Now that summer is here, many people will be getting ready to go on holiday. Holiday’s are supposed to be a relaxing affair, but if you have a chronic illness there are a lot of extra things to think about before you jet off into the sunset to enjoy your relaxing break. So I thought it would be helpful to put together some chronic illness holiday tips for all the spoonies who want to enjoy themselves on a relaxing break this summer.
Plan ahead
This is the most important piece of advice I have in my chronic illness holiday tips. Planning ahead means that there will be no mass panic at the last minute. There are so many things to plan in advance depending on your needs, so here’s a list :
- How will you be traveling? Do you need assistance? Book this well in advance & keep copies of confirmation with your travel documents.
- Do you need a doctor’s note to take your prescription medication into another country? Get this well in advance.
- If you have medical equipment, how will you transport it to your destination?
- If you’re on a special diet, what will you eat at your destination? Do you need to contact where you’re staying to make sure they’re aware of your dietary requirements? Do you need to take your own food? Are there any travel restrictions with taking your own food?
- Insurance. Research prices before booking your holiday. Hubby & I wanted to go to Tenerife last year. Insurance for Dan would have been £20 & for me? £400! For a week’s holiday! Needless to say, we did not go to Tenerife.
- Is your destination accessible for your needs?
- Do you need to request a disabled room?
- Are there additional adaptations you need to request for your room? Find out what is included & what classes as extra.
- Will there be appropriate medical support should you become unwell on holiday?
Pack in advance
I open my suitcase at least a week before & slowly start packing the things I need. I find this great for conserving energy, both physically & mentally. I also find that I don’t forget to pack something this way.
Take extra supplies
Don’t go on holiday & for 7 days & only pack 7 days worth of medication. What happens if your flight gets delayed or something else stops you from returning on time? I tend to take double the amount of medication I will need, split into separate bags so that if one gets lost on route, I’ve still got all the medication I need. If you’re flying, check with the airline you’re booked with about their protocols regarding travelling with medication.
Plan rest breaks into your activities
Fatigue & high levels of pain are bound to put a dampener on your your holiday. The chances of these can be reduced by pacing activities & adding rest breaks into your planned activities. After all, it’s better to have a planned rest break every day than burning out in the first few days & spending the rest of the holiday unable to get out of bed!
What are your top chronic illness holiday tips?
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I think these tips are incredibly helpful for any travelers, not just ones with chronic illness. Planning in advance is important, and there are always little things that you may not have thought of at first that actually end up being quite important! :) It’s always good to take more than you need, especially when it comes to medical supplies. For instance, I’m a contact lenses wearer so I always take a few more pairs than I actually need, it’s saved my day a few times! Thanks for sharing, darling. <3 x x
Kay
http://shoesandglitter.com
I find it so helpful to plan in advance. My husband is a planner, but he’ll pack his suitcase the morning we travel. I’ve no idea how he does it! I’d forget half my necessities & end up taking so much I really didn’t need. Xx
That travel insurance cost was unreal, hon! Wish insurance companies were more cooperative. I like the idea of starting to pack bit by bit a week before the trip. I always pack the day or two before and never do it without a list. Have always done it that way meaning I won’t forget anything :) These were great tips for anyone to take on board, hon.
xox Nadia
http://www.mielandmint.com
It really was! This was before my PoTS diagnosis too, so I dread to think what it would be now! We had a fantastic time in the UK though, the only thing that was missing was the sunshine. I’ve found packing bit by bit over the week is easier for me with outfits than writing a list. It gives me more time to check things are clean & if not wash them. If I make a list, I tend to just assume they’re clean & more often than not, there are a few things that are waiting to be washed! Xx
Some of these really saved my skin a few times while I’ve been travelling! I also like to plan how I’ll be getting around while I’m there. If it’s a beach holiday making sure that there is a shuttle service door to beach if there isn’t a beach with the hotel. Or if it’s a city, finding out how locals navigate and picking a hotel with close proximity.
I was recently in Madrid, and people there use subways and they have a fantastic underground system, with stops only minutes apart. So I picked a hotel next to a Metro stop and we could explore much more of the city!
Thanks for sharing Tania :D
Auburn xx
http://auburnlangley.com
Yes, knowing how you’ll get around & making sure it’s suitable for your needs is so important. There’s no point you going on holiday & getting there only to find that you can’t leave the hotel & do the things you want to. A little planning makes all the difference. Xx
I adore this post it was such a helpful read! Where would you consider a good place to holiday if you visit the hospital regularly? I have addisons, pots and EDS and am often in a wheel chair or using a walking aid so my family were uncertain where to go if anywhere! Xxxx
Hi Kerry! Thanks, I’m glad it was helpful. I think that depends on which country you live in & whether you have to visit hospital for regular treatments or if it’s visits to A&E that happen regularly. Last year instead of going abroad, my hubby & I went to Centre Parcs. They had everything we needed on site & they had disabled accommodation right by the main area. There are staff around 24/7 so I’m sure if you were to make them aware that you may need emergency assistance they would make sure that there was a way of getting you the care you need. So I’d suggest somewhere in the country (to start at least) & somewhere on one site with staff available 24/7. I hope that helps! Xx
This is a fab post! I shared some chronic illness holiday tips recently too but you have lots more practical ones in here!
Caitlin – Chronically Caitlin
I’m so glad it was helpful! Would you mind me sharing your post on the Bloggeration site please in my next ‘Spoonie Editor’ post? Xx
No of course not :) xx
Here’s the link: http://chroniccaitlin.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/tips-for-chronically-holidaying.html
Thanks sweetie! I’ll send you thin link when it’s up. Xx
I am lucky, my mum packs for me :) I take my medication in my hand luggage for two reasons, in case my case goes missing and because my meds need to be checked, I need a letter from the home office to take one of my meds out of the UK, we book medical seats on the plane too. I always email the hotel/apartments and explain my situation and ask for a room that will be suitable and near the amenities, we’ve always been lucky and well looked after apart from once when we went and the airport security dropped my bottle of oramorph and smashed it and then told me to go to Boots, as if Boots could help me!!! xxx
Zoe ♥ MammafulZo
That’s great! It sounds like you’ve got a brilliant system in place to make sure things run smoothly for you. I can’t believe the stupidity of the airport security though! What exactly did they think Boots could do for you!?! They’d struggle to give you Oramorph on the day WITH a prescription, as I doubt that’s something an airport pharmacy would keep in stock. Without one you had no chance of any pharmacy being able to help you. Xx
Great post with some fantastic tips! I shared a ‘travelling when you’re a spoonie’ blog in May :) x
Thanks! Would you mind me sharing your blog post in my next ‘Spoonie Editor’ post for Bloggeration please? Xx
No worries, that’s fine :) Thankyou x
Thanks! Xx
My biggest thing is to always bring an extra set of meds. I pack my morning and evening meds in little sandwich bags in my purse but I bring my med containers in my suitcase. One time in the airport restroom, before boarding to Canada, I got my purse from the purse stand and it was open, and my medication container fell off of it and I dropped my meds everywhere and that was all I had. Never again.
And when going to another country, like a 3rd world one, I cannot drink their water. I had to drink bottled water the whole time I was in the Philippines, because my immune system would be too weak for their tap water.
Hannah
Floraful
Yes! This is so important, but something people seem to overlook. I don’t know what I’d do if something happened & I was without my meds in a foreign country so would always much rather take more just incase. Xx