Disabled Travel

Travelling as a disabled passenger for the first time can be difficult, as access points are hard to find in new places, let alone new countries and languages.  It is recommended that you plan as far ahead as possible. Get in touch with your tour operator, the airline, or the airport, and make clear the kind of disability in question so that the proper measures can be made.  Telephone hotels to request ramps and special assistance if necessary. 

Research the destination – how accessible is it?  Are there cobbled streets, tall buildings or hills that might pose a challenge?  Is public transport wheelchair accessible?  Taxis will usually accommodate for disabled passengers, but will make for an expensive holiday.  Websites such as The Thorn Tree and Access Able are great guides that draw on the experiences of other disabled travellers.

Make sure that all medication required for the trip is ordered and packed in your hand luggage advance.  Check that your travel and health insurance is up to date, and get a GP's statement of your condition and requirements just in case, with universal rather than brand drug names.

At the airport, check in as early as possible to ensure that the most assistance is available.  Label any walking aids, and request that they are kept onboard rather than in the hold.  If you will need assistance for the loo, request an aisle seat at check-in and alert airline staff when you board. 

Once on holiday, make clear to people how they can help if you need assistance.  If travelling to a foreign country, it may be useful to jot down a few phrases relevant to accessibility in order to facilitate understanding.  Do not feel pressured to travel anywhere that might be uncomfortable – fellow travellers should understand this. If anything you have been promised on the trip does not transpire, remember that you have the right to complain.  Refunds are best obtained before you leave, and you have the right to a comfortable stay as much as anyone else.