stayed here who needed something we did not have. She loved to read but needed a support for her book, for whilst she was laying down in bed. The owners brother Savvas cut a branch from his tree and made her one, it was perfect!
Villa Ampelitis sleeps 2 – 8 in the main house and it has a further 2 accessible studios, bookable by you only as an “add on” to the house booking, otherwise they remain empty. They each sleep 2 – 4. We offer lower rates for 2 adults or 2 adults plus up to 2 children. The private pool is electrically heated, so is not weather dependent.
You can pre arrange and hire most Disability Items direct from the owner at just 10 Euros daily. Up to 30% off car hire rates which includes a free meet and greet and an escort to the villa from Paphos Airport. (Usually the driver goes in front and you follow.)
The 2nd wheelchair accessible villa is 3 bedroom Timily. It was designed by the owner who is a wheelchair user herself. It has, (unique in Cyprus we think), a wheel under hob and lower sink, as well as a fantastic wheelchair friendly wet room, (which many clients tell us they would like to take home with them). The private pool has a fantastic new pool hoist and the pool steps are flanked by 2 sturdy hand rails make getting in and out a lot more stable for all. The surrounding area is pretty level too as it’s next to the sea, the centre of Polis being about 750m, uphill for about 200m. Polis Camping Beach is approx. 300m. Do not miss the flat beach promenade from here all the way to Latsi, (Latchi) and in summer there is a Sea Trac chair sea entry. Many bars and fish taverns at Latsi Marina have wheelchair accessible WC.
Our 3 x 4 bedroom villas at Kathikas village are also limited mobility friendly/wheelchair accessible, with the middle Villa Vineyard View having wider doors to accommodate a wheelchair. Take a look at the video here
Here is our Villa Ampelitis Accessibility Tour:
Page updated October 2021
We consider accessibility at all our villas, and I, Irene, know all the villas personally, and am here to advise. So if you are looking for a disabled friendly, wheelchair accessible or limited mobility friendly holiday in Paphos, Cyprus, then Sundance Villas have options for you.
Apart from the 2 villas above, we have others that are limited mobility friendly and you can view them all by selecting “Limited Mobility”. We appreciate that everyone’s needs differ, and I would love to discuss your requirements by Live Chat, phone or email.
Does anyone in your party have learning disabilities or a medical condition that may cause them to shriek, scream, shout or have involuntary disruptive behaviour? We all know that stress makes things worse, and this could include being in a crowded hotel. We have quietly located villas without immediate neighbours that are the preferred choice of many such families, for example accessible Villa Ampelitis, 3 bedroom villa Quardia, and 2 bedroom villas Filip and Katerina.
A holiday in Paphos or Polis can be a positive experience with more and more thought being given to making Excursions and local Attractions suitable and available to everyone. On this page you should be able to source whatever you need. If not, please ask me, Irene. Unlike most Tour Operators, our holidays for guests with disabilities do not carry any supplements. Everyone pays the same reasonable prices.
Polis: Polis Herb Garden & Restaurant next to Polis museum is accessible and well worth a visit. They use the organic herbs from the 2500 sq m garden in the food. Their philosophy is “Back to Nature”. You can just visit the garden, or take a look at the tastefully renovated interior, but as they are open daily from 10am why not stop for a drink, snack or a meal. They can also cater for weddings and celebrations. Level access throughout and accessible WC. They sell home grown herbal teas and essential oils too.
Paphos: Baracas Lounge in Chlorakas, Paphos is accessible and lovely for cocktails at sunset.
Hot Press & unique** Profiling bed on request at Villa Ampelitis! The only villa in Cyprus that has this. We do not hire this bed out.
Sundance Villas offer Help with shopping and luggage
Would you like a little bit of assistance on holiday, i.e. with the luggage at Paphos Airport? The Car Rental company Cy-Breeze, with whom we have co-operated for many years, can help with the luggage at the airport and also advise on boot space (with a wheelchair in mind), and the height of car seating for the transfer into the car. Once you have booked I can arrange for you to receive discounted car hire prices, just for my clients.
Do you need assistance with shopping? We can offer a shopping service at the following villas:
On request, pre holiday: At 2 bedroomed level access Villa Katerina the owner can drive you to the local minimarket, wait for you while you shop, and bring you back (pre book this please). The large shower room has a plastic stool which can help with shower accessibility and we have a push along tea trolley which has proved useful to bring items out to the poolside. Villa Katerina is not wheelchair accessible.
Our 4 bedroom 4 bathroom Villa Vineyard View is limited mobility friendly with a wheel in/reverse out shower (1″ lip)/WC with wider doors to this shower room and to the downstairs double bedroom. Sloping level access to poolside, and all the way to the village, along a newly paved lane, not busy with traffic.
Villa Vineyard View is part wheelchair accessible as I do not class the shower room as a wet room, but it suits many clients, as there are no steps.
All our Sundance Villas owners would be happy to add extra items to your complimentary hamper to help you settle in, without the need to go shopping straight away.
When you arrive at the villas we can usually pre book for your luggage to be carried into the villa and placed on your bed for easy unpacking.
Arriving at Paphos or Larnaca in Cyprus
Special Assistance Guidance for UK Airports and Airlines from the CAA
If you have booked special assistance with your flight you can tweet @CyprusAeropolis on departure day to ensure they are informed and ready for you. I recommend this.
Accessible Cyprus Excursions
These include Troodos, Omodhos, Akamas National Park and Paphos Villages. Wheelchair friendly minibus with ramp and lock down feature for wheelchair available. It is worth booking with the specialist companies as they know the routes, how long they take and location of accessible toilets. Please contact Sundance Villas Paphos Representative Helen for more info. or to arrange an Excursion.
Kykkos monastery main church has a ramp at the exit. There are interesting mosaics and frescoes by the main entrance, but there are steps here, so when you have finished looking at these, arrange your entrance via the exit. There is also a ramp to the cafe:
On the Paphos beaches there are facilities for sailing, scuba diving, para-sailing and jet skiing all designed for the less able. Whatever you want to do, just ask! You can be collected from your villa if required.
General accessibility in Paphos and Polis is improving every year.
On a further positive note, Paphos Harbour and the waterside with its many shops and restaurants underwent a transformation in 2008 and is now pedestrianised, so you have wide level access to the old fort, the Gallery with exhibitions, the wonderful mosaics and waterside tavernas. The new promenade now goes from the Tombs of the Kings site, past the Castle in the Harbour, all the way to the Elysium Hotel in Paphos. Quaint Polis Town Centre is also now pedestrianised, and many shops and restaurants now have level entry with wheelchair access. New 2km promenade here too, going from the Polis Camping beach all the way to Latchi. Both promenades are next to the sea, which is always a treat!
Accessible beaches in Paphos and Polis
The beach at the Lighthouse in Paphos is now wheelchair accessible. They have put a mat on the sand from the parking down to beach, which makes it easier for wheelchairs. The changing and shower rooms are also accessible by ramp here.
Coral Bay Beach has convenient parking right next to the beach, and has a slope leading to wooden decking on the beach. The decking takes you to the sun loungers and parasols.
Corallia beach has a slope but no decking as it is narrow.
Polis Camping has wooden decking wheelchair access part way from parking to beach. From here and going all the way to Latchi, it has a wooden walkway on the beach itself, suitable for wheelchairs. There is also a concrete path, see photo.
Seatrac: Many Paphos beaches previously had a Seatrac chair as below, which got installed (weather depending) during the first 2 weeks of June and stayed there until around mid of September. Beaches did include Geroskipou municipal beach, La Plage Latchi (Polis area) beach, Limassol beach and Alexander the Great (Sodap) beach in Kato Paphos.
IMPORTANT UPDATE Summer 2017: Seatrac systems not operating at Geroskipou municipal beach or Alexander the Great (Sodap) beach in Kato Paphos. A beach wheelchair has been provided instead at Sodap/Alexander the Great beach.
A Seatrac chair is still operating at La Plage Latchi area, aka Polis area municipal beach.
Wheelchair accessible WC and shower at the much improved Geroskipou municipal beach 2021. FREE PARKING RIGHT NEXT TO BEACH.
We have advised Savvas Hadjikyrou the Quality Assurance Officer at the Cyprus Tourism Office that the removal of the seatrac chairs is a big disappointment, and that their visitcyprus page is showing incorrect disability information as at 29/7/17.
These beaches have disabled access. Coral Bay beach has a slope down to beach, and then some wooden decking.
Tombs of the Kings: Disabled access loos. Once in, only some Roman villas have access.
Mosaics: Disabled access and loos. Just ask guard to open the gate
The Archeological Museum and Saint Pauls pillar have part access.
The Catacomb of Ayia Solomoni: No access.
Paphos Zoo is now wheelchair accessible with ramps and large wheelchair friendly toilets with wider doorways.
Museum of Marion-Arsinoe, Polis:
| Address | Archiepiskopou Makariou III Avenue |
| Telephone | 26322955 |
| Opening hours | Monday – Friday : 8.00-16.00 Saturday: 9.00 – 15.00 Sunday: Closed |
| Tickets | € 2,50 |
| Accessibility | Entrance: Ramp Special rest rooms: available (not marked) |
Restaurants/Establishments with disabled friendly WC:
Kato Paphos, Poseidonos Ave. (Sea front.) Deck Cafe restaurant. A beautiful hard to beat spot for coffee, next to sea, overlooking the new walkway. View towards the Castle. Ramp with grab rail from parking, then level and spacious throughout.
Disabled toilet. +357 26964104
Coral Bay: Palm Grove and the Elephant restaurants have proper disabled toilets.
Latchi beach.
Polis Herb Garden. Accessible herb garden where you can wander around free of charge. The restaurant is full accessible too with accessible WC. A lot of thought has gone into accessibility.
Amargeti Equestrian Club, Amargeti. Disabled toilets and shower. +357-99788287 Mrs. Marlene www.paphosec.com
Wineries which also serve pre bookable food: Both Kolios winery in Statos-Agios Fotios and Vouni winery in Panagia, Paphos, are wheelchair accessible and highly recommended.
Nicole, your local Representative, (contact details on Booking Form), can advise you about the local hire of disability aids, scooters, hoists etc. & wheelchair transfers from airport.
Items such as manual wheelchairs, electric hoists, raised toilet seats, commodes, and oxygen concentrators and cylinders can be hired on a weekly basis.
Car Hire and Disabled user car stickers
Cy Breeze rent@cy-breeze.com.cy can provide “Disabled user car stickers” for your hire car booked with them, if you have a disabled/handicapped person in your party. Take your Blue Badge. They can also fit push and pull hand controls into selected vehicles. They can also advise re boot sizes, seat height etc. I will put you in touch for your discounted rates once you book with us.
Insurance and medical supplies
Update 2020: Whilst updating this page in Oct 2020, Covid 19 has changed everything. Many insurance companies have adjusted their cover. Currently I refer to websites like moneysavingexpert and which magazine to keep me updated.
It is essential that everyone takes out Comprehensive Travel Insurance when booking the holiday. As Cyprus is within the EU up to 31/12/2020, you can also apply for a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC card). Cyprus NHS is chargeable. Apply online at www.ehic.org.uk or ask at your local Post Office. Watch out for websites claiming to be EHIC but they want to charge you.
Essential medical supplies tip: Take enough medical supplies along with you in your hand luggage on the plane to last a couple of days in case you get delayed or your hold baggage gets lost. When travelling with a few people share your essential items between everyone’s luggage. That way if only one case goes missing, all is not lost!
Pre-existing medical conditions
March 2018. Hot Press update. After I sent the Newsletter prompting people to ensure they have got Travel Insurance, client Mr C., who I know has pre-existing medical conditions and is 81 years old, called me to confirm that he had almost given up getting affordable travel insurance, (quotes between £2000 & £4000), but followed the nudges on our Travel Insurance Blog (Updated version coming soon) and has just got an Annual Insurance for £205 with Insure and Go. He said Insure and Go phoned him to ensure the medical history was accurate, he was impressed and can now enjoy his Cyprus holiday, almost his 50th in Paphos!!! I have since heard from other clients who use Insure and Go regularly.
Carers
British trained, qualified personal assistants and nurses are available in Cyprus.
Do you need a Care Assistant whilst on holiday?
Here is an option that we found using Google:
M.C. Care at Home is led by Michelle Clarke who has over 30 years’ experience in the care industry and offers help to elderly, frail or disabled people just visiting Cyprus.
https://www.mccareathomecyprus.com/about.html
We are constantly updating this page regarding disabled access in Cyprus. If you have any info that would be helpful, please Contact us or post it to our Facebook page.
Wheelchair accessible products that make travelling a little easier: www.curbfreewithcorylee.com/2016/01/05/best-wheelchair-accessible-travel-products/