Ade Adepitan: “Travel can take work, but it’s worth it”
Being in a wheelchair hasn’t stopped Paralympian and TV presenter Ade Adepitan exploring the world. Here’s what he’s learned
Ade Adepitan doesn’t let disability get in the way of adventure. “One of the great things about travel is it builds your confidence. It helps you grow as a person,” he says. ”You feel empowered and exhilarated.”
The Paralympic medalist—he won bronze with the Great Britain wheelchair basketball team in 2004—lost function in his legs after contracting polio when he was just 15 months old; 49 years later, he is on a mission to open up the world of travel for wheelchair users. “It’s a bit pretentious, but I’d like to be remembered as a pioneer,” he says.
Born in Nigeria before moving to London at the age of three, the continent of his birth is his favorite destination. “When I think of travel and the perfect moment for me, it’s one of those wild, addictive cities in Africa, like Lagos or Kinshasa. The noise, the smells, the chaos, the atmosphere.”
One of the biggest lessons he’s learned is to travel with spare parts for his wheelchair. “In Ibiza, I woke up one morning and found the front wheel of my chair was missing. It snapped off when I got carried away with my dance moves,” he says. “For the rest of the holiday, whenever I wasn’t concentrating, I lost control and fell out of the chair.”
Adepitan enjoys vacations with his wife, singer Elle Exxe, and two-year-old son Bolla. “I learned quickly that the world isn’t built for me and I’ll never find the perfect holiday, but you shouldn’t be afraid to go anyway. In Mauritius, I thought I’d booked an accessible room but there were steps to the beach,” he says.
“The staff said, ‘Mr. Adepitan, don’t worry, we’ll sort this out.’ I heard sawing and hammering and there’s 10 people making this ramp. People want to help, to find a way to make things work for you.”
Ade’s travel tips
01
“Find accessible cities”
Look for cities that have held the Paralympics, like Rio or Tokyo, because they’ve had to make their cities more accessible. The Games in Paris next year are going to be amazing. Barcelona was the first—they made the subway accessible, there were lifts everywhere. Suddenly it became this great city.
A cultural guide to Tokyo
01
“Choose flexible gear”
My wheelchair is my independence. The important thing is that you find the right wheelchair that works for you. My chair folds flat and the wheels come off so I can fit it in the overhead compartment of the plane. It makes traveling so easy, and it means that at the end of the flight, I know where my chair is. I know it’s not going to be lost or held up in the hold.
02
“Take a friend”
My first trip was to Italy with my basketball team and it helped because I didn’t have a clue. I’d have forgotten to take my passport! Going as a lone traveler is a massive step, so don’t put that pressure on yourself.
03
“Do your homework”
Look at disabled forums because you can’t beat word-of-mouth advice, where people can share their experiences. Go online and look at the rooms in hotels. [Expedia has 8 different accessibility-related hotel filters, and many hotels have virtual tours available.] I also call and give them a grilling: I ask about room size, and is it on the ground floor? Have they got wide doors? Does the lift work? Are there ramps? Have they got accessible showers?
04
“Never lose your sense of wonder”
I traveled to Nicaragua and spent six hours crawling up the side of a volcano on my backside—burned my butt. But when I got to the top, it was absolutely worth it, because the view was spectacular. It was breathtaking. And that’s what travel is all about. Sometimes travel can take a little bit of work. Persevere: Not everything is put on a plate for you.
Lara Kilner is a lifestyle journalist, who has contributed to The Times, The Telegraph, and more. She has traveled extensively through five continents, but her most memorable trip was the one on which she met her Malaysian husband.
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