Holidays  

Holidays are something that most people look forward to whether at home in the UK or abroad. For people with disabilities, holidays can be more of a challenge and require an additional level of planning to make sure that our additional needs can be met so we can get maximum pleasure out of our holiday.

You need to make a checklist of what is important to you to make sure that the holiday is suitable. This will depend on your disability. For example, do you need to have oxygen for your journey: can you carry this with you and if you are flying, is there a charge for this? Or do you need to know the height of the baths/beds in the accommodation you will be staying in? Is there accessible transport nearby or how close is the disabled parking? If you have a hearing, speech or sight impairment then you will have safety and access needs, and should check these can be met.

If you are flying, there are disability requirements that European airlines have to meet. You need to be discussing these at the time of making your enquiry about flight booking including disabled assistance at the airport and onto the plane – don’t forget to check access for the arrival airport also.

Coaches can present more of a challenge to people with certain physical disabilities including steps up and fairly small toilets. Again, check the details before booking.

If you are travelling by train in the UK, the company you start your journey with should be making the arrangements for disability assistance for the whole journey if you use more than one train company for the journey. You need to book this sufficiently in advance, especially if you have specific seating needs. Some train companies can take mobility scooters but others can’t.

If you are travelling outside of the UK by train, there is no equivalent disability assistance in law as there is with airlines. Eurostar will provide assistance for their portion of the journey but Europe wide disability legislation does not yet appear to be in place for assistance with onward European train journeys. However, with persistence it can be achieved.

You will need to think of your own personal needs for travelling and plan accordingly. For example, taking adequate supplies of your essential medication and a current prescription with you as evidence of this and keeping this in your hand baggage.

If you have access to the internet, have a look at the website of an organisation which is for your disability eg Arthritis Care, Scope, RNIB, RNID to see what holiday information and tips they have. If you don’t have internet access, then these organisations will often have helplines (including textphones) so you can call them and talk through your disability holiday needs. Write down what it is that will be important to you to meet your everyday disability needs to make your holiday achievable and pleasurable to help these discussions.

Plan it right and you should be able to make sure everything is in place to have a positive holiday experience.

For the EU, make sure you have a valid European Health Insurance card as well as travel insurance.   Most organisations and charities for specific conditions will have advice about overseas travel.

For more information on any of the issues explored in this fact sheet, you can contact an Advisor at Richmond AID on 020 8831 6070.

General Information

Directgov
The government website Directgov has lots of advice and information for disabled travellers in the UK and abroad. Web: www.direct.gov.uk/en/disabledpeople/travelholidaysandbreaks

Direct Enquiries at the Nationwide Access Register
Web: www.directenquiries.com. Address: Direct Enquiries Ltd., Amber House, Market Street
Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 1JB Tel. 01344 360101  

Disabled Holiday Directory
Web: www.disabledholidaydirectory.co.uk Tel: 01348 875 592

Disabled Living
Web:www.disabledliving.co.uk This Manchester disability organisation has a useful Holiday Information Pack to download. Address: Disabled Living, Redbank House, 4 St Chad's Street, Cheetham, Manchester M8 8QA. Tel: 0161 214 5959

Enjoy England
Web: www.enjoyengland.com The official website for breaks and days out in England. Has details of the National Accessible Scheme which registers accessible venues. Visit Britain address: Thames Tower, Blacks Road, London, W6 9EL Tel: 020 8846 9000  

The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain
Web: www.accessibleguide.co.uk This publication is free to Blue Badge holders and costs £6.99 for others Address: Motability Operations Ltd. City Gate House, 22 Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HB. Tel: 0800 953 7070

Organisations and charities giving advice and information  

3H Fund
Web:www.3hfund.org.uk Provides subsidised group holidays for physically disabled people. Address: Unit 2B, Speldhurst Business Park, Langdon Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2RA. Tel: 01892 860207
Break
Web:www.break-charity.org. Supports children, adults and families with special care needs, including supported holidays. Address: Davison House, 1 Montague Road, Sheringham, Norfolk, NR26 8WN. Tel: 01263 822 161
Caravan Sitefinder
Web:www.caravansitefinder.co.uk Information about caravan-based holidays, including specific information for disabled people. Address: 22 Glenorchy Terrace, Edinburgh, EH9 2DH Tel: 020 82675696
Disaway Trust
Web: www.disaway.co.uk Organises group holidays with physically disabled people.
Handicapped Aid Trust
Gives grants towards the cost of holidays. Address: The Old Bakery, Green Street, Lytham, Lancs. FY8 5LG. Tel: 01253 796 441
Holidays for All
Web: www.holidaysforall.org.uk A group of disability organisations working together to promote accessible holidays. Tel: 08451 249 973
Livability Holidays
(John Grooms & The Shaftesbury Society) Web: www.livability.org.uk Provides accessible holiday locations at affordable rates. Address: 50 Scruton Street, London EC2A 4XQ Tel: 020 7452 2000
Phab England
Web: www.phabengland.org.uk Charity promoting links between people with and without physical disabilities, including holidays. Address: Summit House, 50 Wandle Road, Croydon CR0 1DF
Tel: 020 8667 9443
Tourism for All
Web: www.tourismforall.org.uk Charity providing information on accessible accommodation. Address: C/o Vitalise, Shap Road Industrial Estate, Kendal LA9 6NZ Tel: 0845 124 9971
Vitalise
Web: www.vitalise.org.uk National charity providing short breaks and respite care for visually impaired and other disabled people. Address: Short Break Enquiries & Bookings, Short Breaks Booking Team, Vitalise, Shap Road Industrial Estate, Kendal LA9 6NZ Tel: 0845 345 1970 General enquiries tel. 0845 345 1972

Travel Agencies Specialising in Holidays for Disabled People  

Accessatlast
Web:www.accessatlast.com Address: 18 Hazel Grove, Tarleton, Preston, Lancs. PR4 6DQ Tel: 01772 814555
Accessible Travel & Leisure
Web:www.accessibletravel.co.uk (In partnership with The Stroke Association) Address: Naas Lane, Quedgeley, Gloucester GL2 2SN Tel: 01452 729 739
Assistance Travel Service
Web: www.assistedholidays.com Address: 1 Park lane, Purfleet, Essex RM19 1TA Tel: 07810 202 429
CanBeDone Web:www.canbedone.co.uk Provides wheelchair-accessible holidays. Address: Can Be Done Ltd, 11 Woodcock Hill, Harrow, HA3 0XP Tel: 020 8907 2400
Chalfont Line
Web: www.chalfont-line.co.uk Address: Chalfont Line Ltd., 4 Providence Road, West Drayton UB78HJ
Tel: 01895 459 540 Escorted holidays for the slow walker or wheelchair user.
Enable Holidays
Web:www.enableholidays.com Holidays for people with limited mobility. Address: 26 The Green, King's Norton, Birmingham B38 8SD Tel: 0871 222 4939
Traveleyes
Web: www.traveleyes.co.uk Provides independent world travel for blind people Address: PO Box 511, Leeds LS5 3JT Tel: 0870 922 0221
Travel Matters
Web:www.travelmattersuk.com Linked with Surrey Oaklands NHS Trust. Organises holidays for people with learning disabilities/ physical difficulties. Address: 55a Manson Road, Redhill, RH1 2EU Tel: 01737 789 997

Advice/ Holidays from charities supporting specific disabilities

Action for Blind People
Web: www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk Has a brochure called “Great Escapes” with hotels and self-catering holidays in the U.K. Address: 5 th Floor, Orbit House, Albert Street, Eccles, Manchester M30 0BL Free helpline: 0800 915 4666 Email: info@actionforblindpeople.org.uk
Arthritis Care
Web:www.arthritiscare.org.uk Address: Arthritis Care, 18 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HD If you would like an information pack about Arthritis Care and the services they offer, ring the 24-hour information line. Tel: 0845 600 6868
Hearing Concern
Web:www.hearingconcernlink.org Address: Resource Centre 356 Holloway Road, London N7 6PA Tel: 020 7700 8177 (Also textphone) For holidays with communication support, contact: Philip Barron, 4 Anselm Close, Croydon CR0 5LY Tel: 020 8680 2229
Multiple Sclerosis Society
Web: www.mssociety.org.uk MS National Centre, 372 Edgware Road, London, NW2 6ND Tel: 020 8438 0700 Has a brochure of holiday homes owned by the society.
Parkinson’s Disease Society
Web: www.parkinsons.org.uk Has information sheets. PDS National Office, 215 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London  SW1V 1EJ Tel: 020 7931 8080  Helpline: 0808 800 0303
RNIB
Web: www.rnib.org.uk Royal National Institute of Blind People, Address: 105 Judd Street, London, WC1H 9NE
Tel: 020 7388 1266 Helpline: 0845 766 9999
RNID
Web:www.rnid.org.uk Address: 19-23 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8SL Tel: 0808 808 0123 Textphone: 0808 808 9000

Travel Insurance
Companies specialising in insurance for people with medical conditions or disabilities:
Age Concern Tel: 0845 600 3348 www.ageconcern.org.uk
Diabetes UK Tel: 0800 731 7431 www.diabetes.org.uk
Fish & Co Tel: 0500 432 141 www.fishinsurance.co.uk
Free Spirit Tel: 0845 230 5000 www.free-spirit.com
Scope Tel: 0808 800 3333 www.scope.org.uk
Staysure Tel: 0870 046 4560 www.staysure.co.uk
Venturesure Tel: 0845 230 3521 www.venturesure.co.uk

Accessible Holiday Venues in the UK 

Beamsley Project
Web:www.beamsleyproject.org.uk Self-catering accommodation in the Yorkshire Dales. Address: The Beamsley Project, Harrogate Road, Beamsley, Skipton BD23 6JA Tel: 01756 710255
Park House
Country House for disabled people. Address: Sandringham, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE35 6EH Tel: 01485 543000
Strathwillan House
Web: www.strathwillan.enuu.net “A guest house suitable for all, including those with disabilities of all kinds”, Isle of Arran. Address: Strathwillan House, Brodick, Isle of Arran, Scotland KA27 8BQ Tel: 01770 302331
Ty Glyn Davis Trust
Web:www.tyglyndavistrust.co.uk Fully accessible self-catering holidays in West Wales for children and young people with special needs. Contact Louise Hutchines, Centre Organiser, Ty Glyn Davis Trust, Hafod, Llanarth, Ceredigion, Wales SA4G7 0QB Tel: 01545 580708

General Advice  

The Foreign and CommonwealthOffice
has a useful travel checklist for travel abroad. Web: www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas
NHS Health Advice for Travellers
Web:www.nhs.uk
EHIC
Web: www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad