The HEAT is ON!!!

All of us across the country have been experiencing some record high temperatures this August. My advice? Drink plenty of water, hide out in the air conditioning and eat ice cream! I love ice cream and I'm proud to say I've indulged in many yummy flavors around the globe. Even our numerous clients who have visited Alaska this summer are enjoying much warmer than usual weather while there. I'm off to Alaska on Friday with our Ataxia Support Group and I'm truly hoping that the weather has cooled off once I arrive. Alexa tells me it should average around 60 degrees which sounds perfect to me. The triple digits we are having in Texas is more than I can handle. Plan now to travel to a cooler climate zone next summer and get some relief from the heat.

Where We're Going...

Are You Coming With Us?

So off to London and Paris we go in August 2020! We should have itinerary and cost by early September. We will only have 7 accessible rooms available so don't think about it for too long. Our Israel trip sold out very quickly.

SOUTH AFRICA 2019

Two Accessible Rooms Available

Depart USA October 11 and return October 26, 2019

Must sign up and pay in full by August 1.

Please visit our website and click on Group Trips for itinerary and pricing.

Our preference is that everyone travel with a companion but no longer required.

We recommend that you travel with your own mobility equipment but can provide rentals if needed.

We are looking into other trip possibilities for 2020 and 2021 and welcome your suggestions. The deciding factors for group trips are the availability of accessible accommodations and transportation.

Complete details for all trips on our website www.easyaccesstravel.com

Click on Group Trips

When I travel I must bring along my manual wheelchair as I need this to navigate the airports and I use it at night or whenever I'm not wearing my two prosthetic legs. It allows me to transfer easily into the bed as well as do toilet and shower transfers. However, propelling myself in this chair is not easy...lack of upper body strength and a bad shoulder make this task very cumbersome and difficult. If I'm in a place with carpet, forget it! Once I arrive at my location and get to the hotel or cruise ship, I'm in good shape because my rental scooter is there and waiting for me and off I go to explore and have fun! I love using a scooter but sometimes they don't fit well into the bathrooms and I cannot use one if I'm not wearing my prosthetics.

I often travel alone and have been looking for a solution to dealing with my manual wheelchair. More and more of my clients are using small, foldable power wheelchairs. I began doing some research on these and found out they are very popular and there are several makes and models to choose from. They are not all created equal and each boasts different features. My goal was to find one that had all the features that I consider important to me when I travel. These include solid, no flat tires, an easily removable joystick, a minimum of 10 miles on a charge, lightweight batteries that I can reach and remove, dual voltage for international travel, minimum of 4 - 5" of clearance under chair, seat height of about 20" and comfort. I was recently exhibiting at the Houston Abilities Expo and came across the Fold & Go. It met all my criteria and more! It's built on a strong magnesium mountain bike frame and is waterproof! It is made in Austin, TX and they have a fantastic website. It will travel 16 miles on a charge (charges in a quick 5 hours) and the owner and all employees are wheelchair users. I came home from the Houston show and began reading reviews and doing my own research and was convinced that this is the chair for me. I now own one in slate blue and will be taking it on its first trip on Friday to Alaska. Look for a full report on how the chair and I did in my September Newsletter.

Here's A Travel Tip For YOU....

Make copies of the inside information page of your passport. Put one in your suitcase and the other one somewhere other than where you actually carry your passport. In case your passport is lost or stolen, having a copy will go a very long way in making it easier to get another one.

Also, have a record of credit card numbers and who to call if lost or stolen. When you are out and about sightseeing, only have one credit card and one ATM card with you. Carry a maximum of $50 cash. Have a travel tip to share? Send us your tips.

We Do Individual & Group Travel

Do you know that we actually plan more trips for individuals than we do for our groups? We love when you participate in our groups but please remember to call us when you want to plan a vacation for the two of you or with a group of friends or family members. We can most likely plan any type of vacation you want and we will be sure to address all your accessibility requirements and needs. We so enjoy doing the research for you and look forward to planning that next trip just for you! Also, if you see one of our groups that you would like to do but perhaps the dates don't work, give us a call. We can usually duplicate the same trip just for you and your travel companions.

Do you have a travel tip you'd like to share? Send it to us debra@easyaccesstravel.com and it may be in the next newsletter.

Sincerely,

Debra Kerper 

(972) 492-6111

debra@easyaccesstravel.com