Navigating the Holidays with Ease: A Comprehensive Guide for Traveling with Limited Mobility
Brought to you by Wise Blue Yonder | 2023
The holiday season is a time for family gatherings, festive celebrations, and often, travel. For individuals with limited mobility or difficulty walking, the prospect of navigating from a place that is perfectly set up to accommodate your needs to unfamiliar places can be daunting. However, with careful planning and the right strategies, holiday travel can be an enjoyable and stress-free experience.
The Wise Blue Yonder team has developed this guide, brimming with tips and advice for those with limited mobility, to help you successfully manage all aspects of your holiday travel – from planning to arrival and beyond.
STEP 1. PLAN AND BOOK AHEAD
The foundation for a smooth holiday trip with limited mobility or difficulty walking begins with a solid plan. Here’s how you can get started.
Choose Accessible Accommodations
If you are not staying with family or friends, look for hotels, resorts, or vacation rentals that are equipped with amenities you need. This may include ramps and elevators. Choose smaller boutique-like hotels where restaurants, pools and services are close to your hotel room. You may or may not need or want an accessible room, so be sure to ask about or research the hotel room features. For example, is the shower walk-in? Does it have a slip-resistant floor and grab bars? Is the bed easy to get in and out of?
Many booking platforms and hotel websites now allow you to filter accommodations based on accessibility features. If you’re not sure, Wise Blue Yonder experts can help find you vetted accommodations based on your unique needs.
If your plans require use of a scooter or wheelchair, check out these sites from our friends at Wheelchair Travel and Wheel the World. They have vetted some great resources for booking wheelchair-friendly accommodations
Inform Transportation Providers
Whether you’re flying, taking a train, bus, or opting for a road trip, inform transportation providers about your specific needs in advance. Airlines, in particular, offer services such as wheelchair assistance and priority boarding. Taking advantage of these services make navigating the travel portion of your trip much easier, and you conserve your energy for the things you actually want to do once you arrive at your destination.
Select Mobility-Friendly Destinations
Consider destinations with a reputation for being accessible. Cities with well-maintained sidewalks, accessible public transportation, and a generally flat terrain can make travel more manageable. At Wise Blue Yonder, we have our favorites and can help identify the best destinations for you given your preferences and desired accessibility accommodations. Other travel service providers can assist as well, or you can do online research on accessible destinations, but do your homework! In our research, all too often we find that what we read and what we experience don’t always align.
PRO TIP: If you are traveling by plane and choose to use wheelchair assistance, airport representatives, often called TSA agents, will take you all the way from the counter where you check in for your flight to the gate you will fly out of. If you don’t travel often, this is very helpful because the representatives know the airport well and will assist you through security and customs (if needed), and will navigate you through any trams, trains or buses to get you to your correct terminal and departure gate. They are aware of non-working people movers and elevators and are savvy about the shortcuts you can take advantage of. If you want to stop along the way to your gate to use the restroom or buy a cup of coffee or a snack or meal, in our experience, the agents are more than happy to accommodate you. We recommend you tip your TSA agent about $5 USD for their help.
STEP 2. PACK WISELY
Efficient packing is crucial for a hassle-free journey, especially when mobility is a concern. Here are some packing tips:
Bring Medication and Medical Supplies
Ensure you have an ample supply of any necessary medications and medical supplies.
Pack medications in a carry-on bag for easy access during your journey. If traveling by plane, do not put medications in your checked luggage!
If for any reason your luggage gets misplaced, you will want to make sure you have medications with you.
PRO TIP: Consider bringing written prescriptions with you in case you lose yours and need to fill them quickly. Also bring back-up medications in case of flare-ups or potential setbacks you may be prone to.
Choose Comfort Over Fashion
These days anything goes at almost any venue you are enjoying. Choose comfortable clothing and footwear suitable for the climate at your destination and the activities you plan to do. If you use orthopedic shoes or have specific foot conditions, prioritize comfort over fashion. Consider layers that you can wear multiple times and that are easy for you to put on and take off on your own or with the caregivers who are with you.
Also check out our article Packing Tips for Traveling Light
Bring Assistive Devices & Have A Plan If They Break
Bring assistive devices you regularly use such as grabbers, walking sticks or canes, can and bottle openers, etcetera. If you think you will need them, don’t hesitate to bring them! If you use a scooter or wheelchair and are flying, we strongly suggest contacting the airline prior to your trip so you understand the airline’s policies for managing these devices. Unfortunately, it is common for wheelchairs and scooters to be checked as luggage and get broken. Be prepared to avoid this, and/or to have a plan in place to rent a chair or scooter should yours be damaged. We are seeing an increase in availability of rentals to accommodate accessibility needs (yay!) so search for options where you will be traveling and check out the reviews. While we hope you never need it, having information about device rentals in advance in case you need it may come in handy when you need it most.
STEP 3. NAVIGATE TRANSPORTATION WITH EASE
Transportation is often one of the most challenging parts of a travel experience. Regardless of the method you choose, there are several strategies to make travel experiences more manageable.
Leverage Airline Accommodations
Request Special Assistance
If there is one piece of advice we want you to take away from this guide, it is to leverage accessible services where you can. Airports have made significant improvements in accommodating people with accessibility needs. Contact your airline ahead of time to request wheelchair assistance, priority security screening, and help getting to and from the gate. When you book flights, there are typically options to select the additional services you need, whether it is wheelchair assistance to the gate, or all the way to your airplane seat. For years I chose to tough it out and navigate the airports on my own. Broken escalators, looonnngg security lines, and taking long routes to my gates often caused frustration and unnecessary walking. Once I finally had the courage to take the help, it made a world of difference.
Choose Direct Flights
Whenever possible, opt for direct flights to minimize the number of transfers and reduce your overall travel time. It may cost a little more but removing the extra burden of navigating airports between flights, transferring luggage and assistive devices from plane to plane, and ascending and descending multiple times is physically hard on the body and on the items you are traveling with.
Use Airport Accessibility Apps & Websites
Many airports now have sections within their mobile apps that provide information about accessibility features, including the location of elevators, accessible restrooms, and designated seating areas. These can prove very helpful when navigating airports during the busy holiday season.
Make Road Trips Comfortable
More than ever before, people are turning to cars as the preferred mode of transportation in their travel experiences. Road trips offer a lot of flexibility, and you remove the stress of what you can bring and where you can go since the control is in your hands. If you choose a road trip, use these tips to ensure a comfortable journey.
Choose Accessible Rest Stops
Plan your route with accessible rest stops that offer amenities such as ramps, accessible restrooms, and designated parking spaces. While we could not locate a reliable source for national rest area information, we recommend Googling accessible rest areas in the States and areas along your route. While you may not need a wheelchair accessible location, you can be reasonable sure they will have any accommodations you may need, such as ramps and accessible bathroom stalls.
Comfortable Seating
Make sure your vehicle is equipped with comfortable seating. Consider using cushions or seat pads for additional support. Bring blankets and pillows, you will have the room for them and they may come in handy.
Take Frequent Breaks
Plan for regular breaks to stretch your legs and avoid stiffness. Incorporate scenic stops along the route to enhance the overall road trip experience.
Use Public Transportation with Caution
In our experiences, public transportation is improving to accommodate accessibility needs but it is still unreliable at times. With the right approach, it can be a convenient and cost-effective way to explore. Consider the following tips if you decide to give public transportation a try
Research Public Transit Options
Before you arrive at your destination, research the local public transportation options. Look for accessible buses, trams, or trains, and familiarize yourself with routes and schedules. Sometimes cities have discounts and specialized maps and routes to accommodate mobility and accessibility needs.
Utilize Ride-Sharing Services
Ride-sharing services can be a convenient alternative to public transportation. They offer door-to-door service, minimizing the distance you need to walk and eliminating the need to navigate through crowded transit stations.
Accessible Taxi & Car Services
In many cities, accessible taxi services cater specifically to individuals with limited mobility. Research and pre-book accessible taxis when needed. Unfortunately, not all Cities offer this though, so make sure that if you need accessible transportation, that it is available for you at the destination you are traveling to.
PRO TIP: Curb is an app that allows you to pre-book and spontaneously book and pre-pay for taxis, ubers and lyfts for short distances in major cities. The app also allows you to choose an accessible car if needed. We have found it to be a highly reliable app for short distances.
STEP 4. EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY
Modern technology offers numerous tools and apps to make travel easier for those with limited mobility and difficulty walking. Here are a few to keep on your radar:
Navigation Apps
Use navigation apps that include information about accessible routes, elevators, and ramps. Apps like Google Maps often provide this information.
Language Translation Apps
If you’re traveling to a destination where English may not be widely spoken, consider using language translation apps to facilitate communication. We have found Google Translate works very well.
Virtual Tours
Research virtual tours of attractions you plan to visit before your trip. This allows you to assess the accessibility of venues and plan your visit accordingly. We often look for pathways, entrances and exits that offer a sneak peek into what is in store. We’ve been known to call locations and ask them to FaceTime us to show us exactly what we will experience when visiting. They won’t always accommodate us, but often they do and having the full picture for our clients and for our own experiences puts our minds at ease.
STEP 5. PRIORITIZE SELF-CARE
It’s easy to get caught up in the fun, or to minimize the routines and things you need to do every day to ensure you can feel as good as possible given your situation. Taking care of your physical and emotional well-being is paramount during travel.
Stay Hydrated and Nourished
Maintain a healthy diet and stay hydrated, especially during long journeys. Pack snacks and a reusable water bottle to ensure you have sustenance on hand. Enjoy great meals and special snacks but take care to eat and enjoy the foods and drinks that will keep you healthy. That one dessert or extra drink just isn’t worth it if it will lead to being miserable during your trip.
Rest and Relaxation
Factor in downtime to rest and recharge. Traveling, particularly during the holidays, can be demanding. It is ok to opt out of activities, or to schedule relaxation days if it means you can stay healthy and have energy for the duration of your trip. Our Wise Blue Yonder itineraries often rotate high activity days with down days to balance out physical demands.
Flexibility and Patience
Embrace flexibility and practice patience. Unexpected delays or changes in plans can happen, so maintaining a positive mindset is key to a successful trip. If you plan ahead, you will minimize setbacks. If you roll with unexpected changes, sometimes you will find they offer the best experiences and memories of all.
From us to you, we hope that wherever your Holiday travel takes you, that you make countless new memories with those you hold dear.