Selma Blair on Touring With MS, Accessibility, and Inclusive Journey Experiences

If anybody is aware of the transformative energy of an excellent journey, it is actor Selma Blair. 

As Blair lately defined whereas on stage at Journey + Leisure‘s 2025 World’s Greatest Summit, she was formally identified with a number of sclerosis in 2018, although she seemingly lived with it undiagnosed for 25 to 30 years, together with as a baby dwelling with optical neuritis. However all through all of it, she’s maintained her signature grace, mild, and humor. 

“The one factor that received me by childhood was nice holidays,” Blair mentioned with fun. “Everybody simply feels higher on a trip. So at the same time as a sickly baby, that was at all times the beacon, the north star for me.”

Now, Blair defined, she’s dwelling relapse-free and again to touring the world, albeit in a really totally different vogue together with her sidekick, Scout. “Fortunately, resorts are actually canine pleasant, which is a plus and minus,” she mentioned. “As a result of I do permit my service canine to be fairly pleasant to individuals. He thinks my job, now that I am lots higher, is to exit and be a service canine for anybody else that wishes him. And he is pleased with that. And he nonetheless does his job for me.” 

Blair famous that because of Scout, she travels with one quite uncommon however useful merchandise in her carry-on: a squeegee. “I do carry a squeegee to get the canine hair off the bottom,” she defined, so she’s at all times prepared to wash up any fur from the ground of an Uber or a aircraft. 

As for the duo’s must-have for any journey, Blair defined she merely will need to have a fantastic room, ideally one with a view. “I [do] be sure you have a room with a view,” she mentioned, explaining that whereas she might not be capable of discover like she used to, she will be able to nonetheless take pleasure in new locations this fashion. ” I at all times make it possible for I’ve a fantastic room.” 

She additionally famous that resorts may higher serve their shoppers with accessibility wants by making certain they, too, get an excellent view.

“It might be pretty if there may be room and also you see somebody with a incapacity coming, and ask your self, ‘Is there a view, is there a approach to make this a little bit extra satisfying?’ As a result of this is likely to be their trip,” she mentioned. 

Blair was additionally fast to reward resorts that get it proper in relation to accessibility. “I used to be in a lodge in Washington, D.C. that had essentially the most unbelievable ADA room,” she defined, noting that it had added touches like high-end railings within the showers that had been removed from the typical, low-budget chrome railings in most resorts. “Disabled individuals like a little bit stylish too.” 

She additionally emphasised the impression of small touches like flowers, blackout curtains, and even a easy deck of playing cards, which she at all times has in her bag in case the lodge does not present them. “Easy issues that may be executed for a visitor to make them really feel seen and never like they’re an issue that nobody is aware of tips on how to take care of.”

Regardless of the added work that comes with seeing the world with a incapacity, Blair retains touring, and encourages others to do the identical, noting it is key to “hit a milestone of one thing you did not assume you might do.” 

And whereas, certain, Blair, like the remainder of us, loves a little bit high-end second, however for her, journey is just not about luxurious for luxurious’s sake. It’s about each survival and pleasure. “Journey to me symbolized vibrance and hope and journey,” she mentioned. “That’s value lots.”