Travelling with a disability may seem like a daunting experience, but nothing should get in your way when it comes to seeing the world! While you may need to take a few more things into consideration, such as accessibility issues or avoiding places that are too crowded, it doesn’t mean you should avoid travelling altogether. Whether this is your first experience of travelling with a disability or you’re a seasoned pro traveler looking for your next destination, here are five of the safest places to explore.
1. Barcelona, Spain
Over the years, Spain’s national tourism authority has been working hard on creating a destination that focuses on accessible travel. Barcelona, the capital of the Catalonia region, has been at the forefront of these changes, even creating an Accessible Barcelona website to help make planning easier. 100% of the buses in Barcelona are wheelchair accessible and the city is working on the same for their metro stations. As I’ve mentioned before, Barcelona has a really good public transport system.
Many attractions offer a queue-jump service for wheelchair-users, with plenty also offering free entry to boot! The streets are relatively flat and cobble-free, and being able to jump to the front of the queue at attractions means you can avoid crowds, too.
2. Melbourne, Australia
The cities of Australia, as a whole, are pretty accessible for those travelling with a disability. However, Melbourne just manages to have that slight edge over any of the others. The city has a strong focus on ensuring its public transport system is highly accessible and this has trickled down into other tourist attractions, too. For example, many of the parks have been adapted to better suit the needs of visitors with access issues. You can also experience some incredible adventures in Melbourne, including Australia’s first disability-friendly hot-air balloon ride over the city! What’s not to love?
3. San Diego, USA
America has been working hard on creating an accessible infrastructure over the past 28 years, ever since the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990. While there are plenty of cities in America that could be added to this list, San Diego is one of the top picks. With a fully accessible tram system, along with generally flat sidewalks all round, you shouldn’t have many issues exploring this beautiful city.
One of the biggest draws are the beach wheelchairs (including motorized ones), along the long stretch of beachfront. If you go for the non-motorized option, you can roll right to the ocean and enjoy the waves lapping over you.
4. Seattle, USA
Yet another top pick in America is Seattle, which was named as the best city in the US for wheelchair access according to this travelling abroad with a disability guide. Pretty much every public transport option in Seattle is wheelchair-friendly, including their water ferries, buses and light rail.
The Space Needle, one of the most iconic attractions in the city, has ensured that there are no issues when it comes to accessibility. While there may be steps to the viewing platform, there is an electronic stairlift which will transport wheelchair-users up and down safely. Other accessible attractions include Seattle Aquarium, the very first Starbucks coffee shop, and Olympic Sculpture Park.
5. Ljubljana, Slovenia
Dubbed as the “coolest accessible city you’ve probably never heard of,” Slovenia has been working hard to make their capital, Ljubljana, accessible over the years. The city itself is predominantly flat and pedestrianised in most parts, which makes it easy to get around.
One of the biggest attractions in the city, Ljubljana Castle, can be accessed via a wheelchair-accessible funicular which is free for any disabled traveller and their companion. Many restaurants, hotels and attractions will also display a ‘Disability Friendly’ certificate if they have met the accessibility criteria of Slovenia.
If you want to see all this beautiful world has to offer, but are worried about accessibility issues, then hopefully these destinations have given you some food for thought. Many tourist hotspots are focusing on becoming more ‘disability-friendly’ as we speak – meaning fewer hurdles for the intrepid explorer! Add these five destinations to your bucket list and let me know if there are any others you think should have made it onto my top picks.
– Paul Smith
Email : mr.paulsmith020@gmail.com