The sights and sounds and sheer beauty of this world are not the sole property of able-bodied travelers. The Great Wall of China, Buckingham Palace, the mountains of Switzerland and the CN Tower represent just a handful of world destinations that are accessible for those in motorized wheel chairs.  
 

And quite often, for those in motorized wheel chairs or scooters, the destination isn’t an issue – it’s the traveling that causes problems. Fortunately, with some good research and planning, traveling with a disability can be fun and rewarding and leave you with memories to last a lifetime. 
 

On the other hand, if you don’t plan, you could find yourself stuck in an airport terminal watching your plane take off without you, or finding yourself being denied access to a venue or event. There are a number of online resources that will help you become a savvy traveler and get the most out of your adventures. 

Accessible Travel Planning Services 

Travelers using everything from walkers to motorized wheel chairs and scooters will find benefits to using travel-planning services. These services can arrange chauffeur-driven accessible vans, travel medical equipment rentals, accessible hotel reservations and even suggest airlines that offer the best service and accommodations to travelers with disabilities. 
 

These planning services also have the ability to arrange trips to destinations around the world through their network of attractions and amenities that cater to those in motorized wheel chairs and scooters. If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting the Alps, the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal or the Great Wall of China, now you can!  
 

Traveling by Air? Know Your Rights

All air carriers that operate in the U.S. are required to have at least one Complaints Resolution Officer (CRO) available at every airport during times of scheduled air operations. The CRO’s must address all complaints that have been brought before them, and the CRO has the authority to resolve complaints on the carrier’s behalf. 
 

Certain other rules apply, and it’s advisable that you visit the DOT’s website (dot.gov) to learn more about the rules and your rights regarding air travel. 
 

If you ever find yourself having disability-related air-travel service problems with a U.S. carrier, you can call the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) hotline at 1-800-778-4838 (voice) or 1-800-455-9880 (TTY) to obtain assistance. 

Other Tips for Smooth Air Travel

Entire books have been written regarding air travel tips and tricks, and the majority of the tips apply to both able-bodied travelers as well as those in motorized wheel chairs and scooters.  Websites like disabilitytravel.com, gimponthego.com and flying-with-disability.org are all excellent online resources to help make you travels as smooth as possible. 
 

Those with disabilities in motorized wheelchairs can save a lot of precious time and frustration by planning ahead and using an accessible travel planning service. It’s always easier to make arrangements before you leave for vacation than to spend your vacation dealing with language barriers and miscommunication. So plan ahead and enjoy your vacation!

About The Author:
Jason Pedley is a successful author and regular contributor to disabled-mobility-scooter.com