The Seven Lakes, Argentina
Photo by: Leonardo Chamorro (Stock Exchange)

Welcome back to Disabled Travelers!

A few weeks back we looked at CNBC’s list of best places to retire outside the U.S., and ever since, I’ve been itching to do an access guide on the top ten picks.

Although there are some European destinations, there are also areas throughout Central and South America, not usually known for the best in disability friendly accommodations.

But we’ve made so many discoveries in my time at Disabled Travelers I figured it couldn’t hurt to do some research …

So, we’re beginning our tour with beautiful Argentina!

The capital of Argentina is Buenos Aires, a truly international city that’s been compared to Paris. For accessible tour operators running to this wonderful metropolis, you can’t beat Accessible Journeys. Their Wheelchair Accessible Argentina tour includes hand-picked disabled hotels, reserved, accessible transportation with private drivers, English-speaking guides, airport transfers, and prepaid meals. Definitely a good way to see the city; and your travel companions are invited as well.

Always take Yahoo Answers with a grain of salt and look for a dedicated “travel” forum if you want solid answers, but it’s worth looking at these recent disabled access tips for Buenos Aires and the local area. Public transportation definitely isn’t recommended, but there are some basic features like curb cuts and discounted travel for the disabled. If you want to choose a guide that focuses exclusively on the region, Korke provides Argentina and Chile travel with customized itineraries to help you maximize your trip.

Disabled Travelers’ Guide to the World, one of our favorite sites, has some Argentina information. Of course, you can also go straight to the source and look at the local tourism board, whose site also includes a breakdown of amenities for disabled travelers in Argentina. This provides some hotel advice and news on wheelchair friendly tourist attractions throughout the country. JustArgentina, a privately owned travel guide covering the country, also has a listing of companies and resources that can help.

Global Access News has a brief mention of Argentina in its October 2005 disabled travel newsletter, which comes complete with some recommendations for Argentina, Canada, Las Vegas, France, New York, and the Caribbean. TravelIntelligence.com’s Wheelchair Accessible Hotels in Argentina is a good place for more on accommodations.

It might also interest you to know that Argentina’s wheelchair basketball team, which is supported by the Argentine Wheelchair Sport Federation (link in Spanish only) is an internationally ranked team.

Our verdict on Argentina? While there’s a strong English-speaking community there, centered around Buenos Aires, the outlook on accessibility isn’t spectacular. That said, people are aware of the problem and progress is being made. Buenos Aires is one of the most enchanting cities in the area, and I would definitely recommend a guided tour — don’t pass up the chance to see it. As for the best places to retire, our journey continues next week. Thanks for visiting Disabled Travelers, and see you then!

Si

Here comes the Costa Victoria! Photo by: oziris (Stock Exchange)

Hello, everybody! Today’s Disabled Travelers blog is dedicated, once again, to accessible cruises; it’s been a tough nut to crack, but I’m finding new ways to make it easier to choose your cruise line.

Last time, we shared some new handicapped travel resources for ocean voyages, including a great new website with lots of articles.

Now, I’m going to put the accessibility information for major cruise lines “at your fingertips” by rustling up each company’s hub for disabled travel info, and giving an overview.

Carnival: All of Carnival’s ships have certain adapted services for the blind, hard-of-hearing, and mobility impaired access – and the newer ships are truly top of the line. Accessible elevators on all ships allow for use by passengers in wheelchairs; tactile controls and audible signals help out with navigation. Braille signage and cabin kits for the deaf are also offered. While on deck, accessible routes are posted and accessibility maps are available for every ship in the fleet right from the website! Not comfortable with long voyages, or maybe shore excursions aren’t your thing? No problem – choose a “Cruise to Nowhere”, which allows you to enjoy the famed shipboard hospitality and entertainment of Carnival without shore trips, and can be as short as 2-3 days.

Celebrity: Celebrity has a complete compendium of information covering wheelchair users, the blind or deaf, adapted tours for shore days, and handling your medical needs while onboard. Wheelchair accessible staterooms feature wall-to-wall adapted furniture and barrier-free paths, including ramped bathroom thresholds, grab bars, roll-in showers, and other useful features. One thing you can be sure of when going on a cruise is that ship staff members have measurements for every door and passage, so you’ll easily be able to tell if your “ride” can be accommodated by Celebrity and most other lines.

Disney: Looking for accessible cruises with more family-oriented fare? Disney may just be your best bet at sea. On land, the Disney properties are known for thorough attention to accessibility for visitors with all kinds of special needs, which recently included upgrades to parks worldwide to make them even more accessible for the deaf. At sea, accessible accommodations on Disney ships are first class, and all events onboard feature special seating areas for wheelchair users. Just be aware that beach wheelchairs used on some excursions are on a first-come, first-served basis; if you have a favorite beach chair, you might make arrangements to bring it along with you.

Princess: With luxury cruises going to such destinations as the Caribbean, Hawaii, the South Pacific, the Mexican Riviera, and more, not to mention their amazing world cruises, Princess Cruise Lines is one of the leaders in providing a true luxury experience. First-time and veteran cruisers alike will find something to love here. The same goes for handicapped travelers, who’ll benefit from Princess Cruises’ partnership with Special Needs at Sea, the premier medical supplier for ocean voyages. Princess does have a few issues – for example, collapsible wheelchairs are recommended since door measurements are not standardized, since every ship is a little bit different – but these are easily remedied thanks to SNAS, a truly international outfit.

When it comes to disabled travelers, the fact is that not all cruise lines are created equal. These are some of the best choices, though, and I hope I’ve made it a little bit easier to get the information you need for your next vacation. Remember, there’s no substitute for getting in touch with your would-be ship line directly if anything looks amiss; if the customer service isn’t all you expect, then you know all you need to know!

Bon voyage – and adventure on!

Si

A cruise ship at Willemstad
Photo by: Paul Jursa (Stock Exchange)

Hi, all! As you’ve definitely noticed around here, Disabled Travelers hasn’t touched on the subject of accessible cruises very much.

And in all honesty, good information on the topic still seems to be pretty scarce!

However, since it’s been quite a while I thought I’d offer what I’ve been able to put together since our last go-around, many moons ago.

There are some new resources and a couple of tips I want to emphasize so handicapped travelers will get to enjoy voyages at sea just like everybody else! It’s not to be missed …

The biggest news on the accessible cruise front is Cruise Critic. Cruise Critic is a comprehensive resource for cruising, which also happens to include a bevy of facts and articles pertinent to disabled travelers. Reviews encompass pretty much every major cruise provider and give you the pros and cons, do’s and don’ts, and insider information you need to make the best cruising decision. Though there are pieces offered by writers and editors, much of the real “golden” information is provided by recent passengers.

Holland America is still going strong as the best travel option for handicapped passengers, hands down. Though this article from Sealetter Cruise Magazine is several years old now, it demonstrates a real commitment to accessibility that has only grown in the years since. Just check out the amazingly detailed accessibility info on the Holland America website that covers virtually every access topic imaginable.

Also bear in mind that in some cases, deaf travelers may have even more cruise options than folks requiring mobility impaired access; as I’ve pointed out before, deaf travelers love cruising. Deaf organizations and tour operators are known to keep their fans and friends sailing as much as possible. Just about every installment of our deaf travel series, released monthly, has at least one cruise operator especially for the deaf.

For a lot of great travel tips, including further resources and in-depth articles on accessible cruises, visit our unofficial “top tour operator”, Accessible Journeys. Most “travelers with wheels” will probably find that their best bet in cruising is to partner up with a reputable tour operator, but if you choose to go solo, be sure to check out some crucial points: If you need travel equipment, will you have to bring it or does your cruise line have a designated medical provider? What accommodations are available for your specific needs, including room, shipboard movement, and getting on and off the ship?

Accessible cruising is a challenging subject, but Cruise Critic makes it much easier than it was before. Also don’t forget travel community sites like Lonely Planet where you can connect with other travelers who’ve had positive (and not-so-positive) experiences like the ones you’re seeking! Many major cruise lines have a whole host of destinations, so once you find a line that works for you, you may never wish to switch!

Thanks for tuning in to today’s blog. See you soon, on land or water; and adventure on!

Si

Lake Tahoe on a beautiful December morning
Photo by: Daniel West (Stock Exchange)

Morning, everybody! Today’s dip into the mailbag brings us to Lake Tahoe, one of the largest freshwater lakes in North America, and the largest high-altitude “alpine” lake. Bordering the states of California and Nevada, it is a popular destination for water sports, winter sports, and of course, gambling. The Tahoe area is home to a number of great wheelchair accessible hotels and resorts as well as several tour operators and event planners who can help visitors get the most from this natural treasure.

Northstar at Tahoe Resort is our first stop. With diverse activities including ice skating, mountain tours, village crafts, a spa and fitness center, and even geocaching, Northstar is one of the best selections for handicapped travelers. Check out its ADA Access page and you’ll see accessible parking lots, pathways, elevators, restrooms, and other amenities featured prominently. Dogs, including service animals, are welcome on the grounds and at many events.

At Zephyr Cove Resort, you can enjoy wheelchair access cruises around Lake Tahoe. The resort’s Tahoe Queen is recognized as the only authentic Mississippi-style paddlewheel ship on the lake, and the M.S. Dixie II has the distinction of being the largest vessel out there on Lake Tahoe, hands down. All cruises leave from the resort and have accessible accommodations. When you’re not taking in a splendid dinner cruise, you can also enjoy a variety of other features at the resort, such as its beautiful marina.

If you’d like to learn how to ski, but you’re just not sure you can, Heavenly Ski Resort of Lake Tahoe is for you. Heavenly offers a full range of adaptive ski training programs and services for the disabled. This includes instruction for the blind and those with disability of one leg, both legs, all extremities, and those with other special needs. Heavenly provides a full range of equipment to get you out on the slopes and confident about your ability to ski. There are also special classes for other first-time skiers.

A great handicapped organization operates around Lake Tahoe, the Tahoe Area Coordinating Council for the Disabled. As a nonprofit org, members provide complete access guides to services in the Tahoe Basin and Alpine County area. Their information includes accessible hotels, campgrounds, restaurants, businesses, conventions, and weddings. They also have monthly meetings and sponsor their own events and awards for businesses that go above and beyond in providing top-quality accessibility. Their site is about as close as you can get to an access guide for the shores of Lake Tahoe, and I’m sure they’d love to hear from you if you have any questions after browsing their pages.

Sierra at Tahoe is another outstanding option if you want a fully accessible ski resort that respects your abilities and needs. According to the site, it was selected “Most Friendly, Most Accommodating and Most Accessible” ski resort for 2005 from TACCD. Granted, it’s been a few years since then, but this is something they seem very proud of, so hopefully standards are still high!

If you ask me, Lake Tahoe is one of the most beautiful sights in the country, and this is just a slice of how accommodations on this lake’s pristine shores have expanded over the years. Just about any way you can think of to enjoy the lake is available to visitors of all abilities. So, as we close the mailbag for today’s visit, thanks for asking and for reading … and as always, adventure on!

Si

A cruise ship at the harbor of Rotterdam, in the Netherlands

Hello, everyone! I’m back and it’s time for more news from Disabled Travelers. Since the debacle I described last week about accessible travel problems with Canadian airlines, I’ve been thinking a lot about cruises. Cruises are a great way to get from place to place without the hassle of air travel; you get to explore at your leisure and enjoy luxury, wonderful scenery, and a whole slew of activities. So I’d like to spend some time in today’s post talking about wheelchair accessible cruises and disabled travel on the sea. I’ve had the good fortune to make a transatlantic journey on the Queen Mary II, and it’s an experience I wouldn’t trade in for any airplane, no matter how nice it was!

To start with, know that though most major cruise lines are very proactive about making accessibility easy for handicapped travelers, many ports of call outside the United States are not known for much in the way of mobility impaired access. It’s always a good idea to check with cruise companies and find out about individual stops on the itinerary before booking a cruise. The AARP’s Peter Greenberg has a huge assortment of great articles on accessibility in cruises. Peter covers transatlantic cruises and visits to plenty of exotic locales, including Alaska, China, and many more. Definitely worth a look. On top of that, Cruise Critic has a detailed piece on Top Ships for Cruisers with Disabilities.

Caribbean destinations can be some of the most troublesome for travel with a disability. Luckily, this trend might be on the reverse according to MSNBC, which offers an introduction on how to plan an accessible Caribbean vacation and tips on choosing a cruise line with wheelchair accessible ship cabins. Connie George Travel Associates arranges accessible vacations, including cruises, and maintains a blog all about accessible cruising. These resources are a great start for planning handicapped travel at sea. Remember that communication is key when you have special needs on a cruise – check and double-check any accommodations you’ve been promised at least ten days in advance of boarding, even if you’re fairly confident everything is in order.

Disability access is a priority for many major cruise lines, so disability access policies are generally pretty well spelled out – take for example the accessibility onboard page from Royal Caribbean International. CruiseCheap has a thorough overview of accessibility on Princess Cruises. Cunard seems a bit less forthcoming, but provides accessibility information in its FAQ. For those who might need accessibility equipment for an ocean voyage, Special Needs at Sea provides a variety of useful items and works directly with Royal Caribbean International and Holland America. I’ve heard mixed reviews on Holland America’s wheelchair access (this is their page on accessibility), but haven’t ever cruised with them. Anyone have any experiences to share?

Small Ship Cruises has information on small ship cruise companies with wheelchair accessible vessels in their fleet. Small ships are particularly interesting since they offer some destinations and opportunities the big cruise lines simply can’t. There are some amazing destinations covered here, including Antarctica, the Falklands, Africa, and a number of great U.S. waterways, as well as many more traditional destinations.

That’s all for now! Next week I’m looking at disabled travel resources for handicapped travelers who want serious outdoor adventure. Of course, this blog is here for you, and I’d be glad to cover whatever you need. Be sure to let me know if you have any requests. Until then, keep adventuring!

Si