Hey, everyone!
Given today's newsletter headline, and the interesting times we live in, you might expect to read something about President Trump's peculiar, if not somewhat unsettling, fixation with Greenland. Rest assured, I do not address politically charged topics on this travel blog, but I cannot deny chasing your attention with the timely headline. The original draft title was simply "Greenland and Switzerland," but I thought it lacked flair.
An Uncomfortable Start to 2026
I rang in the New Year not with a bang, but with a bit of a whimper. While in Atlanta, Georgia for Robert's wheelchair basketball tournament, I had to stop in at an emergency dental clinic due to a broken tooth.
A root canal was needed, and so I agreed to have one. The dentist began drilling, but then changed his mind — I won't bore you with the details, but I left the clinic having spent a thousand dollars and still needing a root canal. When I looked more closely at the Google reviews, it became clear that the clinic is a pill mill — they sent me home with 5 medications, including multiple pain medications, for which they charged hundreds of dollars. I haven't taken a single pill.
I was in pain, it was a holiday weekend, and I went to the only place that was accepting patients. I was not thinking clearly, and they pulled one over on me.
Though the dentist's minor intervention did reduce my pain, I still have to pay another dentist for a root canal. If I was not leading a Wheelchair Travel Group Trip to Australia in less than two weeks, I might instead plan a trip to Budapest, Hungary, where I saw a dentist in 2024. You can read about my medical tourism experience and let me know — would you fly to Europe to seek dental care at a discount?
Thoughts on Greenland — The movie
Last weekend, I was lured to the cinena by a $5 ticket offer from my wireless carrier, T-Mobile. For the cost of a cold brew, I could relax in a movie theater lounger and watch one of my favorite movie genres (post-apocalyptic). The picture was Greenland 2: Migration and, says Rotten Tomatoes, "the world ends more with a whimper" in this sequel. But hey, the recliner was comfy and the overpriced popcorn had just the right amount of salt.
What struck me in this film was a particular scene, wherein lead actor Gerard Butler's character meets a family in France — a husband, wife and daughter. The wife, played by disabled actress Susan Eljack, is a wheelchair user. She and her husband send their daughter onward with Butler's character, stating that, because of her wheelchair and disability, they can't travel the 200 or so miles to what turns out to be a refuge. I found that reasoning to be ridiculous. In this world depicted onscreen, there were functioning automobiles, yet we're supposed to accept that it is impossible to move a lightweight manual wheelchair user 200 miles?
I had already decided that the film was a flop, but I was even more disappointed to see such a terrible narrative advanced. A more interesting story line would have been to help the disabled woman to safety — not leaving her to the wolves and separating her from her teenage daughter.
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Thoughts on Greenland — Tourism
In recent weeks, Greenland has been a major topic of discussion in the news but, geopolitics aside, I have long had my sights set on "The Land of Ice and Snow" as a potential travel destination.
Greenland is among the least visited places in the world, welcoming about 150,000 travelers per year. In 2024, United Airlines launched service between Newark Liberty International Airport and Nuuk, Greenland, a service which has been renewed as a twice weekly frequency for Summer 2026.
Those direct flights from the United States really put Greenland on my radar, and it's now among the top destinations on my Travel Bucket List.
John Morris
While Greenland's status as an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark means traveling there won't add a new "country" to my list, I view it much the same as I do territories like Gibraltar and Hong Kong — must-see destinations in their own right, and ones that a true "world traveler" would not leave out.
In addition to visiting Nuuk, I am also hoping to ride the ferry to the City of Ilulissat — a two-day journey along Greenland's Arctic coastline. In Ilulissat, the UNESCO-listed Icefjord is a major attraction. An interesting fact: The city is home to almost as many sled-dogs as people, which is not surprising given its location some 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle.
How close am I to Greenland? Well, Nuuk is just a flight away, but there is more planning that goes into an accessible adventure than just booking a flight. While there is no guarantee that I make it to Greenland this summer, it is a goal — and, if I do manage to put the trip together, you'll be the first to hear about it!
A Complicated Relationship with Denmark
Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and so I thought it a good opportunity to discuss my travels there. The capital city of Copenhagen is highly regarded as a tourist destination and I have certainly enjoyed my visits there, with the exception of its city bus services (more on that in a bit).
One of the city's highlights is Freetown Christiania, which is an anarchist commune within the City of Copenhagen. You can read about my visit here:
John Morris
My first trip to Copenhagen occurred while a medical conference was in town and hotels were nearly sold-out. I started this website on a shoestring budget and I simply could not afford a $1,000 per night hotel room. I managed to find an accessible room at a hostel, which made the trip possible and actually resulted in a positive experience. Check out my review of that wheelchair accessible hostel stay here:
John Morris
The following article's title, The City Where Bus Drivers Aren't Required to Let Wheelchair Users on the Bus, explains my complicated relationship with Copenhagen. You can read the article here:
John Morris
The fact that such a significant barrier to the freedom of movement and independence of wheelchair users would be erected in such a seemingly progressive country is difficult to understand. Persistent accessibility barriers call into question a city's (or a country's) values. While there is much to admire about Denmark and the Danish people, this is one policy that I hope has not been exported to Greenland!
Preview: September 2026 Wheelchair Travel Group Trip to Switzerland 🇨ðŸ‡
The last two Wheelchair Travel Group Trips to go on sale (Portugal and Sicily) were extremely popular and sold out within a few days. Demand for accessible travel is strong! Today, I am excited to preview a new wheelchair accessible group tour to Switzerland!
The Wheelchair Travel Group Trip to Switzerland is scheduled to take place from September 6-14, 2026. The 9-day tour itinerary will highlight the best of Switzerland, with rail and ferry trips past some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world. We'll stay in Zurich and Interlaken, while visiting other cities including Bern, Lauterbrunnen and Lucerne, among others!
The complete Switzerland tour itinerary will be released TOMORROW, on Wednesday, January 21 at 10:00 a.m. ET (New York time), exclusively to paid members of this newsletter. Paid members will enjoy a private booking window of 5 days. If spaces remain, free subscribers will have an opportunity to book beginning Monday, January 26.
If you would like to be among the first to receive this trip opportunity and future information about accessible group tours, please upgrade your subscription in advance of the tour release.
In Case You Missed It
The holidays are a chaotic time for many of us, and it is possible that you missed some of the recent content published on WheelchairTravel.org.
Most recent is a story on maximizing Amtrak's USA Rail Pass, which is currently on sale for half price. The sale ends today, January 20. Read about how I would use the pass for a cross-country adventure:
John Morris
As the year came to a close, I reflected on my most memorable trips of the past year. Here you can read about my top 10 trips of 2025:
John Morris
I write a lot of articles throughout the year, and it is always interesting to track which stories were most applicable to you. To see what mattered most to the Wheelchair Travel community, check out this ranking of the most-read content and most-researched destinations of 2025:
John Morris
Your readership and support means the world to me, and to Stevie and Robert. Thank you for following along on our journey to make travel accessible to everyone!
Looking ahead
Although 2026 has started out slowly (I have only taken four flights thus far!), my travel schedule is really about to ramp up. Here is a look at some of my February trips:
- Cozumel, Mexico — I'm traveling to a friend's wedding, but decided to extend my stay to develop some accessible travel content.
- Brisbane, Australia — There are six federated states in the Commonwealth of Australia, and this trip to Brisbane will mark my first time in Queensland. I have previously visited the states of New South Wales and Victoria.
- Sydney, Australia — I am looking forward to leading the first-ever Wheelchair Travel Group Trip on the Australian continent! It is a proud moment for me, and a major milestone for Wheelchair Travel Tours.
- Birmingham, Alabama — Robert's final wheelchair basketball tournament of the winter season will round out February with a fun family trip!
That's a full slate of travel and, since it's not a leap year, there are only 28 days in the month of February! Wish me luck!
Talk to you soon,
— John
