Thinking about moving to Salobrena for winters initially

 Hello one and all,

My name is Eddie and i've been in a wheelchair for 14 years now and have decided that I don't want to put up with cold Scottish winters anymore. So i'm looking around and saw a really nice place I like but am not going to let my heart rule my head, after all it is a major decision for me.

I'm looking for somewhere that doesn't have frost and snow and read that December-January ranges from 10-17 degrees which would be good but then I read someone else say it was minus temperatures in this period at nights, so what is correct? If it's minus don't bother reading the rest as I won't be moving there :)

Is there a good medical service, hospital, doctor, pharmacy in the area and would I have to have medical insurance?

Are shops and restaurants generally wheelchair friendly?

Not bothered about bus services as I would have my own transport. I will also try my hardest to learn enough Spanish too so that i'm not predominantly stuck in a "Little Britain" either, i'd like to be able to just fit in as easily as possible, maybe a "Little Britain" area would be the way to go. 

I know wheelchair users all flock to Tenerife, GC etc but i'd rather be on the mailand with the option to travel wherever I wanted too with no restrictions of a small island.

Any information or suggestions as to whether this area would be suitable at all would be greatly appreciated.

Thankyou, Eddie

Hi Eddie.

I love Salobrena and would suggest that a possible idea is to stay in the Hotel Best Western Salobrena.  We've stayed there countless times; it's a proper Spanish place although there are more Brits and other non-Spaniards around in the winter months.  If you're staying there for a long time, you could probably negotiate a great deal.  We've only stayed there for about five days at a time and have paid not more than 70 euros a night for full board for a family of four.  Obviously that adds up over a long period, however, and I don't know what they charge for longer periods.  It wouldn't hurt to ask.  I find the food fabulous although you always get the odd detractor.  I'm not sure about all the issues regarding wheelchairs, but know there is a ramp going into reception, a lift and so on. The hotel is not actually in Salobrena,  but if you have a car, that won't be a problem. 

In terms of the weather, it can get pretty cold in the winters and can be really freezing overnight.  This is a challenge with accommodation in Spain, as they are often in denial about how cold it actually gets.  The daytimes are usually sunny and warm, but you would need really good accommodation with a good heating system.  Maybe someone else knows of accommodation which would have this.  It shouldn't be an issue in the hotel though.   

In terms of the shops and restaurants I think you might have a problem with the smaller shops... In terms of restaurants, there are so many of them that I would assume there were some with good access.  Ideally, you need someone else who uses a wheelchair in Salobrena to answer this one as those of us who don't (at the moment) use one are not always very observant or aware on this issue.

They've got a Centro de Salud but I'm not sure about the health insurance rules.  Again, someone else should be able to help answer that one.

All the best

This message was last edited by eggcup on 23/09/2012.