Mary Thompson is enjoying her tour of Sicily, which includes a cooking class in Palermo, wine tasting in Marsala and a stop at the magnificent Piazza Duomo square in Catania.
Bill and Betty Condon are equally pleased with their cruise along the Mississippi River, with daily shore excursions to explore towns and other attractions along the way.
While these travel experiences are different in a number of ways, they share a common trait. Both are accessible to people who deal with a handicap.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, more than one in four adults in the United States suffer from some type of disability. Fortunately, this doesn’t prevent many of them from traveling to places near and far from where they live.
Some tour companies focus on offering trips for people with a handicap. These challenges vary from sight and hearing problems to mobility issues and other impediments. The goal is to provide an experience as equal as possible to that available to those with no such impairment.
Whether you – or a travel companion — deal with some sort of injury, loss of movement or other potential obstacle, help is on the way.
Mary Thompson received the assistance she sought and needed during her tour of Sicily with Easy Access Travel. That company specializes in accessible land trips and cruise vacations. As a result, Mary traveled through Sicily in a Mercedes Sprinter van equipped with an elevating platform and room enough to accommodate her open wheelchair, which enabled her to visit historic and other sites along the way.
The Condons were staying in one of the accessible wheelchair-friendly rooms which are available on American Cruise Lines ships. They appreciated the elevator, which provides ease of movement between decks, and the fact that the dining room, lounges and sun decks are wheelchair friendly. That also held true when they went ashore to take part in the daily sightseeing excursions which were offered.
Given the company’s name, it’s not surprising that Elder Treks caters to people age 50 and older. With that in mind, it rates trips on an activity level scale so participants may choose one which fits their preferences and physical state. Those who opt for itineraries identified as “easy” should be able to walk one-to-two hours through “varying levels of rugged terrain.” “Challenging” hikes may last five or more hours, cover at least five miles and traverse slopes that may be slippery.
As its name implies, Travel for All specializes in customized vacations for people with a variety of disabilities. The company works with more than 1,000 suppliers around the world, including land and tour operators, and cruise lines. After ascertaining a customer’s preferences and needs, the firm provides recommendations intended to fit individual travel styles.
Appropriately named Seeable Holidays goes well beyond just suggesting a trip for those with a sight impairment. It provides much of the planning and work which is involved. Travelers who are blind or partially sighted pick dates and a destination, submit a wish list and the company takes over.
Local chaperones with visual awareness training, who are knowledgeable about the destination and its history, spend 8-to-10 hours a day with visitors. In addition to introducing the must-see, must-do sites and attractions, these guides use their familiarity with the setting to steer visitors to the best local restaurants, keep them away from tourist traps and arrange private behind-the-scenes experiences.
This kind of help can take a travel experience to the next stage. From seeing a locale through the eyes of a resident to cruising along the Mighty Mississippi, whether sampling the sights of Sicily or enjoying a hike suited to your fitness level, a wide range of experiences awaits those who venture out close to where they live or around the globe. Many are available to people who deal with a physical handicap.
