WHEELCHAIR TRAVELS
We would love to travel more. We have been on several overseas holidays in the past but recently my wife has been confined to a wheelchair. She can get around but is very limited. We are currently booked on a cruise to India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. However, are there any other trips you could suggest that both of us can enjoy?
Shireen Subramony
Y—
ou are definitely on the right track, having booked a cruise. Cruise ships are kitted with ramps for entering and exiting the ship and you can move from deck to deck via the wealth of elevators. They are also bursting with staff who, in my experience, are ever-eager to assist in whatever way is necessary, so, keep cruises in mind for upcoming travel options. Airlines are also very accommodating. The true limit to your travel is the destination, or the stops along the way.
Sri Lanka is a good destination for those having to travel with a wheelchair, particularly in the drier months between January and April. Trains are the best mode of transport there in terms of accessibility and busy-ness. India has a few wheelchair-friendly destinations including Kerala, Agra and Delhi, all of which offer authentic tourist experiences and sites such as the Taj Mahal and the Qutb Minar. The Maldives are also relatively accessible because of its flat topography and level walkways and beach days and sunset cruises are accessible to everyone.
Some wheelchair-friendly countries to keep in mind for future We can help with your destination dilemmas, visa puzzles and itinerary ideas. E-mail
travelmag@sundaytimes.co.za.