The best idea is to contact the service operators, either directly or through your travel agent; tourist information offices in Reykjavik also have copies of the Icelandic Hotels and Guesthouses brochure, which includes a list of hotels accessible to disabled visitors, and the Accessible Reykjavik booklet produced by Sjalfsbjorg , Reykjavik's Disabled Association and available for free from the main tourist office in Reykjavik.

For advice before you go, there are two US-oriented Web sites for disabled travellers, both of which have comprehensive links to other similar sites. Access Able Travel ( www.access-able.com ) has a bulletin board for passing on tips and accounts of accessible attractions, accommodation, guides and resources around the globe. Disability Travel ( www.disabilitytravel.com ) deals in arranging all aspects of travel for the mobility impaired and will at least be able to offer advice on Iceland. Though they are not geared specifically to visitors, OBI, the Organisation of Handicapped in Iceland (English-language homepage at www.obi.is/ensk/ ) also have a Web site with links to various organizations for disabled people in Iceland, who again will have information on available services.

There are also organized tours and holidays specifically for people with disabilities - the contacts we've listed will be able to put you in touch with specialists for trips to Iceland. It's important to know where you may expect help and where you must be self-reliant, especially regarding transport and accommodation. It's also vital to be honest with travel agencies, insurance companies, and travel companions, plus you should think about your limitations, making sure others know about them too. If you don't use a wheelchair all the time but your mobility is limited, remember that you are likely to need to cover greater distances while travelling - sometimes over rougher terrain and in different temperatures to those you are familiar with. If you use a wheelchair , have it serviced before you go and carry a repair kit.

People with pre-existing medical conditions are sometimes excluded from travel-insurance policies , so check the small print carefully. A medical certificate of your fitness to travel, provided by your doctor, is pretty well essential, as some insurance companies or transport operators may insist on it. Make sure that you have extra supplies of drugs, and a prescription including the generic names in case of an emergency. If there's an association representing people with your disability, contact them early in the planning process for advice.