Tips For Travelers With Disabilities

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At the end of last week’s column, I printed two reader questions about traveling with disabilities. Frank G. wanted to help his daughter enjoy Egypt in a wheelchair, while Heidi D. asked about the best ships and cruise lines for her disabled mother. Your response was overwhelming, so I’ve decided to post a sample of the best ones here today.

About.com contributor deTraci Regula writes, “Your readers planning a trip to Egypt might find the website egyptforall.net useful. I’ve written on disabled travel in Greece at my About.com website—let me know if you ever need information on that part of the world!”

Mark Raffaele says, “Egypt in a wheelchair is very doable without too much hassle and without an expensive tour. The Nile Hilton has ADA rooms and wheelchair-accessible public areas, as does the Sheraton Luxor. Both have stunning views of the Nile River and are not expensive yet more than adequate. We paid less than $100 per day for a private guide, a van, and driver. The guide took us all over Cairo, including the Pyramids and the Islamic quarter.”

John Winske writes, “The best cruise lines for someone in a wheelchair are going to be Princess and Royal Caribbean by a mile. I am a person in a wheelchair and my brother and ex-wife were also in wheelchairs. We took Princess several times, always with great success. For five years I owned a travel agency which specialized in disability travel. Royal Caribbean always treated our passengers well.”

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Carl U. offers this advice: “Most (probably all) cruise lines have wheelchair-accessible rooms. These rooms are larger, usually with wider entries, and will have bathrooms that accommodate wheelchairs (lower sinks, grab bars by the toilet and in the shower, and sometimes ‘roll-in’ showers that don’t require a step up or down). These rooms also tend to be located near an elevator, which is convenient. So I would suggest this person investigate the ships that sail his/her preferred itinerary, and then choose the one with the best wheelchair accommodations. Aside from that, a newer ship may provide generally wider hallways and traffic areas than an older ship. I highly doubt there’s a significant difference, and any cruise ship will have a few tight corners here and there, but it may be worth considering. Good news is that needing an accessible room shouldn’t limit the reader’s choice of ships or itineraries.”

Thanks to each of you for your suggestions.

Letter of the week

This week’s reader question comes from Maria Polla, who writes: “My husband and I are celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary this year. We would like to celebrate with our family by taking them on vacation. Our grandchildren range in age from three to 24. Can you suggest any destinations that would make everyone happy? We would consider the Mediterranean or Hawaii. Thank you!”

Can you help this reader? Please send your suggestion, or a new question, using the “Submit your own comment” box below. Be aware that due to the volume of requests I receive, I cannot personally respond to every email. The more compelling your question, the better the chance you’ll be selected for an upcoming case.

All prices, dates, and booking details listed here were valid at the time of publication. Some information may have changed since that time.