The first thing I did after booking my tickets to Tahiti was look for an accessible taxi service in the area. While I didn’t find any that were outright advertising as wheelchair accessible, I did find two companies that make do with what they have.
The first was Robert Carpentier who has a van with a portable ramp. When boarding, we made sure the ramp was on a curb to make the angle more do-able. I use an electric wheelchair and sit fairly high, so inside I was ducking down during the transit, but it was ok for short distances. If you use a taller chair, you may want to confirm that you’ll be ok.
Robert picked me up at the Papeete airport and was waiting for me when we came out of baggage. He took us directly to the ferry port where we headed to Moorea.
Robert was helpful in connecting me with Taxi Gisele on Moorea for our trips there. When we arrived at the port, the taxi was waiting, also with ramps for me.
We had a little trouble because these were two individual ramps made more for manual wheelchairs whose wheels align. But we made it work. The great thing was that because these two taxis communicated with each other, Robert actually sent his ramps over on the ferry so my future trips with Taxi Gisele would go more smoothly.
We booked a 5-hour tour around Moorea with Taxi Gisele as well and it was totally worth it! Got to check out the distillery and a bunch of great photo spots in addition to the dolphin and turtle sanctuary at the Hilton resort.
I had the chance to spend a few days in San Diego visiting some friends and had a great time north of there at Legoland and right in the city at the San Diego Zoo. While I didn’t spend a ton of time exploring the city this time, I had been there previously and went to the Wild Animal Park and a Padres game. I had no accessibility issues while there, so you surely could do all of these things and be just fine too.
San Diego Accessible Transportation
The first time I was there I rented a wheelchair accessible van for a few days. This is probably the easiest way to get around and can get you to the more affordable hotel areas which are not right in downtown San Diego.
On my most recent trip, I took the Amtrak train down from Los Angeles to Oceanside and then hopped a bus to Carlsbad where Legoland is. Everything was accessible and I had fun pushing my suitcase around Oceanside on the beautiful day.
Waiting for the train in Carlsbad. I’m not against rolling 1-2 miles to get to things and that’s what I did to get from the hotel to the train station in order to avoid arranging wheelchair transportation.
After Carlsbad, I hopped back on the San Diego train to the downtown train depot. From there I took a bus to the San Diego Zoo and later from the Zoo to the airport with one transfer. It was all very easy and convenient and cheap.
I stuck to trains and buses this time as my impression was that accessible taxis weren’t going to be as convenient or inexpensive to get around. So while I can’t vouch for the taxis there, I will say you can have a great time on their public transit.
San Diego Accessible Hotels
I stayed at the Grand Pacific Palisades Resort & Hotel right near Legoland. It was a modest roll to Legoland from there but totally worth saving a few hundred on hotel. It was also a modest roll from the train to the hotel in the first place, but I didn’t feel like taking the long bus ride. The sidewalks were fine.
I got a regular room and the bed was a little bit high. The bathroom was fine since I was there one night, but you would probably want to request an accessible room if you plan to be there longer than that.
This hotel isn’t anywhere near downtown San Diego, but there were many hotels with accessible rooms near town that I could have stayed at. I would recommend looking just outside of downtown for less expensive options, especially if the bus route is right there or you are renting a van.
San Diego Accessible Things To Do
As I mentioned, I went to the San Diego Zoo and Legoland this time. Both were just fine for me in my power chair. There were some hills at the zoo that a manual chair user would probably hate, but I really didn’t have much difficulty at all. There are some new elevators and overpasses at the zoo too, in addition to an accessible tour bus that takes you through the zoo for an overview.
Lego Washington DC
Legoland was great. I didn’t try getting on any rides or anything but it was a nice place to roll around and you can get a discount for your caregiver if you go to the ticket office upon arrival.
Previously, I went to the Wild Animal Park and a Padres baseball game. I had no trouble at either place and that was over 10 years ago. I remember that at the Padres game they would take and bring your order to the accessible seats which was nice!
San Diego Airport
I didn’t have any issues with my wheelchair or the service at the San Diego airport. From downtown there is a very short bus ride that can take you right to the terminals. It was much easier and cheaper than coordinating a taxi.
San Diego Summary
San Diego will be fine for you if you use a wheelchair. I had no issues and I’m sure you can find a way to do all the things you’d like to do when you are there. So that’s why you should go to San Diego anyway!
You might have been told that Paris is not very wheelchair accessible. I’m here to tell you to ignore this information and go anyway.
I legitimately thought I would arrive at the airport or train station and be stuck there, unable to make it to the Louvre or Eiffel Tower or any of the dozens of things to see in Paris. If you listen to some other travelers with disabilities, you might think this too.
I’m not going to ramble off all the accessible places I was able to go in Paris because my general attitude is that everything is possible. If there’s a restaurant you really want to go to, you’ll find your way in. The only thing I’ll tell you is that the public, self-cleaning toilets in the city don’t have seats on them, so good luck! But seriously, if you make sure you go to the bathroom when you are in the presence of a bathroom, you’ll be fine.
Paris Accessible Transportation
I like the bus the best to get around in Paris. They’re clean and safe and the people are generally very helpful. They’re also free for wheelchair users. The most common question you’ll be asked is where you are going to get off the bus. Listen for the word, “descendez,” as in descend, or go down to the sidewalk. Just know your stop before you get on the bus and you’ll be fine.
Don’t even bother with the Metro. If you want to take the RER trains you should schedule it first. The RER from the airport is easy but you still have to arrange ramp service. I have preferred taking taxis from the airport since they capped the fee at 50 euro.
For calling taxis I prefer the Taxi G7 app. Once you setup a profile you can request taxis with ramps. It’s easier than calling once you get going. I’ve had decent luck with this but if you plan to take a taxi back to the airport make sure you plan for a pickup much earlier than necessary just in case.
Paris Accessible Hotels
I had a great time staying at the Astotel Hotel 34b the last time i was in Paris. There is a huge accessible room with a giant accessible bathroom right on the first floor. They have a large library/lounge area with refreshments available free throughout the day. There are several Astotels in Paris with accessible rooms.
The only drawback to this place is that you have to ring the front desk from a panel outside so they can pop open the accessible door. It wasn’t a big deal and I was never left stuck outside. It’s a small hotel so the staff is readily available.
I’ve also stayed in an airBnB a few times. While they’ve been just fine, the bathroom and elevator situations can get hairy in older Parisian apartments. So your best bet is to look for one in a newer building and make sure you have the host measure the elevator for you!
Paris Things to Do
The nice thing about Paris for wheelchair users is that most of the museums are free for you and a companion. The Louvre, for example, is free and has one of the neatest elevators in the pyramid entrance. Just go to the entrance and they’ll guide you in and then all you have to do is roll to the wing you want to go to, no tickets required. If you have more than one person with you then they’ll need tickets.
Other smaller museums are usually free too, but there are a few which do charge tickets for special exhibitions. One of my favorites was the Museum of Hunting and Nature. It’s a very small museum in an old hunting lodge but it had some of the most unique things I’ve ever seen. I’ll just leave it at that!
Occasionally the staff at the museums will ask for your disability card, even though you’re sitting in front of them in your chair. I’ve never had one of these but discovered that this is a formality. I can usually get myself in without one but if someone really needs it, as if their job depended on it, I use my own disability card which you can make using this tool I created. It’s meant to be humorous but it actually works if you need it.
Restaurant-wise your best bet is always going to be the street-side cafes and brasseries. It’s easiest to roll up to an outside table and have a seat. Many places have at least one step. Unless you’ve got your heart set on some particular place, going to one place or another isn’t going to make much difference especially if you’re like me and just keep ordering a Croque Monsieur everywhere you go!
Wheelchair seating for the French Open
My main reason for visiting Paris has been to go to the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros. If you want to go but need accessible seating, you should setup an account and provide the proper documentation way before tickets go on sale. Follow the information on the Roland Garros website. The accessible seating is great on all courts and they’ve done a nice job with creating accessible pathways around the grounds. Make sure you get dropped off at Gate I (pronounced ‘Eeee’). If you take the bus to the grounds, it’s a short roll from the nearest stop.
From Paris you can take day trips to lots of great places as well. I’ve gone to Dijon and Luxembourg on the train and had a great time. Just make sure you buy your train tickets at the station and make sure you request the accessible seating AND the accessible fare. Make sure you let them know you’ll need help with a ramp as well.
Paris Airports
I’ve only ever flown into Paris Charles de Gaulle. I don’t love it because it’s big, but it has been ok. I’ve stayed at the Sheraton inside the terminal more than once as it’s the easiest hotel to get to from the terminals. There are others nearby which are cheaper but I’ve not tried to stay there.
If you need a taxi on arrival, you should either request one in advance with arrival service, or you can wing it and go to a queue. The last time I arrived I went out without an appointment and the taxi guys were helpful calling one for me. You could also request one from G7 on arrival. The RER B train is a cheaper but more cumbersome way to get from the airport to the city.
Paris Summary
I’ve been back to Paris five times or so now and I never run out of things to do. It’s a great city to explore and take your time and just enjoy it! The people are nicer than you’ve been told and most speak English, but it’s good to know a word or two and put in the effort. It’s definitely a place that you should go anyway!
I’m living proof, so there’s that. But seriously, I can understand any apprehensions you might have about doing this. I’ve had them too. But slowly they have gone away as I’ve taken more and more trips. Sure I have ongoing concerns, but I’ve figured out ways to handle them. Here are some things I’ve learned.
Helpful people are everywhere
Unless you’re planning a solo journey to the middle of the Australian outback, you’re going to have people around you. If you fell out of your chair in the middle of Times Square, people would help you back up. Ok I can’t say that for sure but I have fallen out of my chair in downtown Milwaukee and four strangers came to my rescue.
In addition to strangers, there are people in the travel and hospitality industry whose jobs are to help travelers. I’m not just talking about the assistants who can help you board an aircraft, but I’ve had to ask for help from hotel maintenance staff on more than one occasion. When my chair stopped working in the middle of the night, my aunt and I called the front desk and they sent up some guys with tools to help us. They eventually pushed me back to my van and I fixed it later (with help of another stranger) but they were happy to help.
Make your independence portable
I’ve written on here about how I need help getting out of bed in the morning. That’s not just when traveling, it’s when I’m at home too. If you read the other article, I have pretty much the same setup at home but a more permanent version. That’s the version that came first. Once I had that done, I figured out a way to make a portable version of the actuator arm so I could use it on trips.
If you have things at home you need in order to be independent, find portable versions of them. There are all sorts of things out there from portable commode chairs to reachers to chargers, or whatever else you might need. I try to get everything into one suitcase so it’s easier for me to get around, but if you had to bring two, you could make it work. When in doubt, re-read the “helpful people” section above.
Take baby steps
I traveled a lot for wheelchair tennis, but once i started having more difficulty with my mobility I got nervous about traveling again. So I had to re-train myself, no pun intended. I decided to take the train from Milwaukee to Chicago (something I’d never done before) and spend a day down there.
I was nervous about everything from paying for parking at the train station to boarding the train, to getting off the train, and then about wandering downtown Chicago. Thankfully, it was easier than I imagined and kick-started my travel bug again.
So if you want to take an adventure to Europe but you’ve never even taken a short train or bus trip in your own region, you might want to start there and work your way up. A simple trip like that has a LOT of the same components with much less of the stress. You’ll have to plan transit, get a hotel, and pack for your mobility. But if you need something you can always call someone you know to come and help you.
Others have done it
Knowing that you’re not going to be the first person in an electric wheelchair to take a journey is actually a comforting feeling. There are very few places in the world where others haven’t been. They’ve figured out how to do it and you can too.
If you have questions or need ideas, don’t hesitate to contact me!
I mentioned a couple times that I can’t get out of bed without help anymore. Maybe if I lost weight it would be easier (I’ll let you know), but I can’t exactly liposuction my ass every morning just to make life easier. So I accepted the challenge when it arose and here are my current solutions.
Linear actuators are my friend
This pic will give you zero idea of how this works, but the next time I can film it, I will. Basically I attach one end of this linear actuator to the bed. It’s remote controlled so when I wake up in the morning I can extend it towards me, grab the handle, and then retract it. Most days it actually pulls me up onto my elbow so I can shift my weight to my chair. Sometimes it doesn’t pull far enough or the temporary anchor slips. I do the same thing at home but the permanent attachment to my bed is 99% reliable.
You can see a few things in this pic. The actuator is the long tubular thing on the right with the handle attached to it. The little buttons in the middle of the bed are my remote and back-up remote. My reacher is also there which helps with moving my blanket but also helps me reach the handle if it’s out of reach. Lastly, you’ll see the hotel phone there which, in addition to my cell phone, is used to call the front desk if I get stuck.
I have no idea what housekeeping thinks this setup is when they come to clean during the day, but it’s fun to keep them guessing.
The front desk is also my friend (when they answer the phone, screw you Staybridge Suites NYC!)
I took the above pic on my recent trip to Japan and you can’t see it but that bed was a little too low to the ground. I also had trouble anchoring the actuator to prevent it from sliding on me. I asked the front desk if they could raise the bed somehow, like with books or bricks or blocks or something but unfortunately they either didn’t know what I was asking or weren’t up for the challenge. In any case I decided to just call the front desk every morning.
The first time I did this was last year in Paris and it was no problem. Since then I’ve lost my anxiety about asking for help in this area. I prefer doing it myself, but I don’t get nervous about getting out of bed anymore, at all. I’ve only had one dumb experience in the last few years.
I did have one experience where the Staybridge Suites (an IHG hotel) in NYC didn’t answer the front desk phone and after I called a few times finally did answer it but then just put the phone on the counter instead of saying hello. I was comfortably in bed so I had nothing else to do but figure out how to get someone to my room and eventually called the main IHG customer service line. They got someone up there right quick (even though that particular phone agent had no clue what I was talking about initially and then even after explaining my situation wanted to tell me about “how I can earn free hotel stays by joining their loyalty program.” Yeah, no, and never again unless it’s free or super cheap.
Pretty much everyone who has ever come to help me has been super nice. It’s not a big deal to get me sitting up, it just takes some force. Usually they’re surprised at how easy it is.
So that’s how I mitigate that. I totally understand that some people need more assistance that this and that hotels won’t do things like wipe your ass. But if you really want to go somewhere, you can figure out a way, I know you can!
Nowadays I don’t mind these sorts of challenges. They’re like my version of a daily sudoku puzzle or crossword. Trying to figure out a way is actually fun for my brain, stops me from even starting to complain, and opens up a whole world of possibilities, literally!
You Should Go Anyway 
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