SO YOU WANT TO TRAVEL
Travel Tips For Senior
Citizens And Persons With A Disability
With
the age of jet travel, cruising, rail travel, and other means of
transportation, going to places of interest and excitement has become the dream
of all persons. And this includes a
person with a mobility problem or a disability. The disability could be slower means of walking, trouble in
communication or understanding, the use of a wheelchair, needing oxygen, being
blind or visually impaired, traveling with a service animal, being deaf or
hearing impaired, having the need of dialysis treatment and the many other
forms of disability that one encounters today.
Because
you have a disability, it should not prevent you from enjoying what life has to
offer. You should know how to prepare
to travel. The Boy Scouts of America
have a motto “BE PREPARED”. This motto
should also apply to you, the traveler with a disability. There are things you should consider when
planning a trip or vacation. And you should inform a travel agent the nature
of your disability and what your travel needs are.
·
You
should consult with your doctor to see if your medical condition will allow you
to travel according to your selection of transportation.
·
Get
copies of all prescriptions from your physician in case it is necessary for
refills.
·
Carry
enough prescription medication to last you longer than your planned
journey. Always carry your
prescriptions in their original bottles as some countries will want proof of
your need for medication.
·
Have
your physician’s and pharmacist’s telephone number in case an emergency arises.
In
regards to wheelchairs, suppliers of transportation will have certain rules and
regulations depending on the type of wheelchair you use. It is recommended that you use a folding,
mechanical wheelchair. Also, consult
your insurance agent if your wheelchair is covered by your homeowner’s
policy. If not, consider adding a rider
to cover your wheelchair.
Inform
a destination you have chosen, whether a hotel, motel or resort, the nature of
your disability and ask if they have a roll-in shower if needed.
Either
you, or your travel agent, should inform the supplier of transportation that
you are blind or visually impaired. The
supplier should inform you any travel information, whether Braille or verbal,
that is required.
You
should also inform a destination the nature of your disability and ask what
services are supplied.
If
you have the need of a service animal, you should consult the form of
transportation you have selected as to what are the rules and regulations when
traveling with such an animal. The
American With Disabilities Act of 1990 states that suppliers must allow a
service animal to accompany a passenger providing that the passenger proves the
need of a service animal.
Persons
who are deaf or hearing impaired should let a transport provider or destination
be aware of his or her disability and should ask what services are provided to
meet his or her needs.
If
you have need of a hearing aid, you should carry extra batteries.
If
you are diabetic and using insulin, you should know that there are often
changes in time across the area you are traveling. Try to adjust your self-administration of insulin to correspond
to the hour you take it at home.
Many
cruise lines, and many countries, will allow persons who require dialysis
treatment, the opportunity to enjoy what is being offered. Here again a person requiring dialysis
treatment should inform their dialysis treatment center of his or her plans and
ask the treatment center to make the necessary reservations so that the person
requiring dialysis treatment will be able to receive this treatment according
to the cruise line selected or their destination.
If it is required that you have the need of certain foods because of your religious beliefs or on a selected diet, you should inform the supplier of transportation or destination the need of such foods so that they will be adequately provided.
If
you are planning to travel, you should give attention to other needs
·
Purchasing
medical and cancellation insurance. If
you are traveling outside the USA, older citizens should be aware that Medicare
and many private insurance companies, such as Blue Cross, will not pay for any
medical treatment or bills if such services are needed by the traveler.
·
The
need to travel with a companion. Some
forms of transportation will allow a companion accompanying a person with a
disability to travel free or at a reduced rate. Check with the form of transportation you have selected as to
what is their policy regarding a traveling companion.
·
The
use of credit cards.
Preparing
to travel is one half of solving your travel needs. The other half is using a travel agent that specializes in
arranging travel for persons with a disability. Although there are thousands of travel agents around the country,
only a few of them know what is needed to make travel arrangements for their
client according to their disability.
The following is a list of American travel agents who can meet your
needs. Regardless of your place of
resident, travel arrangements can be made with any of the travel agents listed.
1016
Alpine Ridge Drive
Ballwin,
Missouri 63021
USA
Phone…1-636-225-7690
Fax
…...1-636-349-1725
Email….frtravel@swbell.net
Allen
Becker is a Missouri travel agent who is able to make travel arrangements for
persons with disabilities. Allen will
investigate all forms of transportation and accommodations to see if they have
services that meets your disability.
PO
Box 2985
Jackson,
Wyoming 83001
Phone…1-800-929-4811
Fax……1-208
787-2332
Slow
walkers and wheelchair users who want to visit the West will be interested in
accessible tours provided by Access Tours which has been masking places for
accessible impaired travelers since 1989.
414
Kuwilli Street, Suite 101
Honolulu,
Hawaii 96817
Phone……..1-800-480-1143
Fax………..1-808-545-7657
Email……..access@lava.net
Access
Aloha Travel can arrange both group and individual travel for all physical
limitations. Access Aloha Travel can
arrange for special discounts for persons traveling to Hawaii.
Access Travel, Inc.
5405
Storm Drift
Columbia,
Maryland 21045
Access
Travel, Inc. provides information for persons who have a mobility problem. They know that many questions must be asked
and answered by both travelers and suppliers prior to any trip. This is the
only way to insure a smooth, easy, barrier free vacation for you.
35
West Sellers Avenue
Ridley
Park, Pennsylvania 19078
Phone…….1-800-TINGLES
Alt
Phone...1-610-521-0339
Fax……….1-610
521- 6959
Email……..sales@disabilitytravel.com
Since
1985, Accessible Journeys has been designing accessible holidays and escorting
groups on accessible vacations exclusively for slow walkers, wheelchair
travelers, their families and their friends.
Accessible Journeys is qualified to serve your accessibility needs in
worldwide travel. In addition to
offices in Europe, Accessible Journeys staff has traveled extensively in Asia,
Africa, South America and the Middle East; researching destinations, inspecting
hotels and accessing attractions.
PO
Box 91333
Anchorage,
Alaska 99509
Phone……..1-800-349-6301
Alt
Phone…1-907-349-6301
Email……..awy@customcpu.com
Alaska
Welcomes You offers all sorts of accessible tours from 1-1/2 tours of Anchorage
to 8 hour tours of Seward to rafting on the Kenai Peninsula to multi-day guided
sightseeing. They are also willing to
help you plan individual tours.
Alt
Phone…...1-760-744-6536
Fax
………. 1-760-744-5765
Email………..mark@discoveryhillstravel.com
Mark
Jackson, agency owner and partially disabled, offers all travel services to
customers, but excels in designing vacations on all Cruise Lines, trips to
Hawaii, Mexico and Caribbean.
801
West Bay Drive
Suite
800
Largo,
Florida 33770
Phone….1-800-544-7640
For
Information Outside USA & Canada…1-727-518-7311
Fax……1-727-518-7322
Email….dasc@dialysisatsea.com
The
Dialysis Traveler and Dialysis At Sea Cruise is the largest provider of
dialysis services aboard cruise ships in the world. Since 1977, they have helped thousands of individuals on dialysis
and their families experience the pleasure of cruising and the joy of making
their dream vacation. They believe the
reason for our success is simple.. “We
care about you and want to help you and your family enjoy life in safety and
comfort”.
Fax………1-920-563-9162
Email…….info@eaiadventure.com
Eco-Adventure specializes in travel to East Africa, China and Costa Rica. Eco-Adventure now offers several programs that are especially suited to people with disabilities and mature adults. They have the equipment and the personnel in place and are ready to go.
PMBA
367-231 East Alessandro Blvd
Riverside
California 92508-6039
Phone….
1-909-943-1492
Fax:…….1-909-943-3382
Email…...mrsenchted@unidial.com
Enchanted
Travel Tours is being built by and for physically challenged individuals. We know disability does not mean
inability. Their ultimate goal is to
provide physically challenged individuals the chance to participate in
life-enhancing activities that might not otherwise be available to them.
5386
Arlington Avenue
Riverside
California 92504
Phone……...1-800-920-8989
Alt
Phone….1-909-372-9595
FAX……….1- 909-372-9596
Email………ezaccess@mediaone.net
Dedicated
to meeting the special needs of disabled and mature travelers. The goal is to research client’s vacation
choices and provide them with the necessary information to make a trip
enjoyable and rewarding.
143
Bridge Street
PO
Box 382
Owatonna
Minnesota 55060
Phone……...1-800-535-6790
Alt
Phone….1-507-451-5005
Fax………...1-507-451-1685
Email………thq@II.net
Flying
Wheels Travel, founded in 1970, are experts at arranging special needs
travel. Tours are planned with the
disabled traveler in mind. The
specialized facilities that we provide are geared towards individuals rather
than volume of customers. We want you
to know that your able-bodied relatives and friends are always welcome on any
of our tours.
5184
Majorca Club Drive
Boca
Raton Florida 33486
Phone…….1-800-778-7935
Alt
Phone...1-561-361-9384
Email……..ada@medicaltravel.org
Medical
Travel is a specialty travel agency exclusively for the special needs traveler,
their families and their friends. What
Medical Travel provides
·
Accessible
Cruises on all major cruise lines.
·
All
our groups are hosted by medical professionals
·
Trip
planning and cruises for dialysis patients
·
Free
wheelchair transportation world wide when we handle your full travel
reservations.
·
We
make available licensed travel companions.
·
We
make oxygen service available.
·
We
make accessible travel reservations for cruises, airlines, hotels, auto and van
rentals, Amtrak and Rail Europe.
·
Your
dream vacations with your input after we do an analysis of all your travel
needs.
22567
Ventura Blvd
Woodland
Hills, California 91364
Phone……..1-800-797-6004 outside CA
Alt
Phone…1-818-591-3159
Fax:……….818-225-9981
Email……..willibingo@msn.com
Provides
trip planning for travelers with disabilities for almost 20 years. Nautilus Tours & Cruises specializes in
travel arrangements for persons with physical disabilities, their families and
friends. We work through a full service
agency and can handle air and train reservations, hotels, rental cars, tours
and cruises, both domestically and internationally. We also develop and escort tours and cruises.
San
Diego, California 92101
Phone……1-800717-8226
Fax:………619-696-9090
Email…….neverland@home.com
We
provide unique and exciting travel opportunities that are both exciting and
accessible. We offer Accessible Tours
Trip Planning, Cruises and Special Events.
Our tours are specially designed by and physically challenged
travelers. All you needs will be taken
care of and thought out in advance allowing you to enjoy what traveling should
be a vacation. Destinations to consider
are Australia, Alaska and British Isles.
239
Commercial Street
Malden,
Massachusetts 02148
Phone…..1-866-382-8728
Email…...enquiries@rollaround.org
Rollaround
Travel is a business dedicated to the needs of disabled and any mobility
challenged travelers. Having offices in
both the USA and the UK, we are ideally located to provide local support for
citizens of the USA and the EU.
Rollaround Travel USA offers a very personal and confidential service.
Whatever your needs, call us, because if you can travel, we can take you! Use our executive team and our extensive
international network of professional specialist’s operators to gain access to:
·
Exclusive
escorted tours for a very special travel experience.
·
Personal
itinerary planning.
·
Accessible
accommodation reservation service.
·
Adapted
and accessible vehicle rental.
·
Flight
reservations.
·
Accessible
cruises.
·
Tours
for Dialysis patients to Britain, Ireland and Italy.
·
Tours
for Oxygen dependent clients.
Seaside,
Oregon 9738
Phone……..1-800-547-9198
Alt
Phone…1-503-738-3324
Fax………..1-503-738-3369
We
provide tours for the developmentally disabled. Our vacations are especially designed for the developmentally
disabled persons and are escorted by experienced Sundial staff. Our purpose is to encourage handicapped
travelers and to ease their way. All vacation arrangements are made by our
qualified travel consultants in cooperation with the airlines, hotels, and
other companies.
7900
Old York Road
114-B
Elkins
Park, Pennsylvania 19027-2339
Phone…….1-800-783-5841
Alt
Phone…1-215-782-1370
Fax………..1-215-635-2637
Email……..gtour400@aol.com
The
Guided Tour is a special program that offers opportunities for personal growth,
recreation and socialization through travel for men and women with developmental
and physical challenges. The travelers come from all over the United States who
want to experience the same joys of travel that the non-challenged community
experiences.
Travel Discoveries, Inc.
11948
Preswick Lane
PO
Box 1428
Mukilteo
(Seattle Area), Washington 98275
Phone……1-800-909-5966
Email…….lynn@travel-discoveries.com
They
are experienced in planning travel for persons who are visually impaired. Each year they offer both domestic and
international integrated tours.
Travel Outlet, Inc.
Wheeling,
West Virginia 26003
Phone……..1-800-708-6359
Alt
Phone…1-304-242-7772
Fax………..1-304-242-7807
Email……...info@travwloutlet.com
We
are an agency that specializes in travel arrangements for travelers with
physical disabilities, their relatives and friends and anyone desiring
slower-paced travel. Travel Outlet’s
primary concerns are quality and personal service when booking your tours.
165
Inspirational Drive
Sedona,
Arizona 86336
Phone……...1-800-453-9195
Alt
Phone….1-520-204-1781
Email………Tourturtle@aol.com
Looking
for a guided tour? Our domestic and
international guided tours for slow walkers and mobility impaired is just what
the turtle ordered.
11978
Audubon Place
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania 19116
Phone……1-215-9690542
Fax………1-215-9699251
Email…….Ann@undiscoveredbritain.com
Undiscovered
Britain specializes in the disabled and/or mature traveler who prefers a
slower-paced tour. Undiscovered Britain
can provide information for:
·
Vehicle
rentals with wheelchair lifts and/or hand controls.
·
Rail
tickets.
·
Ferry
tickets.
·
Airport
and cruise ship transfers in an accessible van.
·
Theatre
tickets.
·
Special
events.
·
Day
tours both in the city and out in the countryside.
·
Private
driver/guides
So you see you can travel even though you have a mobility problem or are disabled. You might not be able to do everything, but you can probably do more than you thought. You know that the world isn’t perfect and something could go wrong. But by careful preparation and using a qualified travel agent or tour operator, as those listed above, who specialize in arranging travel for persons with a disability, you can reduce that possibility. And then you can enjoy, to the best of your ability, all that the world has to offer.