TRAVEL TRAVEL TIPS

Please see below for a handy check list of travel tips.

By no means complete, but it may help you when deciding to vacation for the first time in a wheelchair or can be used to tick off points prior to your holiday. Bonnes vacances!

Booking an accessible hotel

No matter what it says on the website, phone ahead and ask for details of the room you’re booking

Ask as many questions as possible What are the hotels accessible features? What are the rooms accessible features? Is the surrounding area accessible?

Ask for photos

Prepare to bring your own equipment

Sometimes it’s best to use established hotel chains rather than smaller, independent hotels They are more likely to have accessible rooms

Try using websites like Euan’s Guide and user-led Facebook groups to research hotels before you book them

Looking after your bladder and bowels while travelling

Indwelling catheter - attach a two-litre leg bag for long distances have any catheters / meds / bowel regime or stoma bits in hand luggage and accessible

Destination delivery items - Bullen provides a service where your prescriptions can be sent to your destination

Bring RADAR key

Bring Precautionary Anti biotics

Remember that your body may take a while to get used to a new routine in a different time zone You may also be eating different types of food, which can affect your bladder and bowels

Adjusting your bowel routine on the days of travelling Pack spares of any equipment or medication you may need for your bladder and bowel – you never know if something could get lost while travelling, so pack extra and follow correct procedures on travelling with the medication eg: keep in packaging!

Looking

Pressure relieve

Check skin regularly

The right cushion for you – Speak to your OT & ask around

Make sure you’re not sitting on catheter tubes when travelling

Be cautious when wearing new items of clothing swimwear or extra layers to keep warm

Take First Aid kit

Activity Cushion

Alternating Pressure Relief Cushion

Travelling with personal assistants (PAs)

Consider your PAs while booking your stay

Do you have a plan in place in case of an emergency? Make sure a back-up PA is available back home to come out to you in the event of your PA getting ill Your PA will need to have insurance as well

When do your PAs get breaks? What are their shift times? Make sure they aren’t being overworked Most hotels should have attachment room for carers/PAs.

Managing your luggage & Travel Insurance

Extra allowance for equipment and medication

An airline assistant can also support you with carrying luggage around the airport, this can be booked when getting your flights online There is specialised equipment that can make luggage carrying easier Such as the Phoenix Instinct suitcase and DIY methods

Always tell an insurance company if you are aware of any circumstances likely to affect your cover, either when you are taking out your policy and when you renew, as they could then refuse to pay any money on grounds of non-disclosure

Make sure any equipment you are taking with you is also covered https://www gov uk/government/publications/disab led-travellers https://www.qef.org.uk/service/accessible-aviation/ https://media.lonelyplanet.com/shop/media/accessi ble-travel-online-resources.pdf https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-andsupport/insurance/ https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/publicati on-download/your-rights-fly-what-you-need-know

Useful Websites!