Planning A Trip: Deciding Where To Go, How To Travel There, Where To Stay
What To Include In Your Travel Plans
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Time for rest: When making arrangements and schedules, remember to include plenty of rest. If you don't schedule it, your body will -- and probably not at a time when you want. Keep in mind time zone changes and jet lag, too.
Hotels for special needs: Web sites such as Expedia.com and Hotels.com include features on their web sites that make it easy to find accommodations that include the features you need. For example, rooms with refrigerators if you travel with drugs that need to be refrigerated, or wheelchair accessibility.
- At www.Expedia.com , click on "hotels", and enter the requested information . When you arrive at the hotels screen, look for "Hotel preferences". You will be able to search for hotels that can satisfy your needs.
- At hotels.com , enter the requested information. When you arrive at the screen with hotels at your destination, look for "accessibility features" under "narrow results."
When making reservations and other arrangements, be sure to tell the hotel about any special needs and confirm they can accommodate them. Get the name of the person you contact, Request that he or she writes down your needs -- either on the reservation or on a separate note. As the date for your travel gets closer, reconfirm that the special arrangements are being provided for.
Transportation: When making reservations and other arrangements, explain your special needs and confirm they can accommodate them. Get the name of the person you contact, Request that he or she writes down your needs -- either on the reservation or on a separate note. As the date for your travel gets closer, reconfirm that the special arrangements are being provided for.
Escort: For a fee, airlines will provide an escort to help disabled passengers make connections. The price may be worth it if you are traveling alone or you require a great deal of assistance.
Travel Insurance: Keep in mind that if you're going to purchase travel insurance (which we recommend), many policies will not cover a pre-existing condition unless you purchase the policy within a specified period of time after making first payment for the trip. To learn more, see Travel Insurance Post Diagnosis.
If You're Going Abroad: Unless your credit card offers this option, consider enrolling with an organization that will provide recommendations of foreign doctors and supervise your medical care. For instance,International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers,(a non-profit) www.IAMAT.org (tel.: 716.754.4883) publishes a directory of English speaking doctors all over the world. International SOS Assistance, www.intsos.com , tel: 800.523.8662, provides travel assistance.
Travel agents: Travel Agents can be a great help and generally do not cost you anything. An experienced agent, particularly one with a Travel Career Development Diploma issued by Certified Travel Agents, can get you information beyond that in airline or hotel data banks. We understand that travel agents specializing in making arrangements for people with special medical needs include:
- Medical Travel, Inc., www.medicaltravel.org/ . Tel: 800.778.7953. They can also supply travel insurance for travelers with pre-existing medical disabilities. (See Preparing for Your Trip: Your Insurer.)
- Accessible Journeys, www.disabilitytravel.com . Tel.: 800.846.4537 or 610.521.0339, Travel service specializing in tour groups for disabled travelers. The agency can also plan a customized trip.
- For a listing of additional travel agencies, see: www.DisabledTravelers.com
Note: We have not had direct experience with any of these agencies.
Airports: Information on services available at airports is posted at www.expedia.com.
Communication: If you're going to be somewhere remote where your mobile phone likely won't work because there is no cell phone service, consider renting one. If something happens, you'll instantly be connected. Two satellite phone networks: are Globalstar www.globalstar.com and Iridium www.iridium.com.
If you want to share your trip as it happens, consider setting up a web page at a site such as www.mytripjournal.com. It's free for 45 days.
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