Travel by its very nature requires a lot of planning and preparation, especially when it includes air travel. Factor a disability into that equation and the complexity increases. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, but it does take more planning.

With that in mind — whether you just need an airport wheelchair to get to the gate, or you are a fulltime scooter or wheelchair-user —  guest blogger Candy Harrington, the author of several best-selling guide books for disabled travelers, shares her expert tips to help you along in the planning process.

• Educate yourself about the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), the US law that governs access on all flights to and from the US. Click here for the latest revisions of the ACAA.

• Choose US carriers for the best access, as some Asian, African and Caribbean carriers have been known to deny boarding to unaccompanied wheelchair-users. If you travel on a foreign carrier, learn the access laws of that country too.

• If you need a non-ticketed escort to accompany you to the gate, advise the airline of this when making your reservation. Your escort will be asked for photo identification and given a security checkpoint pass.

• Allow plenty of extra time to get through security, especially if you wear a prosthesis or use any type of assistive device. Slow walkers should request a wheelchair at check-in. Even if you can walk, it will cut down on the fatigue and standing time.

Madrona Manor, California wine country

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Source: Concierge.com

Patagonia and Texas Tourism invite you to take it outside, and enter for a chance to win one of two adventures to Texas, or a gift card from Patagonia.
Whether your outdoor tastes run to raising your binoculars in search of an Elegant Trogon, or paddling down Class II or III rapids in water coursing beneath 1,500-foot limestone walls, you can find it in Texas. Patagonia and Texas Tourism have teamed up for a sweepstakes aimed at adventure travelers looking for a Lone Star State experience. Register at one of 23 Patagonia stores across the country (excluding Cardiff, CA and Hawaii) between June 8 and June 29 for a chance to win one of two trips or a Patagonia gift card that can help outfit you for your next outdoor excursion.

Grand prize: Six-night birding trip through the lower Rio Grande Valley. The two-person prize includes two $250 gift cards redeemable in any of Patagonia’s 25 stores nationwide, plus airfare, transportation, personal birding guide, hotel accommodations and select meals in McAllen, Brownsville and South Padre Island, TX.

It’s Your London is a new tailor made service for visitors to London. The service is aimed at visitors who want their planning headaches taken care of, the first timers to London, the lucky ones on a very special occasion treat, those on business and their spouses, and visitors who just don’t have the time to sort it all out.

It’s Your London will design the perfect trip to London and make sure it really fits each person’s requirements. They can do the big sights, put together a unique programme or get you to the quirky one-off sights. It’s whatever you want. As the company strapline says - your visit, your interests, your London.

VisitBritain and Virgin Atlantic Airways have launched an exclusive partnership to offer trans-Atlantic travelers irresistible value packages for their summer vacation in Britain. Explore fabulous deals and more at their joint website www.getmorebritain.com, and take advantage of the strong dollar which makes Britain more affordable than a year ago. The ‘Get More Britain For Your Buck’ campaign extends now through Fall 2009.

Highlights of festivals and events happening around the UK, include:

Ashford CastleGuests who book two consecutive nights at €385 (approximately US$543) per person during Father’s Day weekend will get a third night on the house, including breakfast. Additionally, Dad will receive one complimentary activity of his choice on Father’s Day, June 21. Perhaps he’ll fancy the rare opportunity of a falconry lesson? Or maybe an archery lesson will be in order? Dad will have plenty of activities to choose from, with other options including clay shooting, horseback riding, golf and fly fishing.

For guests who can’t make it in time for Father’s Day, Ashford Castle is also celebrating its 70th birthday and is offering a package with similar perks that is valid through December 22, 2009. In addition to receiving a third night free when two consecutive nights are booked, guests who will turn 70 this year, two guests with a combined age of 70 or couples celebrating a 70th wedding anniversary will receive a welcome bottle of champagne to toast the special occasion. This offer is priced at €770 (approximately US$1,077) for three nights.

For more information, visit: http://www.ashford.ie.

About Ashford Castle:
Ashford Castle, which dates back to 1228, is set on 350 acres of County Mayo, on the shores of Lough Corrib and the River Cong, with a spectacular backdrop of woodlands, lake, river, and mountains. It features 83 guestrooms and is renowned for a range of country sports including an equestrian center, fly fishing, an exclusive nine-hole golf course, Ireland’s first school of falconry and sporting clay shooting. Several dining rooms and bars, along with a gracious afternoon tea service, round out the amenities.

Summer Fun - FinlandFinland thrives in the summer as the days get light and long. Several theme parks and zoos open their gates, and there are hundreds of festivals of song, dance and theater to keep the whole family entertained. And in a land of thousands of lakes and a beautiful seacoast with many islands, a summer cruise is a must.

THEME PARKS

Moominworld – Say hello to Moomintroll and Little My!
The Southwest coast of Finland is home to a family that awakens from hibernation every spring. The Moomins are fairytale characters originally created by writer Tove Jansson in the 1950s. Today their blue house stands on an island of magical beauty in front of the old town in Naantali, surrounded by the archipelago. Moominworld is located in Naantali, at a distance of about 16 km from Turku and about 180 km from Helsinki. It is open from June to August.For more information www.muumimaailma.fi

Linnanmäki – Theme park and aquarium in one location!
The 60-year old Linnanmäki amusement park is a classic Helsinki destination, providing free admission to over 40 rides of different sizes and speeds, thrilling games, and surprising novelties. The summer season in Linnanmäki is April 24 - September 13, 2009.

Adjacent to the amusement park, Sea Life Aquarium is an exciting place to dive into the magical world of underwater life. There are more than 50 tanks in which you can see sharks, piranhas, seahorses and hundreds of other fascinating sea creatures up close. Admission is separate. For more information www.linnanmaki.fi and www.sealife.fi

Särkänniemi – Spin, speed or splash?
If amusement is measured by the number and variety of attractions in one place, the Särkänniemi Adventure Park is the most fun place in Finland. The big smiles of over 700,000 guests each year prove it. In addition to its 35 rides, the park features an aquarium, a dolphinarium, a planetarium, a children’s zoo, an art museum and an observation tower. Särkänniemi is located less than two kilometers from the center of Tampere, by the beautiful lake Näsijärvi.For more information www.sarkanniemi.fi

The wise Mr. Frost had it right: Sometimes the road you choose really does make the difference, and some of the Condé Nast Traveler favorite Dream Trip 2009 contest entries (so far!) prove it.

Take a visual tour of tucked-away alleys, wide country lanes, quiet cobblestone streets, and buzzing urban arteries around the globe—no road map required.

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Source: Concierge.com

AmanganiAmangani, on the edge of Grand Teton National Park and just 60 miles from Yellowstone National Park, makes it possible to go on safari this summer without even leaving the US.

Amangani’s new Wildlife Experience, a nature safari through some of the West’s most glorious scenery, introduces guests to the array of wildlife that runs free in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. More than 300 species of birds (bald eagles, mountain bluebirds, trumpeter swans and sand hill cranes among them) and big game, such as moose, elk, bison, wolves and bears, come into view with the help of an experienced guide.

Available through August 31, 2009, the Wildlife Experience includes four nights in one of Amangani’s Superior Suites, continental breakfast each morning, airport transfers, a full-day guided expedition through the Jackson Hole Valley and onward to Yellowstone National Park (maximum four participants per vehicle) for $1,700 per person based on double occupancy. Two children under the age of twelve can stay with their parents at no charge (breakfast additional).

New Zealand Adventure

1) The Ideal Time for US Travelers to Visit New Zealand: It’s autumn in New Zealand and Huka Lodge, the country’s premier luxury lodge located in Taupo on the north island, is featuring low season rates from NZ $730 per night (US $432 as of May 18). This rate (per couple) includes full country breakfast daily, evening cocktails and a five-course dinner at the lodge’s fine dining restaurant. To date, Air New Zealand’s round-trip fares on select dates this summer and fall were as low as $781.50 from Los Angeles to Auckland. www.thehukaretreats.com.

New England Pampering

2) A Night of Pampering in CT’s Litchfield Hills: Winvian, Connecticut’s luxe private resort featuring 18 whimsical cottages, now features a special a la carte nightly rate starting at just $699 per couple (a savings of $750 off regular all-inclusive rates). Included in the rate are a full gourmet breakfast and a fully-stocked in-cottage mini bar (chock full with wine, beer, champagne and all the fixings for fabulous cocktails). www.winvian.com

Gourmet Maine

3) A Kennebunkport Cottage Retreat: Hidden Pond, Kennebunkport’s newest luxury resort, features 14 two-bedroom cottages, each decked to the nines with fabulous screened porches, outdoor showers, fireplaces and gourmet kitchens. It’s the ideal spot for a coastal New England holiday. Nightly rates (per cottage; up to five persons) are from $395 to $695 based on month of travel and include a gourmet breakfast basket with freshly baked goods, juice, coffee and newspaper, evening bonfires and Beach Safaris. www.hiddenpondmaine.com.

Caribbean Escape

4) Exploring the DR’s untouched Samana Peninsula: One of the Dominican Republic’s most beautiful destinations is the Samana Peninsula on the northeast side of the country. This undiscovered area is home to The Peninsula House, the DR’s first small luxury hotel and one of the Caribbean’s most unique private retreats. Through fall 2009, The Peninsula House is offering a special Book Five Nights and Receive a Sixth Night on the House package for $2,600 per couple including a full European breakfast daily. This represents a savings of nearly $100 per night. www.thepeninsulahouse.com.

5) Caribbean Villa Deals: Wimco, the world’s leading villa rental company, is featuring some exceptional deals throughout the Caribbean and Europe. Through fall 2009 Wimco is featuring highly popular Value Villas deals available throughout the Caribbean with villa rental rates starting at under $100 per room, per night. Villa vacations offer guests space, value and privacy and are perfect for group travel, honeymoons, small destination weddings and family travel. www.wimco.com.

Source: Widness & Company

resort lobbyValue priced to make it easy on the pocketbook, the package provides the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends, relax and have some good old-fashioned fun while enjoying the best of Canada’s breathtaking west coast.

The Girls Road Trip package includes a two-night stay in a one or two-bedroom suite, a complimentary cocktail in the Float Lounge, and choice of Express manicure or pedicure at the newly opened Drift Spa. The package is available this summer from June 19 through September 20 and is priced at $306.00 USD per person in a one-bedroom suite, or $376.00 USD per person in a two-bedroom suite, based on double occupancy and a 1.08 exchange rate.

A road trip wouldn’t be complete without some fun and interesting stops along the way. The journey from Nanaimo to Ucluelet offers numerous opportunities to pull out the camera for some must-have road trip shots including:

Here are the top traits ALA looks for in selecting guides:

1. Focused with laser-like precision on making sure that guests feel like a V.I.P.
2. Naturally intuitive and has the innate ability to foretell what a guest is thinking or wanting.
3. Spontaneous and can seamlessly deal with the unexpected, both pleasant and potentially disastrous. This means having a Plan B ready in case of such things as sudden weather changes, lodging snafus and road delays.
4. Passionate and eager to share his / her knowledge about an unfamiliar destination.
5. Multi-tasks, switching from chauffeur, coach, and doctor, to teacher, culinary wizard, athlete, mechanic, social worker and psychologist, all in a heartbeat..
6. Has sense of humor and can loosen everyone up to break out of their shell, helping to create strong bonds between absolute strangers.

Miami Mandarin

Flashy architecture and showy interiors are great and all, but when it comes to spending the night, it’s the clever design details that really stand out. From a bathroom tricked out with cutting-edge electronics to a ceiling that rains, this month at mens.style.com they count down 21 inspired aesthetic flourishes in hotels around the world. Check it out

Source: Concierge.com