Travel easier with help, planning

Seasoned traveller Olivia Shivas has some top tips to make travelling with a disability as easy as possible.

Whether you’re travelling to Europe or to a bach at the beach, here are my tips and tricks to make travelling with a disability a little bit easier from my own experience as a wheelchair user.

Before travelling

Before a trip, I always call in advance and double check that accessible facilities have been reserved for me, even if I have made a note of it in my online booking. I have found that hotels and airbnbs have different definitions of ‘‘wheelchair accessibility’’, so I like to check and be specific with the accessible features I require, such as a seat in the shower.

I sometimes request extra photos, which helps me decide if the accommodation is suitable for me.

Long-haul flights

If I’m taking a long-haul flight, I’ll also request special assistance at the airport. When I was travelling solo to Finland to study abroad, I had a layover in Hong Kong.

It was so helpful having assistants help me through the airports, and to carry my luggage. They also knew the shortcuts through the airport, took me to the front of queues and knew exactly where I needed to be at the right time.

It meant less stress when travelling, which can already be exhausting whether you have a disability or not.

Save documents

Before I go on a trip, I also like to print or save on my phone any useful documentation – not just a scan of my passport, but medical certificates, prescriptions, wheelchair or mobility equipment manuals, and safety information.

This makes the process smoother in case you are asked any questions about your disability at the airport or on your travels.

If I’m going to a large airport, such as Hong Kong, or Changi Airport in Singapore, I like to study the layout in advance, or download a map to my phone, so it’s easier to find accessible bathrooms or quiet rooms.

When you arrive

When you finally arrive at your destination hopefully your wheelchair is fully intact.

You will be surprised at how many activities allow disabled people to bring a companion for free.

From Auckland Zoo to the London Eye, attractions offer free tickets to carers of disabled people. MOTAT offers disabled visitors and their caregivers free general admission entry.

Do some research to take advantage of some of the ‘‘perks’’ of being disabled.

Wheelchair repairs

If you need an emergency wheelchair repair, a bike shop should be able to help.

When I was living in Helsinki, Finland, I got a puncture to my wheelchair tyre. I must have rolled over a drawing pin at a party one night and didn’t realise I had a flat tyre until the next morning.

Luckily there was a bike shop around the corner, where they were able to fix it for me in 15 minutes, and it only cost 20 euros ($33).

Ask for help

Don’t be shy to ask for help if you need it. Some of the best interactions I’ve had while travelling is when I’ve asked someone for assistance, whether it’s finding directions or to be carried up stairs in my wheelchair. People are happy to help most of the time, and by embracing that, your trip could be more fun.