Tips For Travelling With A Disability And/Or Chronic Illness

Travelling with a disability or chronic illness can require a bit more planning, but that doesn’t mean you can’t travel.

Here are some of the things I recommend doing before and during your trip to make things a little easier.

Plan And Prepare

One thing that we have to do a lot as disabled people is plan in advance, as there is often so much to arrange, such as assistance, accessible accommodation, medication and transport.

Make sure you plan in advance!

It can be tempting to just book a trip and worry about everything else later, but when you have a disability or chronic illness, a little extra planning can make a huge difference.

Medications

Make sure you get enough medication for your trip and keep a copy of your prescription so you can prove that you are prescribed the medication.

Some medications are regulated differently in different countries, so make sure you check first to make sure your medication is legal to take into the country you are visiting.

You may also need additional paperwork or approval before travelling with certain medications.

Keep your medication in its original packaging and take enough for the entire trip, plus some extra in case you are delayed getting home.

Don’t just assume you can take your medication anywhere because it is legally prescribed to you in the UK. Check first!

Pace Yourself

I know you are on vacation, but make sure you don’t push yourself too much trying to see everything.

Take breaks and pace yourself.

Make sure to add breaks to your itinerary rather than planning every minute of every day.

You might feel fine when you are planning your trip, but that doesn’t mean your body will cooperate when you actually get there!

Travel Partners

If you are travelling with someone, check to make sure they are happy to go at your pace before you book the trip.

Some people want to do everything and don’t care if you can’t, so make sure you agree what you will both do together and apart if needed.

You don’t want to end up with someone who doesn’t want to spend time with you because they are faster than you due to your disability.

Talk about it first.

It is much better to know before you travel that you have different expectations.

Include The Hotel

If you end up spending a lot of time in the hotel, make sure to include the hotel in your trip.

Do you want a restaurant so you can get room service?

Do you need specific hotel amenities?

Would you be better in a nicer hotel seeing as you might be in it more often?

Would you want a bar in your hotel for a drink at night?

These are things that you might not normally think about when booking a hotel, but if you are going to spend more time there because of your health, they can make a big difference.

Accessibility

You should check to make sure that the places you are planning to visit are accessible for you.

If you are in a wheelchair, you will need to make sure that the building is wheelchair friendly, as not everywhere is.

But accessibility isn’t just about wheelchairs.

You might need seating, accessible toilets, lifts, shorter walking distances, somewhere to rest, accessible parking or other things depending on your disability or health.

Sadly, so many places are still very inaccessible to many people.

Don’t assume you will be OK. Check first.

Assistance

Many places, such as airports and train stations, will help you if you are disabled.

They often have wheelchairs they can push you in, but you usually need to arrange this in advance.

If you need assistance, make sure you book it in advance so that you can get help.

I have sadly booked assistance last minute before and they couldn’t help me, which was a nightmare.

So make sure you book in advance to give them the best chance of being able to help you.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask exactly what assistance they provide. Different places offer very different levels of assistance, so don’t just assume that “assistance” means they will do everything you need.

Adaptive Equipment

There are some aids you can use to assist you on your trip, such as wheelchairs, powerchairs, rollators etc.

These can make it much easier to get around and make your trip more enjoyable.

Have a look into them and see if something would work for you.

I personally am an ambulatory wheelchair user, which means that I have some ability to move around without a wheelchair.

I can move without one, but I can’t walk far or stand for long, so a wheelchair adds a lot of accessibility for me.

Don’t be put off using a mobility aid just because you can walk without one.

If it allows you to do more, then it is doing its job!

Language Translator App

If you don’t speak the language, make sure you get a translator app so that you can get help or assistance if needed.

You could also learn some simple phrases in advance.

Even learning how to say things like “I need help”, “where is the toilet?” or “I don’t understand” can be useful.

For more travel app advice, check out this blog post.

Travel Insurance With Pre-Existing Medical Cover

Make sure you get travel insurance and make sure to declare any pre-existing medical conditions, otherwise you might end up stuck with a hefty medical bill if something happens and you haven’t declared any medical conditions.

Don’t risk it!

You can often choose to declare your conditions but not have the conditions covered, depending on the insurance provider.

This is something many people don’t realise, so make sure you understand exactly what your policy covers before travelling.

Check out my blog post about travel insurance for more tips and information.

Passenger Assistance App

Passenger Assistance is an app for assistance at UK train stations.

You don’t need to call anyone. Just set your train times in the app and state what help you need, and someone will help you on the day of your train journey.

This was an app that was only made in the last year or so.

Previously, we had to call up the rail company to ask for assistance, which was not only very inaccessible for many of us, but it was also very slow and old-fashioned.

Now you can arrange assistance in seconds using the Passenger Assistance app.

Set Up Medical ID On Your Phone

Before you leave for your trip, set up Medical ID on your phone if you have it, such as on an iPhone.

Update it with your emergency contact, medical conditions and medication.

This can be very important in an emergency, as it gives someone important information about you if you are unable to provide it yourself.

Give Friends And Family Your Travel Information

Tell your relatives and friends where you will be and give them details of your flights and accommodation, just in case there are any issues.

You hear about people going missing all the time, and I am sure it won’t happen to you, but it is better to be safe.

I always think it is better for someone to know where I am supposed to be and when I am supposed to be back.

You don’t have to give everyone your entire itinerary. Just make sure someone you trust knows where you are travelling and how to contact you.

Have Fun!

Most importantly, have fun!

It doesn’t matter how much you do or how much you see. It is about enjoying yourself without struggling or pushing yourself too much.

Take it easy and enjoy all of it, not just the attractions!

Sometimes sitting in a park, having a drink, enjoying the view or just relaxing at the hotel can be just as enjoyable as spending hours sightseeing.

You don’t have to do everything to have a great trip.

If you have a disability or chronic illness, you may also find my guide to accessible travel useful.