Wheelchair Travel Newsletter: Accessible Summer, Air Travel Optimism, ADA Event Tickets

Check out my recommendations for some of the best wheelchair accessible vacation destinations to shortlist this summer.

“I don’t think someone’s worth can be measured by the number of cities he visited, the number of countries he traveled to or the number of seas and oceans he crossed. One can be a traveler even by simply going to the end of the street.”
— Laure Lacornette

Hey, everybody!

It’s getting hot up here in the Northern Hemisphere. As temperatures rise, many of us are eager to kick-off the summer vacation season — If you haven’t planned your getaway yet, my latest article (linked below) takes a look at the 10 destinations that are on my short list for a summer vacation. Where are you traveling this summer?

Let’s travel together this summer! I have a few spots left on the Wheelchair Travel Group Trip to Portugal, which will take place August 22-31. A fantastic group is forming and I’d be delighted if you would join us. You can get all of the details and secure your spot here.

I traveled to Hamburg, Germany last week for the unveiling of the first functional prototype for a wheelchair space on airplanes. I’ve received loads of questions and will do my best to answer them in a detailed follow-up article later this week. I’m encouraged by the community’s positive reaction and, as I told The Washington Post, “I’m optimistic about an accessible air travel future!”

My trip to report on the wheelchair securement space was only possible thanks to readers like you — If you haven’t done so already, please consider upgrading to a paid newsletter subscription — you’ll unlock some cool benefits and support me in taking the message of accessibility to industry events like the Aircraft Interiors Expo.

Mark your calendar! This Thursday, June 15 at 6:00 p.m. ET (New York time), I’ll be hosting a Q&A session on Zoom with my friend and former flight attendant Robin Wearley. We’ll discuss her experiences up in the air and some of the recent developments in accessible air travel. To join the meeting, click here — be sure to save the link!

Thank you, as always, for your continued readership!

— John

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Latest Accessible Travel Articles

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!

Use This Trick to Save Money on ADA Accessible Seats at Concerts and Sporting Events

Disabled fans have a right to benefit from deep discounts in the ticket resale marketplace, even if ADA accessible seats aren't sold there.

First Look: Watch My Demo of the Air4All Wheelchair Securement Space for Airplanes

Delta Flight Products has unveiled the first prototype of its wheelchair securement space for airplanes — I traveled to Germany to give it a test drive.

Jaw dropping: An Airline Asked Me For My Pants (seriously!)

As it turned out, the airline didn’t really want my pants — they just wanted money. I gave them neither, and wrote this article to warn you about a questionable practice that could cost some travelers hundreds of dollars.

How a Rabbit Hole Led Me to the Center of Europe

Interestingly enough, 6 cities claim to be the geographic center of the European continent. Before clicking the link, guess the country that the center point is in (note: the photo above is not intended to be a hint… or is it? 🤔).

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Featured Destination: Cairo, Egypt

Cairo is the capital city of Egypt, located along the Nile River in North Africa. The city boasts an ancient history, with the Great Pyramids of Giza located less than 10 miles from downtown Cairo. The Pyramid of Khufu is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one still standing.

I’ve made repeated trips to the Egyptian capital city, and even rode a camel around the pyramids! While you won’t want to visit Egypt in the summer, now is a great time to start planning a winter holiday to the land of the pharaohs. Read more in my Cairo, Egypt Wheelchair Accessible Travel Guide.

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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!

Top 9 Wheelchair Accessories for Disabled Travelers

Whether you use a manual or powered wheelchair, this list of accessories and attachments will help you get more out of your mobility device — including a gimmicky product that might just keep you dry.

Check out these articles too:

• Attend a Ye Olde Feast at Medieval Times — Medieval Times is a wheelchair accessible dinner tournament and performance held inside a castle, featuring jousting, swordplay, falconry and horsemanship.

• Accessible Cruise Expert Offers Top Tips for Cruising with a Disability — Accessible cruise tips from the pros: Living with a disability presents a lot of obstacles, but a cruise doesn’t have to be one of them.

• The Most Memorable Museum I Visited in 2022 — The Trinkhall Museum maintains a collection of 4,000 works by artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

• New Accessible Travel Guide: Budapest, Hungary — Read about my trip, where I stayed, how I got around, what I ate and more in the brand-new guide to the Hungarian capital city.

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