Maya NorthenWHO REALLY OFFERS ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL*As someone who loves to inspire others to travel, I like everyone to have the opportunity to travel. This includes those who cannot get around as easily as others. A few weeks back a reader posted a question on my blog asking about the most accessible airlines and European cities. I love this, as it addressed a need that is often unfortunately overlooked. I'll address the airline issue first. Although there are certain guidelines for airlines when it comes to accessibility, they are for the most part quite general. For instance, they say that every twin aircraft must have one accessible bathroom and that this bathroom must have grab bars on the toilet. Lack of specific requirements leave a lot up to the discretion of the airline, and given the space is at a premuim, you can imagine most don't go overboard to provide extra space for accessible travelers. For US based airlines, Continental is generally thought to be the best for accessible travelers, though the bar set by other domestic airlines is not very high. If you are traveling overseas, it may be worth checking into foreign based carriers (BA, Singapore Air, Thai Air, etc) which often are just roomier in general. Next, onto the European destinations. Europe can be tricky to navigate in a wheelchair, with its many small streets and cobblestone alleys. The many historical points of interest that were built hundreds of years ago when people in general were much smaller (and there was no ADA or similar requirements) can add to the difficulty. Luckily there are companies dedicated to helping people in wheelchairs explore Europe to its fullest. Disabilitytravel.com offers European tours for travelers with accessibility needs. Some of the most wheelchair friendly cities that they have found in Europe include:
For more information on their tours and trips, visit www.disabilitytravel.com. *Originally published in TraveLuxe emagazine . |