As mentioned above, booking your trip in advance ensures that you have plenty of time to refine your travel plans! Something that is particularly important if you are planning to travel in peak seasons because many hotels only have one or two accessible rooms. You also need to clarify that the lovely accessible hotel you found isn’t in a ridiculously inaccessible part of town, so make sure you always research the area surrounding your hotel. I typically use Google Maps' Street View to do this, as it gives you a great insight into the lay of the land; before emailing the hotel with any questions I have.
Once you have done this, you can focus on planning the most accessible routes, attractions and even dining options to ensure you don’t waste time struggling to find something suitable upon arrival! There'll likely be numerous ways to get to your preferred attractions, as some routes may have wheelchair ramps, smooth pavements, and flat terrain; where as others may have steep hills, cobblestones, and flights of stairs. So make sure to look into the accessibility of the local paths/sidewalks, bus routes, subway stations, as well as the location of accessible building entrances before your trip. Despite the endless online resources, we have access to nowadays, I always contact the venue directly to ensure the information I have gathered is correct! For anyone looking to take part in a pre-organised tour, consider asking if the route is flat, smooth and accessible; if you will be expected to keep up with able-bodied members; or if they have previous experience in assisting guests with disabilities!
Sadly sometimes no amount of research is enough to cover every eventuality, so always ensure you have a backup plan! For me this includes preparing for every eventuality, traveling with someone who can assist me/advocate for me, remaining as flexible as possible and learning to accept that little mishaps don’t have to ruin my trip! I have had to deal with the anti-tip bar on my wheelchair snapping on Brooklyn Bridge, my wheelchair breaks dropping off on a boat in Orlando and getting stranded in Paris due to an unexpected snowstorm! Because of this, I always pack extra supplies, a puncture repair kit, allen keys and tape! Although sadly as much as we try, some things are just not safe/possible/accessible for guests with disabilities! I‘ve been turned away many times when traveling abroad, visiting other parts of the UK, or even when exploring my home town in the North East. But I have finally learnt to accept these outcomes and instead begin searching for a suitable alternative; so never give up!
It is amazing how creative you become when you have no option but to transfer in a narrow space, use a highly inaccessible bathroom or to get into a building with poor wheelchair access. For example, many people are willing to help if you ask, which is something I had to do when the only lift in a train station was broken prior to one of the England Rugby World Cup games at Twickenham Stadium; I have discreetly catheterised into a bottle in the most random places and administered injections in very unhygienic environments. Hopefully one day the access will improve, but in the meantime, there is a world out there to be discovered, so you’ve gotta do what you gotta do to enjoy your travels! Just try to have an open mind and a sense of humour, because it definitely makes the whole experience easier!
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