Travel tips for electric wheelchair users (Part 2)

A few months ago, I shared a few of the lessons I have learned on my travels with an electric wheelchair. You can read that blog post here. But let me share with you some more tips before you book that trip!

Let’s talk accommodation

The hotel industry has gotten so much better at making it easier for disabled travellers to find accessible hotels. All the major hotel comparison sites have filters for various requirements – although I will admit that some are better than others. As with all things, the best thing you can do is make sure that you have done your research on the hotel that you were picking but these are the things that I would recommend you look for:

• Bed height – the standard hotel bed height is usually too high for me to do a standing transfer. However, if you book an accessible room, the bed can be lowered. The issue is, this is not always the case and how low the bed is depends on the hotel itself. For example, on a recent trip to Valencia, I booked an accessible room by the bed was still too high for me to transfer. This meant that I had to get my wheelchair as close to the bed as physically possible and shuffled across with some assistance from my parents. It was doable and I felt safe but I much prefer the beds being lower. The best way around this is to contact the hotel (or confirm with the travel company) before making a booking. They may have the exact measurements but if they don’t, ask them if they have any photos.

• Lifts, doorways & hallways – it sounds silly to advertise your hotel as wheelchair accessible knowing fully well that the doorways and hallways are extremely narrow and the lift would barely accommodate a manual wheelchair, right? Yet it does happen! Wherever you can, look at the photos of the hotel to get a feel for the layout and don’t be afraid to ask about the size of lifts or doors. This is especially important if you have a larger than standard electric wheelchair.

• Wet rooms – if you need a roll in shower/level access shower, you will find one! Hotels have made serious improvements at creating adapted shower rooms to facilitate disabled guests. The only issue that I have found is that some do not have a shower seat/chair which I need because I can’t stand in the shower but you can usually tell by the photos on the website (or by asking the hotel themselves).

Essentially, the best takeaway I can give you is to ask questions. It’s your holiday and you should enjoy it so don’t be afraid to ask multiple questions of the hotel or the travel provider before booking. A terrible hotel can put a damper on what should be a fun and relaxing trip so make sure that you feel confident about where you’re going.

Gorgeous bed but a little high off the ground

All aboard public transport!

This is controversial but I really like taking public transport when I’m abroad.

I know that there has been a lot of discussion around the issues of public transport (particularly rail) in the UK but I don’t find that off-putting enough that I would be hesitant to take public transport abroad. It might be my sense of adventure but I love being able to see a city as the locals would. I feel like you lose a lot in the cab or paying exorbitant prices for a bus tour. However, that is just my opinion and I would never say my way is the only way – it’s just the way that sparks the most joy for me!

If you do decide to brave the bus, underground/Metro or just going for a roll around the city, make sure you’ve done your research about what the transportation is like. The best example I can give is the difference between Berlin and Rome.

No surprise, the Germans have done an amazing job. The overground (S Ban) and buses are all fully accessible – many of the overground stations have level access so you don’t need a ramp and the buses have automated ramps. Berlin is also extremely flat with concrete pavements. Rome, on the other hand, does have accessible transport but it is a far more congested city. The buses can get super packed and if you travel at the wrong time it can feel like you’re a sardine in a tin can. If my memory serves me correctly, the ramps were manuals of the driver has to physically set it up which does take time. Rome is extremely cobbly so be prepared and you need to book well in advance to get on certain train lines so that they can set up ramps and safe crossings out of the station. It’s doable but a lot more planning is needed.

The only other thing that I would mention is to be cautious of planning your trip around hailing cabs. I lived in London so I was used to black cabs having the space to accommodate my small/medium size electric wheelchair. It wasn’t always spacious but it was definitely possible. I have yet to find an accessible cab company abroad easily. I emphasise easily because they do exist but I wouldn’t know how to find them if I just needed to get from one part of the city to another without planning this well in advance. I like to have a sense of spontaneity when I travel and I would hate for every section of my itinerary to be blocked out because I’m relying on cabs. This is probably why have gotten so adept at using public transport.

The financial benefit of being disabled

It’s not very often that having a disability is financial win but when you’re travelling it can be (a little bit). Many European cities offer discounts for major attractions if you have a disability and many will give you a free companion as well. This means that if you’re travelling with your partner or friend you could cut your costs by 50% or more. I always assume that a free companion is standard so if I do not find information on the website for the attraction, I email them and ask. Yes, it’s an extra task but is a task that could save me money. I also prefer emails because it is very easy to run things through Google translate so there is a minimal chance of miscommunication. And I know, these small compensations don't cancel out the extra costs of travelling with a disability but money saved is better than money spent!

Well, that everything – I think. It’s hard to remember because a lot of the things that I do now are just habitual when I am planning a trip. If anything comes to mind, however, I will try and keep these posts updated so you feel a bit more prepared when planning your next getaway.

Regardless, I will emphasise the best thing you can do is do your research and then relax. Things can go awry but that’s not because you have a wheelchair – that’s just life. So if you get to the hotel and the bed is not what you were expecting or the Metro you were depending on is on strike, take a deep breath and roll with the punches. Some of my favourite travel memories have come on the back of something going wrong so keep your head up and make the best of it!

Do you have any tips that I haven’t mentioned? Any experiences that you want to share? Comment down below and let me know!