Many popular travel guidebooks and websites fail to provide details on whether certain destinations or activities are accessible to people with disabilities. To help you plan a vacation that your entire family will be able to enjoy regardless of their specific needs, check out these online resources:
Lonely Planet’s Accessible Travel 
This pdf is available for free download; they release a new version biannually. This guide contains:
- Country-by-country resources for travelers with disabilities
- Links to relevant travel blogs
- Travel agents and tour operators that cater to people with disabilities and
- Adaptive sports opportunities
The authors do mention that unlike with their printed guidebooks, which only include destinations and establishments that Lonely Planet staff have visited, they have not personally vetted each resource in this guide. They advise readers to confirm that their needs can be met with each establishment as they book. Remember: you know best what your requirements are and only you know what questions to ask to make sure they will be met.
Lonely Planet also has many destination-specific accessibility guides, which can be purchased here.
Adaptive Skiing Resort Guide
This guide lists some top adaptive skiing destinations in the U.S. and Canada. They explain which types of skiing might be suitable for people with specific limitations, for example being unable to stand or having a visual impairment. The authors then go into great detail about different skiing facilities in North America, including information about the accessibility of nearby hotels and towns as well as the resorts themselves.
Mobility International USA (MIUSA)
This nonprofit supports disabled students who study abroad as well as international students coming to study in the United States. Their mission is “to empower people with disabilities to achieve their human rights through international exchange and international development.” They also offer tips to professionals on how best to advise travelers with disabilities.
Best Ships for Cruisers With Disabilities
Cruise Critic reviews various cruises for accessibility. The author lets you know whether each cruise line has:
- Wheelchair accessibility
- Sign language interpreters
- Braille menus
- Staff experienced at working with children on the autism spectrum, etc.
Curb Free With Cory Lee
This is a great travel blog, chock-full with information about traveling with mobility aids. Cory provides wheelchair-friendly guides to planning an accessible vacation all around the world. We recommend checking out “Trekking Through the Wheelchair Accessible Viru Bog in Estonia” or “Rolling in the Middle of the World in Ecuador” to read about his adventures.
I’ve chosen my accessible vacation destination… now what?
We hope this guide has been useful! Once you’ve picked a travel destination, take a look at these pages from the CDC and TSA to make sure that you are prepared for your trip:
CDC: Traveling With a Disability
This page from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has information on international travel for people with disabilities. It is particularly relevant for those with immunocompromising conditions, who take medications that may interfere with certain vaccines, or who are likely to require medical care while abroad. The page also discusses some legal rights that travelers with disabilities have, particularly with regard to airplane travel.
TSA: Disabilities and Medical Conditions
This informational page from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) explains what people with disabilities can do to prepare for going through security at the airport. For example, they detail what to do if you require medications in excess of the allowed 3.4 ounces in your carry-on bag.
Do you have any favorite accessible destinations or useful tips for traveling with a disability? Please comment below to share your experiences with others!
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