8 Tips for Travellers Living with Disability

Posted by Jade Anderson on July 17th, 2019

From cobblestoned paths, long flights of stairs, lack of disability access and difficulty of transportation, travelling with a disability has never been easy. Faced with endless difficulties, it often seems like travelling is not an easy choice for many individuals living with disabilities. However as difficult as it may seem, travelling with a disability is possible and can be easier than you think. Here are the top 8 tips for travellers living with disabilities.

1.       Research and Plan

Often, many travellers with disabilities tend to overlook certain countries due to lack of accessibility of that country. Whilst there are some accessibility challenges, it does not mean it is impossible. The key to visiting any country you would like, despite the lack of accessibility is to research and plan. The more research you do, the more accessible your trip will be. By researching routes, accommodation and sightseeing ventures, it is possible to visit any country you like. This may often lead to alternative options to the places you want to visit, but your holiday does not need to be a struggle.

2.       Have A Backup Plan

Even if you plan the most perfect accessible vacation, there is still the possibility that something will go wrong. In case of things going wrong, it’s always a good idea to have a backup plan to avoid stress and unnecessary issues. Planning for all possible issues, including back up travel options, alternative routes you can take, different accommodation options available, and implementing backup solutions to these possible issues will allow you to become flexible and small hiccups won’t become trip-ruining problems.

3.       Consider Hiring A Pro

Planning a holiday is an extremely time-consuming task and having to find alternative solutions for possible hiccups is even more difficult. If you limited time or knowledge in planning an accessible holiday, a great alternative would be to hire a professional. Specialised travel agencies have the knowledge to know what the best option for the holiday you are looking for is. From helping you plan your accommodation, travel options, to sight seeing options, a specialised travel agent can take the hard work out of going on a holiday.

If you just need help making online bookings, or finding things to do, you could consider simply hiring a companion on Home Care Heroes who can help you surf the net and find what you need.

4.       Be Flexible

There’s no doubt that when you plan a holiday, you want everything to go to plan and you want to stick to your schedule as close as possible. However, sometimes this doesn’t happen, and things tend to go wrong. Thus, one thing to remember when travelling is to be flexible. Travelling with a disability isn’t easy and to ensure that your trip is the trip of a lifetime, it’s important to be flexible and open to all opportunities. Learning to adapt to new situations will allow you to grow as a traveller and a person.

5.       Look for accessible tours

One of the easiest ways to ensure you can get around and see the most of your holiday destination is to look for accessible tours. These tours are designed to make it as easy as possible for those living with disability to get around and see cities. To ensure you get a great experience ask questions like:

• What qualifications does the guide have?
• What route is the tour? Does it involve curbs, steps, steep hills? Are there accessible bathrooms.
• How many members will be in the tour?
• How experienced is the guide with disabilities?

Using these questions, you can find a tour company that’s right for you and ensure you will have a great experience.