The Truth About Wheelchair Travel - What Accessible Vacations Are Really Like

We all want to go on a vacation and get a break from our daily routines. (At least, I know I do lol) If you travel in a wheelchair, to enjoy the vacation to its fullest potential; we need to accept a few realities. No matter how Accessible the vacation is, these are just some things I had to come to terms with after multiple travels with my wheelchair.

There will be things that are not wheelchair accessible. Actually MOST.

I am an adventure - driven person who wants to try every single thing that is out there so, naturally when 99% of the things are not wheelchair accessible, I will get upset. Things that I’d like to do but can’t. But, if we don’t accept this fact, then we are just gonna sob our whole vacation (which we don’t want!) The quicker we accept it and let it go, the faster we can move on and enjoy our vacation. Plus, there are accessible things out there. We just need to do our research! Ever since I moved to the USA, I am shocked by the number of things that are made accessible because this wasn’t the case back in India.

Everything will take more time and more energy

This might be a daily life thing, but it impacts us much more when we are on vacation. Comparing ourselves to anyone else is such a poisonous thing to do! Every single person on this earth is built differently, and we just need to do what is best for us. When we were on vacation, we wanted to go into the ocean, and let me tell you, it was such a tiresome process that felt like a full-blown operation lol. But, everything becomes worth it once we float in the ocean. We obviously enjoyed being on vacation, but our enjoyment just looks different than most peoples’ and that’s okay.

We need to be ready to take more help!

When we travel outside, the comforts of everything are different than it was back home. The car, the bed, the pool, the shower, the boats. A simple orientation difference might not seem like a big deal for most but for wheelchair users, it takes a second to get used to. (Or it may stay inconvenient 🤷🏻‍♀️) Accessible design isn’t a one size fits all, just like clothes aren’t. We need those extra hands when things get physically inconvenient! I know we have that attitude of ‘wanting to do things on our own’ but honestly, vacation = relaxation and taking the help (when you have it and need it) is just easier. I used to not ask for help even when I needed it - Not doing that anymore lol. But do sign up tho ;)