San Diego Skyline from Coronado

Living in San Diego, a true coastal town, makes it an ideal place to explore marine life and all its glory. But just like those who live near the Rocky Mountains or those who live in the majestic redwood forests of Northern California, I imagine the amazing becomes a bit ordinary. We forget all that there is to offer. Sometimes it takes something a little unusual to jolt you back to reality. Like a wayward whale spending some time checking out San Diego Bay when he should be heading north with all the other whales. And while we are used to seeing whales at Sea World, whales hanging out in the bay is quite another thing altogether.  This time of year is usually the time when Gray whales are heading north from their warm Mexican vacations to back to chillier waters of Alaska and whales are not uncommon in the coastal waters. December and January are actually the best times to whale watch because you have some whales still making their way south and some whales returning north so you get double whale action to check out.

There are many boat companies that offer excursions out to see whales and dolphins. One of the most popular is Hornblower Cruises who offer whale watching tours (and excellent dinner cruises, but that’s another post). A three and a half hour tour (great, now I’ll be singing the Gilligan’s Island theme song all night) will run you $30 and is narrated by an experienced captain.

Whale in San Diego

Of course, if you happen to be here when a whale is exploring the bay then just plop down along Coronado island, looking back towards the San Diego skyline and keep an eye out for a big fin. But chances are, you’ll need to book a tour if you really expect to see anything so cool as a whale up close.

Photo Credits: Whale Tail: Tomcio77 and San Diego Skyline: Grady’s Kitchen.

UpTake is a great place for researching your next trip. After all, our slogan is “Your first step to a great trip.” But I wanted to share my two cents of what I found useful in other online resources so that you could have a more pleasant trip, especially during this Holiday Season.

All of us are experiencing slower (and consequently longer) wait lines at airports as the result of heighten security measures. And to avoid any surprises at the airport of what you can bring on board in your carry-on bag, it’s always a good idea to check with TSA to get the latest scoop. This way you will know how many ounces of your favorite perfume you can bring or whether or not your snappy nail clipper will be better off with the check-ins.

To get a more comprehensive list of travel recommendations for you and your family – covering everything from best travel tips for getting the lowest airfares to determining the world’s best cruises – it would be a good idea to visit the Perrin Post. If you feel the itch to travel to Europe, check out Rick Steve’s tips on European vacations; they are both great resources in providing a comprehensive view of what you ought to know before you go (travel tip wise).

Finally, if you are looking for a great deal to get you on your way, I can think of no better sites than Travelzoo and ShermansTravel. They are both fantastic resources for saving your budget!

Safe Travels,

Steve

From guest blogger Glenda Watson Hyatt, The Left Thumb Blogger

With both my husband and I having significant physical disabilities and relying on electric wheelchairs for mobility, traveling can be challenging but, with some planning and research, definitely possible. Most recently, we have enjoyed cruising from Vancouver to Los Angeles, playing at Disneyland, and spending four nights in Las Vegas. I have also done some traveling within British Columbia. All with only minor glitches and some important lessons learned.

Hotels

When traveling in North America, keep in mind that Canada and Mexico do not have legislation similar to the American with Disabilities Act, which specifies requirements for physical access. However, this does not mean these two countries are not accessible; quite the contrary. But, it does mean not all hotels and resort destinations will meet your accessibility needs.

• When booking hotel rooms, keep in mind that “accessible” (or “ADA compliant” in the United States”) means different things to different people.

A couple of years ago, I traveled overnight to Victoria for a board meeting. The organizer booked an accessible motel room for me. If accessible room meant only a wide door, then, yes, the room was accessible. If an accessible room meant being able to park my scooter beside the bed or to get into the bathroom to even get close to the tub, the room was not accessible. The room was doable for one night. Had I wanted to take a shower or bath, the room was definitely not accessible.

Be specific about your needs. Do you need a roll-in shower? A bath bench? A flashing fire alarm?

Candy Harrington, editor of accessible travel magazine Emerging Horizons and author of 101 Accessible Vacations: Travel Ideas for Wheelers and Slow Walkers, recommends asking, “Can you block that accessible room for me?” In hotel terminology, “block” means to reserve a specific room for a specific guest. Asking the clerk to “guarantee the room” is the wrong terminology as that means “to secure with a credit card’. Harrington says if the clerk is unwilling or unable to block a room, then make your reservation elsewhere. If you can’t be sure that accessible room will be available when you arrive, then what good is your reservation.

• If there is a problem with your room upon arrival, politely bring it to the staff’s attention.Frequent business traveler Eric Lipp, Director of Chicago-based non-profit Open Doors Organization that teaches businesses how to succeed in the disability market, advises people with disabilities to speak up when they encounter an obstacle at a hotel. Ask to see the General Manager or the Manager on Duty and calmly explain your problem. Tipp who uses a scooter for mobility points out, “…you are probably the first person to bring it up. A hostile stand off doesn’t work. My experience has been that most managers are willing to come to a reasonable solution.”

• If you use an electric wheelchair or scooter, pack a power extension cord. There may not be an electrical outlet where you need to charge.

Cruises

Cruises are a great way to travel, particularly for those with mobility impairments, because everything is right there: accommodation, dining, recreation facilities and entertainment. The newer ships are quite accessible. However, the main issue is the number of accessible cabins and which passengers get them.

According to Lisa Burbank, contributing editor for National Geographic Traveler, “Cruise-line policies vary on booking such rooms in advance. The policy often depends on how quickly a ship is filling up.”

• Complete documentation. Cruise lines typically require a medical form, which will indicate an accessible cabin is necessary, so assignments shouldn’t be arbitrarily switched.

The special-needs department can also help with requirements such as flashing fire alarms for guests who are hearing impaired or Deaf and special menus for cruisers with severe allergies.

• Have your travel agent flag your reservation with a note “do not upgrade” in your record so you will not be bumped up to a non-accessible space. If you’re traveling with a group, Burbank suggests linking reservations together so one person’s cabin or dining assignment will not be changed.

I wish we had known this before our first cruise. During the registration on the day we left, we were told we had been upgraded at no additional cost. We boarded and eventually found our cabin. My husband unlocked the door and realized his power chair would not fit through the doorway. No way, no how. Things didn’t look promising when we could not even get into our cabin.

We found our way to the Purser’s Desk, where we were told the ship was fully booked and, thus, we couldn’t simply change cabins. Once they realized we were unable to park our chairs in the hallway and walk into our cabin, they told us to go have lunch while they tried locating the passengers in our original cabin to see if they could switch to a non-accessible room.

Dishearteningly we ate our first meal onboard, thinking that may be a mighty expensive lunch if we needed to disembark before the ship sailed. Eventually, we were reassigned to our cabin, which turned out to be ultra accessible. It was smooth sailing from there – until the seasickness struck.

Do you have any accessible tips to share? Please pass them on!

Additional Resources:

Disability Travel: Part I: Plan Accessible Trips
Disability Travel: Part II: Getting to the Destination
Disability Travel: Part III: At the Destination