A huge Christmas tree!
Photo by: Christa Richert

Hello and welcome to Disabled Travelers!

If you’ve been a long-time fan of the blog, you know that I usually spend New Year on a little journey: this year will see me in Tampa and Daytona Beach, two of my favorite places.

So, rather than wait ‘til the New Year, I like to take this chance to reflect on the blog and where it’s been over the last twelve months.

A bit ago, we talked about the future of the Disabled Travelers blog, so check that out if you want to get involved in 2012!

For now, here’s where we’ve been …

Some of Our Top Posts from 2011

How to Get Good Travel Advice Online: With the accessible travel community growing fast, I wanted to do a bit more to show my friends on the blog how to hunt up other great disabled travel resources. That was the spirit behind this post, which distills the wisdom of my experience as an intrepid web-crawler seeking out the best in travel. That’s not all, though, as we also chatted a bit about the best forums to get travel advice, putting you on the trail of some great general purpose travel boards, as well as several with a disabled travel twist. Valuable stuff here for you and your travel companions.

Disabled Travelers’ Best Places to Retire: France and Italy: Visit this post and check out the “best places to retire” tag along the side and you’ll find one of our longest-running sets of 2011. Many disabled travelers are reaching that wonderful age when they can leave work behind, and this series was inspired by some real-life questions I got on the topic of retiring abroad. You’ll find our best off-shore picks for retirement, with information on life issues like currency exchange and citizenship — and, of course, facts on the local accessibility standards.

More Good News for Paraplegic Travelers: New “eLegs” Validates Predictions: I love being able to give good news in the accessible travel world, and the eLegs prosthetic is one of the best things to happen in a long time. This experimental technology follows closely on the ReWalk, a similar set of “bionic legs” (or upright walking technology) that may enable wheelchair users to get up and walk. eLegs, a similar device, is designed by Ekso Bionics and go beyond rehabilitation purposes: it’s aimed at consumers. That means we just may see it put to use for travel purposes sometime in the future.

Disabled Travelers Visits China: A sprawling five-part series under the “Accessible Travel in China” tag, these posts aim to demystify the accessible travel secrets of the far east. With a compelling history and an intriguing future, this vast land has a lot to offer. Of course, finding the right disabled hotel or accessible tour operator can be difficult, so we’ve broken down the information in categories for your benefit: tour operators, Beijing, Shanghai, a big resource list, and a summary of all our findings.

Daytona Beach
Photo by: Roberto V. (Stock Exchange)

Hello and welcome to all our friends out there on the internet, and new wanderers who might be visiting us from Google!

Today’s Disabled Travelers blog will see us jet off to Florida’s “Fun Coast” for one of the biggest tourist draws outside Disney: Daytona Beach.

As many of you already know, I myself am a life-long resident of Florida, and lately I’ve been eyeing the Daytona area as my next home base.

Well, there’s a lot of fun to be had in the Sunshine State, and I’ve covered a lot of it in previous posts; but Daytona is completely new to me, so let’s see what we can find up there!

To my delight, it’s not hard to find a bunch of different access guides, disabled hotel lists and other resources attached to many of the more general Daytona Beach guides you may see out on the web. One of the better ones is Accessible Daytona Beach, operated and edited by self-proclaimed active paraplegic Steve Deal. The site features long pages and full business listings in areas such as transportation, care service and equipment, beach access, disabled hotels, activities, and – yes – Steve’s favorite restaurants. You can’t go wrong with Steve’s combo of exceptional cuisine and accessible venues!

One of the most beloved attractions in Daytona is, of course, the Daytona International Speedway. The official website provides information on accessibility, disabled parking, and transportation assistance at and around the track. Also check out the Track Tours page. Availability for these “all access” and VIP fan tours is limited since they’re so popular, but once you do, you’re sure to have a great time! Don’t forget that the Daytona area is serviced by its own international airport. You can get a look at the terminal map, facilities, and route map from the official site.

With 23 miles of beaches and a hospitality industry that plays host to 8 million visitors every year, there are dozens and dozens of great hotels to choose from around Daytona. This includes disabled hotels at a variety of price points. For a great general selection, try out the Daytona Beach disabled hotel listings from LetsBookHotel.com. This offers up 42 disabled hotel listings with spectacular features like, in many cases, accessible VIP suites, pools, and much, much more. These are definitely world class accommodations, and there are plenty to choose from to match your specific needs.

Daytona is looking like a truly welcoming place. Who can resist a beachside extravaganza of great activities that also has ample accessible features? That’s all for our first look, but I hope to poke deeper into this intriguing little haven sometime in the next few weeks. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to share your favorite disabled travel finds, tips, or questions with me by leaving a comment below. See you next Friday!

Si

Sunset in Dubai
Photo by: Sususmu Suda (Stock Exchange

Welcome back to Disabled Travelers!

As promised, today we’ll be taking a closer look at wheelchair travel in Dubai, one of the biggest tourist capitals in the entire Middle East.

If you were here last time, you saw how we got the ball rolling with a Dubai travelogue from Apparelyzed that turned out to be a great introduction to the city.

Now we build on the fun with a little more information on disabled hotels, accessible attractions, and other points of interest for disabled travelers and their traveling companions.

One of the first things to know about Dubai is that it goes out of its way to greet international guests. Dubai International Airport has a stellar reputation for world class service and even has two luxury hotel locations on site. There is a huge amount of information on the website, all available in English, and the airport is only ten minutes from the city center – a huge difference compared to places like Heathrow and Gatwick! That said, I wasn’t able to find any specific information for disabled travelers on the site. The Map of DIA Terminal 1 omits any mention of accessible toilets or other amenities. Be sure to get in touch with your airline to discuss any assistance you may need.

AbilityTrip’s Accessible Dubai overview sheds some light on DIA (which does, it seem, have accessible bathrooms) and also gives some valuable pointers on the overall situation in the city. Large-sized taxis and taxi-minivans are prevalent, which allow safe storage of wheelchairs during rides. There’s also some insights on offer about disabled hotels, accessible attractions, and wheelchair rental, all provided by real travelers. Looking for more sources for high quality medical supplies? Click to Rolli-Mobil, a German company that operates extensively in Dubai and throughout the UAE.

Hotels are an important part of Dubai’s international image. Although not every hotel is accessible, disabled hotels are very common, and properties work hard to maintain a modern flair that caters to globetrotting guests. Visit Time Out Dubai’s disabled hotel listings and TripAdvisor’s wheelchair accessible Dubai vacation rentals. There are a lot of options, and English is widely spoken in the Dubai hospitality industry, so it’s easier than usual to make an informed decision on the right accommodations for you.

Roll On Travel is a wheelchair-friendly disabled tour operator that focuses on Thailand. No word on whether they’ll be visiting Dubai again soon, but as you can see from their great photos of Dubai from 2008, they’ve been around – and it looks like it was a doozy of a trip! This is a very high resolution gallery, so it might take a while to load, but it is worth it. There are also some photos from one of their signature Thailand trips.

That’s our Dubai coverage for now. Visit next week to see our first look at Spain!

Si

The Burj al-Arab in Dubai; world’s tallest building
Photo by: barunpatro (Stock Exchange)

Welcome back to Disabled Travelers!

Between writing posts, I’m planning another journey that I can’t wait to tell you all about.

Thanks to some unexpected circumstances involving my old college roommates and my continuing quest to finish a master’s degree, I find myself with a need to practice my Arabic; and that means coming up with a trip that can combine business and (accessible) pleasure.

But where to? The deliberations are over, and my traveling companions and I will be heading to Spain and then on to Dubai, in the UAE … never before seen on the Disabled Travelers blog!

Now, this is my first trip to the Middle East (or, in fact, the “anything” East … my plan to drop by Japan was abruptly canceled) so I wasn’t sure what to expect. But Dubai, one of the major city-states of the United Arab Emirates, is probably the best place out there for a starter trip to the region. It welcomes millions of global tourists every year thanks to its welcoming attitude and ultra-modern sights, including man-made islands and the Burj al-Arab, currently the world’s tallest skyscraper. Likewise, the number of disabled hotels and the accessibility situation in general seems to be the best in the Middle East!

Taking a quick look around, I discovered this discussion over at Apparelyzed, the number one community on the internet for maintaining an active lifestyle after spinal cord injury: Wheelchair Accessible Holiday in Dubai. If you scroll down a bit, you’ll actually discover a fairly comprehensive guide to accessible attractions, transportation, and disabled hotels! Most hotels are 100% accessible, as are many of the top attractions. The only major complaint I’ve uncovered so far is the lack of dropped curbs and curb cutaways in some areas. While this is nothing to sneeze at, it seems like the bulk of the news is good, even with an unfinished mass transit system.

Now, this is a really long way to go in just one hop, so my friends and I decided that we would stop off in Spain first. No word yet on whether we’ll be checking out Madrid, Barcelona, or somewhere else completely. But as I figure it out, Disabled Travelers readers will learn along with me. Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be researching fun destinations all around Spain, and digging deeper into Dubai. Hope you’ll join us again, this time next week and every week, as Disabled Travelers goes the distance in accessible travel around the world! Thanks for reading, and see you again soon!

Si

Hotel in Lausanne, Switzerland
Photo by: BrightyG (Stock Exchange)

Hello and welcome to Disabled Travelers!

Today I’d like to take time out to extend a special thanks to those of you who’ve been with us a time.

Our loyal Disabled Travelers readers and their traveling companions have helped us reach a splendid milestone: Our parent site, disabledtravelers.com, is #1 on Google for disability travel searches!

This is a great honor, to be sure, and it has all come about thanks to your patronage.

So, what else is near the top of the list?

Today, we’ll review some of the best disabled travel sites … both the new, and old favorites that have shown up in our access guides over the months.

Accessible Journeys: This site has been one of our favorites for a good, long time. Accessible Journeys is one of the most well-established, comprehensive, and downright fun tour operators catering to the needs of those with any kind of disability. Their accessible group tours are among some of the most intriguing and exotic in the industry, and the company also handles independent wheelchair travel planning and my personal favorite, accessible cruises. Specials include Alaska, Chile, Egypt, and more.

Global Access News: Global Access News is one of the longest running disability travel newsletters on the internet, and provides a monthly e-zine in the form of travel tips compiled by readers around the world. Content is eclectic, with detailed reports and travelogues that cover the good, the bad, and the ugly all over the globe. Other regular features include an archive by geographic region, disability website links, and trip planning tips, among much more. A great place to get the absolute freshest travel views.

Disabled Cruise Travel: This new entry is part of the user community at Cruise Critic, one of the oldest sites on the web for getting inside insight on the best cruise lines and deals anywhere you care to go. Cruise Critic has been around for fifteen years now, and provides both editorial reviews and user-submitted content. I don’t usually link to forums, but this one is bursting at the seams with terrific tips. It’s ultra-busy, welcoming, and you can probably find someone to help you with just about any cruise-related question.

Slow Travel: If traveling at a slower pace is your preference, check out Slow Travel. This site is full of travel reports and guides, reviews of tour services, and listings for adapted vacation homes in a number of popular countries. At last count, they had sub-sites running for Italy, France, the UK, Switzerland, Spain, and North America. All of these have planning tips, forums, disabled hotel listings and accessible restaurants, as well as user-submitted maps of the local area using Google Maps. Very helpful!

As you can see, Disabled Travelers is in some good company, and this is only the tip of the iceberg. We’re very pleased to have a positive impact on so many readers. Don’t forget to spread the good cheer by visiting some of the sites above, or suggest your own disabled travel resources in the handy comment box at the bottom of the page. Once again, Disabled Travelers is nothing without you, so thanks for your support!

Si

The Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier
Photo by: Nicole Shackleford (Stock Exchange)

Welcome home to the Disabled Travelers blog!

Chicago is one of the most popular destinations for disabled travelers and their travel companions, and posts about it have always been some of the most popular.

Now that I’ve spent some time taking in the sights, I think it’s a great time to give my impressions on accessible attractions and other amenities in the Windy City.

Here’s a quick summation of my trip and my thoughts.

The Chicago Metra: All 11 trains of the Chicago-area passenger train services are accessible, with features to help disabled travelers who have issues with vision, hearing, or mobility. Combined with the People With Disabilities Ride Free Program, commuter transit is pretty easy around the Chicago area, especially compared to other big cities.

The Metra tends to be extremely crowded, especially when heading toward Union Station. It may not be comfortable, but there is definitely accessible space set aside for wheelchair users and a variety of other riders with special needs. Chicago Union Station itself has a number of stairs, though, so be careful.

For more information, check out the Chicago Transit Authority.

Medieval Times: This was dinner my first night in Chicago and is a popular family attraction. Note that it’s not actually in Chicago, but rather in Schaumburg, a community about an hour away that plays host to some of America’s greatest shopping malls. Those with mild to moderate hearing or vision impairments may still be able to enjoy the show, though some portions of it are conducted in low light. I did not see any evidence of disability friendly seating, though, so call ahead to be sure.

Navy Pier: One of Chicago’s most iconic attractions, and the place you’re likely to end up after taking an accessible cruise up the Chicago River. (Note, if you’re interested in the accessible cruise, either the architecture tour or the night tour, also read up on the accessible drop-off area.) The Pier itself is largely wheelchair accessible, as the FAQ indicates. Crowds for rides such as the Ferris Wheel are actually pretty reasonable, but be aware that prominent safety warnings prevent individuals with leg, breathing, or heart-related issues from riding many of them.

Bourgeois Pig Cafe: Plenty of outside seating, some of which might be amenable to disabled travelers using mobility devices. Though this place isn’t very well known outside the neighborhood, it deserves special notice thanks to the delicious, hand-made sandwiches. Very flavorful, in keeping with the bohemian atmosphere! The “Hobbit” was delicious and kept me satisfied for the rest of the night. They also have green tea imported directly from Japan!

Paddy Long’s: This is another spot that makes no pretense to being accessible (visitors should be prepared for “traditional” high, backless bar stools), but I have to mention it thanks to “Beer and Bacon”, a delicious and festive tasting of regional bacon and beer from around Chicago and the world. It’s one of the most popular events at Paddy Long’s and for good reason. The bacon is delicious and the pairings will delight you!

“Willis” Tower: Formerly (and some would argue, properly) known as Sears Tower, the Skydeck is the big draw here, helping you enjoy the view from 103 stories up – still the tallest building in the western hemisphere despite losing the top spot worldwide.

The Skydeck accessibility page confirms my hunch that the whole experience is set up for wheelchairs, scooters, and strollers. Guide animals are also permitted throughout the building. Disabled travelers and their travel companions should have no problem, and the customer service is very good.

Make note, though, that the elevator that leads up to the Skydeck is required by management to be slap full, and this part of the journey will be pretty uncomfortable for anyone who dislikes tight spaces. On the Skydeck the view is … penetrating, so those with a fear of heights should also consider passing. (A final cautionary note: You will be photographed in the lobby … and once you get down, the sales team is pretty aggressive!)

Chicago is a terrific place – very welcoming, very accessible. If you’re up for a trip to a bustling city with terrific sights (something like New York with about half the people) you can’t go wrong with a visit to accessible Chicago.

Si

The Miralpeix in Occitania, France
Photo by: Lluis Jardi (Stock Exchange)

In today’s Disabled Travelers adventure, we’ll be hitting Languedoc-Roussillon, France, and Le Marche, Italy!

If these locales are new to you, fear not: they were pointed out to us by CNBC’s “Best Places to Retire Outside the U.S.” series, a trail that we’ve been following on the Disabled Travelers blog for the last few weeks.

As DT fans may already know, we’ve passed through both Italy and France on previous trips.

This time, though, we’re zooming in on two of the countries’ “best kept secrets.”

Grab your travel companions and let’s go!

Languedoc-Roussillon, France

For those unfamiliar, this is an area of southeastern France actually bordered by Spain, known for its great number of vineyards and deep connection with the ancient Occitan culture. Rugby is also very popular there, and tourists are quite welcome!

First up is Global Access News, with an extended travelogue on Languedoc-Roussillon. There’s a lot of terrific facts here on disabled hotels and accessible attractions. The portion on Languedoc-Roussillon is extremely helpful, but I would actually look to this as a jumping off point for any France trip. It’s a good general overview that will serve you equally well in Paris, for example.

Looking to book disabled hotels online or find tour operators? You can get into the swing of things with the official Languedoc-Roussillon Tourism Board website. There are also quite a few special offers to be had on the site, which is available entirely in English as well as many other languages.

Le Marche, Italy

Le Marche is a region of central Italy, famous for its rivers and picturesque coasts. There are a lot of strong resources online for the area, including TripAdvisor’s selection of wheelchair accessible vacation rentals. Check out Marche Voyager for a comprehensive overview of accommodations, art, gastronomy, and much more. Start with The Essential Marche to know when to go and where to start. Le Belle Marche describes itself as a travel and tourism guide to the region, and can help more directly with accommodations and events.

Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of dedicated accessible travel resources for the area. You can piece together a few things from the sites above, but also consider Accessible Journeys’ Accessible Travel Packages for Italy. Also valuable: My earlier posts on accessible travel in Rome and Venice to Florence include a lot of more general travel info that could help out with Le Marche.

Our ongoing series still includes stops in Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Portugal, and Spain, so we hope you’ll be tuning in to Disabled Travelers again this time next week — and every Friday — for more on the latest in disabled access and wheelchair accessible travel. We sure appreciate your visit; have a wonderful week!

Si

Spring day on the Dutch coast
Photo by: wahlerb (Stock Exchange)

Welcome one and all to Disabled Travelers, where today we’ll be looking at accessible Spring Break destinations and getaways for wheelchair users and their travel companions.

There’s been an explosion of affordable, accessible rental homes for your vacation needs since Disabled Travelers first came around, and if you’re looking for a week off — like those lucky college students are enjoying right about now — you’ve come to the right place.

Let’s get rolling, folks!

From Value Vacation Rentals, check out this new, two-bed, two-bath accessible condo at Surfside Resort in beautiful Destin, Florida. From the site’s search function, you can find a number of other great options in Florida and along the Gulf and Pacific coasts. Don’t forget our comprehensive Sunshine State access guide series. You can learn about Orlando, Miami, and even Disney World. If those aren’t your top picks, also check out our soon-to-be expanded Hawaii coverage.

The Dayton Daily News has a few suggestions hot off the presses, including a number of accessible natural and residential options in Ohio. If you’re looking to go a little further afield, Cozumel, Mexico is an inviting and popular vacation destination with a reputation for safety. See the State Department page on Mexico for special travel information and advisories — and remember that Cozumel is an island, and weather can be intense during the hurricane season! Still, it’s a great pick to see the best beaches Mexico has to offer.

Speaking of beaches, if these are in your future, you’ll want to check out one of last year’s Summer Special posts, where we discussed beach and all-terrain wheelchairs. Though these can be pricy, there are more options out there than you might think, and they really work! Wherever you may be headed, Accessible Accommodations is a good place to check out for verified listings of barrier-free and adapted vacation properties. For accessible hotels, hotels.com remains the top contender.

Since we’re doing Spring Break in today’s visit, I’d just like to mention that if you or someone you know is a wheelchair user attending university in the United States, you may qualify for scholarships. Competitive, merit-based grants are a great way to cut down on long-term debt from pursuing an education, so spread the word if it can help anyone you know. Last but not least for now, remember that travel for Spring Break can be intense, so review the two-part Air Travel 101 for Wheelchair Users at AbilityVoice.

Thanks for stopping by for the Spring Break edition. Stay warm, stay dry, and stay safe this season; and don’t forget to pay a visit this time next week for more news and views from the wide world of disabled travel. We’ll see you then!

Si

A tempting sight for golf-lovers!
Photo by: Robert Linder (Stock Exchange)

Fore! Howdy all, and welcome to Disabled Travelers! In today’s blog, DT dips into the mailbag to answer another scintillating viewer question. I actually have a friend to thank for this one, an avid golfer who suggested we take a look at accessibility on the green. So, today’s Disabled Travelers trip is one to the fairway. Wheelchair golfers rejoice, as there’s much in the way of good news while we look at the venerable sport and art of golf – barrier-free, no less! – here in the United States.

SoloRider is the industry leader in accessible golf carts. Not only that, the company has the distinction of being a major player in establishing Americans with Disabilities Act compliance at golf courses. ADA laws require equal access in public places and the majority opinion is that this includes golf courses (with the exception of totally private clubs.) What this means for you is that many – though not all – major golf courses, including the most famous travel destinations, provide at least one adapted golf cart for wheelchair-bound golfers.

While SoloRider may not be the only adaptive golf cart, it is the most widely used. Disabled travelers and travel companions with mobility issues should call ahead or log on to see if these or similar carts are available. As golfers well know, there are many beautiful courses throughout the U.S., and I’ve gotten us started by finding a few that provide this top quality accessible service. Feel free to ring in with your own picks – and if your local course isn’t accessible, give them a call and let them know you’re there!

A Quick Selection of Accessible Golf Courses

Napa Golf Course – Napa, CA

Foxtail Golf Club – Rohnert Park, CA

Crystal Springs Golf Course – Burlingame, CA

Stanford University Golf Course – Stanford, CA

And many more …

But hold the phone, because that’s not all. Your usual clubs and courses aren’t the only places where you can find SoloRider and other adaptive golf carts. Another great place to look is the public park system, which maintains golf courses in many states. Federal and state lands are accredited compliant with ADA standards and, by definition, have to work quite a bit harder on their accessibility than the average bear.

Disabled travelers should check these out …

Hamilton County, OH Parks System Solorider page

Accessible Golf in the City of Phoenix, AZ

Niagara Parks Golf – A Leader in Accessible Golf

For a little more insight on Solorider, and a slew of reviews that might help you plan your next excursion, check out Disability Product Reviews by Access Anything, which gave the Solorider four stars. To search your local or vacation area in advance for accessible golf equipment, visit MobilityGolf, the online source for accessible golf courses. And for a whole lot more info and context on ADA and golfers, read Disabled Golfers Fight for Accessibility and Acceptance. (Take heart, fellow Disabled Travelers – this article is from 2004, and conditions are getting better.)

Thanks for tuning in to Disabled Travelers. I sure appreciate having you stop by. Who knows where Disabled Travelers will wind up next? Whether on the fairway or the freeway, you can find me with the next accessible travel update this time next week. Cheers!

Si

Disabled Travelers is back to take in the Vegas nightlife!
Photo by: Remington Phillips (Stock Exchange)

Hello, everybody!

Hot on the heels of my plan to take a trip to Las Vegas later this year, I thought it was about time we took a close look at Nevada’s “Sin City” for all kinds of travelers.

A good while back, I made a post specifically about accessible hotels in Las Vegas which is a good reference for accommodations.

There’s much more to say, so join me for this full-scale access guide – with follow-up to come in the future! Ante up!

Las Vegas being the hot vacation spot that it is, it’s no surprise that it has an immensely detailed and user-friendly tourism website. Within that site is a detailed handicapped traveler services page, which gives a good general overview for casinos, shows, and so on. There’s also a fairly extensive list of wheelchair rental, oxygen, and other medical supply companies, as well as services for the hard-of-hearing. Browse the Only Las Vegas’ Meeting Planners Toolkit for a longer list of ASL interpreters. Vegas.com also provides a hotel search function, but it does not include accessibility search options. For this, take a gander at my previous post or visit hotels.com.

If you’re a wheelchair user, you might find it simpler to travel without bringing your own chair or other equipment along. If so, check out Las Vegas Wheelchairs. In an area with so many visitors, it’s very important that you select a rental service that will deliver directly to your hotel the way this company does, avoiding an unnecessary trip on public transportation. Active Mobility is another well-established choice. For wheelchair accessible vehicles including vans, try Better Life Mobility Center.

In terms of transportation and the “special features” that make Vegas hotels especially decadent, you’ll find better accessibility here than in most other metropolitan areas, even in the United States. Local bus service is fully accessible to wheelchair users, and paratransit is available to visitors for three weeks without filing paperwork in Nevada. Out-of-state handicapped parking permits are also recognized. The trolley service around Las Vegas Strip, which will bring you right to most hotels, is also equipped for access.

Vegas’ Citizens Area Transit has its own website, including route maps. For a terrific overview including transportation, restaurants, and various attractions, drop by the Las Vegas accessibility overview provided gratis by AbilityTrip, one of our favorite websites. Anthony Curtis’ Las Vegas Advisor can also be helpful, providing a page on accessible transportation and tour operators. Last but not least, the local airport is McCarran International Airport, reportedly one of the best in the nation for accessibility.

There are some special concerns for health-conscious disabled travelers and their travel companions when visiting Vegas. Bring plenty of water on outings and remember to stay hydrated. Temperatures in the summer often top 100 degrees, and you can overheat and tire out rapidly as the desert “dry heat” creeps up on you. If you have any breathing difficulties or allergies, be aware many large casinos DO allow smoking, which can be a nasty surprise for those of us who are sensitive to smoke. Visit the Los Angeles Times for more on Vegas’ lack of casino smoking bans. Note some casinos, such as Bellagio, Harrah’s, MGM Grand, and The Mirage have non-smoking areas or other clean air perks.

That’s it for our accessible view of Vegas, at least for now. There’ll be more on my trip as it develops. Upcoming, we’ll be looking at other sites around the world I’ve got my eye on, plus taking reader requests and visiting some uncharted destinations – our blog will be paying its first visit to China just as soon as I can gather enough info! Thanks for tuning in to Disabled Travelers!
Si