With disabled travellers more open to long-haul getaways, Isobel Turner suggests five top options
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1. Soak up the sun in Curaçao
Earlier this year, accessible travel specialist Limitless Travel reported that customers are willing to spend more on one premium long-haul getaway instead of multiple breaks. For clients eyeing the Caribbean, recommend Curaçao, home to some pristine, fully accessible beaches.
Mambo Beach, where palm tree-studded sands flank clear blue seas, has special wheelchairs to rent for navigating the sand, as well as a wheelchair-accessible beach path.
Book it: Limitless Travel’s 10-day Caribbean Paradise tour starts at £3,399, including accessible accommodation, transfers and flights, departing on January 12, 2024.
limitlesstravel.org
2. Go diving in Australia
2023 is Queensland’s year of accessible tourism, with the government investing $12 million to make the state a destination for everyone. Quicksilver Dive in Port Douglas is the first dive-training centre on the Great Barrier Reef to boast an Adaptive Service Facility accreditation, allowing those with limited mobility to glimpse manta rays, turtles and tropical fish.
Book it: Kuoni offer nine nights at the Sheraton Grand Mirage in Port Douglas from £3,180, including transfers and flights on February 1, 2024. Accessible transfers to and from the diving centre can be organised through Out There Travel Care.
kuoni.co.uk
3. Explore Florida with the Braille Trail
In St Augustine, blind and partially sighted visitors can uncover the history of the ‘Nation’s Oldest City’ using the Braille Trail. The free, self-guided tour consists of seven historical stops, brought to life by Braille signage. Clients can discover the story of Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, who named the city in 1565, and pay respect to Civil Rights Movement protesters.
Book it: Ocean Florida’s seven-night package starts at £1,099 per person, based on two adults sharing, including flights departing on September 9.
ocean-florida.co.uk
4. Venture around Vietnam
As well as taking in the best of Vietnam – from the former capital of Hue and ancient Hoi An to bustling Saigon – clients can take a two-day sailing around Halong Bay on an adapted traditional boat. This is ideal for clients who are able to take a few assisted steps to embark and disembark, while full-time wheelchair users can enjoy a land-based tour covering similar areas.
Book it: Enable Holidays’ 14-night Wonders of Vietnam tour starts at £3,799 per person, based on two people sharing. Price includes all excursions, plus accessible accommodation, transfers and flights, departing on October 10.
enableholidays.com
5. Visit an ancient Japanese temple
Horyu-ji temple in Japan was built in the 7th century and contains some of the world’s oldest remaining wooden structures. The extensive grounds have wide, smooth pathways to allow wheelchair users to explore fully, with ramps providing access to inside the temple. Clients can also visit nearby Nara Park to feed the sacred free-roaming deer.
Book it: InsideJapan’s 10-night Wheelchair Accessible Golden Route tour starts at £4,180, excluding flights, based on an October 1 departure date. The price includes accessible accommodation and transfers and some excursions.
insidejapantours.com
PICTURES: Shutterstock/Huy Thoai, Prin4t_NS, Viaval Tours, Aaronejbull8
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