Join SIA member Edward and his family as he shares his experience of the Greek island of Corfu. With lively towns, Greek cuisine and villa living, find out what Corfu has to offer
Flights
The prospect of air travel when you’re disabled can be daunting, however, if you’re prepared, it can actually be a pleasant experience. I registered as requiring ‘Special Assistance’ with EasyJet and, not necessarily known for their customer service, they could not have been more accommodating. We skipped past every queue right to the departure gate, transferring onto the special aircraft aisle-chair and then into my seat. When it came to disembark, I made the rookie-error of trying to transfer out of my seat and back into the aisle chair without undoing my seatbelt, pulling & straining with my seatbelt still on. What a wally!
Corfu airport had a similar set-up with an aisle chair, pushing into an elevated platform which then plopped us down onto the baking tarmac of a Greek evening. We were again met and ushered by the Greek version of ‘Special Assistance’, straight past all queues to our pre-arranged taxi. Big shout-out to our driver, Akis Papakyriakos who gave us an impromptu guided tour on the way to our villa and past the famous ‘White House’, home to Gerald Durrell, author of famous books such as ‘My Family and Other Animals’, stories that should be on every child’s reading list.
Accommodation
One can either stay in a hotel or go villa-style depending on your personal preferences and/or budget. This was my first holiday in seven years and so, thanks to my amazing mother and step-father, the boat was well and truly pushed out and we made the most of our time away.
We have a lovely friend at Ionian Estates and their villas can’t be faulted with every detail beautifully managed. Sadly however, my mother was diagnosed with cancer the week before departure and so we had to raise a glass of Ouzo to them in their absence. Villa Pashalia in Avlaki was base-camp for us and we were looked after by the lovely Nathalia and Spiro who presented the most magnificent Greek meals – we were lucky to have them both, in addition to our luxurious surroundings.
Equipment hire
After some investigation in the UK prior, we hired a couple of hugely useful pieces of kit through a local company called Gogo Mobility. Firstly, a standard bathroom commode, but also the most brilliant gadget which really made my holiday complete and something I would recommend 100%. A ‘Nart’ pool hoist which, as a T4 paraplegic, allowed me to go swimming for the first time in nearly a decade. With the assistance of my two sons, Tom and Jack, I was able to take advantage of the most extraordinary weightless sensations every morning. This amazing crane was, to me, priceless and, for a few extra euros, they delivered and collected it too.
Days out
Corfu, west of the Greek mainland, is the home of much ancient history especially with Greece widely recognised as the cradle of Western civilisation and Corfu now a UNESCO world heritage site. The island itself tends to be more mountainous and quieter in the North whereas the south caters more for the youth.
To get around the island, we rented a largish car for the week; these tend to be fairly standard prices wherever you go in Greece although you may save a few euros if you shop around.
The car allowed us all to go out for a walk (excuse the pun) around Kassiopi and out for lunch once or twice. One of the really great restaurants (that certainly requires booking in advance) is at Kouloura near Kalami. Park before you get there as the road peters out into one of the most beautiful chapels on the island, the Agios Nikolaos (Petra) dating back to 1085AD and older than my mother-in-law(!).
Kassiopi itself is an historic but lively town with cobbled streets, a picturesque harbour and the remains of an incredibly old Byzantine castle overlooking it all. Local fishermen still unload their catch here but there is also plenty of opportunity for shopping or just simply sitting back and people-watching in the many tavernas dotted around.
‘Seatrac’ was definitely on my bucket-list, a brilliant idea initiated by the Greek University where one transfers onto a solar-powered wheelchair based on rails then into the sea you go. After your swim (with a friend), it’s simply the same process in reverse all directed by remote control – absolute genius! Unfortunately, the nearest one was out of order at the time we were there so that will have to wait for next year but there are hundreds all over the world so check out their website to find one near you;
As usual, a week flew by too quickly and, typically, as we passed through departures, I managed to break my glasses. They weren’t expensive but they were my only ones. One of the sales team suggested she nip back through passport control to the wider selection. A great idea, radio’s crackled and the Greek airport police swung into action, 10 minutes later and €20 lighter, her oppo presented me with three different styles to choose from and my return journey was saved. A round of applause to Corfu Airport duty-free!
In general, Corfu is a magical place with a balmy atmosphere and the ever-present symphony of cicadas. In terms of access, there are numerous bays & boats to rent that, unfortunately, preclude wheelchair-users but once installed in a villa or hotel, the use of such a ‘home-base’ with swimming pool makes life wonderful for a week away. The greatest draw of all, of course, is the simple Greek cuisine. A basic Feta salad, a bowl of chips & a glass of beer is all that’s required for the most part. I can’t wait to try another of the dozens of islands on offer.
Kalispera everybody…
This article was featured in the Summer 2026 issue of FORWARD, the only magazine dedicated to the spinal cord injury community.
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