1. Bus tours can be tourist traps if the commentary is poor...From my experience, bus tours are a hit or miss and definitely not a chance I would take if you have limited time abroad. While most bus tours are very affordable, the commentary can be poor and sometimes sounds more like Google Maps than in-depth information. "On the right is the Royal Palace." Okay, when was it built? Who lives there? What historical events happened there? What's the point of taking a guided tour if you have to look up all the attractions in your guide book when you get home?
2. Paying for a city pass...In Europe, many cities offer "city passes" that allow purchasers to get free public transportation and free museum admission. However, many museums and public transportation companies already offer free or reduced tickets to disabled visitors. Some even offer it to companions as well. Make sure to check the sights that you plan on visiting before you buy one of the city passes!
3. Choosing the wrong cruise itinerary could be a major trap. Cruise lines love to publicize the incredible experiences available in their ports of call without giving you enough accessibility details to determine what you will be able to do in the port. If you choose the wrong cruise itinerary, you may be confined to the ship during half of your ports of call. Avoid this tourist trap by researching accessibility of the ports before you book your cruise.
4. Ignoring accessible public transportation... It can be cheap, fully-accessible and you won't have to wait on an accessible taxi!
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| Berlin offers great accessible public transportation! Ninety-five percent of the buses in Berlin are accessible via a ramp that the driver will lower onto the curb. Both the front and rear doors have ramps. |
5. Eating at a tourist trap restaurant is not worth it! Italian pasta is the best in the world... but not when microwaved out of a box! During one of my visits to Venice, I was in a rush checking out accessibility in a touristy part of town and was served microwaved pasta. As a matter of fact, the place didn't even have an oven! Not exactly authentic Italian cuisine if you ask me. My best advice is to avoid places that have multi-lingual menus. Go for the authentic food to complete your memorable travel experiences!
6. Relying on neighborhood names to select your hotel might not be smart! Beware that many hotel booking engines group hotels by neighborhood and you might end up overpaying. For example, if you're willing to walk/roll over a bridge each morning in London, you can great value in hotels across the Thames River.
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