Always call the property directly, rather than calling the central reservation number. Sometimes access improvements at a local property are not entered in the central reservation database. Reservation agents at the property are usually able to give you more updated and detailed access information.

Ask the reservation agent to describe the access features of the room. Remember that the term "ADA complaint" means very little, so ask for specific information on access features. If there is a particular feature that is important to you, ask about that feature specifically.

Don't be afraid to ask for measurements. If door width is a concern, ask for that measurement. Don't forget about the door width of interior (bathroom) doors too.

Avoid yes or no questions. For example, ask the clerk to describe the bathroom, rather than asking if the bathroom is accessible. Be especially careful about asking yes or no questions in the Orient, as many customer service employees consider it rude to answer a question (any question) with a "no".

Ask the reservation agent to fax you a floor plan of the accessible room(s). This will give you the dimensions of the room, but remember that access can vary depending on the placement of furniture. More and more properties now have floor plans on hand, and many are willing to fax these to potential guests.

If you have difficulty determining if a room will suit your needs, ask to speak to somebody who has recently been in the room. Employees in the housekeeping or engineering departments usually have a good knowledge of access features of the individual rooms.

Remember to ask the reservation agent if the accessible room can be blocked for you. If the answer is "no" or "usually", then find another hotel. Many hotels do not block accessible rooms, but instead treat this item as a customer request (like a smoking room or an ocean view room). Remember, even the most accessible room in the world won't work for you, if that room isn't available when you arrive at the hotel.

Finally, always trust your instincts. If a reservation agent hems and haws, gives you ambiguous answers or sounds inept, call back and talk to another reservation agent or call a different property. When in doubt, always go with your instincts!

Candy Harrington is the editor of Emerging Horizons (www.EmergingHorizons.com), and the author of Barrier-Free Travel; A Nuts And Bolts Guide For Wheelers And Slow Walkers. She can be reached at horizons@EmergingHorizons.com

New York is probably the most vibrant and culturally diverse city on the planet. From the bright lights of Times Square to the bubbling atmosphere of SoHo and Greenwich Village, it is not a coty for the feint hearted and you will need to speak loudly to be heard.

New York has a huge mix of cultures - speakers of almost every language on Earth are drawn to the bright lights and busy hubbub of America's cultural capital. Upon arriving in the city, some immigrants take an English course in New York, while many can't afford such luxury and 'learn on the job'. New Yorkers are a unique breed, as loud and brassy as their surroundings. Famous examples of this unique breed include Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney and the Roosevelts.

There are many famous landmarks around the city, from the Empire State Building to the Statue of Liberty. As with any other large city, the famous tourist attractions are usually very busy and attract visitors from around the world. For a more authentic New York experience, dig a little deeper and

New York has a large Hispanic population, the majority of whom have their roots in South and Central America. A Spanish course in New York will most likely be taught by a latin American and it is worth bearing in mind that there are differences in the Castillian Spanish spoken by the majority of mainland Spain (including capital city Madrid) and the Spanish spoken in Latin America. For lessons in the heart of the city, you could take a Spanish course in Manhattan.

One of New York's most famous communities is its Italian one. Far from the crime-ridden underworld portrayed in cliched movies, New York's Italian community is warm and welcoming. While Little Italy on the Lower East Side used to be the Italian hub of New York, the community has now spread wider across the city and the use of Italian is declining. If you really want to get on with the city's Italians, an Italian course in New York would be a good way to meet people and get a grasp of the language.

The Statue of Liberty was a present to the United States from France in 1885, given as a gesture of friendship between the two nations. As befits such a large and diverse community, there are hundreds of schools and individuals offering a French course in New York. The city has a long history of trade with France that continues to this day.

A German course in New York offers the perfect opportunity to study one of the world's most important languages in the unique surroundings of the world's most exciting city. While New York's German community is not as vocal as some, a grasp of German can only be a good thing in a city as diverse as New York.

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