Roger's Scuba Shack at Carlisle Bay Highway 7, Bridgetown, Barbados, is a great place to learn scuba or to take a refresher course for diving. Ken and I took the in-class instruction and I completed the in-water refresher course. We were hoping the next week to take a dive in Grenada where the facilities are accessible. Hoping to video accessible diving, we took the refresher course to help with that.

Nick was our instructor and was very patient with me as I practiced the in-water skills. The entire staff was very helpful with, and considerate of, my limitations.  Roger's facility is not accessible, nor do they advertise such. But I can walk with assistance and was able to complete the refresher course.

For those with medical conditions, be sure to discuss diving with your doctor and to bring the PADI form (available at PADI.com) filled out by you and your doctor to the scuba shop. There you will fill out another form and the instructor will review it with you. If he has...

 A most enjoyable accessible day trip in Barbados would include the Animal Flower Cave and Restaurant on the north side of the island with its beautiful views and local Bajan meals and seafood.

My accessible trip was arranged by Blessed Blossom Transportation and Taxi. I appreciated their care and attention to my needs throughout the day.

On the way north we started with a stop at the Limegrove Lifestyle Center, a modern shopping mall for those with discretionary taste. It is located in Holetown, Barbados. With shops, restaurants, and an ice cream parlor, a morning would pass quickly here.

In the parking lot, just to the left of the entrance, are a few reserved spaces for accessible vehicles and a ramp to enter the mall.

The mall is an open-air style in some places and enclosed hallways in other places, and has two floors. There are several elevators to access the second floor.

This mall specializes in finer shops for those with distinguished taste.

We found a few...

Today, November 25, 2022, Ken and I just finished an enjoyable, fully accessible, day trip in Martinique with Martinique Access'ile. Our tour guide was Noël Cicalini, himself a paraplegic, and the owner of Martinique Access'ile.

Noel speaks French, with English as a second language, and we spent the day discussing many things about travel and life and Martinique. Noel knows the fully accessible sites, restaurants, and restrooms, so our tour was relaxed and without any undue concerns.

Arriving on the RCCL Rhapsody of the Seas, we alit at the Tourelles Cruise Port in Fort-De-France. The weather was quite pleasant, cooler than expected with an occasional cloud, but no rain in sight.

Just inside the port there is a very tall building, and on the first floor there is a very nice accessible restroom, how handy!

 Our first destination was the Rhum Sant James, rum factory museum in Sainte Marie. A beautifully restored...

The Club Barbados is a cute, smaller-size resort about 45 minutes from the Bridgetown Airport. It makes no claims to be accessible but as I can walk short distances, we decided to check it out for ourselves. We were happy to find out that the Whill C2 made getting about this resort a little easier for me. There are some places that only have curbs or stairs with no ramps, so I used my cane and sometimes some assistance for those spots. The staff members were always helpful and offered assistance quite often.

Having chosen to take the island-hopping cruise on the RCCL Rhapsody of the Seas from Barbados, we wanted to see how accessible Barbados was while we were there. To meet our budget, we chose The Club. This article will show how suite 166 worked for us.

The suite is pleasantly decorated with island colors and comfortable furniture, The furniture is more than adequate for 2 people and even for a few guests during the day if you travel with friends.

On the ground floor...

On June 1, 2022, I was standing 15 feet behind the zipline platform at Icy Strait Point.

 My fear of heights was at a peak as we had ridden the gondola up the mountain and then taken a truck ride down a very, very steep and narrow road to the zipline. For riders needing assistance they use a UTV or truck to take the from gondola area to zipline.

I knew the zipline would be the fastest way back down and would be a most amazing journey.

More than anything I did not want to take the at least 7 minute long ride down the gondola. 

The group of six riders ahead of us crossed the bridge to the platform and prepared for their descent.

After veing strapped in, the rider in the number six position started to cry out loud. They were released on the count of three, and she continued to cry out as far I could hear.

I thought I hope I enjoy this. I will close my eyes before it starts. 

Taking a moment to collect my thoughts, a lesson I learned years ago would allow me the...

When planning a trip with a wheelchair, what do you want to know?  

For us, we are always concerned about accessibility.  

Can we get from one place to another and do so comfortably?  

That means more than can we get the wheelchair onto the transportation, but what are conditions like as we travel. 

What are the bathrooms like?

These were all questions we had about the about our trip to Catalina on the Catalina Express

How Accessible is the Catalina Express

We were very pleasantly surprised by the experience.  We did not find any issues with accessibility, and the crew was outstanding in their willingness to help passengers no matter their ability level.  We did not encounter any barriers, and while the ramp at Catalina Island was steep we had plenty of assistance getting onshore and back on the boat when we returned.

We will discuss the following topics:

• Terminals
• Boarding
• Boat Seating Area
• Accessible Bathroom
• Food and Beverage
• Ride
• ...

The Port of Ensenada in a Wheelchair - A Quick Walk Through the Main Port Area

When we booked this cruise, it was a replacement for a hotel stay. This was our third cruise in two weeks, and we had three days to fill before we needed to fly to Miami. Using a TA rate, the cruise was cheaper than a hotel, so we booked it.

Ensenada is the only port on this 3 day cruise, and we looked at the excursions, and there was nothing particularly exciting that was accessible. We decided just to walk off the ship and explore the port area.

Sea Lions

As we got off the ship, at the end of the pier on the other side of a fence, there was a sea lion basking in the sun. It was joined by another sea lion which caused a loud discussion between the two of them about who's spot it was.

We watched as they both bellowed and postured trying to show their supremacy, and then the most recent occupant seemed to concede and move away from the original occupant, and things quieted down.

On that point of land next...

Planning and Preparing for an Accessible Road Trip

By Kristin Secor

Road Trips can be a fairly affordable and fun way to travel.  They allow you to not only visit a specific destination, but see the beautiful country along the way.  It can also be a great way to have an accessible vacation.  In this post, I’ll give you my tips for planning and preparing for your next accessible road trip.

When to start planning.

Typically, I start planning my next vacation at least one year in advance.  This ensures that I can snag accessible accommodations and get an idea of what the budget for the trip will be.  Unfortunately, being spontaneous and needing accessible travel doesn’t always go together and can lead to disappointment if accessible hotels and activities aren’t available. 

Decide where you want to go.

This can be harder than it sounds.  There are so many great destinations across the United States, that deciding...

Top Tech Gifts for Travel

Selfie Drones

Selfie drones are a relatively new phenomenon, and the pricing and skill requirements have put this category in reach of the average person.  They allow individuals to capture photos, and that were previously out of reach for most.

When traveling with a drone, the recipient will need to make sure of the laws and rules for drone operation at their destination.  For example, some cruise lines ban drones in any form, and others allow camera drones, but they can only be used ashore.  They need to make sure they are aware of any restrictions and comply with the laws

Zerotech Dobby

This is not the cheapest selfie drone available, but it does have a nice mix of features for the price and is a good entry-level device.

It is primarily a device for selfies and has a limited range of about 300 feet or so, I would worry about losing control outside of that range.  But if you want a great picture from a different vantage point, that...

Accessibility on the cruise port at Icy Strait Point, Alaska and what wheelchair users need to know

So, you are planning a cruise to Icy Strait Point, Alaska. You have heard about the local, Native culture and hospitality and the indescribable wilderness. Wanting to experience it for yourself you would like to tour the port area on your visit but wonder how this will work with my mobility limitations.  

Come along with us and see what to expect on a cruise day on NCL Jewel at Icy Strait Point.  

Preparing for the Day 

Alaska is known for rainy days, but today we are happy to see just some cloudiness. I was able to video some of the trip into Icy Strait Point from our balcony.  The water was very calm, as it usually is on Alaska cruises. As it is April the temperature is cool but not uncomfortable.   

When cruising to Alaska in the early or late season, it is good to remember raingear and warmer clothing. Here is a link to a...