October was a very busy month for Easy Access Travel. It began with a trip to San Antonio for the American Express Retail Travel Network Forum. These are always exceptional events filled with opportunities for learning and meeting one on one with vendors. I try to impart on them the importance of making their properties accessible to all and let them know that if they do, we will come. They had great evening parties and inspiring keynote speakers including Astronaut Scott Kelly who spent a year in the Space Station with two Russian Cosmonauts.

Then it was off to Moon Palace Grand in Cancun for the annual Cruise Planners Convention. Always my favorite event as I love being with my Cruise Planners Family. Another opportunity for learning and hearing where the industry is headed. Lots of new cruise ships coming our way in the near future!

The month ended with the San Mateo Abilities Expo where we saw many of our clients and made lots of new friends.

Where We're Going....

We have planned some exciting adventures for 2018 and 2019. You have asked for another cruise out of Galveston so we reserved one just for you. Celebrate New Year's Eve 2018 with us and ring in 2019 onboard RCCL's Liberty of The Seas, round trip Galveston. It's gonna be a party!

Next on the 2019 travel calendar is a land trip to New Zealand, depart USA March 28 and return home April 16. Travel at a leisurely pace in a wheelchair accessible motor coach from Auckland to Queenstown. I cannot wait to share this jewel of a country with you. We are limited to a maximum of 20 participants.

For those of you who missed our Ireland trip, join us on Celebrity Reflection, June 14 - 26, 2019 as we cruise from Dublin to Amsterdam. Visit Belfast and Cobh in County Cork, Liverpool, England and enjoy two glorious days in Paris. Optional pre and post land extensions in Dublin and Amsterdam will be offered.

Don't forget that we still have limited availability for our Alaska Cruise, August 4 - 11, 2018 and New England Cruise, October 7 - 14, 2018.

Do you need to rent a scooter or other mobility equipment for your next cruise or land trip? Be sure and let us know and we can make arrangements for you through Special Needs Group. Standard and heavy duty scooters, wheelchairs, hospital beds, hoyer lifts, lift chairs, oxygen and more are all possibilities for you when you travel.

Holidays should be joyous but holiday travel can add undue stress and anxiety. Reduce these unpleasant side effects by being pro-active. Be sure to arrive early for your flight. Be prepared for extra long security lines. If you are traveling with medical equipment including wheelchairs, scooters, prosthetics, braces, crutches, etc., expect inspection of you and these devices to take longer than usual. Be cooperative, self identify your situation and understand that the main purpose is to get all of us to our destination safely. For those of us with lower limb prosthetics or braces, be sure to wear loose fitting pants that allow a quick visual inspection.