Question: Betty Sutton asks: What tips do you have for a disabled person who uses a walker but would like to travel?
Answer: AAA travel counselor Rachel Smith answers: There are a wide variety of travel options available for traveling with a walker but you do need to plan in advance and research your trip carefully. Some options to consider: Cruises are great for folks with walkers as their “hotel” takes them to a different location every day. Modern cruise ships have numerous elevators which makes the entire ship accessible to someone using a walker. Additionally, ships have selected staterooms which are completely ADA compliant if passengers need more room to get around. There are also many shore excursions in port on motor coaches that require minimal walking.
If you would prefer a tour instead, Ginger in our Travel department says that most of the tour partners we (AAA) work with have a clause with regard to travelers requiring special assistance. The bottom line…. convey your needs up front to the Travel Agents so they in turn can ask specific suppliers their recommendation and policy.
If you are visiting a museum or attraction where lots of walking is required, do consider renting a wheelchair while you are there. And some cities, notably Paris and Rome and, as we found, Prague, could be less attractive because of the number of steps and cobblestones to navigate. In the U.S., AAA TourBooks all list hotels that have accessibility features. Note: The level of difficulty varies hugely based on your particular circumstances so please be sure to phone ahead to ensure your specific needs can be met at your destination.
Do come back and tell us about what you plan so we can post it for other travelers.
