Top 10 tips to travel as a spoonie
For when you want to enjoy yourself but also manage your energy.
Why top 10? Because my mind is stuck in the 2013 version of the internet and there's something satisfying about a round number.
Since then, I've had to navigate my disability with multiple sclerosis and balance my love of travel.
Here are some tips that I've picked up:
1. Stick to two or three activities a day
Now, I'm not saying to be completely strict with this. For example, in Rome, a lot of landmarks you would probably want to visit are very short distances from each other. Or if you're going to a theme park or are going on a snorkelling trip, I imagine that would be the only thing you schedule for the day. I have gotten very involved with my spreadsheet planning for my personal trips, which may look something like this:
If you know an activity is going to very tiring, like going to an amusement park, you probably want to leave it at that for the day. For example, who wants to leave Disneyland early without seeing the fireworks show or spend hundreds of dollars without going to as many rides as possible?
2. Regulate your temperature
If you're like me, you don't deal well with the heat and don't look forward to summer. Here's where technology can thankfully help you out. You can go low-tech like a hat or an umbrella (had to look up when hats and umbrellas were invited - are they still considered tech if they're several thousand years old?).
Through my employment consultant, I've got some sweet and not very fashionable cooling vests. This is unfortuantely something where you have to swallow your pride and not be vewry fashionable for the sake of your health. Or maybe we can make cooling vests fashionable. You can aalso get some fans that spray water on you or hang around your neck.
If you're on the other side of the spectrum, and are affected by the cold whether its pain or discomfort, bring those gloves or extra layers. Also, don't book a trip to the Sahara Desert if you have heat intolerance, please.
4. Choose your destination wisely
If your bucket-list involves skiing down the mountain slopes, look for resorts that have equipment available for hire for mobility-impaired people. It also comes down to what you can afford to do. Going to a cheaper place where you can afford to splurge on taxis to take you directly from Point A to B may be preferrable to schlepping your suitcases down picturesque but also painful alleyways.
5. Keep flexible
I almost put 'pack light' item on this list, but if you've got a lot medications and things to carry because of your condition, I know this isn't always possinle. If you put together your handy dandy itinerary and then you wake up feeling unwell, it's always good to keep your days flexible and sub out busy days with something more relaxing if you're tired. This is always why unless there's a high likelihood I won't otherwise be able to make it due to it selling out, I won't buy entrance tickets. Being flexible means saying no when you can't do it, which is also a reminder to…
6. Take out travel insurance
Don't be the person who doesn't take out travel insurance because you don't think you need it. It can be disheartening when some insurance companies won't insure you because your condition is too risky. Personal anecdoate time: Applying for MS insurance for example doubles the cost of my premium when I travel but that's a whole lot better than paying completely out of pocket in a foreign country when you're already stressed out about being sick.
7. Pack all of your medical must-haves in your carry-on luggage
If you have some assistive devices such as a wheelchair and have tips on that, comment below or shoot me an email because I'd love to have some tips on that since I've never done it before.
8. Research, research, research
Hmm, it's almost as if this website would be useful… Ahem. I'm just gonna… put this here…
9. Ask for help
Google is your friend when you're travelling because there can be local tourist information sites that will help in your situation or some countries may have special ambulance numbers for tourists. There's a high likelihood that you'll get a friendly local willing to help you out. Asking for help to you may also mean not solo-travelling and going with friends or family, as much as they may annoy you.
But remember…
10. Do what's best for you
If any of these things in this list don't vibe with you, then ignore them and do what's best for you because you're the only person who knows what its like to live in your body. Most importantly, if you want to climb Mount Killimanjaro and you live with a disability, there are ways around this. In fact, the MS Society in UK has an annual trip for a fundraising for MS treatment research.
What are your favourite tips to travelling as a spoonie?