14 Travel Hacks for an Accessible Adventure (a Two-Part Series)

The article that you’re about to read has been split into two sections. The first section is shared here, on theworldisaccessible.com, with the second section to be found by heading to either tabifolk.com or by downloading the tabifolk app — links for both options will be given at the bottom of this first section.

The reason I have decided to split this piece is that I have a continued desire to encourage more people to discover what tabifolk is all about — a social media-style forum dedicated entirely to everything related to accessible travel. It is, in essence, quite similar to the community we’ve built within our The World is Accessible Facebook group, however, unlike our Facebook group, tabifolk has an enormous amount of specialized sub-groups in which you can target your queries, advice, and discussions. There’s everything from accessible RV’ing to silver travel to accessible cruises, as well as a boatload of country-specific sub-groups. What’s more, on tabifolk we’re no longer at the mercy of Facebook’s ever-changing, ever-more-confusing algorithm, which means you’re way less likely to find your posts going unnoticed.

But, enough about the incredible merits that tabifolk has to offer, let’s move on to the topic at hand – travel hacks for accessible adventures!

Part 1 – Wheelin’ and Dealin’

Look, you get it, I get it, we all get it and it’s mentioned ad nauseam, traveling anywhere – especially internationally – can be a real nightmare when you’re disabled. But, as is also often alluded to, with the right amount of preparation and care, taking into consideration some tips and tricks from fellow travelers within the community, the world truly can be your oyster (and an accessible one, at that). In this first article in a two-part series, we’ve curated seven practical pieces of advice that’ll help keep your next adventure rolling smoothly.

1. Call Ahead, Often and (literally) Everywhere

It doesn’t matter if it’s the airline you’re flying with, the airport from which you depart, the hotel that you’ve extensively researched online, or that rental company that says in an email that the adaption to the car that’ll be waiting for you have been fitted – call them. It may seem like a huge pain in the butt to be so thorough at every turn, but when it comes to peace of mind and security in knowing, giving these places a call is the best way to find out if accommodations have been made to facilitate your needs.

Depending on the airport you’re flying from, you may not need to call if you’re very familiar with how things work there – but then again, if you require assistance, some airports request that you book this ahead of time, and so a call here will also be essential.

If, like me, you’ve fallen victim to trusting the likes of hotels.com and booking.com when they say the room you’ve selected is accessible, you might want to just double-check via a … you guessed it … call. All too often hotels cite that they are wheelchair accessible on these booking platforms, but are not checked by the platforms to ensure that what they say is actually true. Therefore, you know what you need and can call the hotel to double-check that they can meet those needs.

This practice of calling ahead helps to get you out of dicey situations and leaves no room for doubt. Heck, you’re meant to be relaxing after all, why don’t we remove any chances of nasty surprises?

2. Gear Up: Travel with Your Toolkit

Speaking of nasty surprises, who reading this has ever arrived at a destination just to find there is an issue with your mobility device? Sometimes it’s due to something which happened during the journey (we’re looking at your, ground staff..), but sometimes it can also just be something unavoidable. Say, for example, a puncture in the tire of a manual wheelchair.

Do you know where to go to get that fixed in the location that you’re in? Probably not, right? I mean, maybe you did some research beforehand, and kudos to you if you did, but most people would be left a little unsure as to how to remedy such a minor disaster.

If you’re able to make small repairs and have the tools to do so, then it’s best to take them with you when traveling. I’d suggest at the bare minimum, a basic toolkit, a small pump (if you have tires with air), spare tubes, and a set of Allen wrenches (hex keys).

3. Stay Charged and Connected

For those using a power chair or mobility scooter, don’t forget to pack an extension cord, in in case outlets are in inconvenient spots (like halfway up a wall behind the TV stand). Plus, you’ll get some bonus points too if you remember to pack adapters for international travel. Seriously, is there anything worse than arriving at your destination only to find you forgot that the plug sockets are different and you have no adapters?

Also – and this is really important – be sure that the voltage is correct for your charging device. I’ve heard horror stories of people’s batteries literally melting when they plugged them into the wall in a port that was incorrect for what they needed.

Pro tip: label your charger to avoid a mix-up with someone else’s gear. You never know who might be rocking the same model.

4. Get Insured

Some of you might like to live a little fast and loose, especially if you’re from a country that doesn’t really have stuff like health insurance – but please don’t skimp on travel insurance – it really could be a lifesaver someday. Make sure your policy covers medical emergencies and your mobility aids. Sure, it might be a bit pricey, but can you really afford to put a price on peace of mind? Failure to get insurance can lead to some astronomical bills if things go awry when you’re away!

5. Know Your Mobility Aid’s Flight Rights

Those who don’t use a mobility aid will never truly know the feeling of having to hand over your precious equipment to a total stranger. But you can prepare yourself by making the process a little bit more straightforward, at least. Remove any detachable parts and, if they’ll fit, put them in your hand luggage. This can be things such as joystick protectors). Be sure to label your items (such as your chair) and provide clear handling instructions.

One piece of advice I once heard was that you can request that air stewards let you know when your mobility aid has been safely stowed before take-off. This is just another subtle way of making sure that people take care of your most essential items.

If something goes wrong, be polite but be persistent. Know your rights (anyone who’s a fan of The ADA Nerd and her pieces in our newsletter will be up-to-date on their rights) and make sure staff members are reminded of said rights. As one savvy traveler said, “A firm voice gets the ramp extended.”
Finally, know your rights regarding batteries. Check out “Power-Packed Adventures: A Guide to Air-Travel with Lithium-Powered Mobility Devices”.

6. Go App Crazy and Leverage Community Knowledge

There are a number of apps and websites that can help you find accessible places to visit in either local or international regions. Also, be sure to leverage community knowledge in groups like our own – The World is Accessible Facebook group – or on websites such as tabifolk.com. These are communities where if you are looking for specific information or advice about a location, such as accessible restaurants in New York City, then members of these respective communities should be able to assist!

7. Embrace the Unexpected

The final piece of advice for this first part of the series is to try and remain calm and collected, even in the face of adversity. Of course, missed ramps, dodgy lifts, inaccessible pathways, and having to go a mile out of your way for an accessible restroom are, without a doubt, annoying. But try not to let it ruin what could otherwise be an exceptional experience. Keep calm and collected, stay flexible (with reason, of course), and remember, every detour is a chance to discover something new. If at first you fail, try, try, and try again.

A tabifolk Reminder..

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, you can visit the tabifolk website to read part two, or you can download the tabifolk app from either the App Store or the Google Play Store.