StrokeSurvivorBlog

Traveling with a stroke survivor or with anyone who has a disability can be challenging, but if you plan ahead, things can go quite smoothly. In planning our first vacation since Steve’s stroke, I took my time in researching our flight and hotel accommodations based on our needs. Most importantly it was to go someplace warm with no hassles or stress, so that meant handicap accessibility was a must.

I booked a direct non-stop flight to warm destination, which happened to be Orlando, Florida. Allegiant Air had such a flight leaving from an airport 35 miles away from our house. Our flight departed at 12:20 p.m. which gave us enough time to drive there that morning, check-in and go through security.

The next step was to find a hotel in the area we wanted to stay in, and one which provided the things we were looking for. We needed a hotel that offered free shuttle service to the theme parks, and it had to be close to shopping, stores and restaurants so we could get there easily. We needed a handicap suite with an accessible shower, plus a kitchenette. To make things easier and more economical, I also wanted a hotel that included a free hot and cold breakfast buffet. I searched online and read comments by others, and found exactly what I was looking for.

I purchased a wheelchair carry pouch so Steve could carry the necessities with him. But he needed to have some independence to come and go on his own without depending on me to push him around.  That meant he needed a power wheelchair or a motorized scooter. So I considered bringing our Jazzy power chair along or renting one at our destination. If I brought our chair, I’d have to transport it to the hotel. So I had to rent a vehicle or find a handicap transport company.

I don’t like driving in unfamiliar places, so I really didn’t want to rent a vehicle. Remember, this was supposed to be a vacation to relax, and driving in the fast-paced Orlando traffic is anything but stress-free. And I weighed the cost of a rental car vs. hired transportation. Therefore, I chose to hire a transport company and arranged round-trip transportation to and from the airport in Sanford which was 46 miles from the hotel. And at the last minute, we chose to rent a scooter instead of bringing our power chair along. The transport company gave us a nice discount for renting the scooter from them.

Everything came together beautifully and excitement mounted as I planned the rest of the vacation, which was a month away. To help me prepare, I purchased the book: Barrier-Free Travel: A Nuts And Bolts Guide For Wheelers And Slow Walkers. It gave lots of tips, and informed me of the rights of a handicapped person and the responsibility the airlines and hotels have to meet those needs without charging any more than they would an able-bodied person. This book was invaluable to me.

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