Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Travellers with Disabilities
Thailand presents one large, ongoing obstacle course for the mobility impaired.
With its high curbs, uneven footpaths and nonstop traffic, Bangkok can be particu-
larly difficult. Many streets must be crossed via pedestrian bridges flanked with
steep stairways, while buses and boats don't stop long enough even for the fully
abled. Rarely are there any ramps or other access points for wheelchairs.
A number of more expensive top-end hotels make consistent design efforts to
provide disabled access to their properties. Other deluxe hotels with high
employee-to-guest ratios are usually good about accommodating the mobility im-
paired by providing staff help where building design fails. For the rest, you're pretty
much left to your own resources.
Counter to the prevailing trends,
Worldwide Dive & Sail
(
www.worldwidediveandsail.com
)
offers live-aboard diving programs for the deaf and
hard of hearing.
Some organisations and publications that offer tips on international travel include
the following.
Accessible Journeys
(
www.disabilitytravel.com
)
Mobility International USA
(
www.miusa.org
)
Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality
(
www.sath.org
)
Visas
issues. Check the website or the nearest Thai embassy or consulate for application
procedures and costs.
TOURIST VISAS & EXEMPTIONS
The Thai government allows tourist-visa exemptions for 41 different nationalities, in-
cluding those from Australia, New Zealand, the USA and most of Europe, to enter
the country without a prearranged visa.
For those arriving in the kingdom by air, a 30-day visa is issued without a fee. For
those arriving via a land border, the arrival visa is 15 days.
