Sight loss-friendly holidays
Sun, sand and sangria… Most people love the idea of jetting off on a summer holiday. But for those living with sight loss, getting away can often feel more stressful than relaxing.
Luckily, help is at hand. Several organisations offer accessible, supportive holidays designed with your needs in mind - so you can truly unwind and enjoy the break you deserve. Read on for information on where to go for holiday help and advice, plus tips on how to prepare and what to pack.
Specialist holiday providers
Travel operator offering group global destinations and experiences designed for vision impaired and fully sighted people travelling together. Traveleyes welcomes holidaymakers travelling solo, as a couple or with friends, and take groups to all kinds of wonderful places, from the Peak District to Peru.
Traveleyes says: "As a blind traveller, you’re able to book a holiday with the same freedom and independence that sighted people have always enjoyed. What’s more, you don’t have to bring anyone with you, as you will be joining a group of like-minded explorers."
Award-winning social enterprise providing accessible, tailored and group holidays for the vision impaired community. Seable sets out to craft your perfect holiday and look after you through a 24-hour emergency helpline and local chaperones.
Seable says: "As a VI traveller, you simply pick a date, a destination, or a group offer and we will take care of the rest. We will listen to your ideas, recommend the best experiences and ways to explore, and will take all the hard work out of planning an incredible holiday."
Eco-friendly travel operator providing a wide range of accessible holidays and tours, from cruises to safaris to family activity breaks. They also have a large range of holiday guides with year-round weather charts, travel advice and things to do.
Responsible Travel says: "Whether you need wheelchair accessible vehicles, a sighted travelling companion or a peaceful hotel that can accommodate a cognitive condition, our holidays benefit local communities, and help to protect nature."
Founded by and for disabled travellers, Limitless Travel pride themselves on understanding how much planning and worry can go into getting away. Their wide range of holidays, include cruises and coach trips, and they offer fully accessible transport, carefully selected accommodation and balanced itineraries.
Limitless Travel says: "With professional carers on every trip, meticulous planning of itineraries, and comprehensive accessibility, we take care of everything so you can enjoy a holiday with peace of mind."
We offer our beneficiaries and their carers a fantastic range of breaks all year round at our fully accessible beachfront centre on the south coast in Rustington. From walking to archery; art to golf, our subsidised activities cater to all ages, abilities and levels of sight loss.
We say: "We welcome Blind Veterans UK beneficiaries and their partners or carers to our home from home in Rustington. Just a stone’s throw from the beach and short stroll from the delightful high street, our centre has it all - including experienced, caring staff who will help make sure your stay truly one to remember."
Accessible accommodation
If you have a destination in mind, Disabledholidays.com can advise on its suitability and find accessible activities and accommodation in the area. If you don’t have anywhere in mind, they will use their knowledge and expertise to advise on suitable suppliers to book with.
Sight loss charity RNIB has a useful Sightline Directory of specialist hotels which cater for people with sight loss. So this might mean they have staff specifically trained to offer support, plus additional features such as colour contrasting surfaces, talking lifts, tactile signs and talking menus.
How to prepare
As tempting as it can be to just pack your bags and jet off, the more prepared you are, the better. The following tips can make all the difference.
Contact your accommodation and transport providers in advance and be completely open and honest about your accessibility needs so they can support you and assist you when you arrive if needed.
Have all documents and information to hand or in your phone, including emergency contacts just in case you get lost (and don't forget your phone charger - with an adaptor if you're travelling abroad).
If you use a Smart phone, you could try out a few sight loss apps before you go such as Seeing AI and Be My Eyes to see if you find them useful, plus magnification, Google maps and language translation.
The more planning you do beforehand, the better your break will be. Plan your day trips and routes and book assisted travel if required so that you don't miss out on the tourist attractions you really want to visit.
Lots of holiday destinations offer guided walking, bus or boat tours which can be so much easier and more relaxing than trying to find your own way around - plus more interesting. You may be able to book these before you go.
If you’re getting a flight, stick something bright on your luggage to make it easier to identify at the airport. You could also ask your travel companion to wear something bright so they stand out in the crowd.
Hotels and other accommodation should ask you to complete a Personal Evacuation Plan (PEP) before or when you arrive. This is a customised plan for people who may need help evacuating due to disabilities or impairments.
What to pack
For people with sight loss, it can be more difficult to manage in unfamiliar territory so take anything with you that might be of help. Here are some ideas:
Take a spare just in case one gets lost or broken and whatever other specialist aids you rely on. You might also want a torch for dimly lit spaces.
Take a small cross-body bag for essential items like money, keys, documents and phone, and always keep it on you when you’re out and about.
If you’re staying in a hotel or self-catering accommodation, a liquid level indicator can help prevent spills and burns when you make your cuppa.
A talking alarm clock is an essential for many of our veterans, particularly if they're likely to be jetlagged. Some accessible hotels may provide these.
It can be useful to take a few brightly coloured ties to wrap around door handles and bed posts to help you navigate your way around your room.
Bluetooth key trackers help you find your keys or other items by beeping. You could even use one to help locate the bathroom, especially at night.
Bumpons are little tactile markers you stick on objects to help identify them, such as a shampoo bottle or a button of the safe in your hotel room.
A solid sunscreen stick is much less messy and easier to apply than cream from a bottle, and a hat and light clothing is a must for covering up in the sun.
Worth remembering
Wherever you choose to stay, the most important thing is to let them know beforehand that you may need extra support getting there and finding your way around.
According to the Equality Act 2010, a hotel can’t refuse to serve you for a reason related to your disability and you should be able to expect the same level of service as everyone else.
Based on the experiences of our veterans, we can safely say that most places will be more than happy to accommodate your needs.
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