For example, if you have a bad back, you might find flying very difficult – what with the cramped seats, and long enforced periods of sitting still. Cruising might be a preferred option for you as you are free to move around the ship as you travel to each of your destinations! It saves you starting off your holiday tired, aching and in a bad mood, as you might do if you have a bad flight experience!

Another advantage of flying compared to cruising is the increased baggage allowance, and this can be particularly important if you suffer from medical conditions. For example, you may have a lot of medication or a wheelchair that you need to take with you. If you tend to end up paying for extra baggage allowance when you fly, the benefit is that a cruise has no restriction at all – as long as it will all fit in your stateroom, you can bring as many bags as you wish.

What about the facilities actually on board ship? Well if you have a disability, many cruise lines now have adapted cabins for wheelchair users. For more information on cruises for the disabled, visit www.disabilitytravel.com. What is more, if you do have any medical problems on board ship, they are often exceptionally well equipped. In fact, they are apparently able to carry out open heart surgery on board!

 So I hope this blog has provided a little information which might be useful to you about travelling with medical conditions, particularly if you are considering whether ‘to cruise or not to cruise.’

Many hospitals justify the charges by saying they need the income, but apparently some hospitals make profits of £1m a year from their car parks. A Department of Health spokeswoman said the government had launched a consultation into the issue.

This is obviously a particular problem for people with cancer, and MacMillan nurses have launched a campaign to solve this problem. MacMillan believe cancer patients should not have to pay to park while receiving their treatment at hospital.

I must agree  – hospital car parking charges are ridiculous  – and must be much worse when people are making repeated trips to hospital for cancer treatment. But this got me thinking about more generally – driving around and finding places to park – with specific medical conditions. This problem becomes even bigger when you are on holiday because you will be unfamiliar with the location.

When you are travelling with cancer, you will need to make some essential special arrangements, and that includes driving and parking in a foreign country. You may want to hire a car when you are away to allow you to explore those more unusual or out of the way locations, but you may have specific needs. Planning will help things go smoothly so that you can relax and enjoy exploring the country you are visiting. Here are some suggestions:

When travelling with cancer there are some things to think about..

Talk to a Medical Professional: The most important thing is to talk to your medical professionals – they may be able to suggest what is realistic for you in terms of driving.

Destination Decisions: For example, if you tire easily and can’t walk long distances, check that car park you need is close to the  tourist destination you are visiting.  Planning can greatly reduce the possibility of turning up and finding somewhere that is inaccessible to you.

Hire a specialist car: Depending on your condition, you might need to hire a specialist car. You should check what local specialists can provide.

Parking: If you have a blue disabled badge, don’t forget it! It lets you benefit from parking concessions across the 27 members of the EU (including Europe’s most congested cities), but it is also recognised further afield – specifically in Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and the US. For more info look on the AA website

We really hope this blog can help in organising your driving on holiday, to help you benefit from a relaxing, well planned break. If anyone has any other useful hints or tips that they could give us to add to this blog post, we would be really grateful.

 For more general information on travelling with cancer, check out this blog post or look at the AllClear4you cancer page.

1.       Hypertension (High blood pressure)

What is it? Puts extra strain on the heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart attack/stroke

How spotted? High blood pressure causes damage to the blood vessels in the retinas

2.       High Cholesterol

What is it? Cholesterol is a fatty substance in the blood that can increase your risk of heart attack

Doctors can use eye test results to diagnose other conditions

How spotted? Bits of cholesterol can break away from deposits in the body and lodge in the blood vessels of the retina, which the optician sees as tiny yellowish blockages. There may also be a thin white line circling the iris (coloured part of the eye) due to cholesterol deposits.

3.       Brain Tumour

What is it? Tissue growths that can be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign)

How spotted? Swelling of the optic nerve can be a possible sign

4.       Thyroid disease

What is it? Malfunction in the production of hormones, that regulate metabolism, in the thyroid gland

How spotted? Bulging or protruding eyeballs   are  a symptom of thyroid disease

5.       Multiple sclerosis (MS)

What is it? Neurological disability which can cause fatigue and memory problems

How spotted? There will be swelling of the optic nerve, blurred vision and sensitivity to light

6.       Diabetes

What is it? Too high levels of sugar in the blood, which can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease

How spotted?  High blood sugar levels damage the tiny blood vessels in the retina, causing leaks of blood and fatty deposits

7.       Stroke

What is it? Caused by either a blockage or bleed in the brain. Patients may have a series of minor strokes before suffering a major one

How spotted? The eye exam will reveal tiny clots or particles of cholesterol moving through the blood vessels in the retina, which can indicate that a person may already have had a stroke

Best get my next eye test booked then! But the important thing is to remember that if you are diagnosed with one of these conditions, that there is plenty of information available to help you carry on living your life in the way that you want to. For example, you could check out www.allclear4you.com, with information designed specifically for travelling with medical conditions.

1. Plan Ahead: This is the most important tip really. Invest in a guidebook, use the internet and contact the places you want to go in advance. Planning can greatly reduce the possibility of turning up somewhere inaccessible. Also make sure that your travel insurance covers you for your disability – take a look here for more info.
2. Parking: Don’t forget your blue badge. It lets you benefit from parking concessions across the 27 members of the EU (including Europe’s most congested cities), but it is also recognised further afield – specifically in Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and the US. For more info look on the AA website
3. Be imaginative. Being disabled doesn’t mean you need to strike that ‘holiday of a lifetime’ experience off your list; you just need to come up with ways of doing them differently. For example, you can still experience the exhilaration of skiing down Mont Blanc’s Vallee Blanche in a guide operated sit ski.

 For more information on travelling with a disability, check out Allclear4you.

Don't spoil your holiday, be sure to plan ahead.

But going back to the Olympics – what about accessibility for people travelling into or around the UK? It is a long trek for people to travel down from Scotland to watch the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London – but I am sure a lot of people will. So what will their travel experience be like?

Well, in a perfectly timed survey,  the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) wants to know about disabled people’s tourism experiences. The Accessible Tourism Stakeholders Forum is seeking information from disabled people about their tourism experiences. 

You’ll be able to tell the DCMS exactly what you expect when you stay overnight in accommodation or take a day trip to a UK tourist attraction and give them details of any problems you experienced. The survey’s findings will be used to help businesses improve accessible tourism services for disabled people.

 If you would like to air your views, Take part in the DCMS survey (opens in new window) As a thank you for taking part, you’ll have the opportunity to enter a free prize draw. And please also let us know any comments you have about travelling with a disability in the comments box below. We look forward to hearing from you!