Warm Winter Getaway

[SCI-Nurse]

Other places to consider:

In the USA:

• Palm Springs/Palm Desert area (Palm Springs Film Festival is in January annually)
• Hawaii: The big island and Kauai (since you have already been to Oahu and Maui)

For cruises:

• LA or San Diego to Florida through the Panama Canal. Just came back from a 15 day on HAL: no tender ports, and most of the ports on the Pacific side.
• Round trip from San Diego or LA to Hawaii
• Mexican Riviera (Pacific Coast) out of either LA or San Diego; most are 7 day, but there are a few longer (10 days) which take you into the Sea of Cortez.

You mentioned Sedona in March. It can still get pretty cold there in March...sometimes even snow.

(KLD)

[NebrFarmer]

I looked at a place called Go Wheel the World that do accessible vacation packages with tours and accessible accomodations. They had a great itinerary for Costa Rica and Fortuna/Arenal was one of the stops. Looks amazing. Also, on Cory Lee's blog he used a specific tour company that we may ask about as well. Thanks for the info!!!! What does ex-pat mean?

[SCI-Nurse]

What does ex-pat mean?

expat = expatriate, slang usually used to describe Americans, Canadians, or often Europeans who retire or move to a foreign country, some part-time (often "snow birds") or sometimes full time. Technically, it means a person who lives outside their native country.
(KLD)

[McDuff]

I'm sure they have improved things since I went back in 2008. We flew into Liberia airport in Costa Rica, for a family reunion setup by a relative who is a travel agent, so though I was "taken into account" I was not the driving force, but she worked hard at it. She had setup for a Greyhound size bus, with a lift system and door, meet us. When we opened the door and lifted me up, there was a row of seats with solid armrests bolted to the floor in the door opening, no chance in hell of getting in. Luckily we had enough big nephews and brothers to hoist me up and over the seats and into the bus, then haul my chair in. Good thing I wasn't in a power chair.

This was pretty much the level of "accessible-ness" I found everywhere there. Some things were put in place, but the whole flow was never thought thru.

We stayed in a resort called Paradisus Playa Conchal on the Pacific northwest, which now shows as owned by Westin, but wasn't back then. My accessible room was a nice room, but getting to it was fun, there were huge curbs everywhere(big rains) and no cuts near the room so roaming by myself meant long hauls.

There was only small towns near it back then, and they were not chair friendly at all. The Resort had no accessible transport so family had to help me butt scoot up the steps of the small transport bus, and help hoist me into a seat.

If it would have just been wife and I, I'd have gotten on the first plane back.

Where in Costa Rica? When I visited there in 2018 I stayed in a nice resort in the Fortuna/Arenal area that was fully accessible; even a lift for the pool. I happened to be assigned to an accessible casita, and it had a non-platform bed and a roll-in shower, accessible sink in the bathroom, and was close to the single level accessible dining room/restaurant. I think they have improved their accessibility in most tourist areas significantly in the last few years.

(KLD)

[comad]

Second time going to Havana Cuba in February 2020.
In 2018, I have spent 25 days in Feb/March in LaPradera Clinic special place for SCI and some other disabilities;
As this clinic is little bit pricey for me, I have rented private accessible apartment for my 2020 winter refuge.
This place is relatively close to LaPradera and I will go there to gym for exercise as outpatient.
I will stay alone (C6 Quad) and my Cuban friends, (great people I met on my trip 2018) will help me with nursing, food etc.
wish me luck

[SCI-Nurse]

Pretty difficult for USA citizens to travel to Cuba right now.

(KLD)