We went to Dubai in October of 2013 and just want to say that Dubai is not an expensive place to vacation to. The flights there are a little over $1000.00 if you go in the off season.  We had a free flight anywhere in the world because of miles so we only had to pay for one ticket. The one thing that was expensive in Dubai was the hotels. So we booked a condo/apartment on airbnb.com and split the cost with my sister in-law and her husband. When you book your house/apartment/condo just make sure you request a handicap accessible one. We where in contact with the owner of the apartment and gave her Derek's wheelchair dimensions to make sure that his wheelchair would fit. This is a picture of him outside of our place.

We arrived at the Dubai airport after traveling for 14 hours, which was rough on Derek. When we got our bags and went outside to look for a cab. There is a line that goes by very fast where you get cabs. Cabs in Dubai are cheap! They ask you what kind of cab you need (they have wheelchair cabs). They have really big wheelchair cabs that you can stay in your wheelchair,

and wheelchair cabs that you need to get off and sit in a regular chair. Your wheelchair goes inside the cab but in the trunk. The picture above is the cab that you need to get off and ride in the regular chair. Derek almost fell off the ramp, it was very scary. We asked for a bigger wheelchair van so we had to wait about 15 mins to get the bigger van. This next pictures are of the right van for someone that is confined to their chair. If your a lady and are traveling with just ladies, they're cabs just for you! Look for the all PINK cabs with lady drivers. When traveling in Dubai's bus service or metro service make sure you read the signs. There is a ladies and children only and a men only side! Make sure you read the signs everywhere you go. My sister in-law and I sat in the men only side and we kindly asked to move to the women side. It was funny!!

Information for Traveling to England

So we are going to England in October and have found some very useful information....

Renting a wheelchair van in London: We found this company.http://www.kendallcars.com we found them to be inexpensive.

If you want to visit Stonehenge I think the best way is to rent a car but there are different way you can go. Its about 1hr and 44 mins west from the city of London. While on your way to Stonehenge you might as well travel to the city of Bath, its 1hr NW of Stonehenge. Its a beautiful city and close to Stonehenge. Bath used to be (many, many years ago) a vacation stop for the British people.

Want to go to the theater? Well the Apollo Victoria http://www.atgtickets.com (they have different theaters to chose from) have handicap seat for 15 pounds pp (for the disabled person and a companion). Total of 30 pounds...thats a good savings because the cheapest regular seat could be around 35 pounds each. Their lift (elevator) is small...the demencions are... The maximum width is 29 inches and the maximum length is 33.5 inches, while the total weight of the person and the wheelchair should not exceed 434 lbs. 

If you wish to make a booking you can call them on their access number 011 44 20 7828 7074. The line is open from 10.30am to 6.30pm Mondays to Saturdays (closed between 1.30pm and 2.30pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays).

The Shard has great views of London http://www.theviewfromtheshard.com/#plan-your-visit/disabled-access also discounts for disabled and a caregiver.

The London Eye is the one that we will be going to http://www.londoneye.com/VisitorInformation/DisabledGuests/Default.aspx 

Here are some maps that you can print before you go (wheelchair accessible). http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/1106.aspx 

A great website for London travel for the disabled is http://abilitytrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/england/london/london-england-united-kingdom/

Visiting Windsor Castle http://www.windsor.gov.uk/visitor-info/travelling-with-a-disability

The Plane Ride From Dereks View

I must admit that I was really nervous about getting on the plane and putting my primary chair (and only chair) underneath the plane. The airline was very accommodating and even let me watch them load my chair into the cargo box. I made sure that I stressed how important that chair was to me and that I needed it to be in one piece when I got to my destination. We did not check the power wheelchair or my manual wheelchair at the front ticket counter. We checked them at the gate and that's why I was able to watch them load my power wheelchair.

I also read on the web somewhere before we left to write a sign in the language, of the country that you're going to, just explaining to them that this chair is your legs and to please be extremely careful. This was great advice and I definitely used it. I also took the Rojo cushion off and also took the head rest off.

Loading into the plane and onto the seat went really smooth. They used an aisle chair to get me onto my seat. I tried putting the Rojo cushion down on the airplane seat so that I could sit on it but it was too long and wouldn't work (be advised that if you do use the Rojo cushion take some air out of it as it will inflate when the cabin gets pressurized). The plane ride was nine hours and I just made sure to constantly rock back and forth and my wife would stand me up periodically just to relieve some pressure from my rear. Overall, it was not a horrible experience but it obviously was not the most comfortable thing in the world.

When we arrived to Rome. They brought me my personal mechanical wheelchair and when it came to me they broke the pad off of the armrest. This was not a huge deal but I was just hoping that my primary chair made the trip! Once we exited the plane we waited in the loading area for my power chair. It made it!! When I saw the chair coming up the terminal, I felt relieved and now I was ready to conquer Rome!

Transportation in Rome, Italy

Transportation in Rome is not that good and accessibility is worse, but don't let that discourage you! Where there is a will there is a way! We had to board a cruise in Civitavecchia, Italy which is about 45 from the airport in Rome. We decided to travel one day early that way we were not in a rush to get to the ship. We lined up transportation from the airport to Civitavecchia and booked a wheelchair accessible (not really) hotel there. There was a tub (no shower) and the main bed was upstairs. Yes!, the room had 2 floors with stairs that lead to the main bedroom. So Derek and I slept in the sofa bed on the first floor while the kids shared the nice king size soft bed upstairs! It was not so bad or maybe because we were so tired. We wanted to be as close as possible to the ship thats why we booked that hotel. The hotel was about 5 mins from the ship. There is a train that you can take from the airport to Civitavecchia for a fraction of what a private wheelchair accessible van would cost but you have to change trains and with 3 kids and 2 wheelchairs and a BUNCH of bags... I really did not feel like doing that! The train is http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ad1ce14114bc9110VgnVCM10000080a3e90aRCRD The company that we ended up using (after searching and searching for the cheapest fare) was Movartis Limo Service http://www.movartis.com///index.php?lingua_scelta=3__Inglese&ferma=OK The driver waits for you outside after you have gotten your bags with a sign with your name on it (that way you know that they are waiting for you). We had requested a wheelchair accessible van but they really did not bring that. They brought a van with a portable ramp to put the wheelchair in the trunk so we had to sit Derek in the front seat and put all bags in the trunk and back seat. The kids and I had to sit in the seat behind the driver and Derek. Thank God we all fit because if not our day would get very interesting! We pre-booked this company for 3 different legs of our trip. The second time we used them it was a lot better but the ramp is portable and NOT safe! Its like they just buy portable ramps and big buses and just have you drive up the ramp and hope to God you don't fall. Wish I had a picture!

The Flight to Rome, Italy

Our first far away trip was a cruise in the Mediterranean. We bought our tickets and flew to Rome, Italy (Fiumicino-Leonardo da Vinvi Airport) http://www.rome-airport.info from Miami International Airport http://www.miami-airport.com  We flew with Airberlin  (only reason was they were the cheapest). Some airlines give the disabled person (limited mobility) and one companion the better coach seats for free. When boarding the plane they will board families with children and disabled passengers first, but if you need assistance getting off the airplane then you will be that last to come off.  They stored Derek's electric wheelchair which weights 304lbs (140kilos) in a cargo bin.  We then flew for 9 hours straight to Düsseldorf, Germany where we changed planes and then boarded another plane which flew us 2 hours to Rome, Italy. The airport in Italy is wheelchair accessible. The people there were very nice and most spoke some English. They helped me with my bags and Derek's other wheelchair (portable). We checked Derek's electric wheelchair in Miami and gate checked his portable wheelchair. That way we could have it in our connection. They do have wheelchairs at the airports but Derek's portable wheelchair is not like the regular ones. His reclines to help with blood pressure issues he might have. When they brought his portable chair to us in Germany we noticed that the armrest was broken. Oh well..not sure where they did that but we did not complain at baggage claim (which you can do). We were just so tired! Derek sat in the airplane for over 9 hours with occasionally standing him up to relieve pressure. He's a trouper. Coach seating stinks but everything else was way to expensive. There is no leg room and for a person with no or limited mobility it really stinks! Best seat are bulkhead seats! No one in front of you and more leg room.

Walt Disney World

Hi. My name is Priscilla and I'm Derek's wife. I want to help by giving you information that might ease your fear of traveling. I feel that anyone can travel, you just have to know what to expect when you get to your destination.

Traveling in the United States is no problem for people with disabilities. The United States is 100% accessible.  We want to give you some information on places that we have gone to since my husbands injury that can make it easy for you to get around.

Derek mentioned that we went to Walt Disney World...Disney World Resorts have wheelchair accessible rooms with roll-in showers.  When you get to the park go to Guest Relations at any of the parks and you can get a Guest Assistance Card (GAC)for up to 6 people.

This pass does not guarantee that you will not wait in a line but you won't wait  in the longer lines, just go up to the front and show your pass and they will let you in the short line. This pass does NOT work for the Meet and Greet.

Not all rides are wheelchair accessible but they do have some that if you can't leave your wheelchair you can go right in with it. You can get a wheelchair accessible map, also available at Guest Relations and it shows all the rides and tells you which one fits for you.

If you rather rent a wheelchair at the parks then this link helps with that information.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/wheelchair-rentals/

First Aid: If you start to feel sick or need medical assistance there are first aid centers at ALL parks. Nurses are available during normal park operating hours. They offer bandages, over-the-counter medications and other quick remedies.

Urgent Care: If you need to go to an urgent care facility there is one close to the Disney Parks: Centra Care Lake Buena Vista Phone: (407) 934-2273

The Disability

I am a C2 incomplete quadriplegic that can"walk" with assistance, but my arms are really not that functional. I broke my neck while skim boarding at the beach in Hollywood, Florida on September 30, 2010. I was in the ICU for six months on a ventilator. That was the longest six months of my life because I barely got to see my three kids and I was constantly getting poked and prodded! My wife is my caregiver along with all the other hats that she wears. For those of you in the spinal cord community I have to cath twice a day and do the bowel program every night. I use an external catheter along with a leg bag for urine and take multiple pills for spasticity and tone. At the end of the day, I thank God that I'm alive and able to see my family every day.

After getting out of the hospital and getting more stable, it was time for a vacation!!! We went on a Walt Disney World trip in Orlando, Florida and had a lot of fun. My wife has always had dreams of traveling all over the world. After that Disney World trip, we would go to the west coast of Florida to Tampa and visit my sister. The beaches on the West Coast of Florida are very calm so I was able to get into the water with a beach chair that the lifeguards lent me. With these two trips under our belt, my wife decided it was time for a European cruise!! We will get into more detail with that to come.