logo
Planning an accessible trip just got easier with TripAdvisor's new tool

Planning an accessible trip just got easier with TripAdvisor's new tool

USA Today10-07-2025
Travelers looking to plan an accessible getaway may have a new first stop at TripAdvisor. The site, in partnership with Visit Lauderdale, introduced a landing page for accessible destinations and experiences, where reviews from fellow visitors across the disability spectrum are available.
'At Tripadvisor, we believe that inclusive travel experiences are essential to building a better, more connected world,' Global Vice President of media and partnerships at Tripadvisor Steven Paganelli said in a statement. 'This partnership brings together community insights, real traveler stories, and local expertise to create a resource that empowers more people to travel with confidence. It's a powerful step forward in making accessibility the standard in every travel journey.'
Disabled travelers and advocates for the disability community agree that online spaces where travelers with accessibility needs can connect and share tips with each other is crucial for planning an accessible trip.
"Having a network like that is very helpful in sharing information," Paul Choquette, a wheelchair user, previously told USA TODAY. "It can be very difficult if you're trying to go to a country with a foreign language; sometimes the websites aren't English, and sometimes it can be hard to find the spot you click to get the English language version of the website."
TripAdvisor's hub includes:
One of the featured itineraries is a three-day getaway in the greater Fort Lauderdale area in Florida. The tourism board there co-sponsored the accessibility hub.
That itinerary includes tips on accessible beaches, galleries, gardens, restaurants and more.
'Travelers with disabilities represent one of the most loyal, influential, and underserved audiences in the travel economy,' Dulani Porter, executive vice president and partner at SPARK, Visit Lauderdale's advertising agency, said in a statement. 'We've seen again and again that this audience is not a niche, but a core market. What has been missing are the tools, the access points, and the storytelling that help people plan and feel seen. This initiative is our way of starting to change that.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Move over, beaches and theme parks. This Florida attraction ranks No. 1 in US
Move over, beaches and theme parks. This Florida attraction ranks No. 1 in US

Miami Herald

time3 hours ago

  • Miami Herald

Move over, beaches and theme parks. This Florida attraction ranks No. 1 in US

A Florida tourist attraction ranks as the nation's best place to visit — and no, it's not a beach or a theme park. The NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex ranks No. 1 on a list of top attractions in the United States. But the honors for Florida destinations didn't stop there. The Stetson Mansion in DeLand was No. 5 and the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo landed at No. 6 in the rankings published Tuesday, July 22. 'From natural wonders to man-made marvels, these are the most-loved attractions in the world — according to the travelers who 'ooh-ed' and 'ahh-ed' at them,' the travel review website Tripadvisor wrote in its report. To create the list, Tripadvisor studied feedback that visitors left on its platform in the year leading up to March 31. The website studied several factors, including the 'quality and quantity of traveler reviews and ratings.' The resulting list — called 'Travelers' Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things To Do' — honors places across the country that received 'a high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions from the Tripadvisor community over a 12-month period. Out of our 8 million listings, fewer than 1% achieve this milestone,' the website wrote. Why the Florida tourist spot ranks No. 1

This Lake Region Was Named the Most Relaxing Destination in Europe—With ‘Mirror-still Water' and Fairy-tale Vibes
This Lake Region Was Named the Most Relaxing Destination in Europe—With ‘Mirror-still Water' and Fairy-tale Vibes

Travel + Leisure

time7 hours ago

  • Travel + Leisure

This Lake Region Was Named the Most Relaxing Destination in Europe—With ‘Mirror-still Water' and Fairy-tale Vibes

Taking a vacation is good for you—it can help reduce stress and help increase your general outlook on life. But, if you really want to double down on those excellent vibes, you should head off to the most mindful and wellness-focused place in Europe. And the relaxation-focused brand Blakk Smoke knows exactly where that is. In June, the brand released the findings of a study it conducted in order to identify the most mindful travel destinations of 2025, or "places where stress melts away" if "disconnection is the goal." To find these laidback spots around the globe, the team parsed thousands of TripAdvisor reviews from the last three years using natural language processing and emotional sentiment analysis to determine the frequency of keywords such as "relaxing," "peaceful," "mindful," and "calm." Then, it analyzed the tone of each post, as well as the number of mentions of retreats, meditation centers, spas, and nature-based attractions each location had. The company noted that only recent reviews were included to "reflect today's traveler needs—think post-pandemic priorities, burnout recovery, and a growing desire to actually rest on holiday." After doing all that digging, it gave each place a "mindfulness score," based on its analysis. And Lake Bled, Slovenia, came out on top as the most mindful destination in Europe and the second most relaxing destination in the world with a score of 89. And really, its ranking comes as little surprise when you consider the beautiful scenery there. Lake Bled, located in the Julian Alps, is as fairytale-like a destination as they come, with what the study called "mirror-still water" that pairs beautifully with fresh mountain air and a view of the Church of the Assumption located in the center of the lake. The only place to outrank Lake Bled was Sedona, Arizona, which scored a whopping 92 out of 100, thanks to its "energy vortexes, red rock formations, and strong spiritual community." Lake Bled and Sedona were followed by the Lake District, England, at No. 3, which earned a score of 87 thanks to its "rolling hills, peaceful lakes, and literary inspiration." Rounding out the top 10 most mindful travel destinations in the world are Big Sur, California (No. 4); Santorini, Greece (No. 5); the Scottish Highlands, Scotland (No. 6); Asheville, North Carolina (No. 7); the Amalfi Coast, Italy (No. 8); Cornwall, England (No. 8); and Kyoto, Japan (No. 10). But if these somehow aren't enough options for you, you can always check out this list of the most relaxing destinations in Europe. Then, once you pick a spot, tell your boss you're going on vacation and put on that out-of-office notice for the sake of good health.

6 Niagara hotel restaurants on Canada's top 50 list
6 Niagara hotel restaurants on Canada's top 50 list

Hamilton Spectator

time7 hours ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

6 Niagara hotel restaurants on Canada's top 50 list

Six Niagara dining establishments, including four in Niagara-on-the-Lake, cracked a new top-50 list of best hotel restaurants in Canada. The local restaurants appeared in the inaugural list released by OpenTable and KAYAK this week. The Niagara restaurants are: Where: 3845 Main St., Jordan Village, Lincoln This is a popular spot for weddings that sports a panoramic view of the beautiful Twenty Valley, featuring lush gardens and trees. Located in a boutique hotel in Jordan Village, Inn On The Twenty says it provides a 'handcrafted menu favouring farm-to-table flavours' from the Niagara region. The menu includes seared scallops, pork belly, Arctic char and king oyster mushrooms. Where: Hilton Niagara Falls, 6361 Fallsview Blvd., Niagara Falls Corso, in the Hilton hotel that overlooks Niagara's spectacular falls, features classic Italian dishes such as lasagna and porchetta, along with fusion items such as oxtail ravioli. The restaurant website says 'we savour the stories behind each dish and the regions of Italy from which they originate.' Where: Pillar & Post Inn and Spa, 48 John St., Niagara-on-the-Lake Cannery is within a five-star hotel in a 19th-century building in beautiful Old Town in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The restaurant is well known for its steaks, particularly its rib-eye. There are also chef specialties such as short ribs and swordfish Niçoise, a swordfish salad. Where: Moffat Inn, 60 Picton St., Niagara-on-the-Lake This sushi spot is also located Niagara-on-the-Lake's Old Town and says it uses the finest seafood brought straight from Japan, providing an authentic yet modern Japanese cuisine experience rivalling Sushi restaurants of Tokyo. It has gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options, along with classic rolls such as dragon rolls (with shrimp tempura) and spicy salmon rolls. The 'Maki Sushi' menu also includes combos such as lunch specials. Where : The Prince of Wales Hotel, 6 Picton St., Niagara-on-the-Lake Located in Old Town's Prince of Wales Hotel, which describes itself as a 'destination rich with timeless elegance,' The Drawing Room says it can 'bring a little whimsy' to a visit. Guests can partake in a traditional afternoon English tea offerings, with light foods such as finger sandwiches, assorted pastries and homemade scones, served on ornate tea sets amid regal decor that has an 'attention-to-detail that transports you to the Victorian era.' Where: Queen's Landing Hotel, 155 Byron St., Niagara-on-the-Lake Tiara is in the Queen's Landing Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake, a Georgian mansion that overlooks the Niagara River. Tiara says it offers a five-star 'culinary experience complete with succulent flavours and panoramic views of Niagara-on-the-Lake's harbour' with 'fine dining featuring the best Canadian ingredients, Niagara wines, craft cocktails and local beer.' Other restaurants on the list include Cambridge's Langdon Hall Country House Hotel and Spa, Toronto's Akira Back, Café Boulud, Clockwork, Joni Restaurant, KŌST, Louix Louis, ONE Restaurant, Reign, The Tea Room — Windsor Arms Hotel and Toca at The Ritz-Carlton. The new rankings are based on data from OpenTable and KAYAK reservations. The OpenTable metrics used data from online reservations from June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025, and compared those metrics to the previous year. Each hotel restaurant had to have a minimum number of reviews and be present on . These eateries serve great food at prices that won't break the bank. OpenTable data was used to gather info on which diners were also local, versus travelling in the area. According to the data, 61 per cent of the diners were local. KAYAK search data showed its 'restaurant' hotel filter almost doubled within a year, highlighting how travel and dining are becoming increasingly connected. With food being an integral part of the travel experience, it is also no surprise 68 per cent of Canadians would also book the same hotel again because of a positive dining experience in its restaurant. Which could mean there could be a continued trend of more residents and travellers putting Niagara hotels on their list.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store