Winners of Innovation in Business Award 2019

We WON !!! In 2011, Stephen Chalmers had an idea to create a company that would make a huge difference to the lives of so many people. This of course required some thinking outside the box !!! and as such he joined together a registered care company with a travel agency to create a unique service that would allow people like you to consider and enjoy a holiday once again. This innovation was recognised last week by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and the The Herald newspaper Inspiring City Awards 2019. Altogether Travel was nominated in two categories and are delighted to be named winners of Innovation in Business Award. In his acceptance speech Stephen commented: "We are a small company based in Glasgow, but make a big difference to the lives of so many people in the UK by giving them the opportunity to create new holiday memories once again" Could you benefit from a holiday?  Do you need support to get away on holiday? If so get in touch with us today and tell us where in the world you want to go and when, then leave the rest to us. We can put together some ideas for you to consider.

Top Tips for Jet Lag & Airport Experience Altogether Travel has used our customer feedback, combined with our expert knowledge and we have created our top tips for beating jet lag and improving your airport experiences. We invite you to check them out and get in touch with any tips of your own! Wherever you have in mind for a holiday, please let us know and we can look into some options for you. Your ideas don’t have to involve a flight! Many of our customers enjoy a UK holiday.

Jet Lag When flying longer distances the feeling of jet lag can be disorientating. You can’t avoid the time zone change, but there are a few things you can do to minimise the draining impact of jet lag. What exactly is Jet Lag? Jet lag is how you feel when travelling across different time zones. Your body feels as though it is in the time zone you started your journey in. The medical term is desynchronization as your body has not yet synchronised to your destination time zone. For example, leaving the UK at 9am, travelling for hours then arriving at your destination at 8am on the same date – it’s as though you have travelled back in time! Another example is a journey over 24 hours, with the destination time zone being 12 hours ahead of your starting point – it’s like you have lost a whole day! You may not have slept well and so feel tired and disorientated. Most people have the reaction of going to bed to sleep off the jet lag, but actually this could worsen your symptoms. Especially if your body clock is still set to where you departed from, you may not help becoming synchronised by taking a nap. Jet lag is commonly connected to lack of sleep and feeling disorientated, but recent evidence suggests that your digestive pattern could also contribute to jet lag. Your body clock is connected to both sleep and digestion, as these signal your brain to be active or rest. Common Symptoms of Jet Lag? These can include being tired, lethargic, fatigued, dizzy, confused, hungry outside mealtimes, and feeling wide awake at night. The greater difference in time zones travelled, the worse symptoms can become. So it’s not all about the distance you travel, more the time zone difference. UK and Los Angeles in the USA have a difference of 8 hours, however Cape Town in South Africa is only 2 hours different. How does Jet Lag link with Direction? “West is best” and “East is a Beast” – flying East goes more against your body clock, producing worse jet lag experience than compared to flying West. Basically you are travelling forwards in time and essentially skipping hours of your body clock day.

8 Top Tips for beating Jet Lag Unless you can teleport like a superhero, it’s difficult to completely beat jet lag with a long flight. But here are 8 top tips with a few things you can do to reduce the negative impact jet lag can have: 1.  Divide your journey You could book flights with stages, allowing you to at least overnight in a hotel during your journey. Long distance flights usually involve a stopover, so you could consider a longer gap between flights and even stay at the airport’s hotel. This gives you a break from travel and help you to adjust to time zone changes. 2. Fly West, as it’s best If possible! Although you have to return home at some point, you could fly from the UK to Australia for example, through the USA outbound, then through Asia/Europe on the way back. We admit this may not be a cheap solution. 3. Set your watch/devices to destination time The key with this is doing so early. Before your flight departs, adjust all you can check the time with. This way your brain can begin adjusting to the destination time from when you sit back and relax in your seat. Avoid sleep during the day hours of the destination and catch some shut eye while your destination is sleeping – an eye mask may be a good investment if your surroundings reflect daylight with your current situation! 4. Also adjust your meal times to destination Similar to 3, you’re trying to synchronise your digestion instead of your brain with this tip. You could be prepared with snacks and drinks that don’t make much noise if other flyers choose to sleep. 5. Sleep well before travel Being well rested equips you with more energy to overcome the tiredness flying can bring. Clock up some shut eye and you’ll feel ready to take on jet lag symptoms. 6. Resist feeling sleepy You can rest and take it easy of course, and as always it is important to stay hydrated. If you sleep during the day at your destination, you may be wide awake at night. Then you may not get the most out of your holiday, if going out the next morning feels like it should be bedtime. You can do it! 7. Be active You can distract yourself to synchronise with the day time by keeping busy, as you would without feeling tired. Easy for us to say! But you can go for a walk, engage in conversation, and do things to keep you awake. If you must, nap for 1 or 2 hours in the afternoon. But any more than that and you may struggle to sleep at night. 8. Keep away from coffee or sleeping pills These may help at first, but when they wear off you’ll feel much worse than before. You may think it could help your body clock but really it causes stress on your body. You can’t force your body, but you can support it nicely until your body clock synchronises with your destination. _______________________________________________________________________

20 Top Tips to improve your Airport Experience Hardly anyone looks forward to the travel part of a holiday. It’s regulated timings with steps to follow, and sometimes lacks legroom. Airports provide safety and security, but here are 20 Top Tips for you to enjoy this part a bit more than perhaps you have done in the past. These practical ideas can help you avoid delays and become more organised with bags.

1.  Airport hotel before an early flight This removes the rush to the airport before a flight, at a time of day when most of us are sound asleep. Avoiding feeling tired at the start of your journey is a worthwhile idea. 2. Take a picture where you park If you choose to park your car at the airport, photograph your space or the section sign. After a week or so you may not remember as clearly as you think! It’s not the same as finding your way back to the car after popping into a shop for milk and bread. This way, you can go straight to your car and head for the comfort of home. 3. Online check in Checking in online will save you time when you arrive at the airport. If this seems like a hassle, imagine 10 people in line between you and your laptop/mobile, all doing the same process. Take the chance to skip the extra wait, especially if you aren’t taking hold luggage. 4. Save or print out your ticket Some airlines only provide online check in and you can print or download your boarding pass at the same time. You may be charged extra if you don’t have your boarding pass with you. Have it handy with your passport and you can get through security as soon as possible. 5. Make your bag stand out Recognising your luggage while moving on the conveyor belt may be tricky, especially if 20 other people also have a black bag just like yours. You could tie a ribbon or zip tie to the handle with your favourite colour, and make it match your carry on bag too. 6. Have liquids in a clear bag You can get a free plastic bag at airports, but some may charge £1. Let’s avoid this and the fuss of bagging items, checking your bag is liquid-less. You can easily lift out your already bagged liquids and get through security quickly – perhaps from the outside pocket of your backpack? 7. An empty bottle As water won’t get through security, bring a bottle you can fill at the other side. Many airports have water filling stations or drinking fountains – save a few coins. 8. Keep electronics handy As these are scanned separately from your bag, have them well protected but easy to access. Keep these items switched off, such as cameras and laptops, and you can keep them in their individual case. 9. Minimise accessories You can have your belt, watch or jewellery handy in your carry on bag, but wear these after you have gone through security. You may set off the alarm when walking through the scanner, so avoid the extra checks or pat down and save some time too. In the busy environment, you may not spot your favourite ring that is loose on the tray. By the time you realise with a coffee at the gate, you can’t pop back to retrieve it. 10. Remove batteries If your electronics are battery operated, like a travel toothbrush, take out its battery even if in a suitcase. If the button is pressed it may cause a security alert. Avoid delays for you and your luggage, as the plane won’t wait for either. 11. Medication labels It is most sensible to travel with medication in your carry on or personal bag. For medication to be clearly identified and belonging to you, it’s best to keep these in the original packaging. Suspicious tablets won’t get through security and will cause delays. A prescription slip may add further reassurance and proof you have what you need with you. 12. Portable charger/ battery pack Even with a full charge you may be running low on battery before you arrive at the destination hotel. A charger in your carry on bag gives the reassurance you can top it up, even if your checked luggage is delayed. A battery pack safe to fly may also help if a socket is hard to find. 13. Bag the important stuff You can have travel documents and money for the airport/taxi in a handy wallet, or compress a change of clothes in an airtight bag. This could be a large zip lock food storage bag, or a designed for purpose vacuum pack. Just keep an eye on the weight allowance even though you can fit more in. 14. Quiet music With 2 headphones in and the volume up loud, you may miss announcements such as boarding calls, get changes or delays. You can easily loose track of time while enjoying music so keep the volume low or leave an ear free to listen out. 15. Airport lounges You could have a more relaxing time at the airport in the lounge by booking this ahead of time. There are comfortable seats and often food and drinks available. 16. Find out your gate and how far away it is Sometimes you are caught up in the shops or getting something to eat, then realise your gate closes in 10 mins at the other side of the airport! Your gate can be further away than anticipated, perhaps with a shuttle or escalators to get these. If you book airport assistance with reduced mobility, staff will assist you to the gate. Otherwise it may be worth walking to your gate before finding coffee. 17. Avoid rushing onboard Join the queue when your section or seating is announced, otherwise you’re standing about when you don’t need to. Even if the overhead storage is a bit tight, cabin crew can move things around or find space for your bag. 18. Bring snacks Onboard food and drinks will only be available at certain times. Bringing your own means you can quench your thirst or feed your rumbly tummy at any time. 19. Layers By layering clothing you can adjust your temperature throughout the flight to stay comfortable. Also leaving a warm holiday destination in shorts and a t-shirt may be unwise, if you arrive home to cold and rain. This might be unavoidable if there is a short walk from the plane outdoors before meeting your checked luggage. A jumper can also double as a blanket or be folded to make a pillow. 20. An inflatable pillow Although neck pillows can also provide comfort, even clipping this to your backpack is an extra thing to carry. An inflatable option can become more compact, our use a folded jumper as mentioned in Tip 19. Happy Holidays! Please get in touch and one of our friendly and experienced Holiday Companions can support you throughout.

Holiday Destination Costs & Tipping We understand being budget conscious, as Altogether Travel strives to find you the best deal with your holiday preferences. As everyone with a love for travel knows, costs don’t stop once the holiday is booked – we have looked into some common local costs at different destinations to show the most recent estimations from 2019. There may be a few surprises! We hope this may be helpful when considering a holiday, and that we might highlight some destinations you are interested in checking out for yourself. Can you spot where popular destinations sit in the rankings? We’ve shown average costs for coffee, dinner and 2 nights stay at a 3* hotel. We then take a look at tipping culture in different destinations. Please get in touch and we can get your next holiday sorted.

A Cup of Coffee Under £1 57p Algarve (Portugal) 61p Lisbon Coast (Portugal) 70p Sunny Beach (Bulgaria), and Puglia (Italy) 87p Porto (Portugal) 89p Marmaris (Turkey) £1-2 £1.05 Torremolinos, and Alicante (Spain) £1.22 Vilnius (Lithuania) £1.31 Bratislava (Slovakia), and Lisbon (Portugal), and Nice (France) £1.32 Ibiza (Spain) £1.33 Belgrade (Serbia) £1.35 Porec (Croatia) £1.40 Barcelona (Spain) £1.48 Zadar (Croatia) £1.49 Nice (France) £1.53 Sliema (Malta) £1.57 Ljubljana (Solvenia) £1.58 Benidorm (Spain) £1.66 Madrid (Spain) £1.72 Dubrovnik (Croatia) £1.75 Limassol (Cyprus), Sorrento (Italy), Cardiff (Wales), Venice (Italy) £1.76 Budapest (Hungary) £1.83 Istanbul (Turkey) £1.84 Majorca (Spain), and Berlin (Germany) £1.92 Toulouse (France), and Palma (Majorca) £1.98 Prague (Czech Rep) Over £2 £2.10 Valencia (Spain), Verona (Italy), and Hamburg (Germany) £2.11 Antwerp (Belgium) £2.12 Krakow (Poland) £2.18 Tallinn (Estonia) £2.19 Crete (Greece), Paphos (Cyprus), and Corfu (Greece) £2.25 Bucharest (Romania) £2.27 Athens (Greece), and Amsterdam (Netherlands) £2.35 Moscow (Russia), and Belfast (N.Ireland) £2.45 Rome (Italy) £2.53 Paris (France) £2.54 Warsaw (Poland) £2.59 London (England) £2.62 Lille (France), and Bruges (Belgium) £2.71 Riga (Latvia), Strasbourg (France), and Munich (Germany) £2.73 Geneva (Switzerland) £2.80 Edinburgh (Scotland) £2.84 Dublin (Ireland) £3.01 Stockholm (Sweden) £3.06 Vienna (Austria), and Helsinki (Finland) £3.07 Halkidiki (Greece) £3.51 Zurich (Switzerland), and Reykjavik (Iceland) £3.88 Oslo (Norway) £4.12 Copenhagen (Denmark)

3 Course Evening Meal for 2 adults (with bottle of house wine) As you can see below, cheaper coffee doesn’t necessarily mean you will get a cheaper dinner too. £20-50 £21.88 Sunny Beach (Bulgaria) £29.38 Algarve (Portugal) £33.24 Torremolinos (Spain) £34.09 Marmaris (Turkey) £36.65 Athens (Greece) £36.66 Istanbul (Turkey) £37.17 Benidorm (Spain) £38.11 Warsaw (Poland) £38.94 Sliema (Malta) £39.67 Porto (Portugal) £40.77 Moscow (Russia) £41.22 Halkidiki (Greece) £42.09 Crete (Greece) £42.10 Paphos (Cyprus) £42.51 Prague (Czech Rep) £43.59 Belgrade (Serbia) £44.45 Majorca (Spain) £44.84 Vilnius (Lithuania) £45.44 Lisbon (Portugal) £45.59 Limassol (Cyprus) £46.22 Bucharest (Romania) £49.28 Bratislava (Slovakia) £50-70 £50.51 Alicante (Spain) £52.25 Toulouse (France) £52.43 Valencia (Spain) £53.13 Rome (Italy) £53.22 Lille (France) £53.66 Porec (Croatia) £54.15 Dubrovnik (Croatia) £55.19 Budapest (Hungary) £56.27 Madrid (Spain) £57.00 Cardiff (Wales) £59.19 Nice (France) £59.86 Riga (Latvia) £59.94 London (England) £60.16 Corfu (Greece) £60.21 Palma (Majorca) £60.29 Verona (Italy) £61.17 Barcelona (Spain) £62.48 Hamburg (Germany) £62.92 Dublin (Ireland) £63.14 Ibiza (Spain) £65.23 Zadar (Croatia) £65.64 Krakow (Poland) £65.90 Edinburgh (Scotland) £66.28 Amsterdam (Netherlands) £66.64 Puglia (Italy) £67.46 Vienna (Austria) £67.52 Lisbon Coast (Portugal) £67.98 Munich (Germany) £69.91 Strasbourg (France), and Bruges (Belgium) Over £70 £70.78 Ljubljana (Solvenia) £71.65 Tallinn (Estonia) £72.00 Belfast (N.Ireland) £74.80 Berlin (Germany) £77.77 Antwerp (Belgium) £78.08 Geneva (Switzerland) £80.67 Sorrento (Italy) £86.51 Paris (France) £88.26 Venice (Italy) £112.72 Helsinki (Finland) £115.08 Zurich (Switzerland) £123.77 Reykjavik (Iceland) £128.95 Copenhagen (Denmark) £130.08 Stockholm (Sweden) £141.22 Oslo (Norway)

2 nights’ 3* Accommodation (weekend) for 2 adults You could stay 2 nights in one destination, or stay longer somewhere else for similar cost. Under £100 £67 Riga (Latvia) £70 Vilnius (Lithuania), and Istanbul (Turkey) £76 Dubrovnik (Croatia) £77 Porto (Portugal), and Moscow (Russia) £79 Prague (Czech Rep) £81 Warsaw (Poland) £83 Belgrade (Serbia), and Athens (Greece) £86 Budapest (Hungary) £89 Bucharest (Romania) £90 Bratislava (Slovakia), and Nice (France) £91 Krakow (Poland) £95 Tallinn (Estonia) £100-175 £100 Lisbon (Portugal) £103 Strasbourg (France), and Valencia (Spain) £104 Toulouse (France) £109 Berlin (Germany) £111 Vienna (Austria) £116 Rome (Italy) £124 Ljubljana (Solvenia) £129 Munich (Germany) £136 Edinburgh (Scotland), and Venice (Italy) £139 Lille (France) £150 Paris (France) £162 Stockholm (Sweden) £168 Oslo (Norway) £175 Palma (Majorca), and Hamburg (Germany) Over £175 £177 Verona (Italy) £181 Cardiff (Wales), and Madrid (Spain) £184 Belfast (N.Ireland), and Geneva (Switzerland) £186 Bruges (Belgium), and Copenhagen (Denmark) £191 London (England) £193 Reykjavik (Iceland) £194 Barcelona (Spain) £197 Zurich (Switzerland) £214 Antwerp (Belgium) £218 Helsinki (Finland) £257 Dublin (Ireland) £270 Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Tipping on Holiday Destinations across the world will have services of hotel porters, restaurant and bar staff, and taxi drivers. In most countries, it is customary to leave a tip if you have received good service, but how much you should leave varies from country to country, and in many cases, how satisfied you were. The tipping culture of a destination ensures you know when a ‘cover/ service charge’ includes a tip in your bill, and a discretionary tip when dealing with things like restaurant bills. It also helps you to understand which cultures expect a tip as standard. Spain is similar to the UK, as a service charge is not included in the bill and 10% of your total is recommended. A tip is not expected by taxi drivers and hotel porters, so it’s your choice. Turkey 10% is recommended for restaurant, bar and hotel staff including porters, housekeeping and at reception. Again no tip is expected by taxi drivers. Croatia With hotel, restaurant and taxi drivers a tip is expected. 10% is recommended, and with taxi drivers it is acceptable to round up the bill. Cuba Tipping is part of Cuban culture due to low wages and locals may rely on tips to live. Musicians are typically not paid to perform. Tip whatever you can to anyone providing you with a service, such as toilet attendants. India Although tipping is up to you in India, it is normal for tourists to. Recommendations vary – hotel porters and restaurant staff around INR 50-100, coach drivers INR 150 per person per day, and tour managers INR 250 per person per day. INR 50 = around 55p. South Africa is similar to India - hotel porters and restaurant staff around £3-4 per person, safari lodge staff £2-3 per room per day (put in a central tip box), safari guides £5-8 per person per day, and mobile safari camp staff share out tips of around £7 per person per day. USA Tipping is high in the USA, around 18-20%. But for this you can expect a high standard of service with staff. Japan Tipping is not expected in Japan and is safer not to tip to avoid offending people with the wrong amount. It is completely acceptable to be polite and thank staff verbally. China Like Japan, tips are not expected in China. However with local guides you can tip what you want. Israel Tipping between 10-12% is usually expected for hotel, restaurant and other tourism staff. A tip is not expected by taxi drivers. ________________________________________ Thank you for reading our Blog post on Holiday Destination Costs & Tipping. If you have any holiday ideas or a budget in mind, please let us know and we can put together some options.

Accessible European Cities

Our Top 10 Accessible Cities in Europe Altogether Travel has used our customer feedback, combined with our expert knowledge and we have created our top 10 Most accessible cities in Europe. Why not check them out and if you haven’t visited one of them yet then what is stopping you? Get in touch with us today and we can make it happen.

2nd Lyon, France Many consider Lyon to be the food enthusiast capital of France. Despite inclines and cobbled streets, there are lots of accessible areas to explore. If you are in any doubt about this destination, Lyon won ‘EU Access City Award’ in 2018.

1st Rotterdam, The Netherlands Rotterdam was impacted greatly with WW2, recovering to it what it is today. Contemporary buildings have supported the city’s reputation for accessibility.

3rd Barcelona, Spain A popular destination for people across the world, Barcelona is not to be forgotten as host of the 1992 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. The city has been updated, developing accessibility.

4th Madrid, Spain This capital city has a top guide ‘Accessible Madrid’, showcasing accessible tourist areas and great detail is included. Exactly what we want to see!

5th Salzburg, Austria Salzburg was crowned ‘EU Access City Award’ back in 2012. This title still very much applies today with accessibility by the Alps. Floors have been lowered, ramps extended, with the vast majority of public transport being completely accessible. This has been achieved by working alongside locals with disabilities.

6th Gothenburg, Sweden Gothenburg achieved ‘EU Access City Award’ more recently in 2014, with a focus on ensuring accessibility throughout spaces for the public. Travel Instructors were formed to assist people with accessibility concerns.

7th Ljubljana, Slovenia This capital of Slovenia is building on its accessibility reputation, enforcing new developments to provide accessible buildings and most buses provide low flooring. Also showcased is a tactile guide, highlighting various routes to be explored with people in mind, living with visual impairment or blindness.

8th Frankfurt, Germany Frankfurt is known for its Christmas markets and blending tradition with the contemporary, committed to removing barriers people experience – even to enjoy skyscraper views! Also in place is a city tour for people with visual impairment called ‘Feeling Frankfurt’.

9th Budapest, Hungary Budapest has a focus for accessibility, working towards achieving greater accessibility by 2030. Currently many buses have lowered floors, and historical trams (known locally as trolleys!) offer full access.

10th Milan, Italy Milan has been driven since 2011 to address accessibility, being awarded ‘EU Access City Award’ not too long ago in 2016. The central train stations of the city are completely accessible, with tourist routes highlighted online for accessibility.

Beyond our Top 10 There are so many accessible destinations to choose from! Beyond our Top 10 here are a few more we think you may be interested in. Vienna, Austria This capital has lots to offer, both with information and accessibility. Vienna has an official travel page with accessible attractions, places to eat, famous opera houses and theatres. Oslo, Norway As this country’s biggest city, Oslo has achieved close to fully accessible public transport. The harbour destination’s boats and ferries are also known to be accessible. Cologne, Germany Aside the river Rhine, Cologne has driven accessibility improvements since 2004 and welcomes more people with various accessible tour options to experience landmarks such as its famous Cathedral. Also, a local brewery if this may interest you! Stockholm, Sweden This capital has a dedicated accessibility Vice-Mayor, focused on developing improvements for access. Throughout the city ramps are in place, with cross points for pedestrians designed for people with visual impairment and wheelchair users. Berlin, Germany Berlin is well known for its focus for accessibility, collaborating to drive the removal of barriers people may face with mobility. Most improvements have involved buildings open to the public, as well as transport. Copenhagen, Denmark Scandinavia in general is a major forward-thinker in terms of accessibility. This applies inclusive of Copenhagen’s contemporary Black Diamond building, historical Palace, and amusement park. Lots of exploring to do whatever your interests!

89 Years Young on Top of the World (Well Almost)

Altogether Travel is a Supported Travel company that has been providing Holiday Companions since 2013, which allow our customers to travel and enjoy a holiday once again.

                                89 years young Nora on Everest base camp – Nov 2018

Take a recent trip to Kathmandu – not a place for the faint hearted but a destination that was on Nora’s bucket list and in November 2018 got the chance to visit for a once in a lifetime trip.

Nora started each day with breath-taking views of the Himalaya’s from her Mountain View hotel (weather dependent). Then after a hearty breakfast we accompanied Nora to visit the following:

• Durbar square Kathmandu.
• Pashupatinath, the Nepalese cremation site – not everyone’s cup of tea but very interesting and a moving experience with loads going on.
• Swayambunath, the monkey temple.
• Buddha Stupa.
• The Old palace in Kathmandu.
• Patan, one of the three old kingdom cities.
• Bhaktapur the third old city.

Most afternoons consisted of lunch back at the hotel or at a nearby attraction, followed by a stroll through the streets of Thamel, (tourist market area) or a visit to the relaxing garden of peace. Nora also visited Chitwan National Park and went on a canoe trip (a dugout tree), a jungle walk, and visited the elephant programme.

The highlight for Nora was a one day private helicopter flight to Lukla airport and then to Everest base camp where she was simply spellbound by the incredible scenery at Everest base camp. The helicopter carried oxygen, as travellers can experience some dizziness at altitude. Although Nora was a bit lightheaded this proved to be no problem.

Nora who lives in Cardiff said:

“Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that at my age I could get to Everest base camp, this is breath-taking” (literally!)

Altogether Travel’s companions can accompany customers who have varying forms of disabilities, sensory impairment or even just old age and require the reassurance of a caring companion with them.

Altogether Travel is effectively the combination of a registered care company and a travel company. This unique service allows us to plan, book and accompany our customers all over the world.

We plan and create every trip to suit our customers’ needs and wants for holidays here in the UK or worldwide.

If you feel inspired and are interested in a supported holiday, please get in touch with us.

Travel Tips with Hidden Disabilities

Altogether Travel is the UK’s first Care registered Travel Company. Our Holiday Companions travel with customers across the world, with a wide variety of support needs. With customer and staff experience we hope to share some Travel Tips with Hidden Disabilities. 

Hidden Disabilities

Hidden disabilities relate to medical conditions that are perhaps not obvious immediately when meeting someone. Examples include autism, dementia, hearing impairment, having a stoma, and mental health conditions.

Keep in mind anyone can have any combination of conditions which require support. Most of all, be kind – everyone is different. Give the person space or ask if you can do something to help.

Fear of Flying courses can also be available in the UK which may benefit people who are nervous about flying.

In 2016, Transport Minister Robert Goodwill stated: “According to CAA research, as many as 7% of all people could be avoiding air travel because of a hidden disability”.

Autism

Autism affects how people communicate with and relate to others, and how they make sense of the world around them. As autism is a spectrum, people can experience similar difficulties, but can be affected in different ways. It can be difficult to understand and interpret people or situations, which can cause anxiety. At times autistic people may feel like they are getting too much information at once and need some time to process this.

Everyone is different, but some things people can share are a love of routines, sensory sensitivity to noises, smells and light, and being particularly interested in certain things. Giving the person with autism choice can help them enjoy the idea of a holiday. They could pack their own things in a bag to have with them and be responsible for these familiar things.

Along with the excitement and sometimes stress of organising a holiday, there are extra considerations with travel for people with autism. Doing research for places that may be ideal for the person with autism is key, and you can find out facilities and staff experience or understanding as the National Autistic Society tells us Autism Friendly Award holders – the UK airports shown are Bristol, Birmingham, Edinburgh & Gatwick.

People with autism may find change difficult, so speaking with them about the holiday can help prepare them with what to expect. This may reduce anxiety and help them enjoy the experience more, as each stage of an unusual day can be challenging and may be overwhelming.

You could take some time to look at photos of the destination and hotel to give visual support for the holiday idea. You could have these available in a book or phone for understanding stages of the holiday experience, describing times when you may be waiting.

For the holiday itself, it may be a good idea to ensure enough time for breaks and normal routines the person with autism has. Include them to join in as much as they feel like, and you could show what the day could be like with visual support. This can help things not to become overwhelming and routines can make people feel more comfortable with the situation.

You can also explain possible social situations such as delayed travel and how you would respond to this together, such as playing a game to pass the time. Resources are available online to help show such situations visually which may help to explain things. You can also take these supportive materials with you in case the person with autism becomes unsure of something. Speaking clearly with limited gesturing or facial expressions may help someone with autism to process information, and patience is key.

You can include the autistic person in decisions such as where they would like to sit on the plane – if they like to look out of the window, or if they would prefer someone they know to sit either side of them. Ear defenders can block out noise, but would the person also enjoy their favourite type of music? You could make a holiday play list together and have this ready, especially for the travelling parts of your holiday. Anything which may be comforting for them is a brilliant idea to have during the holiday, if they have a favourite item or piece of clothing perhaps.

Please check out the National Autistic Society for more information.

National Autistic Society:

“More than 1 in 100 of the (UK) population have been diagnosed with autism. Over 99% of people have heard of autism, but only 16% of autistic people feel the public understand them”.

“Some autistic people may manage their experience of a journey through repetitive physical behaviours, for example, tapping their fingers or flapping their hands. This is perfectly normal; try not to stare or make them feel self-conscious”.

Dementia

If the person with dementia tends to walk around, it may be a good idea to have contact information in their handbag or wallet in case they become lost or separated from you. This can also indicate that the person with dementia may be confused or distressed and show what could help. It may also be a good idea to carry a recent photo of them and note a description of the clothing they are wearing.

People with dementia can find the environment or situation they are in confusing and can experience anxiety or stress as a result. For a holiday to be enjoyed by everyone it is important to plan for what people will enjoy and avoid what may be distressing such as busy crowds and noise. Also, a holiday outside summer months can be less busy and may save you some money!

Being supportive can help people cope with changes to what they think of as their normal routine. Find out as much information as you can about a destination, for things the person with dementia may be interested in and how accessible the area is if they also have limited mobility. Going to a place the person with dementia has mentioned enjoying may be fun, as during the holiday this can be a talking point of why you are there together.

It may be reassuring to have a mattress protector with you or request extra bedding to be in the room to be prepared for any accidents. Keeping the bathroom door open can help someone find their way, particularly during the night. Temporary signs can also be placed with images such as a toilet, to indicate what the door leads to with visual support. Another idea is to place a ‘Keep Out’ sign on the back of a hotel room door to deter the person with dementia from exploring. A small hotel without long hallways with many doors may be easier to navigate than a larger hotel.

A person with dementia may interpret a large door mat of a hotel as a hole in the ground, or similar with a dark taxi seat. Try to reassure them and you can place a colourful blanket on a seat to show it is safe.

Making a list of things to remember can help with packing, medication and holiday information to have handy before and during the holiday.

Keeping certain familiarities can bring comfort and help anchor the person with dementia in the holiday or any situation. These can include having extra clothing, their favourite newspaper, book, music and family photographs handy and available during your stay.

Travel Tips: Hidden Disabilities

These travel tips are relevant for people with various hidden disabilities, and main points include arranging passenger assistance before and bringing comfort items that may help with any new situation.

• Communicating support needs with a hotel or airline is important so staff can be helpful. Airlines, train and ferry companies will have a medical or assistance form to complete for a clear record of the person’s requirements. It is recommended to take this with you on holiday, plus any relevant communication or confirmation to show if need be.

• As you will be communicating support needs, you can request to sit in a quieter part of the airport while waiting and it is likely you can board first or last, depending on your preference.

• Either way, with many people around it is best to have any comfort items such as music, noise-cancelling headphones, books or a pillow for travel.

• By describing changes before it happens allows these to be less surprising at the time, so an experience may be somewhat expected. You could show this on a calendar and count down the days before together, asking them to tell you what might happen that day.

• Giving people the opportunity to ask questions and express themselves is a great way to be supportive, as uncertainties can be addressed and lower anxiety.

• Some tourism attractions have a ‘Carers go free’ policy, so this is always worth checking out before you go.

• While on holiday some people choose to take a small card explaining autism/dementia/the hidden disability briefly – these can also be available online. It may also be a good idea to translate this into the destination language, or have short phrases prepared explaining with things that could be helpful in case someone does not seem to understand immediately.

• It is important to think with a sensory perspective – is there a quieter area or part of the hotel that the person may prefer?

• Usually the passenger requiring assistance will be prioritised for ‘fast-track’ with immediate carers (2 adults’ maximum).

• An airline can communicate information to the airports you will be using and staff will be expecting your arrival (some VIP treatment!).

• It is recommended to arrive at least 2 hours early for your flight to reduce stress and allow enough time to move through the airport.

• Travel insurance is highly recommended and ensure this covers the medical requirements of each individual travelling.

Air Travel Examples:

Lanyards may be issued for hidden disabilities as an indication for airport staff to assist discreetly, to help your time in the airport go smoothly. The example shown is issued by Edinburgh Airport and a visual social story is available to download from the website with helpful information. Visits to the airport can be arranged before travel to become more familiar with the environment – this does not include security or onboard aircraft for security reasons. Edinburgh airport also advertise induction loops for people with hearing impairments and work with Stomawise to raise awareness of concerns people may have. Other information is available for people with a heart device and it is advised to have a Patient ID Card in your hand luggage, along with medication.

Aer Lingus also have helpful visual guides available to download from the website.

An example of Edinburgh airport lanyards and badges.

Thank you for reading our Travel Tips with Hidden Disabilities. We hope this may be helpful and encourage you to travel. If you would like us to put together holiday options for you to consider, or if you are interested in having a Holiday Companion support you please get in touch with us.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.