Are you planning your next travel trip but looking for vacations with minimal walking for any reason, medical, or anything else? If this is the case, we have compiled a perfect list for you.
Planning the perfect vacation can certainly be daunting. But planning vacations with minimal walking can seem almost impossible. You might think your options are limited to repetitive day trips and boring city tours. However, I’m here to tell you that you couldn’t be more wrong!
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The fact is that traveling has become more accessible in recent years. While it’s true that you might face more logistical hindrances, there are actually many recourses available for your benefit.
If you need help planning your vacation, download our free printable travel planner to ensure you are organized and have your complete travel itinerary in one place.
Best Vacations With Minimal Walking
From beaches and amusement parks to exotic destinations, nothing is off-limits with this list of the best vacations with minimal walking.
Cruise Ships
You better get on board if you’ve never been on a cruise ship. The thing is, when you’re on a cruise ship, everything is within proximity. What’s even more promising is that cruise ships that sail in US waters are bound by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) to accommodate passengers who have trouble walking.
Generally, you are entitled to the following accommodation on a cruise ship under the ADA:
Accessible Staterooms
These passenger cabins are spacious enough to maneuver your wheelchair, scooter, or crutches easily. The main, bathroom, and balcony doors also have standard dimensions that can fit any adult-sized wheelchair.
See Related: How Much is a Trip to Italy: Average Cost Per Day
Service dogs
Mobility assistance dogs can board the cruise ship with you.
Wheelchair-friendly Entertainment Spaces
All restaurants, theaters, casinos, pools, etc., are easily accessible by wheelchairs.
Elevators and Ramps
Multiple elevators and wheelchair ramps are installed on each floor for your ease. If you need to rent mobility equipment or require boarding or disembarking assistance, Special Needs at Sea has got your back.
They provide a wide range of mobility amenities, such as wheelchairs, power chairs, scooters, and oxygen equipment, for the duration of your cruise.
See Related: Best Travel Insurance for Diabetics
South African Safaris
If you’re craving an exotic recursion, you won’t find a better option for non-walking tours than an African Safari. Kruger National Park is Africa’s largest game reserve that attracts almost a million vacationers annually.
As such, many tour operators have expanded their amenities to cater to people with limited mobility. Safari retreats involve a lot of driving around. Admittedly, not all vehicles will have the proper accommodations for people with limited mobility, especially those who require a wheelchair.
This is why you must research and make thorough transportation arrangements beforehand. But the good news is that there are a lot of South African-based organizations to make your safari the best vacation with minimal walking. We recommend contacting Siyabona Africa to make all the proper accommodations for your mobility needs.
For example, you can rent special safari vehicles with hand controls and hydraulic lifts to make getting in and out of the car easy. You’ll find this especially useful, considering that a standard game drive will have many scheduled stops for sightseeing and bathroom breaks.
Lastly, if you’re looking for lodge accommodations, Senalala Camp is a top-rated accessible resort with spacious rooms and paved walkways. So what are you waiting for? If you want to plan the best vacation for someone who can’t walk, book your dream safari here!
Where to Stay
- Best Luxury Hotel: Motswari Private Game Reserve
- Best Mid-Range Hotel: Lodge Royal Malewane
- Best Budget Hotel: Lions Place
See Related: Best Castles to Visit in Wales
Las Vegas
When you’re brainstorming ideas for the best vacations with a bit of walking, Las Vegas might be the last on your list of destinations for non-walking vacations.
Known for its lucrative casinos, extravagant hotels, and vibrant nightlife, Vegas might come across as walking-intensive. But the truth is, you can explore the whole city without walking intolerable distances.
Firstly, if you want to go gallivanting around the city, you can easily rent a wheelchair or scooter to save you a lot of pain. You’ll find that LA streets and sidewalks are exceptionally wheel-friendly.
Otherwise, you can book a full-day grand tour of the city and hit the most popular attractions, such as West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica Pier. Additionally, LA Metro Transit makes longer commutes even more accessible. All metro buses and rail systems comply with the ADA and cater to people who can’t walk.
But where can you take the bus to? Well, anywhere! Again, ADA regulates accessibility amongst all popular tourist attractions. Amusement parks such as Disneyland and Universal Studios provide ECV and wheelchair rentals, special parking near the gates, and service animal exceptions.
Like what you are hearing? Check out these best things to do in Las Vegas.
Where to Stay
- Best Luxury Hotel: Encore at Wynn Las Vegas
- Best Mid-Range Hotel: Paris Las Vegas
- Best Budget Hotel: Hilton Grand Vacations on the Vegas Strip
See Related: Best Tourist Destinations in the World
Amsterdam, Netherlands
If you’re hunting for vacations with minimal walking, why not travel to a city with an extensive canal network integrated into its urban design? Amsterdam is best known for its serene canals, historic landmarks, food, and renowned museums. The inner-city commute is highly accessible and aligns with most ADA requisites.
The best thing to do is contact travel agencies such as Accessible Travel Netherlands to make proper accommodation and transportation arrangements.
The paved brick streets make it easy to walk on crutches, and allocated pedestrian and cycling roads warrants it one of the best vacations for someone on crutches or wheelchairs. What’s more, the city’s canal system operates the best non-walking tours in the city.
Not only are the boat tours convenient for people who can’t walk, but they’re also extraordinarily serene and aesthetic.
Most of Amsterdam’s top attractions are accessible for mobility-impaired travelers, such as the Van Gogh Museum, the Royal Concertgebouw, and the Royal Palace of Amsterdam.
However, there are many more hidden gems in the cultural capital of the Netherlands. Our top pick is the book, a full-day grand tour, and a floating flower market on the southern canal belt. Paved ramps lead to the different market levels, where you can browse through a stunning selection of flora. Maybe you can buy souvenirs from the world’s only floating flower market.
Where to Stay
- Best Luxury Hotel: Hotel Twentyseven
- Best Mid-Range Hotel: Hyatt Regency Amsterdam
- Best Budget Hotel: Hotel Dwars
See Related: Best Weekend Trips from Amsterdam
Norway
Yet another top pick for European vacations for people with limited mobility is Scandinavian Norway. The cultural hub of Tromso is home to some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world, as well as the famous Northern Lights.
Low curbs and ramp street crossings are characteristic of the accessible Norweigan avenues. If you’re worried about accommodations or renting mobility equipment, the Norwegian Association for the Disabled will help you sort out the logistics.
The public transportation system is also compliant with accessibility laws. Using crutches or wheelchairs for mobility assistance, step-less buses and wheelchair carriages will make for a convenient commute around the inner city.
The northern lights are definitely the highlight of this Nordic getaway. Private Tromso and Kvaloya tours are perfect for people who have trouble walking. Take our word for it; a non-walking tour to the picturesque fjords will be one of the most unforgettable experiences of your life.
Where to stay?
- Best Luxury Hotel: The Thief
- Best Mid-Range Hotel: Radisson Blu Hotel Nydalen, Oslo
- Best Budget Hotel: Citybox Bergen
See Related: Best Vacations for a Group of Friends
Switzerland
We know what you’re thinking: how can a country known for its high peaks, ski resorts, and hiking trails qualify as a non-walking vacation? The truth is, you can easily embark on a fully accessible grand tour of the country. The extensive public transportation system can assist you with daily commutes.
This also means that many tours integrate mobility-friendly options for their clients. A huge network of cable cars, trams, and trains work together to cater to people with impaired mobility.
Some of the most popular peaks, such as Glacier 3000 and the Jungfraujoch, are accessible by train.
Want to personalize your grand tour instead? You can easily traverse the sky-scraping Alps and vast valleys in the comfort of your accessible private car.
Boat tours are another excellent option for an accessible evening cruise. Switzerland’s water bodies are stunningly scenic. We highly recommend you embark on at least one boat tour throughout your vacation.
Where to Stay
- Best Luxury Hotel: Bellevue Palace Hotel
- Best Mid-Range Hotel: Hotel Inn Bern – Westside
- Best Budget Hotel: Youth Hostel Bern
Check out these guides on Switzerland to help you plan your vacation:
See Related: Best Places to Visit in Switzerland & Things to do
Oahu Island
When people think of the perfect summer excursion, tropical island getaways usually come to mind. Oahu is a popular destination for many holidaymakers. Unbeknownst to many, it is also a highly accessible vacation choice with minimal walking.
Since Hawaii is a US state, it falls under the jurisdiction of the ADA. This means transportation, hotels, and public attractions cater to mobility impairments. The Disability and Communication Access Board overlooks island accessibility for the entire state of Hawaii.
You can contact the board for information on equipment rentals, public transportation, and accommodation options. Specifically, all-terrain wheelchairs can help you navigate the island. These wheelchairs are specially designed to maneuver through uneven ground.
Almost all of the beaches on this island are accessible to people with limited mobility. These include Ala Moana Beach Park, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Kailua Beach Park, Kualoa Regional Park, and Pokai Beach Park. Oahu is home to many historical landmarks such as the Iolani Palace. Generally, all public-accessible spaces of the palace are wheel-friendly.
Remember that you can not take motorized mobility equipment inside the palace. If you need it, rent-free manual wheelchairs are provided for the tour. Follow this Maui itinerary if you want to go there.
Where to Stay
- Best Luxury Hotel: Four Seasons Resort Oahu At Ko Olina
- Best Mid-Range Hotel: Hilton Graden Inn Waikiki Beach
- Best Budget Hotel: The Beach Waikiki Boutique Hostel
See Related: Bora Bora vs. the Maldives
Rome, Italy
Rome provides some of the best European tours for people with limited mobility. You’ll probably agree if you’re an architecture fanatic fond of the rich culture and exquisite cuisine.
Rome is one of those cities that definitely requires a lot of sightseeing. The brick pavements and cobblestone streets might not make it easy for people with trouble walking. Luckily, you don’t have to walk at all! You can easily embark on grand tours of the city on the City Sightseeing buses.
It works because multiple buses run throughout the city on a fixed route. You can get off at any of the eight stops you want and catch the next bus to resume the tour.
This way, you can cover the most iconic landmarks and popular attractions, such as the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, and so much more.
Speaking of which, the actual attractions are way more accessible than the cobbled streets outside. For instance, the Colosseum is actually quite accessible. Save for the underground levels. You can visit each level through an elevator.
Ramps along the entrance continue into the upper levels, so you can quickly move around. The second level of the Colosseum is entirely flat and offers spectacular viewpoints. If you want to get into the Vatican Museum, you’re not alone. Long waiting lines might put you off at first, but the good news is that you are entitled to a bypass.
The same goes for most attractions with long waiting lines. You can go on a number of day trips from Rome as a tour, so you can see a ton of attractions without having to worry about significant mobility.
Where to Stay
- Best Luxury Hotel: J.K. Place Roma
- Best Mid-Range Hotel: The Liberty Boutique Hotel
- Best Budget Hotel: Hotel Artemide
See Related: How Much is a Trip to Italy
London, England
London offers many non-walking tours, accessible attractions, and accommodating hotels. While its infrastructure may not be perfect for people with limited mobility, the capital of England continues to expand its efforts for increased accessibility.
For example, AccessAble provides in-depth information and logistical assistance for people with walking disabilities. You can search for London’s top-rated restaurants, cinemas, and areas to stay in London. Regarding public infrastructure, transport, and attractions, almost all spaces have at least some level of accessibility.
For example, the London Eye actually offers wheelchair access for up to 2 wheelchairs at a time in a capsule. Similarly, Buckingham Palace is completely step-free, and the elevators are compatible with any mobility equipment.
Furthermore, you can even borrow wheelchairs, free of cost, for the duration of the tour.
Extensive transportation accessibility is another win. London buses have priority seats for people who can’t stand, ramps for easy boarding, and designated wheelchair spaces. And the cherry on top is that service animals are permitted on all public transportation.
Hop-on hop-off tours provide an easy commute for city tours and sightseeing. Instead of hailing countless cabs or waiting for the bus, you can book a tour and consistent transportation for touring the city. Check out these other best things to do in London to make the most of your trip.
Where to Stay
- Best Luxury Hotel: London Marriot Hotel County Hall
- Best Mid-Range Hotel: The Savoy
- Best Budget Hotel: Travelodge London City Road
See Related: Best All-Inclusive Resorts Without a Passport
Conclusion
If you came into this article thinking that vacations with minimal walking can’t be as glorious or exciting, we hope to have proved you wrong. From the tropical islands of Hawaii to the exotic African savannahs and the great Nordic regions of Europe, there are many vacation ideas with limited walking.
But remember: you should book accommodations beforehand. This means doing a lot of research by contacting travel agencies dedicated to accessibility. If you have that down, then you should be good to go.