Travelling in a wheelchair can be a lot of things: stress, frustration, fatigue... But above all it can be an incredible experience, and for that you have to anticipate a few things!
What is certain is that, as in everyday life, travelling in a wheelchair consumes a lot of energy. So to ensure that your adventures go smoothly, we recommend that you prepare well to optimise your energy on the spot, especially if you plan to be away for a long time!
Here are a few things that help us make the most of our travels...
1. DON'T BE AFRAID TO DREAM BIG
When Pierre switched to a wheelchair, we began to think that we didn't have much choice in destinations. We who loved hiking, nature and outdoor sports, thought about our first trips on a single criterion: accessibility. So in three weeks in Canada in 2017, we visited almost only cities... Believe us, when it's not the type of holiday you like, it can be very frustrating: we needed fresh air (even if the cities in Canada are quite nice, we admit it)!
Making the most of your trip means first of all finding a balance to have peace of mind: choosing a destination that makes you dream and activities that you really want to do is part of this balance! But you also need to be able to assess the efforts that this destination will require of you and your ability to provide them. Let's put it this way: moving to a wheelchair means starting a new life. Everything is different and you have to learn again, including travel! The more things you experience, the more you will realise that the field of possibilities is wide and the more you will want to go on to the next step: so choose a goal that makes you vibrate, take into account your physical condition at the moment to avoid unpleasant surprises: and go for it!
If it is your first trip and you are worried, don't hesitate to test your abilities in a country/region where you will be sure to find places where you can enjoy independently: it will give you some breathing space if you encounter some accessibility difficulties there. Anglo-Saxon countries (US, Australia, England) and Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark) are for example well known for their exemplarity in terms of inclusion.
Please note: we often have misconceptions about the accessibility of a country and we had many pleasant surprises! Before choosing your destination, don't hesitate to take a look at our itineraries to get a better idea. Didn't go? No problem, we're not the only ones who travel in a wheelchair! Perhaps the friends at Handilol or I Wheel Travel can tell you about the destination of your dreams...
2. IDENTIFY your essential needs, prioritize them and build your trip accordingly
To make the most of your stay, you need to be able to optimise two things: your peace of mind, and your physical abilities. We are all different: everyone has their own constraints, drivers, desires and fears. So to achieve this, we recommend that you identify what is really important to you, and anticipate it to ensure that you have it during your trip.
For example: for us, having an accommodation that is more or less accessible every day and a fully accessible bathroom on a regular basis is a must: we therefore book all our accommodation several months in advance to ensure this when planning long itineraries. This anticipation allows us to be sure that we can rest properly at regular intervals without wasting mental and physical energy on practical concerns. It gives us the peace of mind to deal with the unexpected during the day and allows us to focus our energy on discovery rather than on the worries of everyday life.
This means a lot of planning and a potential lack of flexibility in our itinerary, but these things are not as important to us as having a place to stay overnight. Again: everyone is different, this is just our example. What are your priorities?
3. Whenever possible, travel with teammates... Or don't hesitate to ask for help!
Travelling alone in a wheelchair can be done (depending on your constraints of course), but travelling with teammates will always take you further. Climbing a bigger step (or staircase), taking a steeper hike, exploring longer paths... It all depends on what you want to do, but having one, two or three people with you can change the whole face of an adventure... And make it a collective success.
Do you prefer to travel alone? No problem. Whatever the country, we have always had only good surprises: if asked nicely, nobody refuses to give a hand when needed. If some people offer it naturally, others will be more reserved: don't hesitate to ask!
4. Communicate your needs clearly and ask questions
We are convinced that there are as many disabilities as there are people with disabilities. Each person is unique, and each disability comes with different symptoms, limitations and opportunities. Only you can know what you need most, and people don't always know how best to help you. So to avoid awkwardness or unpleasant surprises, don't hesitate to communicate clearly about your specific needs and/or how you can be helped. There are many things that can be done to improve your travel experience and people are often more than happy to help you do so: let them know how!
5. Give yourself time to rest
It will not have escaped your notice, but unlike able-bodied people, all the effort you make when you are in a wheelchair is concentrated on your upper body. Where some people can kayak in the morning and hike in the afternoon, you may need a substantial break between these two activities. Giving your arms and shoulders some time to rest between major efforts is a good way to ensure that you don't injure yourself and that your trip lasts a long time: it's part of the parameters to anticipate when planning your itinerary!
We leave you on a positive note to close this article: since 2015, we have travelled through fifteen different countries and covered thousands of kilometres (including South America, whose wide open spaces are not known for their accessibility). We have never had a major problem while travelling. This doesn't mean that nothing can happen to you: some destinations require a great deal of planning and adaptation... But we can confirm that it is possible, and that every effort made has given us incredible landscapes, people and satisfaction.
So... When are you leaving?