Month: May 2025

A mere 8 minute walk from Trindade Metro station can be found the Stay Hotel (Centro Trindade) where one is staying for the next 3 nights. As mentioned previously, one of the benefits of visiting a Western European country such as Portugal as a wheelchair user is that accessibility is of a greater importance, particularly in hotels. As a result, one was able to book a ‘cheap’ hotel without any concerns over accessibility.

Granted, the room does appear to be a little basic, however, it has what is needed i.e. ample space for Superbunny and an adequate accessible wet room…

The only thing to note is all the accessible rooms are located on the ground floor away from all the other guest rooms located on various levels.

The plan for tomorrow is to explore the historical centre and the famous Luís I Bridge before catching the Gaia Cable Car to Vila Nove de Gaia. This area is known for its numerous Port Lodges/Cellars hence the hope is that one of these will be wheelchair accessible.

After nearly a year of travelling to countries where accessibility is to be desired, one has returned to Western Europe. This adventure takes place in northern Portugal in the city of Porto. Although Superbunny is making a return after Romania, it has to be said that it’s not in the best shape. This means that one will be ‘limping’ the thing around Porto and, indeed Azerbaijan next month until Superbunny2 is released into the wild!

One of the great things about visiting Western European countries as a wheelchair user is that accessibility is almost guaranteed. The cheapest and most efficient way of getting from Porto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport to the centre is via the Porto Metro (Line E) located opposite the main terminal building. However, in order to access said station, one must descend a level to an underpass rather than simply crossing the road.

The Porto Metro rolling stock can be likened to a conventional tram vehicle hence allowing for level boarding for individuals using wheelchairs. Once inside the vehicle, the designated wheelchair space is located at the very front, however, as the metro it is quite roomy, it is possible to sit by the majority of the doors (unless it’s rush hour in which case the designated space may be a better option!)…

As the Porto Metro runs straight to the airport, it seemed appropriate for one to book a hotel within walking distance of the network.