Question one

"Hey James, I am in a wheelchair, I was hurt in 1986 almost 22 years ago and I wonder about some of the best places for the wheelie poppin maniacs like myself in that area. Do you have a guide for the wheelchair dudes? I would love to live there for the most part I am a country boy who lives and loves on the farm in Rose Hill Virginia. Thanks buddy for allowing me the privilege to write to you... Awesome site... Keep it goin, carry on and God Bless." Rob Anthony Littrell

James replies:

Thanks for your question, Rob. Wheelchair access around the Caribbean is a subject that we have always known needs addressing and this has spurred us into action, so we will be writing more about disabled access in the Caribbean elsewhere in the site. To start us off, we contacted all our contributors, so hopefully we will be to able provide some ideas for you below, but we will also be collecting information for a special page to help Caribbean travellers (maniacs as well) that won't let their wheelchairs get in the way of a good holiday.

To be honest the news was not that good. We sent out 400 emails and got around 75 replies. And I suspect that (apart from the usual Caribbean inertia) quite a few didn't reply because they were a bit embarrassed not to be able to tell us anything that positive. There just aren't the laws it seems, and while some hotels, villas and others out there make genuine efforts, very few have built with full disability in mind, i.e. setting up their bathrooms and lavatories with handrails and shower seats and light switches at a lower level. Some hotels have adapted rooms that are easier to get to, but it is all pretty haphazard to be honest.

Some hotels do offer wheelchairs and good access around their grounds (which if you think about it, on the beach or a cliffside, can be pretty difficult environments in themselves), but this is often largely because of their many older guests. In addition, with the pressure on beach space, most hotels are built over more than one storey and yet there are just a handful of lifts/elevators around the Caribbean. Unfortunately it does not look as though things are due to get much better soon. Even in Barbados, which tends to be more forward thinking than other islands, architects are not building to these specifications. That said, some hotels and villa owners are happy to adapt the layout with ramps to make access around the resort easier while you are there.

The good side is that the West Indians are generally friendly and they will usually be helpful. You might try a smaller hotel because you can expect attentiveness (though not too small as they won't have the staff). This effort may well extend beyond the hotels - one of our correspondents told of a charter yacht that took out a disabled passenger recently and had a cracking day. There are also scuba operators that are happy to take a physically disabled person out for a dive (Reefers and Wreckers in Barbados and Scubatech in Grenada let us know that they do). Run Barbados, the series of races held in early December in Barbados, has a wheelchair section.

It's therefore really down to the individual hotel or villa as to what facilities they provide. Generally they talk to the guest individually and make what arrangements they can, including building extra ramps and installing shower seats for example. We have listed the places we have heard back from or know already offer facilities for wheelchair users.

Top Hotels include - the Calabash in Grenada, which has two Private Pool rooms with handrails and a wheel-in shower next to the private pool. Their restaurants are wheelchair accessible too. Spice Island Beach Club has ramp access to the entrance lobby and to the main restaurant as well as two specially fitted Sea Grape suites. In St Lucia East Winds is nicely laid out and many of its rooms are easy to access, though its facilities are not for the fully disabled. The new hotel in St Lucia, Cap Maison, has installed a villa that is wheelchair accessible. The Royal, St Lucia has three suites with railings in the bathrooms and raised toilets. At Eden Rock on St Barths, although parts of the rock itself are hard to access, several of the rooms have been designed with wheelchair users in mind. Also, their beach bar is easily accessible. In Barbados, Colony Club has one room designed for the physically challenged and the villa resort Settlers Beach will make any necessary provisions, including extra ramps, shower seats and monitors. Sandy Lane has wheelchair accessible rooms and lifts to get you between floors.

Chance that you cannot afford the $1000 a night at Sandy Lane (you wouldn't be the only one ...), it's worth pointing up some less expensive places that also have facilities for wheelchairs. Amaryllis in Barbados has a block of twelve rooms with a ramp, lift and bathrooms equipped with rails. In Tobago Turtle Beach resort has some facilities, as does VHL (the former Hilton), which will provide access through the service lift. In St Kitts the only hotel that is fully equipped is the Marriott. Coyaba in Grenada has ramps to the central areas and four specially adapted rooms as well as one room with a roll in shower and grab-rails.

These tend to be the larger hotels. There are also a few smaller places that have a bit more individual character. True Blue in Grenada, a very friendly small resort, sees quite a few guests in wheelchairs, though they have no specially built rooms. Coco Palm in St Lucia has wheelchair accessible rooms and bathrooms. In Barbados, Time out @ the Gap's ground floor rooms are equipped with specially designed bathrooms. And in Jamaica, Coyaba can accommodate physically challenged people in their ground floor rooms and they can provide portable ramps and shower chairs. In Tortola the BVI, Fort Recovery, which has many rooms set on a single storey at beach level, sees quite a few guests in wheelchairs. Similarly Siboney in Antigua is happy to take guests and has rooms with no steps, but no specially equipped bathrooms.

In terms of villas, owners and villa rental companies are often prepared to build ramps when asked, but even in Barbados we heard about only one villa, available through Bajan Services, that has been built especially with facilities for the disabled/elderly. All of Casa Ronka's bathrooms are equipped with convenient hand rails. Several villas in St Lucia are set on one level, but none are specifically designed for disabled users.

We will continue to collect information that comes in and we will include it in our researches when we travel in the islands (which we do continually). We'll keep in touch and let you know how we get on.

Question two

"Thank you for email re Newsletter on Life in the Caribbean. I hope to visit next November. Do you know of a place I can stay in for the winter in The Bahamas. No, not one of these pricey hotels. Would be interested even with a local family. I have been there on a two day cruise from Ft Lauderdale to the capital." Pamela Fitz Gerald, Wexford, Ireland.

James replies:

You mention that on the cruise you visited Nassau - if this what you would like then there will be plenty on offer as it is a large town with all the infrastructure and of course all the beaches, bars and restaurants that you might want to visit. However, it's worth pointing out that Nassau is only part of the story of the Bahamas. If you were also attracted by the other islands that you passed, then you might at least want to visit them, or possibly opt for a visit for a while. The Out Islands are much less developed, but they have endless local character and some of the finest stretches of sand in the world.

Back in Nassau there are not that many inexpensive places to stay, so your best bet is to start with guest houses, some of which will let you a room at a reduced on a longer term. Or you can try the newspapers, the Nassau Guardian and the Bahama Journal, which have lettings columns. Also, the Bahamas Tourism Authority has a programme called People to People. Generally it links people with similar interests, but no doubt someone you get along with might help you to find somewhere to stay.

If you do want to visit the Out Islands then you should be able to make contacts on the ground when you are in Nassau. They are a lot quieter than Nassau and Cable Beach and it is here that you will find truly relaxed Bahamian life (Nassau will seem a bit rushed by comparison). One good tip is that you can travel very (relatively) cheaply on the mailboat system. These deliver everything that's needed in the out islands, and they are an adventure in themselves.

Question three

"Dear James, I would like to know if you could indicate me a spa somewhere in the Caribbean where I could have a balanced diet, get muscles with gym, get fit and disposition in about 2 to 3 weeks period at a reasonable price. Thanks," Carlos R Prates, Brazil

James replies:

Quite a lot of the spas around the Caribbean concentrate on pampering and the softer alternative therapies, but it sounds as though you could do with an intensive gym routine as well in order to get yourself physically fit. A handful spring to mind.

The Bodyholiday at LeSport in St Lucia has a dedicated spa and a gym, but they will also prepare a programme of activities for you too, tailored to your needs. They also have healthy eating options, and then when you feel like a bit of activity, it is a lively hotel too. They have a sister hotel, the Jalousie Plantation, further south in St Lucia, which has a similar upbeat atmosphere, though the spa has a simply superb view between the Pitons. If you would prefer something a little smaller and more personal you might try Stonefield, which is also set just beneath the Petit Piton. In Jamaica you might try the very low key Jake's in Treasure Beach, whose Driftwood Spa would certainly help you with your request.

There are also any number of personal trainers around the islands and they would be happy to set up a regime for you, advise you of the best gyms to use and where to get a massage. Have a look at the Health and Fitness columns in our various Island Guides.