What an exciting life it must be to research, plan and operate overseas holidays. All those sunny exotic places to explore. That’s all true, of course, but for the directors of Makin’ Tracks an extraordinary amount of time is taken up looking at toilets.

If you operate holidays abroad for wheelchair users, then the search for accessible loos in obscure places becomes second nature. A lot has changed in Europe in the last 20 years, with major public museums generally provided for, but go off the beaten track to mountain villages, or even explore the more characterful quarters of a city, and it’s still reminiscent of looking for a needle in a haystack.

Having hunted in Europe and beyond over many years Makin’ Tracks directors, Dave & Debbie, have become experts in this somewhat niche pastime, and have some ironic observations on the subject.

Take locally produced accessibility guides with a pinch of salt. A number of years ago, a particularly strong-bladdered group had been determined to try out the culinary delights of a lovely restaurant in Lisbon, at that time arguably the capital with least accessibility provision in Western Europe. After struggling up the 3 steps to get in they enjoyed a delicious meal and put a knot/cork in the appropriate place until returning to the hotel. So it was with great excitement that the same restaurant was spotted in a “Guide to Accessible Lisbon” some 5 years later. Dave dashed off merrily to make a reservation, only to discover the same 3 steps and the same lack of accessible loo. “Curious,” he thought and quizzed the manager, the same chap who was there all those years ago.
“Yes,” he said, “no problem. We’ve had a group of people in wheelchairs here before and they managed fine.”
He squinted at Dave, and with his eyes suddenly alight with recognition, announced cheerfully “It was you, wasn’t it!”
To cut a long story short, the guide had clearly been “researched” by someone sitting at a desk, going through the Portuguese equivalent of the Yellow Pages.

Be prepared to lower your standards. After searching the smallest rooms of Marakesh for many hours the narrow doors and “hole in the floor” style toilets were becoming very familiar. The night was drawing in, almost time to give up, when Praise Be To Allah, a fairly sad looking “sit down” toilet was located with a doorway just wide enough to get through. The definition of “accessible” was re-written.
Just for the record, there’s a newly built McDonalds about a mile north-west of the snake charmers, housing perhaps the only truly wheelchair accessible loo in the city.

Check handrails can support your weight. In many places accessible toilets are a relatively new idea and, since local wheelchair users don’t get out much, have never really been put to the test.
How can you check? Well, suffice to say that many a handrail has been removed from a freshly plastered wall!

Just because there is an accessible loo do not presume it is accessible!
There’s a showpiece superloo tardis-style toilet at the top of Istanbul’s finest modern shopping street that was locked up by the authorities due to 99% of its customers being prostitutes who found it a wonderfully located venue for their business activities.
There are accessible loos up-stairs and in basements with no other means of reaching them than via flights of steps. There are accessible loos down corridors too narrow to get along with a wheelchair. There are accessible loos full of mops, brooms, bottles, buckets, coats, etc, etc. There are accessible loos that are permanently locked and the key has been thrown away. The list goes on - it’s enough to drive you potty (now there’s a thought!).

Learn how to build your own private facilities. It’s amazing how a few coats and carefully arranged sarongs/table cloths can be used to create a screen behind which almost anything is possible. (You may emerge looking a little flushed!)
A lightweight shower / commode chair has proved to be a welcome addition (along with the kitchen sink) on days out. Any quiet room would do, but it fitted those Moroccan style toilets perfectly!

Sweet revenge. There’s a perfectly specified accessible toilet in a Basque village restaurant where the door is only four feet high. Perfect if you’re gliding in by wheelchair but it certainly discourages those who don’t use wheels!

Having a thirst for adventure themselves Dave & Debbie are passionate about exploring our world, delving into its history & contemporary culture, and making it possible for others to do the same. They have now set up their own company, Makin’ Tracks Ltd, which aims to enable maximum discovery with minimum frustration.

For all their holidays they use their own accessible mini bus and reckon you will witness more with them in a week than with any other tour. Groups are kept small (generally 8 people) for the optimum balance to ensure suitable facilities, an enjoyable atmosphere and exceptional personal service.

For more information visit www.makintracks.org or telephone 01766 52245701766 522457