Wheel-Life Adventures

Accessible travel is on a roll around the world

By: Lewis Beale; July-August 2005 | Source: AARP.org | May 24, 2005

Time was when the most excitement a prospective wheelchair traveler could hope for was a fast roll from the hotel door to the curb. But that was then, this is now, and today there are lots of exotic—and accessible—places to vacation. For example, these getaways:

South Africa: Meet wild elephants. Tipple your way through the Western Cape Province wine country. Explore the lush Indian Ocean coastline. A specialty of the tour is a tented, five-star game lodge featuring flat-entry showers and easy-access commodes. (www.Disabilitytravel.com; 610-521-0339)

Costa Rica: Zip through eight kilometers of paved trails in the awesome La Selva Biological Station rain forest and take a wheelchair "hike" over a suspended bridge. There's also a wheelchair-accessible aerial tram that traverses the jungle canopy. At the lodge adjacent to the Arenal Volcano, all rooms are wheelchair-friendly, and there's even a roll-in pool. (http://www.eaiadventure.com/default1.asp; 888-710-WILD)

Egypt: Cruise up the Nile from Aswan to Luxor on a fully accessible luxury cruise ship that includes wheel-in showers and an elevator to the top deck. A visit to the pyramids is also possible, and the Sharm el Sheikh resort on the Red Sea has a dive boat that even a quadriplegic can go out on. (www.Flyingwheelstravel.com; 507-451-5005)

Have someplace else in mind? Access-able.com has a wealth of accessible travel information, including destination-specific details and personal trip reports.

These links are provided for informational purposes only. AARP does not endorse, and has no control over or responsibility for, the linked sites or the content, advertisements, materials, products, or services available on or through on those sites.

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