I am traveling with a family member who experiences mobility issues. Are there any solutions available to make our stay more comfortable?
Many travelers plan their vacations around family reunions, and questions we often hear are about how to make travel more comfortable for family members with mobility issues. Studies have shown that roughly 40% of people with reduced mobility never travel – often because they are unsure how well their destination will support their needs.
However, traveling with reduced mobility is not only possible, but can be enjoyable as well! Read on for our tips to traveling worry-free with low-mobility loved ones:
Book Rentals Wisely
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires U.S. hotels to maintain a booking and reservations system that is accessible to people with disabilities, however it's not quite as simple when booking a timeshare rental from an owner on RedWeek, since owners need to make a special request for these units based on availability.
First, when choosing a resort, watch for any notes that a particular unit may only be accessible via stairs — though they are rare, it's best to make sure.
Once you've chosen your resort and find a unit you are interested in, be sure to reach out to timeshare owner FIRST before booking to ensure they are able to secure an accessible unit with their resort. Once the owner has confirmed the viability of this option, you can proceed with booking the rental.
Your booking confirmation letter may or may not detail the accessible unit was secured, unfortunately - each resort does this differently. After receiving your confirmation, it's a good idea to call the resort and make sure they know the specifics of what you will need. This will assure that the resort will be prepared to accommodate your group upon arrival, and also identify any potential issues that may arise.
Plan Vacation Activities Accordingly
If you are traveling with a low-mobility family member, it will be best practice to plan your group activities with them in mind. Here are some planning tips for ideas and workarounds:
- Stay in the most accessible parts of town, avoiding hills and cobblestone streets when possible. A great way to do this is simply by using Google Street View to get an idea of the area, check the accessibility information in the area's online visitor's guide, and then call your resort concierge with any other questions.
- Carefully plan your route. Once you've learned about the area and chosen tourist destinations you would like to visit, map your route ahead of time so that you can avoid any rough terrain or potential issues.
- If you plan on heavy walking days, make sure to incorporate intermittent rest periods to give everyone time to be off their feet. For example, go shopping downtown for an hour or two and stop for a leisurely lunch at a cafe for a while before walking back.
Plan Ahead, Plan Ahead, Plan Ahead.
In order to ensure that your vacation is truly enjoyable for everyone in your party, it is imperative that you plan ahead and have contingency plans in place. Although it is no mystery that traveling for reduced mobility folks presents definite challenges, the truth is that the more research and planning you do, the more accessible your trip will be.
Your vacation does not need to be a struggle — proper preparation will help make sure your trip is filled with fully accessible resort accommodations, accessible routes between accessible tourist attractions, and exciting travel experiences.
Take Advantage of Mobility Services
Perhaps one of the most helpful things you can do to alleviate the stress and discomfort of traveling with a low-mobility family member is to take advantage of the wonderful mobility equipment services that are available in modern times.
We are happy to offer a solution to our community members in tackling this dilemma by sharing a mobility resource we have found to be a wonderful solution for many families:
Scootaround Personal Transportation Solutions
Scootaround is a mobility equipment rental service that offers a range of mobility devices including scooters, wheelchairs, walkers, rollators, oxygen products, and more in over 2,500 locations. If needed, they will even customize a rental to the specific needs of a guest to ensure an improved experience.
Founded in 1997, Scootaround's mission is to help create great memories for people with reduced mobility. With this helpful service, families can vacation with low mobility loved ones with ease and convenience. Learn more about how to get started below:
How it Works:- Book your mobility equipment at Scootaround.com or call 1.888.441.7575
- Your equipment will be delivered directly to your resort, residence, or airport terminal
- Enjoy your vacation worry-free!
- At the end of your trip, simply drop the equipment off at the front desk of your resort. If that is not the most convenient option for you, return the equipment to the location where you picked it up (like an airport), or make arrangements directly with Scootaround’s customer care for specific drop off arrangements.
