Is it really possible to travel on a budget when you need accessible services? Can wheelchair-users and slow walkers find those same great travel bargains that are available to their able-bodied counterparts?
The answer is a qualified yes. The deals are out there, if you know where to look. The good news is, these days accessibility and affordability aren't necessarily mutually exclusive. In the end, the key to finding that travel bargain is creativity. With that in mind, here are a few ideas to help you stretch your travel dollars.
Campus Attractions
If you're looking for affordable museums and cultural attractions on your next trip, look no further than the local college or university. Some colleges also offer excellent cultural enrichment programs on selected dates. Many are free, and most are wheelchair-accessible.
For example the University of Missouri in Columbia boasts two excellent museums; the Museum of Art and Archeology (tel. 573/882-3591; https://maa.missouri.edu), and the Museum of Anthropology (tel. 573/882-3573; https://anthromuseum.missouri.edu). The former features an impressive Old Masters collection, while the latter showcases Native American artifacts. Both museums feature a ramped entrance with barrier-free access throughout the galleries. Best of all, there's no admission charge to either one.
Many colleges also feature excellent star-gazing opportunities. For example, the Astronaut Memorial Planetarium & Observatory (tel. 321/433-7373; www.brevard.cc.fl.us/planet), located on the campus of Brevard Community College in Cocoa, Florida, offers weekly star shows. There is level access to the planetarium, with lift access up to the second floor seating section. Shows are presented on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and admission is a very reasonable $7.
Additionally, there's no admission charge to the rooftop observatory, which can be accessed by an elevator. Be forewarned though, the observatory is only open on Friday and Saturday nights, so plan ahead!
Check in to a Hostel
If you're looking for a way to trim lodging costs, then consider staying in a hostel. Hostelling first gained popularity in the 1970s as an inexpensive way for young people to see the world. Today hostels welcome everyone, and many are nicely accessible.
For example, Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel (tel. 650/879-0633; www.norcalhostels.org/pigeon), located south of San Francisco, charges just $20 for a dorm bed and $55 for a family room. Housed in the former lighthouse keeper's quarters, this hostel includes the accessible Dolphin Dorm, which features good pathway access and a very spacious shower room with a roll-in shower.
And then there's the Fisherman's Wharf Hostel (tel. 415/771-7277; www.sfhostels.com/fishermans-wharf), which offers a spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge, at a very affordable price. The accessible wing features a barrier-free kitchen, a bathroom with a roll-in shower and two dorm rooms. It's very nicely done, and a San Francisco bargain at only $23 per person.
Consider a Home Exchange
For a zero cost lodging bill, consider a home exchange. The idea is to find somebody with a lifestyle similar to yours, in another part of the country or world; and then simply exchange homes during your vacation. The big benefit of home exchanging is that you pocket the money you would have otherwise spent on lodging.
If you've made accessibility modifications to your own home, then it just makes sense to swap homes with someone who has made similar modifications to their home. Unfortunately, most home exchange directories don't list accessible homes. The good news is, the Institute on Independent Living in Stockholm has a great vacation home exchange bulletin board (www.independentliving.org/vacex/index.html) filled with accessible options. This online resource keeps growing, and it even includes a few rentals. The price is right too -- unlike other directories, this one is free.
Candy Harrington is the editor of Emerging Horizons and the author of 101 Accessible Vacations; Travel Ideas for Wheelers and Slow Walkers. She blogs regularly about accessible travel issues at www.barrierfreetravels.com.