Let's go on holiday!

Whether it’s a chance to relax or a chance to explore, for many, being on holiday is an exciting and funfilled activity. But the preparation and planning that goes hand in hand with travelling can often be stressful and quickly become overwhelming, especially after brain injury.

For this feature, we discuss planning for a holiday after brain injury. Don’t forget to check out our publication Holidays and travel after brain injury at the end of the page for more useful information.

The search is on...

A holiday begins with deciding on where to go! After a brain injury, it may feel as though there are fewer options available. However, with a little exploration, there are plenty of good options available to suit a range of needs.

• Ask friends, family or other brain injury survivors for recommendations if they have been on holidays. They might be able to suggest places that they think would be enjoyable and suitable for you.
  
  
• If you have difficulties with making decisions, narrow your options to make it easier to choose a destination, for instance choosing somewhere within Europe, within the UK, within a certain region, or somewhere with a beach, or historical sites, or natural landscapes.
  
  
• Explore accessible holiday providers. These can often cater for a range of disability needs, including both physical and non-physical accessibility requirements.

• Carefully consider what kind of destination or accommodation would be suitable for you:
  
  
  • Do you need a ground floor room, adapted toilets, or somewhere with clear enough floorspace for a wheelchair to be moved around?
  • Would somewhere in a quieter location be more suitable, or a room with dimmer lights if you struggle with bright lights?
  • Is there a restaurant on site, or are you within close enough distance of the sights you want to see, if fatigue may affect your energy levels?
  • Do you need to check weather conditions if you have difficulties with regulating temperature, or if hot conditions trigger headaches or anger?

Once you have a destination in mind, search online for what they can offer in the way of accessibility. For example, try searching ‘Tenerife accessibility’ on Google to see what  comes up. Places which recognise accessibility issues might have more accommodation and travel providers who are more willing to work with you to adapt.

Similarly, you can search online for major attractions in an area and tick off which you can and can’t visit.

Booking your trip

Once you have chosen a destination, whether domestic or abroad, you will probably need to make advance bookings such as for transport, accommodation or activities and attractions.

Some things to consider when making your booking are:

• Dates and times that may be busier, such as rush hour times on roads or summer holiday break times. You may be able to ask travel companies or attractions in advance about quieter times to travel or visit.
  
  
• Make lists or use an app to help you with making bookings and staying organised.
  
  
• Consider booking through a travel agent who has knowledge of your chosen destination and can offer advice, face-to-face meetings and arrange bookings for you.
  
  
• If you need assistance with funding your holiday, consider looking into grants. You may also be able to get discounts for either yourself or a carer on accommodation, attractions, or travel.

Planning your journey

Before you arrive at your holiday destination, you may need to travel significant distances.

Whether travelling by land, sea or air, here are some suggestions for the journey:

• Have a plan or strategy in place for managing anxiety  or anger if things don’t go to plan, for example if there are complications or delays with your travel. This could include forming a backup plan in advance or learning breathing techniques to remain calm.
  
  
• Include breaks along the way so that you can rest if you struggle with fatigue. You should also try to keep days before and after your travel free from plans.
  
  
• Research any support and accessible facilities in  advance, such as assistance with boarding, accessible rooms in hotels, quiet rooms at airports or train  stations, or toilets along your route.
  
  Remember that  you may need to make advance arrangements to access these, such as notifying travel companies in  advance for assistance with boarding or having a Radar Key in the UK - or equivalent in other countries - to use accessible toilets.
  
  
• Be sure to contact travel companies (such as airlines  and train companies) well in advance to arrange any assistance you might need. Don’t be afraid to email or  call accommodation or activity providers to ask if they  can cater to your needs; most are only too happy to help.

Check your insurance policy

Travel insurance offers a level of reassurance that you will be covered if things go awry with your holiday, for example if your luggage gets damaged or stolen, or if there are transport delays or cancellations.

Travel insurance is a must if you are travelling abroad, but it is also advisable to check for policies if you are travelling within the UK.

Things to remember include:

• Try to find a policy that covers pre-existing medical conditions such as brain injury but be aware that the cost of insurance may be higher.
  
  
• Always get a few quotes before buying travel insurance, as prices and cover can vary depending on your circumstances.
  
  
• You can also apply for a European Health Insurance (EHIC) card, which covers the cost of emergency treatment in many European countries. Be aware that this doesn’t replace travel insurance though, and won’t cover the cost of many things such as medical repatriation back to the UK if an emergency occurs.
  
  
• When taking out travel insurance, make sure to check that your policy will cover any aids or equipment that you may need to take with you.