3 Essential Tips for Disabled Travelers

One of the finest ways to enjoy your holiday is to go on family trips. It is an adventure worth taking because you may make memories with your family while enjoying activities in groups and selecting the best destination for your family's tastes.

Many family members tend to think that it is very difficult to travel due to physical disabilities, be it age or handicap. However, this should not be a limitation to make the trip of your dreams with the people you love and care for so much.

Greek islands such as Corfu or Crete have made significant progress in recent years, offering visitors with physical disabilities access to a large part of the hotel industry, tourist attractions such as the Mon Repos Palace, or the offer of floating wheelchairs on different beaches in the island.

That is why there are different things to consider when we are planning an accessible vacation for those people with any type of disability, with the intention that they enjoy as calmly as possible.

If you are considering traveling soon, follow these tips on how to best plan and enjoy your accessible vacation:

Consider accessibility in accommodation

Although it seems reasonable that lodging and hotels would be simple for persons with physical limitations to reach, it is preferable to ensure that they are also easy for other family members to access..

For persons who require wheelchairs to go from one area to another, it is crucial that there exist access ramps to the accommodation's main spaces. It's also crucial to think about the rooms' accessibility, making sure that if they aren't on the ground floor, there is a sufficient elevator to move them in the most convenient manner.

Other elements to take into account are the room's size so that people can walk around comfortably inside, or a bathroom designed with disabled people in mind, which includes features like grab bars, a ramp to the shower, and adapted toilets. Consider the Braille lettering on the elevators and the faucets that have been modified for ease of use if the disability is cognitive.

Make a request for help in advance

If you or a traveling companion has a disability, one of the greatest ways to travel worry-free is to prepare for the support you will receive. It is crucial to emphasize the type of impairment you have and to request help at several points along the way to prevent confusion and issues throughout the trip.

Starting with the airline you plan to use, it's critical to determine whether the crew is prepared to handle any emergencies that may arise during the flight, including providing wheelchair users with assistance and ramps, elderly passengers with oxygen, and any other special services they may require to ensure their safety, comfort, and convenience.

It is also critical that you contact your travel agency before purchasing tickets or excursions to discuss the various options available to people with disabilities. Inquiring if they provide assistance services to help with the tours is always beneficial.

It is essential to ensure compliance with priority for people with disabilities in airports and public places. As a result, it is recommended that the person be accompanied by an assistant in airports, monuments, or tourist sites to facilitate access to security controls, baggage collection, transportation, and other services.

Make your itinerary as simple as possible

When traveling with disabled people, your main goal should be twofold: to have fun and to travel comfortably. As a result, it is recommended that when planning your trip, you consider destinations that are both accessible and comfortable for them. To be able to move more comfortably, people in wheelchairs should visit flatter destinations with consistent sidewalks and wide sites.

It is also necessary to consider the number of stops or scales made. Obviously, the shorter the journey, the more comfortable the ride. Consider a trip with the fewest number of stopovers possible, and if visiting more than one site, make sure there are different modes of transportation available and choose the most accessible route for said people.

It is also necessary to consider how you will move around your destination. When renting a vehicle, consider its width and ease of ascent and descent for all travelers, but especially for the disabled. If, on the other hand, you intend to use public transportation, it will always be much easier to visit cities with buses or metros that ensure the safety of the elderly, those in wheelchairs, those on crutches, or anyone else in a situation that necessitates careful and adequate attention.

Many cities in Italy, for example, such as Milan or Florence, are very accessible and provide people with easy access to the city's various attractions while maintaining a favorable public transportation system that allows them to move as calmly as possible.

Traveling is a pleasure that we should all be able to enjoy without restriction. When you plan according to your situation and look for resources that can make your trip a unique and unforgettable experience, there are no limits.