The Challenge Of Accessible Travel

There have been many advances in technology which have included making it possible for individuals with many disabilities to find accessible travel easier throughout the world. When selecting a vacation destination the question is no longer about whether or not the spot will have accessibility, but rather getting the logistics aligned to make the trip seamless.

Most of the larger, chain hotels throughout the world have wheelchair accessible rooms and ramps that are make navigation comfortable. But there are some items that an individual going abroad for vacation will want to take care of prior to leaving home to make the trip more enjoyable.

If the person will be traveling by train in a foreign country it is important to call that country’s Bureau of Tourism to find out about the accessibility on the train for wheelchairs. Many travelers have found after calling a train company in a foreign country that the accessibility they were told about were not available. However, the Bureau of Tourism in each country has detailed information about accessibility on all public transportation.

It is also important to find out ahead of time how the individual can board and disembark from the train. Some train stations are not equipped with hydraulics or ramps for a wheelchair to board a train and it is necessary to make arrangements ahead of time for assistance.

Many world travelers have reported that most trains do not have bathroom accommodations on trains for wheelchairs. Among the suggestions for this issue is to reduce fluid intake the day before boarding a train or wearing a pad for a long trip. Another suggestion is to carry a change of clothing, plastic bag, lotion, and wipes when riding the train for ease of clean-up.

When traveling abroad an all track wheelchair will allow an individual to go places that a regular wheelchair will not allow. Since the possibility of steps is always present in historic cities wheelchairs that cannot be tilted will not be helpful on this type of trip.

Carrying snacks in a pack is very important on vacation since there may be occasions when the food that is available will not be appropriate to eat. Power bars or other high protein snacks to last until the destination is reached will keep a person from experiencing blood sugar problems. In addition, carrying bottled water is also important if one will be visiting locations where water is not easily available.

Having a first aid kit on hand which contains other the counter medications that include Dramamine, Imodium, Tylenol, lotion, etc., will be another necessity when traveling. In many vacation destinations there are few pharmacies that carry these items.

To date Nate and Nancy of the Disabled Travelers Guide group have traveled to over 53 countries around the world and experienced adventures as exotic as the Antarctic using a wheelchair. Their advice accessible travel for anyone who uses a wheelchair is to plan for every contingency before leaving home and to take any supplies that an individual thinks they may need. There are very large cities in many parts of the world that may not have the supplies that a person traveling in a wheelchair will need so taking the spare parts, medications, etc., as part of the trip will make traveling much more enjoyable for the traveler.