Travel agents for disabled travelers

[ActiveMSers]

A fellow passionate traveler sent me this link that looks to have lots of options for assisted travel. Please note: I have not personally used any of these agents.

http://www.disabledtravelers.com/travel_agents.htm

And here's a Rick Steve's book on accessible travel to Europe, but be forewarned that it is seriously dated.

http://www.amazon.com/Rick-Steves-Ea...ves+disability

If you are looking for some great travel tips, I'm always adding new ones here:

http://www.activemsers.org/tipstrick...ingwithms.html

[Irene]

Hey all,

I discovered Himalaya On Wheels for trips around Leh for disabled travelers, http://goindia.about.com/b/2011/05/2...heelchairs.htm
The person who started this also started an awesome cab service for disabled in Bangalore, India. Read more here http://thealternative.in/social-busi...ple-not-roads/

[tex]

MS supportive train travel? aka better than AMTRAK

It's getting hot here in Texas and I'm doing my usual "can I escape to cooler climes" deliberation.
During the 1800's some of my Texas ancestors used to leave for the summer. They simply packed, rode their horses/carriages to the train depot, handed the reins over to the stock car guy & rode along to Montana. When they'd reached their destination, their horses/carriages were unloaded & they rode out to summer quarters.
In 2014, it came to my mind the other day how great it might be to own a private passenger train car with an auto ramp. I could equip it with state of the art heating/cooling, super clean bathroom,
beds and sofas with adjustable softness, stainless steel clean kitchen so I could eat optimally & there would always be room for my 2 house dogs. My jeep could be unloaded I'd be off to the mountains.
I've started taking a newsletter from a company that deals in used train cars. They've plenty of room. It's definitely a learning curve. It would need to be AMTRAK ready. I've found some very short rail services that allow pets or have an auto trailer but not both.
Anyone speak "train travel"? Anyone know of a private train car available for lease?
Can you imagine no waiting for the toilet until the flight attendant & line allows? No hot or cold spurts of air? No rubbery food. No hurrying to the airport? No explanations about meds,assistance equipment or security frisks ? No cramped legs from sitting in a little plane seat?

[ActiveMSers]

Tex, with that handle, it figures you'd think big. I'm surprised you didn't just go for a fully staffed 150-foot yacht with private helipad.

Actually, train travel sounds fun, but to live on a train, those rails better travel through some amazing scenery. And ideally go across oceans, ha. Do you have any overnight train trips you'd recommend?

[ActiveMSers]

Oh, and thanks for the link, Irene! Looks fantastic.

[tex]

Himalaya on Wheels!

Irene,
Thanks for the excellent link. This is exactly the kind of info I'm looking for. Please share any more you come across.
I've been reading about train travel in the USA. AMTRAK seems to run primarily east-west with only a couple north-south connects if your travel center is Texas. I'm still reading & learning about this train travel world that is so totally different from the usual air travel. All kidding aside, about my "thinking big", I really believe that peoples' brainstorming/daydreaming are the sources of most good/great ideas and answers to our problems.

[tex]

overnight train trips

Dave,
I'm still a neophyte with this train travel business.
I've traveled some via train in Europe & have loved it because I could look around & enjoy the scenery. Traveling stimulates my mind so much and it's nice for "train passenger me" to make immediate notes in my iPad instead of "car driving me" recording hurried verbal notes.
I've not taken any overnight trips but will report back when I know/experience more.