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Herne Bay, Kent

For a traditional British seaside holiday, Herne Bay, is the place to visit. Situated within two miles of seafront, you will find candyfloss, arcades, pubs and fish and chips!

The town is home to the 12th century Reculver Towers and fort and also many beach huts, which have become very trendy, in recent years.

The seafront is very accessible, although it is a pebbly beach, and has interesting Victorian architecture, floral gardens, bandstand and a clock tower. Due to recent developments, the town has clean beaches and has a new pier that allows you to stroll along and look out to sea.

The summer season is the best time to visit the seaside resort as there is much going on. The main event in East Kent is the annual Carnival. Filled with many floats, including local businesses and schools, you can also have a look at the Miss Herne Bay of that year. The event parades along the seafront, where there are also disabled toilets.

The Herne Bay festival, which begun in 1993, also celebrates the town for nine days in August. The community hosts 200 events, many free, and include live music from the best local bands, a giant family picnic, the monster crab catching competition, Herne Bay’s Got Talent and two fireworks displays.

Herne Bay has a wide selection of hotels and b&b’s, but as some are in converted houses, they are not all accessible.

Jersey

Jersey is the most southerly island of the British Isles and a beautiful blend of Britain and France. Although it has its own coins and notes, the currency is still sterling, but its street names are all in French.

 

Divided into 12 administrative districts and parish’s, the island mixes lush countryside with coastal views. Most attractions and hotels are wheelchair accessible, but not all, so always check before booking anywhere.

Much of the Island is unspoilt, so many of the roads do not have pavements, leaving you to attempt to walk/ wheel along busy roads. Some of the smaller restaurants also have stairs and are not wheelchair accessible at all.

 

St Helier is the capital and the busiest town on the island. It contains all the popular shops, along with bars and restaurants. It is also home to the Island’s parliament, which sits in the States Chamber in the Royal Square and is one of the oldest assemblies in the Commonwealth. The town is very accessible and wheelchairs are able to get into shops. It also provides a Shopmobility scheme which allows you to hire wheelchairs or scooters.

 

Condor Ferries arrive at Elizabeth Terminal in St St Helier and are accessible with disabled toilets, limited disabled seating, and priority boarding.

Jersey Airport is fully accessible and passenger can be picked up/ dropped off directly outside the departure and arrival hall.

There is also a choice of accessible taxis and coaches.

 

Ferry from Norway to Denmark

Experience the sights and sounds of Oslo and Copenhagen by taking a ferry trip between the two countries.  Departing from each city, daily at 5pm, you will arrive at the next destination early the next morning.

 

Crown Seaways and Pearl Seaways are both accessible as a foot or car passenger. Just like a hotel, when booking, you are given a wide choice of the type of cabin you wish to stay in. They vary in size and price,  depending on whether you would like a sea view, television or complimentary breakfast. All cabins are en suite with a bedding and towel service, table and wardrobe. Accessible bathrooms are available with rails round the toilet and a shower seat that folds into the wall.

The ferry is completely accessible with much to do. There are a variety of restaurants, including a buffet and steakhouse, and a choice of bars and cafes. There is also a cinema, nightclub, kids club and even wine tasting. Everything gets very booked up, so it is better to try and book everything you would like to do, as soon as you are settled on the boat.

When you arrive at your destination, an alarm wakes you up, and you are told what time you must depart the boat. If you are taking the return journey, you can leave your possessions, but take any valuables with you.

London, England

For shopping and tourism, London is possibly the best city in the world, but for accessibility, this isn’t always the case.

Due to the age of many of the buildings, adaptations have not been possible to make. The majority of modern buildings, however, are accessible.

Most museums in London are free to all and much of the time, the carer goes free, for visits to exhibitions, the cinema, concerts and theatre.

As the majority of London theatres are old, adaptations have been made so wheelchair users can enter the venue and auditorium. In most cases, certain seating areas are reserved depending on if you are staying in your chair or able to transfer to a seat.

Concert venues, such as the 02 and Wembley, have good access with seating offered close to the stage.

 With the 2012 Olympics approaching, transport is improving, but work has not yet been completed. Buses have a ramp that the driver puts down after a button is pressed outside the bus to alert them, making this form of transport accessible. Tube maps show the stations that are accessible but journeys need to be planned beforehand to ensure the whole route is possible. The underground gets extremely busy during rush hour so it is better to travel during quieter periods. Over ground trains are also going through improvements.  Where possible, staff will put a ramp down to help you on and off the train but not all stations have lifts or level entrance.

Taxis and licensed cabs are a more expensive way to travel but it is often easier.

Restaurants and bars vary with their levels of access. Many in central London are not always completely flat to enter and some offer disabled toilets but use them as storage when not in regular use. Where possible, it is better to phone the venue before going.

Most shops are accessible with lifts and adapted toilets in the larger ones but smaller independent stores and boutiques are not always accessible, due to stairs and size. Shopping centres all have easy access and many have car parks if you are driving.

Orlando, Florida

Known as the Sunshine State, Florida is situated on the Gulf Coast, and has sunshine throughout the year.

Although Orlando is famous for having possibly the best theme parks in the world, you can also enjoy its sandy beaches, watch a rocket launch at Kennedy Space Centre, play a round of golf or discover wildlife on a swamp trip.

Orlando is very modern so accessibility is not a problem. No matter where you go, scooters are often available for hire and finding an adapted toilet is not a problem.

Everything is extremely spread out so walking is not an option but adapted cars are available to hire and buses and shuttle services go from hotels to theme parks. If you are not planning to drive, check with your hotel about transport services, before booking.

Theme parks, such as Disney World and Universal, have shows on throughout the day with spaces reserved for wheelchairs. The shows are always popular so make sure you get there with plenty of time to spare.

Rides are accessible, depending on your mobility. Staff will help you to an extent but you need to be able to get onto the ride on your own or with help from your party. Water rides are often low down so are not as easy to transfer into.

Water parks are flat and wheelchairs are available to hire but slides can only be accessed by climbing up steps while often carrying a float.

Florida’s beautiful beaches have to be visited if you haven’t experienced them before. Beach wheelchairs can be hired allowing you to manoeuvre along the sand and into the water easily.

Rambling

For fresh air enthusiasts and nature lovers, rambling is now accessible for all. It is an excellent way to meet like minded people and outdoor enthusiasts who love the countryside.

Rambling is an adventurous way for many to experience the countryside and to discover new paths and trails.

 

Wheelchair users are allowed in exactly the same places as the able-bodied but stiles, steps, slopes and debris can make navigation a lot less simple.

Steep inclines are a common feature in countryside walks but specialised disabled trips keep to smooth paths.

The Forestry Commission have introduced disabled walking paths which are flat and start at car parks, making it an accessible experience.

A growing database of walks suitable for wheelchair users can be found at www.walkswithwheelchairs.com, an independent site that has route descriptions available for download.

 

Barcelona

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain (after Madrid) and the capital of Catalonia. A popular tourist destination, the city is famous for its beauty, culture, art and for many, FC Barcelona.

With a host of attractions to choose from, visitors can enjoy the buzz of city life or wind down with sangria along the beach.  

The city is very accessible, due to a transformation, when it hosted the 1992 summer Olympics. The pavements are completely flat and kerbs are easy to go up and down on. Most of the shops have lifts and the beaches have sections especially designed for wheelchairs to go down on.

Tourist buses are a great way to experience the sights and portable ramps allow wheelchairs on. There are various routes to choose from and prices depend on the type of ticket you purchase. Due to its age, not all of Sagrada Familia (Gaudi’s unfinished Cathedral) is accessible, but is still worth visiting. Unfortunately, the area around the Olympic Stadium is extremely steep, but is also quite undeveloped.

Older restaurants and buildings have not been adapted and if you are planning to view a show or eat in a small tapas bar, it is worth checking their level of access before going.

Like most cities, Barcelona is crammed full of hotels and as it is divided into different areas, your location depends on the type of visit you hope to have. I stayed at the H10 Montcada, which was a very luxurious stay, and located between the Ramblas and the beach. The room was quite small however and the shower had a stool to sit on. Depending on your access needs, it may not be suitable for everyone.

Las Vegas

Gambling Mecca of the world, Las Vegas is an adult’s playground. Open 24/7,  if you are over 21, everything is accessible.

There is plenty to do in ‘Sin City’, whether you want to shop, visit the Hoover Dam or Grand Canyon, gamble, party or even get married!

All shopping malls have disabled access and every casino has wheelchair accessible slot machines and gaming tables.

Shows are also accessible but need to be booked in advance.

The two most visited areas in Las Vegas are The Strip and Downtown. The Strip consists of the big hotels and casinos while Downtown is home to the ‘original’ hotels and ‘The Freemont Street Experience,’ a spectacular hourly light show.      

                 

Vegas have more accessible hotel rooms than any other city in America. There is a wide variety of adaptations, such as, roll-in showers, transfer showers and baths with built-in or portable seats. Most of the hotels also have lifts in their swimming pools.

I stayed at the family friendly Excalibur Hotel, which I highly recommend, as it was perfectly located and good for wheelchair usage. There is wide variety of hotels to choose from however, with a broad price range.

Everything is big, so far apart, in the city and scooters are available for hire in every hotel.