The amphibious beach wheelchair – designed to travel over sand and into shallow water – looked the part, though getting it to the shore was initially easier said than done.I was staying at Tui Blue Sensatori Akra Sorgun, a sprawling all-inclusive resort set among pine trees on Turkey’s southern coast that is renowned for its superior accessibility.With help from my travel companion Rachel and a pair of passing holidaymakers, I transferred out of my wheelchair into the amphibious chair and was soon by the water’s edge – listening to waves break while cool water moved beneath my feet.For many holidaymakers, this would have been entirely ordinary. As a wheelchair user, despite the manoeuvre not being the most graceful, it felt quietly momentous.I’ve travelled for more than 20 years, long enough to remember when adapted transfers, pool hoists and beach wheelchairs were rare. Things have improved but booking still requires detective work.Can the transfer vehicle secure my wheelchair? Can I reach shower controls? Does ‘step free’ mean a gentle route or a steep slope? Carrie-Ann Lightley Tui Blue Sensatori Akra Sorgun on Turkey’s southern coast She tested out the hotel’s accessibility features Hence my trip to Turkey to test out Akra Sorgun, hoping that practicality would not be at the expense of a dash of style.The travel over was smooth, with seamless assistance on the plane at Manchester and off at Antalya, with a transfer in an adapted minibus and a quick check-in to a room on the reception floor.Our room had plenty of space, a large balcony and beds at a manageable height. Handy bedside controls operated the lights and air conditioning, while emergency pull cords were positioned beside the bed and in the bathroom.The wet-room had a level-access shower, fold-down seat, grab rails and a handheld shower head. The obvious mistake was that fixed toiletry dispensers and the caddy for guests’ products were too far from the seat to reach.Another fault was that we had to move a coffee table to reach the balcony, where the threshold required a determined push.Beyond our room, the most striking feature of the resort was space. Tables were not packed together, sun loungers were generously arranged, and there were wide, smooth routes through the main building. All excellent, thoughtfully done.Our room was close to the adults-only pool, reached along a level route. The travel writer found her bedroom ‘had plenty of space, a large balcony and beds at a manageable height’ Carrie-Ann’s room was conveniently located nearby the adults-only poolWide, shallow steps allowed me to lower myself in, and a pool hoist was available. A second hoist served the family pool.The adults-only pool felt calm and private. There was room beside the loungers for my wheelchair and waiter service meant that I did not have to get back into it to fetch drinks. The indoor spa pool was trickier.The main entrance involved stairs, so staff arranged for a technician to unlock an external patio door. A small threshold remained and I needed help to cross it.The steepness of the resort was the biggest barrier to my independence.The beach, beachside restaurants, entertainment area and outdoor wellbeing platform were all reached by steep slopes.With Rachel pushing and staff offering help, I could get there. Alone in a manual wheelchair, I would not have.A mobility scooter or powerchair could transform the experience – and TUI later confirmed that its Assisted Travel team can facilitate this.Despite the effort to reach it, the outdoor wellbeing platform became a favourite spot. We joined a gong bath meditation beneath a shaded canopy.The instructor asked what support I needed, then brought an extra pillow so I could settle comfortably on the mat. The layout of the hotel was spacious and well planned-out too, with tables evenly spread out and sun loungers ‘generously arranged’Lying there in the warmth, listening to the vibration of the gong mingle with the sound of a fountain, I felt more relaxed than I had in months.Staff at Akra Sorgun understood the difference between offering help and taking over – moving chairs, assisting on slopes and opening alternative entrances without making me feel conspicuous. The main buffet area also had wide routes, most dishes were within reach and staff stepped in swiftly as required.All of this meant that accessibility rarely overshadowed the holiday itself.After our time at the beach, a member of the TUI team had appeared to rinse the sand from my shoes and feet. It was a simple gesture but it captured the spirit of the stay.After 20 years of accessible travel, I know those are the moments a holiday is made of.