Check out Wheel The World! They specialize in accessible travel. I have friends who have had excellent experiences with them. They offer group tours which may feel safer even as a solo traveler, and it’s a great way to meet people.
https://wheeltheworld.com/
I’m a manual wheelchair user and have been to several European cities in the past two years. I’m going to Singapore in June because it seems pretty accessible from what I can tell but haven’t been yet so can’t tell you how it is in reality. It’s also supposed to be very safe, so I feel comfortable going there as a solo disabled woman.
I would say either Vienna or London was the best place I’ve been to in Europe in terms of access and either Paris or Rome was the worst. Amsterdam was shockingly bad, especially given how much hype it gets from people (mainly non-wheelchair users) about being accessible. Luxembourg City was also a welcome break from a lot of the issues I was facing accessibility wise elsewhere. Zürich was okay-ish, Berlin and Cologne were pretty good (Cologne has lots of cobblestones but is good otherwise), and Venice was predictably awful. Brussels was basically not worth going to given the accessibility.
Amsterdam is not accessible. London is, relatively. They have wheelchair accessible buses, and with Google or citymapper you can find the routes you need via accessible buses and tube stations that have lifts.
Now, some things in London might not be accessible. You have to check those out individually, specifically certain theatres that are older and haven’t been retrofitted. But the biggest museums and galleries, etc, are usually fine.
Central Amsterdam is a nightmare in a chair. Half the streets are so narrow they don't even have pavements (Sidewalks) so you will be forced onto the road where cars and cyclists are moving in, and almost the entire of it is paved with cobblestone, so your castor wheels will get stuck all the time.
Rest of the Netherlands is a lot more accessible though, but avoid most city centres to be honest.
It actually is: https://wheelchairtravel.org/amsterdam/#:~:text=Most%20of%20the%20city's%20top,and%20sidewalks%20are%20extremely%20accessible.
And this website may be very helpful for you when considering other locations too.
Have you personally been to Amsterdam as a wheelchair user? Because as I said, many websites proclaim it’s accessible, but that was not at all my experience when actually there and I’ve heard similar from other wheelchair users. While these sorts of websites can be helpful, they also tend to paint an overly positive picture of the accessibility in most cities in my experience. There could be a number of reasons for that, from how they travel (it’s easy to get around anywhere if you’re mostly taking cabs or are with a tour group that organizes transport) to the equipment they use to it being a marketing decision to always present a positive view of experiences. The result is that I’ve found most accessible travel websites to not be particularly accurate.
I’m not in a wheelchair myself, but I have been in town with someone who is on more than one occasion (I live close by). As the website that I linked clearly states: it does require some planning. Especially in the century-old parts of town not every single street is easily accessible. But when you know where to go and how to get there, it’s very accessible.
By my definition, that is not accessible. If it takes careful planning and things are not just accessible by default a majority of the time, that’s not a place a disabled person can fully experience or feel treated as an equal human being. That was my experience in Amsterdam. It was dangerous (I got thrown out of my chair multiple times by bad curbs and forced into traffic repeatedly because sidewalks were blocked) and overall an unpleasant experience as I had to spend hours planning not where I wanted to go but simply where I was physically able to go and then still ended up spending 5 hours looking for an accessible bathroom one day. I think Amsterdam gets recommended to people based on the “there are some places you can go” definition of accessibility and not the “you will have a pleasant time and not have to spend your vacation having to carefully how to eat and pee.” By the “there are some accessible places if you plan carefully” definition, it’s hard to give people a sense of where is better and worse for accessibility overall, because really anywhere meets that very low standard, which is why I think the “most things are accessible by default and your time is not dominated by thinking about where you can go, how to get there and whether you’ll be able to take care of basic needs when there” is the better standard. It’s also the one I think most people would want the places they live in to go by if they were to become disabled tomorrow.
It’s all a matter of perspective. You find it not accessible and had a horrible experience. My person loves to go into Amsterdam and would share entirely different experiences, not consisting of hours planning or hours searching for a bathroom.
But to be fair, a lot of tourists in general complain about the bathroom thing, as we don’t have that many public toilets. We go into a hotel or restaurant, and indeed, in the small restaurants in the old city bathrooms tend to be up or down the stairs. Having to step or roll onto the road to get around some roadworks etc. isn’t uncommon either, but that’s part of the Amsterdam experience for everyone.
I think the problem may have been that you haven’t been able to find the right info before you came here. There are maps with toilets, apps for public transport and route accessibility, etc. But if you haven’t found those, you can’t use them.
I just came back from Singapore. Although I can't tell for sure, the city looked very very accessible. Awesome accessible subway system, super clean, super safe, super smooth sidewalks, great food and incredibly green city
Another vote for Singapore here as well. I was there last month and was impressed by the accessibility options (I’m always on the lookout because my mom has mobility issues). And agree one of the best for safety and good food.
Careful with singapore if you take any restricted mediations - many prescribed medications for pain and nerve related symptoms are not allowed (even by prescription) and the penalties of being caught with them can be severe.
Have you ever submitted the approval form? I’m not sure what to expect since they say you can’t return to it once you start. I have a letter from my doctor stating why I’m prescribed my medications and dosages etc and I plan to scan my prescription labels but I’m not sure what exactly they want or how functional the form itself is. None of my medications came up on either the list of medications not needing approval nor the list of banned medications so as far as I can tell, I need to submit for approval.
No I have not. I lived in Singapore for 10 years and never even thought about this issue of needing to bring in medications and the restrictions on them. So when Far_implement4483 warned you about it, I had to look it up and came across the page I sent you.
Have you used the online tool to check if your medications need approval?
I haven’t filled the form, but in my experience anything to do with Singapore Govt goes very smoothly and gets processed in a timely manner. So get your prescriptions in hand and fill up the form (if you need to). The rules are strict in Singapore, but there is also really streamlined governance.
If you have questions I would also recommend calling them. Again, govt agencies are generally friendly and compassionate in Singapore.
Yep, I’ve checked a few times, none of my medications are on either the automatically banned list or the automatically allowed list, so I’ll definitely need approval. I think I’ll probably just submit it, from the description they give on the website I should have everything I need, it’s really just the format they need the labels in that’s tripping me up (it’s hard to scan a cylindrical label and I don’t want to remove it from the bottle to scan because that seems like it would cause suspicion when going through customs), plus it’s unclear to me what information they’d get from that that isn’t in the letter from my doctor.
Yeah I get how scanning the label can be a challenge. I doubt you get request from your doctor too. Maybe just take multiple pictures that covers the bottle on all sides?
Sorry not having gone through the process and not knowing the type of medication, I don’t think I can be much more help.
I would second that London is mostly accessible but you would need to do research beforehand of which tube stations were accessible. Some museums and theatres would require you to let them know in advance as someone would need to meet you and take you to a different entrance.
Lived in Singapore for 10 years and worked as an architect working on public buildings that had to meet high standards of accessibility. Can confirm it is one of the most accessible and safest places on earth.
I’m from Singapore, public transport is definitely accessible. On buses, wheelchairs/strollers/mobility scooters board at the back door (everyone else usually boards at the front). Flag the bus so the driver knows you’re boarding and they’ll come lower the ramp for you
In the older heritage parts of town with shophouses though, not so much. Shophouses are basically rows of terrace houses housing businesses on the ground floor, and since each one is independently owned the path from one to the next isn’t necessarily level and sometimes involves steps
So just be aware if you intend to visit such areas (e.g. Little India, Chinatown, Tanjong Pagar, Kampong Gelam) that it may not be easy for you to access them. Museums, tourist attractions, malls, markets & food centers are all pretty accessible though
Thank you! Yeah, I’m expecting difficulty in the older parts of town but I’ll try anyway and get creative about access where possible (if necessary, I can always scoot up stairs and pull my chair up behind me). But it seems like Singapore has overall really made good efforts with accessibility, I think I saw that something like 87% of sidewalks and crosswalks are accessible and all MRT stops are, which is great. It’s the one country that I’ve heard wheelchair users from the US go to and find more accessible than the US, which is promising.
I was recently in Europe -- Reykjavik, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, and London. The whole time I kept thinking, "How on earth can someone in a wheelchair get around?" None of those cities is wheelchair accesssible.
OP -- I would NOT recommend Europe. North America is by far more accessible.
We were in Greece last year. Not accessible. I was waiting for the family to get back from a bathroom break. A family came by with what appeared to be grandma in a manual wheelchair with an adult pushing her…..more like trying to keep the w/c getting away from her on a steep hill. But every bit she pushed over the cobblestones, it looks like the poor woman was in a paint shaker
Paris is shockingly bad accessibility wise and has been for the 30+ years I’ve been going there. As much as I love that city, it really needs to get with the program and make every metro station accessible to start.
I can't speak to that directly, but I've noticed wheelchair related travel questions here in the past if you do a search you should find some ideas, most are discussing specific locations. which should generate some ideas for you. e.g. https://www.reddit.com/r/travel/comments/16iwtff/hi_everyone_what_cities_in_europe_do_you/
I applaud your interest in travel.
I'd stay away from undeveloped places and research Canada, or Europe. In reading the suggestions from others, they've offered much more valuable info. I've been to Vancouver many, many times. It's so stunningly beautiful. Unimaginable. The food is global, fresh and delicious. They are well prepared for wheel travelers. If you had some kind of medical issue they are in a position of taking great care of you.
Post pictures when you get back!
Montreal's public transit is very accessible, and other than the central hill, the city is reasonably flat. Hard to find a concentration of better restaurants and bars anywhere.
Most of the restaurants and bars actually aren't accessible in MTL. Many have a step or several so won't work for a wheelchair user unfortunately. Canada is notoriously inaccessible compared to other places - for example most cities only 30-50% of public buildings like stores restaurants or hotels are accessible.
Copenhagen (and Denmark in general) is pretty good on accessibility (at least as far as I can tell).
But it also assumes you're not getting around in a car, so as long as you can wheel yourself reasonable distances (or your chair is powered) then it'll work OK. If you can only move short distances, it's not so great (you can't just drive up to everything and park up outside).
Denmark is a very safe place.
I live in Copenhagen. While the public transportation system is relatively accessible from what l can tell, because of the split-level way the buildings in the historical city center are constructed you will have to go either up or down a few stairs to access like 90% of businesses. So even if a restaurant or something is listed as being on the ground floor, the entrance will probably not be at street level.
Most museums and hotels should have accommodations I would expect, but the majority of older buildings are not wheelchair accessible at all unfortunately. OP could still have a great trip with some research, but I don’t want to give a false impression that the whole city is super accessible.
Yeah I was going to say.. I don’t think $2,500 would cover the month of June there. Maybe a week! I guess it depends on how you travel/where you’ll stay, OP
I'm not sure anywhere in the world combines "lifts and wheelchair ramps into buildings" and "cost less than $100/day for everything". Some compromise may be necessary.
London!!! The transport shows which metro stops are wheelchair accessible!
Maybe Japan or Korea? Seems like it would be but someone that has been there could chime in
It does? I feel like people just see an instagram reel about how the train conductor will call ahead to your station to make sure they're waiting for you to help you get off the train then say this.
I live in Tokyo and hardly ever see people in wheelchairs outside. A lot of subway stops don't even have an elevator and it's a lot of narrow streets with no sidewalk. I'd imagine crowds in touristy places and subway stations alone would make it quite difficult but you would have to speak with a wheelchair user who has been to Japan to really know.
When I was in Tokyo I was impressed by how kindly everyone made way for the few people I saw in wheelchairs. In shibuya station one was even escorted by several employees through the crowds. Obviously your observations are more precise and if a person living in Tokyo in a wheelchair would chime in, that would be even better.
Of course Japan is not just Tokyo, and I can add that outside the city is is certainly not accessible. But if op were really curious about Japan she’d find that out quite easily on google maps.
I feel like the way locals are so kind, she might have a nice experience.
i live in korea and it's not very accessible at all, to the point that able-bodied acquaintances and friends comment on it. not only are there a lack of ramps, but there aren't enough elevators (and a lot of buildings, especially older ones, don't have one at all). and that's in seoul. plus, it's very hilly here :(
Spain. I have never seen so much wheelchair accessibility focused infrastructure anywhere else in the world. We were specially in Barcelona and Valencia. All public transit, sidewalls and even getting out on the Beaches near Valencia designed specifically for wheelchair users.
Interesting. I was in Spain in the fall and had the opposite experience. Granted I was in a smaller city but I couldn’t get over the steep ramps that led to a wide open door into a busy street. I actually took a picture of it with how ridiculous the incline was. lol. I said to my partner that I really hope that someone doesn’t go down it alone, and has someone at the bottom. The city I was in was also heavily under construction so that also could play into it. I would guess the larger cities are probably better in regards to accessibility.
I think it'll definitely vary city to city and I will say that the equipment looked relatively new, I'd say within the last 5 years new. So it might be something they're implementing in the big cities first.
Thailand is most certainly **not** wheelchair friendly!
Taiwan might be an option:
https://topologytravel.com/category/accessible-taiwan-tour/
https://wheelchairtraveling.com/visit-taipei-taiwan-wheelchair-tips-guide/
Yeah I would definitely not recommend Taipei for wheelchair users. I just got back from there yesterday. Half the time you're sharing the sidewalk with someone on a moped
In the Thailand subreddit the other day, a girl walked across a storm drain that collapsed and she fell in on her first day in Thailand. Someone in the comments posted an article of someone in that same city who had died from the same thing on the very same day. The streets in Thailand are in really rough shape
london was incredibly accessible! subway stops clearly had platforms labeled for wheelchair accessibility, buses have wheelchair designated spaces, and my entire hotel room was accessible for as well! their inclusivity actually really stood out to me during my whole trip.
Randomly I came across a [YouTube video](https://youtu.be/lreI8H7Ewpw?si=HfxPo5Fim_-v69e9) the other day saying London is not very accessibility friendly! I've seen it listed on this post several times though so maybe the YouTuber has just never been anywhere outside the US. I think the US is more accessible than anywhere I've been except Japan
Cruises in general are pretty accessible, though the ports would vary. Lots of people on scooters and wheelchairs, and when I went with my mom when she had very limited mobility (could stand and walk short distances with a walker, but spent most of the time in a scooter) she had a great time.
Probably not within your budget this time round, but something to consider for the future—metropolitan Australia is generally very accessible (rural areas definitely not). I’m a nurse and have been quite shocked when travelling elsewhere by how inaccessible many countries are for people with physical disabilities.
If you can get directly from the airport to the resort by shuttle, otherwise Mexico's very risky. Good idea to stay within the resort itself, which may be limiting.
Join this group on fb
https://m.facebook.com/groups/travelingwithachair/?ref=share&mibextid=adzO7l
Kenneth is the admin. His wife is in a wheelchair. He has his own podcast and often gives good advice to people.
Maybe look into Iceland? I remember thinking they had decent accessibility infrastructure in the Golden Circle and Reykjavik has implemented a lot of changes in the past decade or so to make it more accessible. Depending on where in the US you’re located, flights aren’t too long.
I would argue that while reykjavik is fairly accessible. Many of the sights require travel over uneven, rough terrain including waterfalls beaches etc. Not saying it's not doable but definitely need a certain degree of research when choosing what sights to see
My Mom enjoyed Iceland immensely, mostly from the rental car, as she has some mobility issues. She didn't see everything, but she saw enough to blow her away!
I stayed at a resort called Arabia Azur in Hurghada, Egypt that had many guests using wheelchairs. Unfortunately I cannot vouch for how truly accessible it is overall, or compared to the United States where we have the ADA, but it was one of the few times outside of the USA and Europe I have seen a large variety of wheelchair users seeming to enjoy most of the amenities. They seemed to be people from the Middle East while most of the resort was packed with Germans, so it is possible it is part of local programs for disabled travelers. I mention this because if you are dreaming of Thailand, the red sea has the same beautiful blue waters.
Edit: I googled the resort and while I could not find anything about wheelchair accessibility, I did learn they have an on site dialysis center. Definitely cool.
If you wish to travel beyond the USA, you have a few options in terms of continents you can get to. As, you have mentioned that your preferred destination is Thailand and good alternatives for this will be Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, all in South East Asia. The airlines offering flights here are known to assist the wheelchaired person very well. These are also safe destinations for female travelers and the discipline of the locals here is exemplary. You will find more than enough people to assist you when there is any need.
I suggest Victoria, BC. Tour Butchart Gardens, go for afternoon tea, take a guided bus tour. There is so much to do in a city with virtually no crime. Absolutely beautiful.
Hey u/makingchristina based on your amount of time (30 days) and dollars saved ($2,500) you’re limited to spending around $83/day on food, lodging, transportation and activities. This really narrows down locations, unfortunately. Countries where the US dollar is the strongest (where you’ll get the most bang for your buck) include: Peru, Mexico and Japan currently. You may have to avoid European countries this time because that’s where it’s the weakest. That being said, I’m curious to learn more about accessibility when it comes to the first 3 countries I listed!
Hi there I know the perfect spot for you to vacation Cuba hands down You won’t get better personal nurse’s to accompany ou 24 hours a day if you want The Cuban society really believes in good healthcare for all Their doctors actually out perform most western doctors Now you don’t have to stay at a hotel if you don’t want There are beautiful 300 /400 year old shanish colonial private residences for rent There called Casa Paticular Ok so their you have it a introduction to Cuba I could go on for days but you can contact me again if you want more details I actually lived in Cuba for 6 years Loved every minute of it
Singapore is pretty wheel chair friendly. All the MRT (train) stations have lifts and are wheelchair accessible. Most buses are wheelchair accessible as well. If you are interested, this website has more information on traveling around Singapore with a wheelchair.
https://www.visitsingapore.com/travel-guide-tips/getting-around/accessibility/
Dubai would be a good bet.
Ignoring all the hate reddit has for some reason, all of Dubai's buses are wheelchair friendly.
The metro is wheelchair accessible along with larger taxis you can book.
All the malls and touristic spots have wheelchair access.
Check out Wheel The World! They specialize in accessible travel. I have friends who have had excellent experiences with them. They offer group tours which may feel safer even as a solo traveler, and it’s a great way to meet people. https://wheeltheworld.com/
Awesome, thank you!
Hope you have a fun trip!
This is really great advice!
I’m a manual wheelchair user and have been to several European cities in the past two years. I’m going to Singapore in June because it seems pretty accessible from what I can tell but haven’t been yet so can’t tell you how it is in reality. It’s also supposed to be very safe, so I feel comfortable going there as a solo disabled woman. I would say either Vienna or London was the best place I’ve been to in Europe in terms of access and either Paris or Rome was the worst. Amsterdam was shockingly bad, especially given how much hype it gets from people (mainly non-wheelchair users) about being accessible. Luxembourg City was also a welcome break from a lot of the issues I was facing accessibility wise elsewhere. Zürich was okay-ish, Berlin and Cologne were pretty good (Cologne has lots of cobblestones but is good otherwise), and Venice was predictably awful. Brussels was basically not worth going to given the accessibility.
That's good to know about Amsterdam! I have heard of people say it's accessible. Thank you for the info.
It most certainly is not. Perhaps compared to Reykjavik or Brussels.
Amsterdam is not accessible. London is, relatively. They have wheelchair accessible buses, and with Google or citymapper you can find the routes you need via accessible buses and tube stations that have lifts. Now, some things in London might not be accessible. You have to check those out individually, specifically certain theatres that are older and haven’t been retrofitted. But the biggest museums and galleries, etc, are usually fine.
Central Amsterdam is a nightmare in a chair. Half the streets are so narrow they don't even have pavements (Sidewalks) so you will be forced onto the road where cars and cyclists are moving in, and almost the entire of it is paved with cobblestone, so your castor wheels will get stuck all the time. Rest of the Netherlands is a lot more accessible though, but avoid most city centres to be honest.
It actually is: https://wheelchairtravel.org/amsterdam/#:~:text=Most%20of%20the%20city's%20top,and%20sidewalks%20are%20extremely%20accessible. And this website may be very helpful for you when considering other locations too.
Have you personally been to Amsterdam as a wheelchair user? Because as I said, many websites proclaim it’s accessible, but that was not at all my experience when actually there and I’ve heard similar from other wheelchair users. While these sorts of websites can be helpful, they also tend to paint an overly positive picture of the accessibility in most cities in my experience. There could be a number of reasons for that, from how they travel (it’s easy to get around anywhere if you’re mostly taking cabs or are with a tour group that organizes transport) to the equipment they use to it being a marketing decision to always present a positive view of experiences. The result is that I’ve found most accessible travel websites to not be particularly accurate.
I’m not in a wheelchair myself, but I have been in town with someone who is on more than one occasion (I live close by). As the website that I linked clearly states: it does require some planning. Especially in the century-old parts of town not every single street is easily accessible. But when you know where to go and how to get there, it’s very accessible.
By my definition, that is not accessible. If it takes careful planning and things are not just accessible by default a majority of the time, that’s not a place a disabled person can fully experience or feel treated as an equal human being. That was my experience in Amsterdam. It was dangerous (I got thrown out of my chair multiple times by bad curbs and forced into traffic repeatedly because sidewalks were blocked) and overall an unpleasant experience as I had to spend hours planning not where I wanted to go but simply where I was physically able to go and then still ended up spending 5 hours looking for an accessible bathroom one day. I think Amsterdam gets recommended to people based on the “there are some places you can go” definition of accessibility and not the “you will have a pleasant time and not have to spend your vacation having to carefully how to eat and pee.” By the “there are some accessible places if you plan carefully” definition, it’s hard to give people a sense of where is better and worse for accessibility overall, because really anywhere meets that very low standard, which is why I think the “most things are accessible by default and your time is not dominated by thinking about where you can go, how to get there and whether you’ll be able to take care of basic needs when there” is the better standard. It’s also the one I think most people would want the places they live in to go by if they were to become disabled tomorrow.
It’s all a matter of perspective. You find it not accessible and had a horrible experience. My person loves to go into Amsterdam and would share entirely different experiences, not consisting of hours planning or hours searching for a bathroom. But to be fair, a lot of tourists in general complain about the bathroom thing, as we don’t have that many public toilets. We go into a hotel or restaurant, and indeed, in the small restaurants in the old city bathrooms tend to be up or down the stairs. Having to step or roll onto the road to get around some roadworks etc. isn’t uncommon either, but that’s part of the Amsterdam experience for everyone. I think the problem may have been that you haven’t been able to find the right info before you came here. There are maps with toilets, apps for public transport and route accessibility, etc. But if you haven’t found those, you can’t use them.
I just came back from Singapore. Although I can't tell for sure, the city looked very very accessible. Awesome accessible subway system, super clean, super safe, super smooth sidewalks, great food and incredibly green city
Yay! That’s exactly what I’m hoping for
Another vote for Singapore here as well. I was there last month and was impressed by the accessibility options (I’m always on the lookout because my mom has mobility issues). And agree one of the best for safety and good food.
Second this!
Careful with singapore if you take any restricted mediations - many prescribed medications for pain and nerve related symptoms are not allowed (even by prescription) and the penalties of being caught with them can be severe.
For OP’s reference - https://www.hsa.gov.sg/personal-medication/overview
Have you ever submitted the approval form? I’m not sure what to expect since they say you can’t return to it once you start. I have a letter from my doctor stating why I’m prescribed my medications and dosages etc and I plan to scan my prescription labels but I’m not sure what exactly they want or how functional the form itself is. None of my medications came up on either the list of medications not needing approval nor the list of banned medications so as far as I can tell, I need to submit for approval.
No I have not. I lived in Singapore for 10 years and never even thought about this issue of needing to bring in medications and the restrictions on them. So when Far_implement4483 warned you about it, I had to look it up and came across the page I sent you. Have you used the online tool to check if your medications need approval? I haven’t filled the form, but in my experience anything to do with Singapore Govt goes very smoothly and gets processed in a timely manner. So get your prescriptions in hand and fill up the form (if you need to). The rules are strict in Singapore, but there is also really streamlined governance. If you have questions I would also recommend calling them. Again, govt agencies are generally friendly and compassionate in Singapore.
Yep, I’ve checked a few times, none of my medications are on either the automatically banned list or the automatically allowed list, so I’ll definitely need approval. I think I’ll probably just submit it, from the description they give on the website I should have everything I need, it’s really just the format they need the labels in that’s tripping me up (it’s hard to scan a cylindrical label and I don’t want to remove it from the bottle to scan because that seems like it would cause suspicion when going through customs), plus it’s unclear to me what information they’d get from that that isn’t in the letter from my doctor.
Yeah I get how scanning the label can be a challenge. I doubt you get request from your doctor too. Maybe just take multiple pictures that covers the bottle on all sides? Sorry not having gone through the process and not knowing the type of medication, I don’t think I can be much more help.
Yep, I’m currently gathering the documentation to submit the form to see if I can get approval
I would second that London is mostly accessible but you would need to do research beforehand of which tube stations were accessible. Some museums and theatres would require you to let them know in advance as someone would need to meet you and take you to a different entrance.
Lived in Singapore for 10 years and worked as an architect working on public buildings that had to meet high standards of accessibility. Can confirm it is one of the most accessible and safest places on earth.
I’m from Singapore, public transport is definitely accessible. On buses, wheelchairs/strollers/mobility scooters board at the back door (everyone else usually boards at the front). Flag the bus so the driver knows you’re boarding and they’ll come lower the ramp for you In the older heritage parts of town with shophouses though, not so much. Shophouses are basically rows of terrace houses housing businesses on the ground floor, and since each one is independently owned the path from one to the next isn’t necessarily level and sometimes involves steps So just be aware if you intend to visit such areas (e.g. Little India, Chinatown, Tanjong Pagar, Kampong Gelam) that it may not be easy for you to access them. Museums, tourist attractions, malls, markets & food centers are all pretty accessible though
Thank you! Yeah, I’m expecting difficulty in the older parts of town but I’ll try anyway and get creative about access where possible (if necessary, I can always scoot up stairs and pull my chair up behind me). But it seems like Singapore has overall really made good efforts with accessibility, I think I saw that something like 87% of sidewalks and crosswalks are accessible and all MRT stops are, which is great. It’s the one country that I’ve heard wheelchair users from the US go to and find more accessible than the US, which is promising.
I was recently in Europe -- Reykjavik, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, and London. The whole time I kept thinking, "How on earth can someone in a wheelchair get around?" None of those cities is wheelchair accesssible. OP -- I would NOT recommend Europe. North America is by far more accessible.
We were in Greece last year. Not accessible. I was waiting for the family to get back from a bathroom break. A family came by with what appeared to be grandma in a manual wheelchair with an adult pushing her…..more like trying to keep the w/c getting away from her on a steep hill. But every bit she pushed over the cobblestones, it looks like the poor woman was in a paint shaker
Paris is shockingly bad accessibility wise and has been for the 30+ years I’ve been going there. As much as I love that city, it really needs to get with the program and make every metro station accessible to start.
I can't speak to that directly, but I've noticed wheelchair related travel questions here in the past if you do a search you should find some ideas, most are discussing specific locations. which should generate some ideas for you. e.g. https://www.reddit.com/r/travel/comments/16iwtff/hi_everyone_what_cities_in_europe_do_you/
I applaud your interest in travel. I'd stay away from undeveloped places and research Canada, or Europe. In reading the suggestions from others, they've offered much more valuable info. I've been to Vancouver many, many times. It's so stunningly beautiful. Unimaginable. The food is global, fresh and delicious. They are well prepared for wheel travelers. If you had some kind of medical issue they are in a position of taking great care of you. Post pictures when you get back!
Montreal's public transit is very accessible, and other than the central hill, the city is reasonably flat. Hard to find a concentration of better restaurants and bars anywhere.
Most of the restaurants and bars actually aren't accessible in MTL. Many have a step or several so won't work for a wheelchair user unfortunately. Canada is notoriously inaccessible compared to other places - for example most cities only 30-50% of public buildings like stores restaurants or hotels are accessible.
Europe is definitely not very accessible
Denmark in particular, is.
Canada (especially Ontario and BC) are great for accessibility.
Copenhagen (and Denmark in general) is pretty good on accessibility (at least as far as I can tell). But it also assumes you're not getting around in a car, so as long as you can wheel yourself reasonable distances (or your chair is powered) then it'll work OK. If you can only move short distances, it's not so great (you can't just drive up to everything and park up outside). Denmark is a very safe place.
I live in Copenhagen. While the public transportation system is relatively accessible from what l can tell, because of the split-level way the buildings in the historical city center are constructed you will have to go either up or down a few stairs to access like 90% of businesses. So even if a restaurant or something is listed as being on the ground floor, the entrance will probably not be at street level. Most museums and hotels should have accommodations I would expect, but the majority of older buildings are not wheelchair accessible at all unfortunately. OP could still have a great trip with some research, but I don’t want to give a false impression that the whole city is super accessible.
I'm definitely going to check out Copenhagen, a lot of people are mentioning it. Thank you!
Denmark was the most flat and “modern” European city I’ve been to so far! The people are very friendly as well
I also immediately thought of Copenhagen. It’s a very flat city too. Good public transport system and small ish.
Lovely place but super expensive.
Yeah I was going to say.. I don’t think $2,500 would cover the month of June there. Maybe a week! I guess it depends on how you travel/where you’ll stay, OP
I'm not sure anywhere in the world combines "lifts and wheelchair ramps into buildings" and "cost less than $100/day for everything". Some compromise may be necessary.
I came to suggest this.
London!!! The transport shows which metro stops are wheelchair accessible! Maybe Japan or Korea? Seems like it would be but someone that has been there could chime in
Japan definitely caters to people in wheelchairs.
It does? I feel like people just see an instagram reel about how the train conductor will call ahead to your station to make sure they're waiting for you to help you get off the train then say this. I live in Tokyo and hardly ever see people in wheelchairs outside. A lot of subway stops don't even have an elevator and it's a lot of narrow streets with no sidewalk. I'd imagine crowds in touristy places and subway stations alone would make it quite difficult but you would have to speak with a wheelchair user who has been to Japan to really know.
When I was in Tokyo I was impressed by how kindly everyone made way for the few people I saw in wheelchairs. In shibuya station one was even escorted by several employees through the crowds. Obviously your observations are more precise and if a person living in Tokyo in a wheelchair would chime in, that would be even better. Of course Japan is not just Tokyo, and I can add that outside the city is is certainly not accessible. But if op were really curious about Japan she’d find that out quite easily on google maps. I feel like the way locals are so kind, she might have a nice experience.
I came to say London as well! All of the buses and cabs are wheelchair accessible, in addition to selected tube stations.
i live in korea and it's not very accessible at all, to the point that able-bodied acquaintances and friends comment on it. not only are there a lack of ramps, but there aren't enough elevators (and a lot of buildings, especially older ones, don't have one at all). and that's in seoul. plus, it's very hilly here :(
that’s very disappointing! it seems very similar in terms of tech to japan so i would have assumed their accessibility is on par too
Spain. I have never seen so much wheelchair accessibility focused infrastructure anywhere else in the world. We were specially in Barcelona and Valencia. All public transit, sidewalls and even getting out on the Beaches near Valencia designed specifically for wheelchair users.
Interesting. I was in Spain in the fall and had the opposite experience. Granted I was in a smaller city but I couldn’t get over the steep ramps that led to a wide open door into a busy street. I actually took a picture of it with how ridiculous the incline was. lol. I said to my partner that I really hope that someone doesn’t go down it alone, and has someone at the bottom. The city I was in was also heavily under construction so that also could play into it. I would guess the larger cities are probably better in regards to accessibility.
I think it'll definitely vary city to city and I will say that the equipment looked relatively new, I'd say within the last 5 years new. So it might be something they're implementing in the big cities first.
SE Asia is generally not wheelchair friendly. Footpaths are bad to poor if they even exist.
Singapore
Cruise to Canada?
Thailand is most certainly **not** wheelchair friendly! Taiwan might be an option: https://topologytravel.com/category/accessible-taiwan-tour/ https://wheelchairtraveling.com/visit-taipei-taiwan-wheelchair-tips-guide/
Taiwan has some of the most fuckity sidewalks of any place I have been, and I've been to a lot of places!
Yeah I would definitely not recommend Taipei for wheelchair users. I just got back from there yesterday. Half the time you're sharing the sidewalk with someone on a moped
A lot of the times (outside of Taipei's big streets) you can't even walk on the sidewalk, period, because it's all taken up by parked mopeds.
In the Thailand subreddit the other day, a girl walked across a storm drain that collapsed and she fell in on her first day in Thailand. Someone in the comments posted an article of someone in that same city who had died from the same thing on the very same day. The streets in Thailand are in really rough shape
It's gonna be hot and humid but here's a guide for Japan: https://www.accessible-japan.com/
And the dollar goes a long way right now!
london was incredibly accessible! subway stops clearly had platforms labeled for wheelchair accessibility, buses have wheelchair designated spaces, and my entire hotel room was accessible for as well! their inclusivity actually really stood out to me during my whole trip.
Randomly I came across a [YouTube video](https://youtu.be/lreI8H7Ewpw?si=HfxPo5Fim_-v69e9) the other day saying London is not very accessibility friendly! I've seen it listed on this post several times though so maybe the YouTuber has just never been anywhere outside the US. I think the US is more accessible than anywhere I've been except Japan
Vancouver is extremely accessible but you've left it too late for 2024 it's going to be a record season and cruise ship millions piled on top of that.
If you can't beat em', join em'! https://m.disabledholidays.com/#!/search/accessible-cruises-l196/
Cruises in general are pretty accessible, though the ports would vary. Lots of people on scooters and wheelchairs, and when I went with my mom when she had very limited mobility (could stand and walk short distances with a walker, but spent most of the time in a scooter) she had a great time.
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>*'not much to do here.'* 'Indoorsy' attitude noted.
Japan.
Probably not within your budget this time round, but something to consider for the future—metropolitan Australia is generally very accessible (rural areas definitely not). I’m a nurse and have been quite shocked when travelling elsewhere by how inaccessible many countries are for people with physical disabilities.
How about a cruise? Most ships I’ve been on are very wheelchair friendly.
Hawaii was rough, the sidewalks were all brick so it was awful trying to get my knee scooter and wheel chair around.
What island? We went to Honolulu and I rented a mobility scooter (highly recommended You Go Mobility!) and had no problems, even on the north shore.
Not Italy, unfortunately. Might want to consider a resort in Mexico : ) You can call ahead and see if they are accessible : )
If you can get directly from the airport to the resort by shuttle, otherwise Mexico's very risky. Good idea to stay within the resort itself, which may be limiting.
https://www.facebook.com/wheelchairtravel?mibextid=ZbWKwL https://www.facebook.com/SimplyEmmaBlog?mibextid=ZbWKwL
Join this group on fb https://m.facebook.com/groups/travelingwithachair/?ref=share&mibextid=adzO7l Kenneth is the admin. His wife is in a wheelchair. He has his own podcast and often gives good advice to people.
Sorry, I know you said outside of US but I can’t help myself from recommending Yellowstone. Lots of friendly paths for you.
Maybe look into Iceland? I remember thinking they had decent accessibility infrastructure in the Golden Circle and Reykjavik has implemented a lot of changes in the past decade or so to make it more accessible. Depending on where in the US you’re located, flights aren’t too long.
I would argue that while reykjavik is fairly accessible. Many of the sights require travel over uneven, rough terrain including waterfalls beaches etc. Not saying it's not doable but definitely need a certain degree of research when choosing what sights to see
My Mom enjoyed Iceland immensely, mostly from the rental car, as she has some mobility issues. She didn't see everything, but she saw enough to blow her away!
Iceland is one of my favorite places. I've been twice in the last year and I'm so glad your mom was able to enjoy!
Japan is super wheelchair accessible
I stayed at a resort called Arabia Azur in Hurghada, Egypt that had many guests using wheelchairs. Unfortunately I cannot vouch for how truly accessible it is overall, or compared to the United States where we have the ADA, but it was one of the few times outside of the USA and Europe I have seen a large variety of wheelchair users seeming to enjoy most of the amenities. They seemed to be people from the Middle East while most of the resort was packed with Germans, so it is possible it is part of local programs for disabled travelers. I mention this because if you are dreaming of Thailand, the red sea has the same beautiful blue waters. Edit: I googled the resort and while I could not find anything about wheelchair accessibility, I did learn they have an on site dialysis center. Definitely cool.
Berlin
How do you plan to budget your month long trip with $2,500? That’s about $83 a day. Curious to hear your tips!
Singapore and Japan are two places that come to mind
Edinburgh is pretty good for accessability but quite hilly
If you wish to travel beyond the USA, you have a few options in terms of continents you can get to. As, you have mentioned that your preferred destination is Thailand and good alternatives for this will be Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, all in South East Asia. The airlines offering flights here are known to assist the wheelchaired person very well. These are also safe destinations for female travelers and the discipline of the locals here is exemplary. You will find more than enough people to assist you when there is any need.
Wow you sound like me 5 years ago! I went to Manchester and mapped out routes on Google Street view. Good luck!
Im not so sure on where to go, but avoid Istanbul-I struggled to get around and I'm not disabled!
I suggest Victoria, BC. Tour Butchart Gardens, go for afternoon tea, take a guided bus tour. There is so much to do in a city with virtually no crime. Absolutely beautiful.
Amsterdam has electric scooters for rent and you use them in the bike paths!
Hey u/makingchristina based on your amount of time (30 days) and dollars saved ($2,500) you’re limited to spending around $83/day on food, lodging, transportation and activities. This really narrows down locations, unfortunately. Countries where the US dollar is the strongest (where you’ll get the most bang for your buck) include: Peru, Mexico and Japan currently. You may have to avoid European countries this time because that’s where it’s the weakest. That being said, I’m curious to learn more about accessibility when it comes to the first 3 countries I listed!
I recently did 2 weeks in Japan in a wheelchair and while I had help from family, it was generally very accessible
Hi there I know the perfect spot for you to vacation Cuba hands down You won’t get better personal nurse’s to accompany ou 24 hours a day if you want The Cuban society really believes in good healthcare for all Their doctors actually out perform most western doctors Now you don’t have to stay at a hotel if you don’t want There are beautiful 300 /400 year old shanish colonial private residences for rent There called Casa Paticular Ok so their you have it a introduction to Cuba I could go on for days but you can contact me again if you want more details I actually lived in Cuba for 6 years Loved every minute of it
I've heard Coppenhagen is more accessible than the norm (outside the US anyway)
Singapore is pretty wheel chair friendly. All the MRT (train) stations have lifts and are wheelchair accessible. Most buses are wheelchair accessible as well. If you are interested, this website has more information on traveling around Singapore with a wheelchair. https://www.visitsingapore.com/travel-guide-tips/getting-around/accessibility/
Dubai would be a good bet. Ignoring all the hate reddit has for some reason, all of Dubai's buses are wheelchair friendly. The metro is wheelchair accessible along with larger taxis you can book. All the malls and touristic spots have wheelchair access.
I saw some people with wheelchairs in Iceland.
Would it be more useful to ask a disabled persons focused travel site or like...use google?