The decision to travel
As with many other aspects of life, MS can have a dramatic impact on how we travel, where we travel or even if we travel at all. Travelling with MS may be as complicated as arranging for an accompanying attendant or as easy as making sure the medication is properly packed. The decision to leave the comfort and familiarity of home and venture off into the world of unknowns can be a difficult but rewarding one. No matter what a person’s condition or destination may be, planning is the key to a successful trip.
Assessing individual needs is an important part of the planning process. If the person is taking medication such as interferon that needs to stay cool, travelling with a portable cooler (soft-sided is more versatile, but less durable) and ensuring that a refrigerator is available in the hotel room is important. If the person has concerns about fatigue, renting an electric scooter or wheelchair at the destination should be encouraged. As heat can make symptoms worse, climate should be considered when choosing a holiday destination.
For every obstacle there is usually an adequate solution. Knowing where to find resources is crucial. Thanks to the World Wide Web there is a world of information at our fingertips.
Cruising
Taking a cruise is a good vacation option. Not only is there a high degree of accessibility on most cruise ships, but the many trendy workshops, spas and health/fitness programmes on board make cruising fun. It is nice to visit many destinations but only have to unpack bags once. Most major cruise lines offer comfortably equipped, accessible staterooms; the shore excursions may or may not be accessible, depending upon the cruise line and the destination. The best way to negotiate the waters of accessible cruising is to contact a travel agent who specialises in arranging travel for people with disabilities.
Air travel
Air travel can be challenging with plane changes, long flights and, of course, the dread of having mobility equipment damaged. Fortunately there are some things one can do to prepare for a smooth flight. After deciding on travel dates, it is important to make reservations as far in advance as possible and to inform the reservation agent if the person travelling uses a wheelchair or scooter. Let them know if assistance through the airport or boarding the plane will be needed. Most airlines will provide an aisle chair for transfers through the aircraft to the seat.
For security as well as personal comfort, a passenger who needs medication for a trip should carry it, along with relevant medical certification, in carry-on luggage. A wheelchair or scooter should always be checked at the boarding gate and returned to the passenger at the arrival gate. To help minimise risk of damage to equipment, it is helpful to tape on clear instructions as to how the batteries are disconnected and any other disassembly procedures. It is also important to remember that any small removable parts should be taken off equipment and stored in carry-on luggage. Travellers with disabilities should be sure to ask about the airline’s liability policy regarding damaged mobility equipment when making reservations. If, by some chance, equipment arrives damaged, it should be immediately reported to the airline.
How to find accessible accommodation
Finding an accessible hotel is not difficult if one knows where to look and what questions to ask. Avoid central reservation services and, when possible, speak directly to the hotels, since the staff on site will have better information about their facilities. When a person with MS knows his or her own needs he or she is better prepared to ask appropriate questions. Being as specific as possible is key. Instead of asking “Do you have wide doorways?” the question should be “How wide are your doorways?” Getting an actual measurement may require that the hotel has to call back, but accurate information is essential.
Most major hotel chains throughout the world offer accessible rooms, and more and more country inns and bed and breakfasts advertise their accessibility. Internet search engines are a good resource for locating these places and some websites allow you to filter a search by accessibility. It is advisable to always call the facility itself with specific questions. An individual’s needs may not be met by someone else’s definition of “accessible.”
Ground Transportation
Most of the world’s major cities have some degree of accessible public transportation. Often a search of their websites will reveal more. Quite a few resorts have accessible shuttles, and this should be verified when making the hotel reservation.
Some cities have on-call accessible taxi services, but more often arrangements need to be made 24 to 48 hours in advance.
Resources such as Access-Able Travel Source have a links page. Information provided by these links includes where to rent accessible recreational vehicles (RVs), and how to find transportation in New Zealand, Australia, Europe and North America. We have a link to VIA Rail in Canada, Amtrak in the USA and the Eurostar from London to Paris.
No matter what one’s dream destination may be, planning is the key to an enjoyable trip.
Note: Before travelling abroad it is helpful to check country-specific websites for disabled travellers’ information. Some of these sites provide information for visitors on accessing healthcare services.
General travel resources
(Locate many others by using a web browser
and the key words “accessible travel”)
Access-Able Travel Source
www.access-able.com
Global access
www.geocities.com/Paris/1502
Accessible journeys
www.disabilitytravel.com
Accessible travel publications
Emerging Horizons
www.emerginghorizons.com
Websites such as Access-Able Travel Source were born from the need to compile and share access information. Access-Able was founded in 1995 by Bill and Carol Randall when Carol's MS progressed to the point of needing a scooter to get around. The Randalls loved to travel but had trouble finding access information so they started gathering their own. Almost 10 years later Access-Able has over 5,000 entries relating to access that include: accommodation, transportation, equipment rental/repair, travel tips, feature destinations and an extensive list of
resources such as accessible cruise ships, specialty travel agents and links to sites
for even more access information.
Visit www.access-able.com
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