Wheelchair Travel Newsletter: Craft Brews and Accessible Airplane Bathrooms
Wheelchair Travel Newsletter: Craft Brews and Accessible Airplane Bathrooms
Join me this weekend for a pint in Boston and read about the Vice President's plan to make airplane bathrooms accessible.
“I would like to travel the world with you twice. Once, to see the world. Twice to see the way you see the world.”
— Unknown
Happy Friday!
The weekend has nearly arrived, and it’s one I’ve been looking forward to for some time. I’m at home in Boston this weekend, for the first time in a long while, and I’ve got plans to visit one of my favorite New England craft breweries — Jack’s Abby. They’re celebrating 12 years in business with a fair at their Framingham brewery, conveniently accessible using the MBTA’s commuter rail. If you’re in Boston this weekend, reply to this email and perhaps we can meet up for a pint at the Abby!
While I’m in the midst of a short lull in my travel schedule, I will be taking an exciting trip out of state next Thursday. Paid subscribers will get a sneak peek in next week’s premium newsletter. A small hint: I’ll be traveling not by plane as I normally do, but by train — it will be my first time riding Amtrak’s high-speed Acela train since I moved to Boston, and I look forward to updating my Acela review from 2016.
Last week, when I was in Florida, I took a short, 2-hour trip from Orlando to Gainesville with Greyhound. Did you know that their buses have a wheelchair lift and securement space? Check out my article on riding Greyhound as a wheelchair user.
I’m traveling to San Francisco next month. In last week’s newsletter, I shared details about the court case, Nathaniel Foster v. United Airlines. A family is suing United for causing serious injury to their 21-year-old son, a college student and wheelchair user. I’m traveling to California to cover the trial from the courtroom and, if you’d like to support my reporting, please consider upgrading to a paid newsletter subscription. Countless thanks to the premium subscribers who keep me and this newsletter going!
FINAL CALL FOR PORTUGAL! Only a few spots remain on the Wheelchair Travel Group Trip to Portugal, August 22-31. A fantastic group has been assembled, but I would love to book it out. Some travelers are still trying to decide, but reservations are not confirmed until the deposit has been received. If you’d like to explore Portugal with me this summer, get all of the details and secure your spot here.
Until next week,
— John
Latest Accessible Travel Articles
Take a Look Inside the Wheelchair Accessible ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas
ARIA is one of my favorite places to stay in Las Vegas — the rooms are very accessible (especially the bathrooms!), it’s in a fantastic location, and boasts an amazing line-up of restaurants. Join me for a tour of this luxury resort.
Vice President Kamala Harris Promises Action on Accessible Airplane Bathrooms
The Vice President and Secretary Pete have both promised a solution to inaccessible airplane lavatories, but the Administration's plan may already be outdated. Read about the solution they’ve proposed, and what more needs to be done.
Accessible Travel Guide to Budapest, Hungary
Separated by the Danube River, Buda and Pest are two distinct spaces that form a single city and the capital of Hungary. Read about my trip in this accessible guide.
Opinion: Quarantined for Life? Disabled People in Rural Areas Lack Accessible Transportation
This issue has been on my mind since I became disabled a decade ago — there are no easy solutions, but progress is possible with concerted effort from all stakeholders.
Hidden City Ticketing Can Save You Hundreds of Dollars, But The Airline Could Ban You For It
A teenager was caught “skip lagging,” and the airline would have none of it. He wasn’t doing anything illegal — just something hordes of savvy travelers do every day.
From the Archives (In Case You Missed It)
These popular articles appeared in a previous newsletter — if you haven’t taken a look yet, give them a read!
10 Wheelchair Accessible Destinations to Visit This Summer
Whether you’re searching for sun or shade, these are 10 wheelchair accessible cities worth adding to your summer vacation wish list!
Check out these articles too:
New Data-Sharing Requirements for Freight Trains Should Be Used to Benefit Amtrak Passengers, Too — A proposed rule to require real-time sharing of railway cargo contents with emergency responders should also extend to Amtrak's passenger manifest.
After 100+ Days, American Airlines Still Hasn’t Repaired My Wheelchair — More than 100 days after my wheelchair was damaged during flight, American Airlines has failed to repair it and I had to cancel a big trip as a result.
The Accessibility Feature All Airports Need (But Few Have) — Without this critical feature and accessible ground transportation, airports can effectively become prisons for wheelchair users.
What I’m reading this weekend: Two years ago, I purchased The Bomber Mafia: A Dream, a Temptation, and the Longest Night of the Second World War — it was, at the time, a new book by one of my favorite authors (Malcolm Gladwell), but I never got around to reading it. I’m making it a priority this weekend!
The audio book of Bomber Mafia is excellent. Sound FX etc.
I thought you were an FSU grad, what's with the Gator gear? I'm a Gator and notice these things:)