7 replies to this topic

[AussieBrad]

Hi everyone,

We are wanting to plan a trip to drive from NY to LA.
Can anyone advise of a company we can contact in regards to renting a car or motorhome with hand-controls.
We are thinking of taking a month to drive from coast to coast.
Also if anyone knows of a good (cheap) hotel in New York to stay for a few days??

Hope you are all well,
Keep Smilin'
Brad

[jenny407]

Wow, Aussie! I'm just now planning a trip from San Francisco to L. A. for next summer, with my family --- and that alone will take us 2 weeks, which means LITTLE time for all we wish to see! We are taking a motor home. No idea about hand-controls, though, sorry.

You often do get info via google. I had a look for a visiting friend, in Germany. Looking up the rent-a-car companies. Do book early. Same for the hotel - I found they often have very few accessible rooms.


For me, just one month to cross all of the USA seems crazy. =) But it depends on what you wish to see, what you wish to do, of course.

A friend of mine said she used to ride along the west coast on her Harley Davidson (YES, she riding, with her boyfriend sitting behind her - LOL), and the experience was mainly the ride. She said she much enjoyed it, but she also says now she wished she had taken more time to get out and see the national parks, etc.


About a hotel in N. Y.: I think Tetracyclone (member on this forum) is from N. Y. Perhaps she knows. You might pm her directly, if you wish.

Good luck! And do enjoy! This will be a unique unforgettable experience for you.

[AussieBrad]

Hi Jen,
I do agree with you, I say a month but will probably be more like 2 or 3..
yes time I did some googling but no harm in asking the right people first.

Keep Smilin'
Brad

[tsh3406]

I don't think I have ever been more jealous of anyone.... EVER.

http://www.rvpropert...handicapped.htm
http://www.gorving.o...he_disabl_1.cfm
http://www.northtrai...ible_motorhomes

Somewhere in there you should find a lead....

Tim

Edited by tsh3406, 18 November 2011 - 02:43 PM.

[DaveP]

I drove from San Fransisco to New Orleans about 10 years ago and thought a month was enough. It was a tiring journey with too much time driving and not enough time checking out the sites. I rented a car with hand controls, which most big car hire companies have in America - but you need to book in advance. The problem was, none would take the booking with me returning the car in New Orleans and wanted to charge me a fee to have the car returned. I therefore split the journey up to the limit of their boundries - San Fan to Vegas was one car. Booked another car from Vegas to Houston, then another car for the final leg to New Orleans.

It would've worked out cheaper to buy a car than rent a car, but you need to plan ahead as it's not easy getting insurance - or it wasn't 10 years ago. If you bought a car for US$4k it would probably be less than the rental, and then even if you only get half price the price you paid it would work out cheaper than renting a car.

You can buy portable hand controls easy. Or maybe buy a car with hand controls from someone on this forum and sell it at the end of your journey to someone else from this forum?!

I think you should increase your holiday to 6 to 8 weeks for a journey like that. You're not going to ever do it again so give yourself a little more time to check out the scenery.

I stayed away from big cities and aimed for the smaller towns - met some very interesting and strange people, but it was fun. And it's true - they love our accents so much that some folk will follow you arounf shops to hear you speaking! lol

[wheeliebear75]

 AussieBrad, on 18 November 2011 - 03:54 AM, said:

Hi everyone,

We are wanting to plan a trip to drive from NY to LA.
Can anyone advise of a company we can contact in regards to renting a car or motorhome with hand-controls.
We are thinking of taking a month to drive from coast to coast.
Also if anyone knows of a good (cheap) hotel in New York to stay for a few days??

Hope you are all well,
Keep Smilin'
Brad

LOL For a minute there I was thinking New York to Louisiana (LA is the initials for Louisiana CA is for California, L.A. is Los Angeles )

I think if there are any hand controls that are easy enough to put on (if you or a companion can put them on yourselves) you MIGHT get a car company to allow you to put YOUR hand controls on THEIR car? Sorry I'm not really all that helpful, I've always been a passenger so I've never had to worry about the arrangements.

Edited by wheeliebear75, 19 November 2011 - 03:31 AM.

[Aparr]

What a nice vacation!
Your can try Wheelchair Getaways. http://www.wheelchairgetaways.com/

[AussieBrad]

Thanks everyone for the information.
Tim I will check out the websites you suggested..

Keep Smilin'
Brad