Traveling when you have mobility issues is challenging, but it’s certainly not impossible. Provided you plan ahead and do your research, it’s possible to travel practically anywhere in the World.
Whether you’re looking to stay within the UK, or you’re hoping to take a trip abroad, here you’ll discover how to travel if you’re restricted by mobility.
Research disability-friendly destinations
It’s a good idea to start by researching different disability-friendly destinations. While technically, you could travel anywhere with the right equipment, aiming to jet off to an accessibility-friendly destination is going to make your holiday much more enjoyable.
Finland, Vienna, and Budapest are just some examples of accessibility-friendly European destinations you could head to. As well as researching the actual country, it’s also worth looking into the accessibility of its tourist attractions too. It is surprising how many well-known attractions don’t have disability-friendly facilities. So, finding this out before you go is crucial.
Contact the airline in advance
Once you’ve found where you want to travel to, the next step is to contact the airline you plan on traveling with. You need to know what accessibility features they have and whether they can accommodate any special needs you may have.
You’ll typically find the larger airports have numerous accessibility features such as wider toilets, quiet areas, and reserved seating.
Consider taking a foldable wheelchair
Whether you’re traveling at home or abroad, a foldable scooter can be an excellent mobility solution. Thanks to their foldable nature, they are great to carry around with you in a car and can be used to get around once you reach your destination.
The great thing about these scooters is they can be used both indoors and outdoors. So, you could use them to get around the airport, as well as to explore your travel destination.
Leave yourself plenty of time
A great tip that’s going to significantly lower your stress levels, is to leave yourself plenty of time before you set off on your trip. The last thing you want is to be rushing to try to get to the airport.
Start packing as early as you can and set off either to the airport or to your chosen UK destination, as early as you can. That way, you won’t need to worry about getting stuck in traffic and any issues you come across in terms of accessibility can be rectified within plenty of time.
Overall, it’s not always easy traveling when you have mobility issues. However, the tips above will definitely help to make your traveling experience much more enjoyable. Just remember to do as much research as you can before choosing where to go.
Featured Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay