November
2023 Newsletter
Lonely Planet's free Accessible Travel Online Resources (featuring Altogether Travel), Phrasebook, plus wheelchair accessible Vietnam 😊 our newsletter best bits - with travel tips, inspiration and so much more. All you need to plan your next supported holiday or travel with the UK's number 1 company for all things care and accessible tourism.
Highlights:
- Street foods from around the world
- Top 50 destinations for 2024
- Travel Tip: Our community shares...
- Travel News
- Our Recommendations: shows, blogs and more
- Destination of the Month: Nashville, USA
- Where will you go? Our recent holidays
- Altogether Travel News
- Accessibility Feature: Blue Badge Access Awards 2023, and BBC Access All
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16 must-try street foods from around the world, including churros in Madrid and poutine in Montreal - click here to check out more.
Lonely Planet reveals top 50 destinations to visit in 2024 - including Montreal and Paris click here to read on.
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Travel Tip - Free Accessible Travel Resources
Lonely Planet offers free Accessible Travel Online Resources,
which has almost doubled in extent compared with the last edition (updated
annually) – just enter your details and a PDF download link will be emailed to
you.
We are proud to be featured in this incredible resource (see
page 153).
Also available for free is Accessible Travel Phrasebook, covering 35 languages - click here to check these out and more.
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Travel News
The ESTA Mobile App – making traveling to the USA easier. The app enables eligible travellers who plan on entering the USA under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to now submit their ESTA request through the app on their smartphone, mobile device or tablet.
New ‘Smart Path’ system at Frankfurt airport – this could be the first to offer face-scanning technology for all passengers, to reduce queuing times at check-in click here for details.
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Our Recommendations
Catch up on the latest Celebrity Race Across the World click here for episodes on iPlayer. 24 countries from Africa to the Arctic, with no phones or flights allowed – including racing driver Billy Monger who is a double leg amputee.
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Destination of the Month: Nashville, USA
Music fan Jim had his dream holiday to Downtown Nashville.
The guys enjoyed spending time in record stores, listening to live music and
visited the famous Johnny Cash Museum. Some more top attractions are Country Music
Hall of Fame and Museum, and popular Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.
What are your favourite interests? Click here to get in touch and let us know, to include these in your next holiday.
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Where will you go?
It’s been a busy time with recent holidays! Here are some
highlights of firstly the UK breaks:
- Margate - trips out including the Spitfire & Hurricane Museum.
- York - local attractions such as the Viking Centre, York Museum gardens, a boat trip along the river and the Railway Museum.
- Harrogate - a trip to RHS Gardens in Harrogate and Ripley Castle.
- Blackpool - Madam Tussauds, Sea Life centre, tribute act and country music shows.
- Glasgow - WWE Live, Sunshine on Leith at the theatre, a fantastic Daniel O’Donnell show and enjoying a concert with 80s music.
- Dunfermline - for a Francis Rossi show.
- Inverness - visiting Loch Ness plus a trip to Skye.
- Edinburgh, Fife, Seton Sands and Perth for shops and much more.
We’ve also had some further from home trips, including Venice
with a boat taxi, markets, lots of sightseeing, and popular spots such as
Lanzarote and Tenerife. Majorca was perfect for relaxing at the hotel and
exploring the nearby beach and shops.
Also wheelchair accessible Vietnam with the support of Anne
throughout, one of our wonderful Holiday Companions. This included highlights
such as Hanoi, visits to a temple in the countryside, a stunning promenade
among the lush rice paddies, from the vibrant capital city to authentic local areas,
ancient architecture and plenty of shops.
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Altogether Travel News
Altogether Travel was delighted to be invited to Newcastle Airport
for a tour of their accessible facilities. They have a dedicated accessible
departure gate which covers all flights, 5 ambulifts and a new Thunder
lift. They also have a custom designed
area available for departing passengers with hidden disabilities such as
dementia and autism to use when the experience of travelling through the
airport becomes overwhelming. This quiet departure lounge includes a sensory
area.
The CCA also ranked Newcastle top in its recent
accessibility audit. The airport is currently undergoing a makeover, when
finished early next year will see a bright modern facility for passengers.
Why not plan your next flight from Newcastle to check out these facilities yourself? 😊
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We would also like to mention, the Altogether Travel
office will be closed Friday 22 December, and reopening on Wednesday 03 January.
Best wishes from the Team and have a lovely time over the festive break.
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Accessibility Feature
Winners of the Blue Badge Access Awards 2023 announced click here to check out. These include Special Award for Outstanding Achievement in Accessibility, won by Charlie Lyons (Sesame Access Systems) inventor of the Sesame lift – with over 200 now installed worldwide.
This helps people in wheelchairs enter any building through the front door, especially listed buildings. Click here for a video showing how this works in Edinburgh, plus more details.
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Interested in booking accommodation or mobility equipment hire? With access to the biggest range of local suppliers for mobility equipment, and UK accessible accommodation - tell us what you're looking for and leave the rest to us 😊 for our helpful online forms:
[ Click here - Accommodation Request form ]
[ Click here - Equipment Request form ]
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Thank you for staying connected with us and we would love to hear from you! Any ideas, questions or travel tips then click here to get in touch.
Take care,
Altogether Travel
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