PLANNING YOUR TRIP - England 2012 and the Best of Wales - page 755

For visitors coming from North America, a number of travel agencies offer tours and
itineraries for those with disabilities. Flying Wheels Travel ( & 877/451-5006 or 507/451-
5005; www.flyingwheelstravel.com) offers independent trips to London. Accessible Jour-
neys ( & 800/846-4537 or 610/521-0339; www.disabilitytravel.com) caters specifically
for slow walkers and those in wheelchairs and their families and friends.
U.S. groups that offer assistance to people with disabilities include MossRehab
( & 800/CALL-MOSS [2255-6677]; www.mossresourcenet.org), which provides a library
of accessible-travel resources online; the American Foundation for the Blind ( AFB;
& 800/232-5463 or 212/502-7600; www.afb.org), a referral resource for the blind or
visually impaired that includes information on traveling with Seeing Eye dogs; and SATH
( Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality; & 212/447-7284; www.sath.org), which
offers a wealth of travel resources for people with all types of disabilities and informed
recommendations on destinations, access guides, travel agents, tour operators, vehicle
rentals, and companion services. You can also connect with SATH on Twitter and Face-
book. The “Accessible Travel” link at Mobility-Advisor.com (www.mobility-advisor.com)
offers a variety of travel resources to persons with disabilities. Access-Able Travel Source
(www.access-able.com) offers extensive access information and advice for traveling the
world with a disability. Quarterly magazine Emerging Horizons (www.emerginghorizons.
com) is another handy resource.
Doctors If you need a non-emergency doctor, your hotel can recommend one, or con-
tact your embassy or consulate. Failing that, try the general-practitioner finder at www.
nhsdirect.nhs.uk . North American members of the International Association for Medical
Assistance to Travelers ( IAMAT; & 716/754-4883, or 416/652-0137 in Canada; www.
iamat.org) can consult it for lists of local approved doctors. Note: U.S. and Canadian visi-
tors who become ill while they're in London are eligible only for free emergency care. For
other treatment, including follow-up care, you'll be asked to pay. See “Insurance,” below,
for details of how this affects you.
In any medical emergency, immediately call & 999, or & 112.
Drinking Laws The legal age for buying alcohol is 18. Those 17 and over may have a
glass of beer, wine, or cider with a meal in a pub or restaurant, if it is bought for them by
a responsible adult. Children younger than 16 are allowed in pubs only if accompanied by
a parent or guardian. Don't drink and drive: Penalties are stiff, not to mention the danger
in which you're placing yourself and other road users. Drinking alcohol on London's pub-
lic transport network is forbidden, and on-the-spot fines have been issued to
transgressors.
Driving Rules See “Getting Around,” earlier in this chapter.
Electricity British electricity operates at 240 volts AC (50 cycles), and most overseas
plugs don't fit British wall outlets. Always bring suitable transformers and/or adapters,
such as world multiplugs—if you plug some American appliances directly into a European
electrical outlet without a transformer, for example, you'll destroy your appliance and
possibly start a fire. Portable electronic devices such as iPods and mobile phones, how-
ever, recharge without problems via USB or using a multiplug. Many long-distance trains
have plugs, for the charging of laptops and mobile phones only.
Embassies & Consulates The U.S. Embassy is at 24 Grosvenor Square, London
W1A 1AE ( & 020/7499-9000; www.usembassy.org.uk; Tube: Bond St.). Standard hours
are Monday to Friday 8am to 5:30pm. However, for passport and visa services relating to
U.S. citizens, contact the Passport and Citizenship Unit, 55-56 Upper Brook St., London
W1A 2LQ (same phone number as above). Most non-emergency inquiries require an
appointment.

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