Best holiday destinations for the differently abled

Everyone should enjoy international travel, regardless of age or ability. As the world’s travel loving population and profile evolves every day, it is very important for travel companies to cater to the differently abled travelers too.

While choosing destinations, physical and financial accessibility should be high on your agenda. Speaking of convenient access to cash, it’s very important for the differently abled travelers to carry a multipurpose international travel card while on the move. They should be able to use the prepaid travel card at every POS terminal, and for online and offline payments. In addition to this, they should also be able to withdraw cash from ATMS without exorbitant fee and do just the bare minimum to recover money, incase the card is stolen.

Armed with a great multicurrency prepaid travel card, your differently abled friends can travel to the amazing destinations suggested below. Check them out!

Galápagos and Amazonia, Ecuador

Thanks to the incredible efforts of a former vice president of Ecuador, a paraplegic himself, accessibility for many wheelchair users in Ecuador has drastically improved. So, explore Amazonia, the Andes and the Galápagos, and go zip lining or even cross the border into Peru to visit Machu Picchu, on an organised tour.

Sicily, Italy

Not an obvious choice at first, but Italy is home to Europe’s only sensorial botanic garden, as well as Europe’s largest active volcano, Mount Etna. The visually and motor-impaired can enjoy scuba diving, 4WD off-road driving, traditional Sicilian fishing and olive oil making, as well as the culinary delectation that’s often associated with Italy.

Melbourne, Australia

Featuring its very accessible public transport system and tight city centre, Melbourne is one of the most accessible cities in the world. Dine at Melbourne’s best wheelchair friendly restaurants, enjoy magnificent scenery along the Great Ocean Road, and visit one of the world’s best zoos as well as the many parks that progressive Parks Victoria is opening up to visitors with access challenges.

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Slovenia’s pedestrianised capital, serviced by highly accessible electric vehicles, is well worth a visit for the differently abled. Its bus network is well equipped with audio and video stop announcements, complemented by Braille bus stop signs and a great network of city centre tactile paths. The city’s main attraction is the 16th-century Ljubljana Castle, a tactile model of which can be found in the courtyard with descriptions in Braille, reachable via a wheelchair friendly train.

Singapore

Singapore has to be the most accessible city in Asia and arguably, one of the most accessible cities in the world. It's universal ethos on barrier free accessibility, which has been in place for more than 20 years, plus its increasing affluence have all culminated in an impressive infrastructure with adapted access to most buildings and no shortage of dropped curbs. When looking at Singapore, it’s probably more appropriate to question ‘what isn’t accessible?’ than ‘what is accessible?’

San Diego, USA

Much of the USA’s infrastructure is accessible, but San Diego is our best trip. Spread out along the classic grid system, generally flat and with a fully accessible tram system, it also offers a very comfortable year-round 18°C to 27°C climate. The historic Gaslamp Quarter is extremely wheelchair friendly, as is the immense Balboa Park (which incorporates the rather hilly San Diego Zoo), but it’s the miles of seemingly endless beachfront promenade with beach wheelchairs, which is the star attraction.

Dublin, Ireland

This one thousand year old city, rich in heritage, culture and charm, is also considered by many as a truly wheelchair accessible city. Considering its international appeal, Dublin is surprisingly compact and for the most part flat. Access is so much easier when everyone you meet is more than happy to help, even when you really don’t need the help! The main tourist attractions are fully adapted for wheelchair access.

Vienna, Austria

Like most European cities, Vienna is immersed in history. What makes Vienna stand out from its counterpart however is that its cobblestones have been completely removed, as have many of the obstructing kerbs. The refurbished city is both flat and easily commutable, with most central shops and cafes fully offering great accessibility. Commuting is relatively easy with elevators to the metro and plenty of low-floor trams. Most museums and places of interest are fully accessible, including the must visit Schloss Schonbrunn.

Whichever destination you choose, we’re sure you’ll enjoy the trip. Bon Voyage!