5 Wheelchair friendly holiday destinations – Showerbuddy

5 Wheelchair friendly holiday destinations

5 Wheelchair friendly holiday destinations

Do you love travelling but have a requirement around accessibility that’s giving you some pause as to where you can go? The good news is that more places than ever across the world offer accessibility. However, there are certain destinations that lend themselves really well to anyone experiencing a physical disability.

 

In this article we’ll take you on a tour of places that you might consider going for an unforgettable holiday.

Taking the kids to a theme park for a family holiday in Florida

What better way to bring a sense of magic in your child’s life than a trip to one of the theme parks within Florida, whether it’s Disney World, Sea World, Epcot or Universal Studios. Florida enjoys plenty of sunshine and is less busy in the shoulder season – although you should definitely expect some lines. If you’re a family with a child who experiences a disability, then you’ll have a number of services you can tap into to make the visit more enjoyable. Walt Disney World for example provides various accessibility support.

A theme park like Disney World is an excellent choice for a family with young children because it really offers something for everyone. A family with multiple ages and degrees of mobility can all enjoy the experiences ranging from relaxed tours around the park to rides.

 

You should plan the visit to a theme park well ahead of time, getting in touch with the park around their different options for catering to a disability. Having this planned out well in advance can help coordinate the visit to the park a bit better once you arrive.

Sensory Delights of Hong Kong

There’s few inner city experiences quite like Hong Kong. From the iconic night markets of Kowloon and Nathan Road to the beautiful villages and monasteries, this city has something for everyone. Moving through the city at day or night, you’ll be met with sights the likes of which you’ve never seen anywhere else. If you fancy yourself as a bit of a shopper, the markets are famous for the sheer number of traders and variety of products on offer. Fancy yourself a keen haggler? Negotiating on price here is expected.

Hong Kong brings some of the best elements of Asia, but represents a truly diverse and rich cultural hub. It’s very common to run into people from your own country here.

What makes Hong Kong a good candidate for this list is its wheelchair and disability friendly design. If you enjoy spontaneous exploration of a new environment, this city is for you. Research this market though, as there is some areas of hilly terrain that might be best avoided or planned in advance.

Caribbean Cruise

There’s a reason our elderly community loves taking a cruise;

lines are perfectly set up to support accessibility through the boat. This means ramps everywhere, elevators, wide doorways, and access to all the leisure activities one could want.

A cruise reduces the amount of effort required to get from one place to the next.

Your transport is the destination in many ways! A cruise may have several ports or destinations that form part of the trip, but you’ll spend plenty of time at sea.

The Caribbean has long been a favourite route for many a cruise traveller, thanks to the amazing weather and beautiful sights from the boat. There’s no shortage of things to do onboard – enjoy relaxing by the pool, sampling the various restaurants or even seeing a live musical act.

If the constant rushing to make different legs of a holiday journey sounds daunting, a cruise might be for you.

Beachside Spa in Bali

Bali is a beautiful holiday destination offering everything you could want from a beach holiday.

If you believe a holiday is about relaxing and recharging, what better place to visit than a resort and spa.

Bali is famous for its luxurious accommodation options at highly competitive rates, as well as its worldwide reputation as leaders in spa, wellness and massage.

Imagine a week of rest, massage, sauna and swimming – who wouldn’t benefit from that? Bali, despite being known as a busy tourist destination, has become increasingly compatible for those with reduced mobility, with even the cultural and historical landmarks being upgraded to offer walkways and ramps for a more inclusive experience.

London’s calling

It’s often said that there’s nowhere quite like London, and if you’ve ever visited the English capital, you’ll no doubt agree.

A city steeped in history, London still manages to remain one of the more modern and forward thinking major cities in the world. Within a short distance, visitors can attend the Tate Modern art gallery, go inside the London Bridge tower, take photos on the Thames and visit St Paul’s Cathedral.

What makes London so special is that it will offer whatever it is you’re interested in – live music, theatre, historical places and virtually any cuisine you could want.

London’s appeal to the disabled traveller is due not only to its reasonably flat and good quality walk-ways, but a high standard of accessibility in most of the major landmarks. With a growing percentage of travellers over 70 years old, tourist spots in the city need to cater for reduced mobility more and more.

If you require additional support and guidance, there are accessible tours and wheelchair-compatible taxi services available. If you’re travelling with a group and planning to explore more of England, you can hire an accessible van for the trip.

What’s your ideal destination?

We’d love to hear from you – have you visited a country or city that offered excellent services and experiences for disabled tourists? We’ll add it to this article.

The information in this article is intended as general information only and is not a replacement for official health guidance by your local medical providers. Please always consult an occupational therapist and/or local healthcare for more specific guidance.