Wheelchair users should do a great deal of advanced preparation before they leave. Check to see that any and all flights can accommodate a wheelchair. Find out how long the flight is and if you are seated near the bathroom. Airlines must be in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act. Call hotels and make sure that all rooms are wheelchair-accessible. Foreign countries have different regulations about wheelchair accessibility. Some countries may have stricter rules while others are more lax. If possible, book at a large hotel chain with a known brand. Larger hotels are more likely to have elevators and wider rooms. Check on the hotel's website. Most hotels have a website and will indicate the presence of stairs. Double-check all transportation arrangements. Many European cities have public transportation facilities that are wheelchair-friendly. Stations that have elevators are often listed online or on subway maps.
Consider booking a tour to travel abroad. Tour operators can make foreign travel easier for wheelchair users by doing some of the advanced planning for you. A tour operator may also have the resources to hire more disability-friendly modes of transportation such as tour buses with wheelchair lifts. Tour operators may have intimate knowledge of an area. They can help you find restaurants that can accommodate wheelchairs and steer you to handicapped entrances to museums, parks and other attractions that might otherwise be difficult to find on your own.
A wheelchair has many parts. These parts may break down while overseas. Make sure that you have backup parts. Items may be hard to find abroad or may be more expensive. Many wheelchair users also have other medical needs such as catherization supplies and items used to help prevent pressure sores. Bring extras with you such as cushions. If you are traveling to a place where you do not speak the language, bring a list of supplies that has been translated into the language of the country you are visiting. Bring a dictionary as well and pictures of the item if possible. If you run out of supplies or if they are lost or stolen, you should be able to get to a pharmacy and indicate what you need to the pharmacist even if he does not speak English.
