Vacations can be tough, but doable if you go knowing things will happen and you just have to go with the flow. Some hotels have "accessible" rooms, but they are often taken. Though if you only need it for showers, there are work arounds. Try bed baths, etc. Vacations usually are not too long to go without a proper shower. You can do the BP on your side in bed, etc. You can rent accessible vans in most major cities. You might need to bring your hand controls, but they might rent them too. Though renting vans is not cheap.
My first vacation went pretty well, but there were some hassles. You just have to enjoy the good parts and not let the hassles get you down. I made reservations month in advance for a 4 bed accessible room, even called the day before we left. When we got there the room was taken. Had been in use by a para who was living there for months going through rehab and a lawsuit. So they double booked the room. They do that often not wanting to turn business away. They try to just fix it later. That's what happened to us. They did have a 2 bed accessible room. So they gave us 2 rooms (a 3 bed regular and a 2 bed accessible) for the same price as the 4 bed room. That actually ended up working out better for us. More privacy for me. The vacation went well for the most part. A belt on the van engine was screwy and we broke down twice. Once in a neighborhood where we knocked on a door and they let us in. It was over 100 degrees outside. They were just moving in and it took us 2 hours to find a taxi that could take me. So I left them $20 to buy a pizza. The next time it broke down was 3 miles away from anywhere, before I had a cell phone, still over 100 outside. I was really overheating. Finely a cop drove by and stopped. He wanted to call an aid car, but just before he called the taxi. the van started back up. We loved our vacation so much, we moved there a month later. Lived in the hotel for 3 months until we found a house we liked and could move in. Now that was a hassle, but fun. So just have fun, and go with the flow. Greg _____ Hi guys~ It's spring break and I am still on campus... Long story short: I am a incomplete quad. but am independent. I wanted to go to the beach but didn't because: 1. I don't have transportation (there is a bus system) 2. and mainly because in order to take a shower I need my shower chair. For those of you who use one you know that's is not something an individual can pack up & take with you. When you travel or vacation how do you do it? I want/need to go to the beach. Do hotels have shower chairs available? Is it possible to rent vans? ( I have my licence to drive a van with hand controls) It will be 4 years since my accident and I have not been anywhere except Mom's, the Sleep Inn over Christmas break (that was a nightmare), and in a dorm room. Please tell me how you guys go on vacation, where, how do you do it? If I am ever going to go it will be by myself. Have any of you pulled this off? I really need and would appreciate your input, I am tired of "feeling" alone and want to change. Thanks
