Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
&
800/255-6951;
www.nowvoyager.
com) offers worldwide trips and cruises,
and
Olivia
(
&
800/631-6277;
www.
olivia.com) offers lesbian cruises and resort
vacations.
Gay.com Travel
(
&
800/929-2268
or
415/644-8044; www.gay.com/travel/out
andabout/ or www.outandabout.com) is
an excellent online successor to the popu-
lar
Out & About
print magazine. It pro-
vides regularly updated information about
gay-owned, gay-oriented, and gay-friendly
lodging, dining, sightseeing, nightlife, and
shopping establishments in every impor-
tant destination worldwide. British travel-
ers should click on the “Travel” link at
www.uk.gay.com
for advice and gay-
friendly trip ideas.
The Canadian website
GayTraveler
(
www.gaytraveler.ca
) offers ideas and
advice for gay travel all over the world.
The following travel guides are available
at many bookstores, or you can order
them from any online bookseller:
Sparta-
cus International Gay Guide, 35th Edi-
tion
(Bruno Gmünder Verlag; www.
spartacusworld.com/gayguide); and the
Damron
guides (www.damron.com), with
separate, annual books for gay men and
lesbians.
TRAVELERS WITH
DISABILITIES
Most disabilities shouldn't stop anyone
from traveling. There are more options
and resources out there than ever before.
That said, Russia remains a formidable
destination for anyone in a wheelchair.
Only the biggest and priciest hotels and
restaurants are accessible. Many of Mos-
cow's wide streets can be crossed only
underground without ramps. Even some
tourist destinations that claim to be acces-
sible have a few stairs leading up to the
cash desk, or into the church. Call every
place you plan to visit before you go and
be sure it can accommodate you.
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Organizations that offer a vast range of
resources and assistance to travelers with
disabilities include
MossRehab
(
&
800/
CALL-MOSS
[2255-6677]; www.moss
resourcenet.org); the
American Founda-
tion for the Blind
(
AFB;
&
800/232-
5463;
www.afb.org); and
SATH
(
Society
for Accessible Travel & Hospitality;
&
212/447-7284;
www.sath.org).
AirAm-
bulanceCard.com
is now partnered with
SATH and allows you to preselect top-
notch hospitals in case of an emergency.
Access-Able Travel Source
(
&
303/
232-2979;
www.access-able.com) offers a
comprehensive database on travel agents
from around the world with experience in
accessible travel; destination-specific access
information; and links to such resources as
service animals, equipment rentals, and
access guides.
Many travel agencies offer customized
tours and itineraries for travelers with dis-
abilities. Among them are
Flying Wheels
Travel
(
&
507/451-5005;
www.flying
wheelstravel.com) and
Accessible Jour-
neys
(
&
800/846-4537
or 610/521-
0339; www.disabilitytravel.com).
Flying with Disability
(www.flying-
with-disability.org) is a comprehensive
information source on airplane travel.
Avis
Rent a Car
(
&
888/879-4273
) has an
“Avis Access” program that offers services
for customers with special travel needs.
These include specially outfitted vehicles
with swivel seats, spinner knobs, and hand
controls; mobility scooter rentals; and
accessible bus service. Be sure to reserve
well in advance.
Also check out the quarterly magazine
Emerging Horizons
(www.emerging
horizons.com), available by subscription
($16.95 a year in U.S.; $21.95 outside
U.S.).
The “Accessible Travel” link at
Mobil-
ity-Advisor.com
(www.mobility-advisor.
com) offers a variety of travel resources to
persons with disabilities.
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