Essential Guide to your Disabled Holiday

Now the school holidays are out of the way and most destinations will have become far less crowded and more conducive to a relaxing break, it is time to think about going away for a well-deserved holiday. This article will mention a few recommended destinations, but is more about providing some key tips for disabled travellers, designed to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible.

When planning a holiday there are, of course, many considerations that are universal in application, but we are interested in advice specific to individuals with accessible needs. One word to keep in mind above all others is ‘research.’ The effort in planning and research you undertake before you travel will undoubtedly pay off in terms of the quality of your holiday experience. Your research should include:

• Accommodation – are the rooms, dining areas, swimming pool – with pool hoists (where applicable) and other communal areas step-free and accessible? Do the staff provide assistance? Do bathrooms have easy access showers? What about disabled parking and profile beds? Give the hotel a call and ask to speak to the manager. It is amazing what you can glean from a simple conversation, in respect of how seriously the hotel takes its commitment to disabled guests. You want to
• Ask, ask and ask again! - Make some calls as to accessible friendly places to visit, restaurants, sights and transport. Again your hotel can help, but so can the local tourist board. Creating a little log book of recommendations can be worth its weight in gold.
• Airport guidelines – not all airports are the same and the is a very wide discrepancy between those that cater best for disabled travellers and those that fall well short of the mark. Prior research is vital. Google is your friend here. Read about the experiences of others and it could guide you in a different direction in terms of destination.

Let’s take a brief break from the technical details and inspire with some names to conjure with. All of these destinations make for wonderful disabled holidays providing you follow our tips:

• Amsterdam – a very progressive and beautiful, diverse city. Many museums have disabled access and there are even accessible boat tours.
• Playa del Carmen, Mexico – a beautiful white sandy beach destination with multiple accessible hotel choices and mobility friendly archaeological sites.
• Barcelona – With 80% of metro stations and 100% of buses wheelchair friendly, Barcelona is an excellent destination. Even the local beach is

wheelchair accessible and there are people to help, too.

Of course, there are so many other wonderful places to visit, but this little trio is just laid out to set the heart racing!

Another key consideration is travel insurance. Make sure you have all bases covered and declare all relevant conditions to ensure full coverage.

Finally we must mention packing. There is nothing worse than going on holiday only to realise that you’ve left some essentials at home. Make a list and tick everything off only as it goes into your case. Pack your towel last, so it is on top and ready to use and make use of the inside of those shoes, to save space!

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