ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL

Travel can be challenging for everyone. General information on staying safe overseas and what help you can receive if you do get into difficulties is available on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel website. This includes the following information for all travellers:

• Make sure your passport is valid and in good condition, and that you've got any necessary visas. Fill in the next-of-kin details in your passport. For advice on passports visit the UK Passport Service website or call them on 0870 521 0410.
• Leave copies of your passport, insurance policy (plus the insurer’s 24-hour emergency number), ticket details, your itinerary and contact details with your family and friends.
• At least six weeks before you travel, check with your doctor what vaccinations and other health precautions you may need to take for your trip. Take enough prescribed medicine with you to see you through your trip and to allow for any delays. Take a copy of your prescriptions with you, to satisfy foreign customs authorities of your requirements, or to facilitate obtaining fresh supplies.
• Take enough money for your trip and some back-up funds, such as traveller’s cheques or credit cards. Before you leave, find out how you can replace these if lost or stolen, and keep a separate note of their numbers.
• Get a good guidebook and get to know your destination before you go. Find out about local laws and customs and follow them. Be aware of your personal security and take sensible precautions to protect yourself.
• Ensure you've got comprehensive travel insurance that’s appropriate to your needs.

But some travellers may want to plan trips with particular care, taking into account other considerations depending on their circumstances. These travellers might include disabled people.

BEFORE YOU GO

BOOKING A HOLIDAY

All holidays and travel benefit from a bit of advance thought and planning. So be realistic – begin by listing the problems you may encounter.

• Research your destination and the facilities that are available. Consult widely including good guidebooks, disability organisations in the UK and the Embassy or High Commission of the country you plan to visit, specialist tour operations and tourist boards. Don’t forget to check the FCO's travel website or call 0845 850 2829 for information to help British nationals make informed decisions about their safety abroad. The website includes information on threats to personal safety arising from political unrest, conflicts, terrorist activities, anti-British demonstrations, lawlessness, violence, natural disasters, epidemics, and aircraft and shipping safety.
• The FCO travel website also contains important general information on safety abroad, under the heading Know Before You Go.
• Your impairment or health condition and the facilities offered by the holiday provider will affect the type of holiday you choose. It's up to you to consider how independent, comfortable and healthy you're likely to be in different environments and unfamiliar climates, and in places where language may be a problem.
• When contacting holiday providers, airlines, hotels etc, be clear to all about your requirements. Just saying that you've got arthritis, for example, isn't sufficient. You might find it helpful to use a standard form such as our
           Checklist for Disabled and Less Mobile Passengers
  . Confirm enquiries, bookings and reservations in writing. Double-check all arrangements before departure.
• Consider whether you'll be accompanied by someone to provide personal assistance or whether you need additional support to be provided.
• Discuss your preferred means of communication with the travel organiser; for example, information in large print or Braille.
• Most disabled people don't need to get medical clearance before travelling. However, some airlines may ask for evidence of fitness to travel and want to satisfy themselves of your ability to attend to your personal needs. If you've got a medical condition, you and your doctor may need to complete a Medical Information Form (MEDIF). The form is only valid for one trip and can only be used on the flights and dates shown on your ticket. Frequent travellers with an impairment which is a stable condition may be able to obtain a Frequent Travellers’ Medical Card (FREMEC). This gives the airline a permanent record of your specific needs, so that you don't have to fill in a form and make arrangements every time you travel.

CHECKING FACILITIES

It's your responsibility to make sure that the carrier and holiday provider are given all the relevant details of your requirements at all stages of the journey. So think about what kind of facilities or support you'll need. Points to consider include:

Transport

• What are your needs during all parts of the journey, including at departure, while on board, at stopovers, during transfer journeys and at destination? Try to pre-book your seat – different transport carriers have different policies, so check the terms of any pre-booking. Find out about toilet accessibility and special dietary requirements.
• What assistance is available, for example, at check-in, moving around the terminal, on boarding and on disembarking?
• What's the policy on taking an assistance dog? Are any veterinary certificates and identification required? What's the procedure for carriage of the dog? The dog may also be subject to quarantine regulations. You may be able to benefit from the Pet Travel Scheme. However, entry regulations for animals vary for each country, so contact your destination's nearest Embassy, High Commission or local tourist board in advance. It's also worth checking whether dog food – especially meat products – from the UK can be taken into that country.
• What's the policy on taking the equipment you need, such as wheelchairs, portable machines, batteries, respirators or oxygen? Some airlines won't take certain types of batteries, such as wet cell batteries, or oxygen cylinders. There may be packing procedures to follow; you may be asked about the make and type of your equipment; and there may be forms to complete.

Accommodation

Be specific about your requirements – ask for whatever you need to make your stay comfortable and ask for written confirmation that it's available. Your travel agent or tour operator should be able to advise you, but you may also decide to call the hotel, resort or cruise liner directly to speak to someone who's familiar with the rooms. You may want to think about:

• Wheelchair access. Is there step-free access to all the main areas of the hotel, resort or ship?
• Even if you don't use a wheelchair but are less mobile or visually impaired, you should check on the access to public rooms, restaurants, bars, toilets, swimming pool, beach etc.
• Whether any equipment you use can be hired locally, such as back rests, bathing equipment, hoists, ramps and special mattresses. Information may be available from local disability groups.
• Whether a lift is available and if so what size it is. Will your wheelchair or other equipment fit?
• Location of the bedrooms. Can you be on the ground floor if you wish, or near a suitable lift?
• Do the bedroom facilities fit your needs, for example, is the door wide enough; does it open outwards or inwards?
• Do the bathroom facilities fit your needs; for example, is the room large enough; is there a roll-in shower or grab-bars?
• Can your dietary requirements be met?
• Are there facilities for assistance dogs?
• Are there shopping and entertainment facilities within easy reach of your accommodation? Can your needs be met during any excursions?

Car Use

• If you intend to take or hire a car, the Blue Badge Scheme now operates throughout the EU. Adapted cars are now available for hire in many countries. Make sure you know the licence requirements, driving laws and driving conditions of the country you're visiting.
• When hiring a car, make sure the company is fully aware of your needs and check the level of insurance they offer – you may feel it's a good idea to extend the insurance.
• If you need a taxi, try to book one in advance and stress your needs. But be aware that, in many areas, accessible vehicles won’t be available. If you're visually impaired, the Royal National Institute of Blind People has produced a sign to help hail taxis. The RNIB helpline number is 0845 766 9999.

Insurance

• Always make sure that you've got full travel insurance. In many countries the cost of medical treatment in the event of illness or accident can be very high, so it's essential that you take out a full travel insurance policy. If not, you'll normally have to pay the costs of any emergency yourself.
• Anyone travelling within the European Economic Area or Switzerland should also get a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). You can apply for an EHIC online, by phone on 0845 606 2030 or at Post Offices.
• Make sure your insurance is up to date, valid for the entire trip and covers everyone who's travelling. When looking for travel insurance, ask as many questions as possible to ensure that the policy you buy will be right for you.
• Check exactly what's covered; for example:
  medical and repatriation expenses; cancellation of the trip or any delays you may experience;
  all your luggage and equipment. Some standard policies are inadequate for people travelling with mobility equipment such as wheelchairs. But check if these items are covered under your household policy;
  personal injury as a result of terrorist activity;
  personal liability to others;
  legal costs.
• You should also look carefully at exemptions to the policy, including any relating to alcohol and drugs or pre-existing medical conditions. When you declare a medical condition you'll generally have to undergo some sort of medical screening. This can mean calling a medical helpline to give details of your condition, or asking your doctor to complete a questionnaire or declaration of fitness to travel. Alternatively, you might simply be required to sign a declaration stating that you aren't travelling against doctor’s orders, don't have a terminal prognosis, haven't received in-patient treatment in the last six months, and aren't awaiting treatment or travelling in order to obtain it. If you've got a serious condition or a mental health problem, you may find that your best option is to seek cover from specialist insurers.
• Since most disabled people don’t present a greater risk, most will be able to get insurance through mainstream suppliers instead of approaching specialist insurers. Most insurance companies offer policies suitable for travellers with disabilities, or for older travellers. So unless you've got a severe or life-threatening medical condition or a mental health history – which many mainstream insurers exclude – it's likely to be worth shopping around. Always check the small print.
• When looking for an insurance supplier, you should bear in mind any rights you may have under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and any corresponding obligations of the insurer. If you feel that you've been discriminated against within the meaning of this Act, then you should raise this with the insurer.

HEALTH AND MEDICATION

• If you take medication, you should ensure that you take enough with you to see you through the holiday and allow for possible delays. Always keep clearly-labelled medication and any medical documents in your hand luggage or in a place you can get to them easily.
• It may be essential to have a letter from your doctor stating your need for the medication just in case you lose your medicine and need to get more, and particularly if you're going to a country with strict drug controls. You should always be ready to show this letter to customs officers.
• The medication you take may contain ingredients which are illegal in some countries. Check with the nearest Embassy or High Commission of the country you're going to, to find out more about any restrictions.
• If you've got diabetes and are on medication or have a dietary restriction, you and your doctor should work out an individual schedule for meal times, taking into account the length of your journey and change in time zones.
• If flying, ask your doctor if your impairment makes you vulnerable to circulation problems.
• It's a good idea to carry a 'travelling letter', which gives a brief description of your impairment and, if appropriate, details of any difficulties that could occur and what assistance you might then need.

WHEN TRAVELLING

POINT OF DEPARTURE

• Try to check in early. Airline staff are usually very helpful if queuing causes you difficulties, so make yourself known if it does.
• Confirm any arrangements you've made with handling agents at the time of check in and ensure that the carrier's crew are aware of any potential problems or concerns you may have. If you've got a hearing or visual impairment you may wish to tell staff, so that you don't miss any announcements or changes to the boarding display screens.
• Make sure you label all your baggage, equipment, batteries and hand luggage appropriately, so that it reaches you at your destination or is available for you to collect upon your return to the UK.
• When checking in your luggage, remember that crutches, canes, braces and small removable parts of wheelchairs (e.g. foot rests) may be carried as part of your hand luggage, although these will be included in your weight allowance.

WHEELCHAIRS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT

• Remember to take with you any necessary equipment such as spare inner tubes and tools, a voltage converter (check the voltage before you travel), an adaptor plug and a transformer.
• Wheelchair users are usually boarded first, so it's essential to arrive in good time. Whatever your impairment, if you think you require additional time to make yourself comfortable, ask to be pre-boarded.
• Wheelchair users will be asked to transfer to another chair so that their own wheelchair can be loaded onto the plane. Make sure you ask the crew for your wheelchair to be made available at the door on arrival. To avoid loss or damage, remove seat cushions and any other parts that could easily become separated from the chair, and take these items with you.
• Attach instructions to scooters or power chairs, saying how and where to disconnect the batteries, and any other dis/assembly or transportation instructions that might be necessary. This is important because, even if you give handlers instructions at the start of your journey, you may not be able to do the same with the handlers when you arrive.

IF THINGS GO WRONG OVERSEAS

British nationals take millions of trips overseas every year, most of which pass without any kind of incident. However, if you get into difficulty, such as falling sick, being a victim of crime or facing an emergency, approach the nearest British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate to find out how consular staff can help you. There's a directory of all overseas offices on the FCO website. Your holiday representative, local guide, hotel or local police should also have this information.

If you need help in a country where there’s no British diplomatic or consular office, you can receive help from the diplomatic or consular office of another member of the European Union. There are also informal arrangements with some Commonwealth countries, including New Zealand and Australia, to help British nationals in some countries.

USEFUL CONTACTS

Access to Air Travel for Disabled People
The Code of Practice is available from: Department for Transport, PO Box 236, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7NB. Tel: 0870 1226 236, Textphone: 0870 1226 405, Fax: 0870 1226 237

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Pet Travel Scheme: Tel: 0870 241 1710, Textphone: 0845 300 1998, Fax: 01245 458 749

Department for Transport (DfT)
Mobility and Inclusion Unit - for information on the Blue Badge Scheme: Zone 4/23, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR. Tel: 020 7944 6100, Textphone: 020 7944 3277, Fax: 020 7944 6102

Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
Information and guidance on discrimination issues.  Freepost, MID 02164, Stratford upon Avon CV37 9BR. Tel: 0845 604 6610 (England), 0845 604 8810 (Wales), 0845 604 5510 (Scotland), Textphone: 08457 622 644, Fax: 08457 778 878

Disabled Living Foundation
380-384 Harrow Road, London W9 2HU. Tel: 0845 130 9177, Textphone: 020 7432 8009

Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC)
Secretariat, Great Minster House, Zone 4/24, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR. Tel: 020 7944 8011, Textphone: 020 7944 3277, Fax: 020 7944 6998
DPTAC information on air travel

Door to Door – the transport and travel website for disabled and less mobile people:

Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO)
Travel Advice Team, Consular Directorate, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Old Admiralty Building, London SW1A 2PA. Tel: 0845 850 2829 (for visa-related enquiries contact the UK Embassy of the country you intend to visit), Fax: 020 7008 0155

Holiday Care Service
Provides information fact sheets about travel within the UK and overseas for elderly and disabled people: 7th Floor Sunley House, 4 Bedford Park, Croydon, CR0 2AP Tel: 0845 1249 971 (UK only) Textphone: 0845 1249 976 Fax: 0845 1249 972