Whilst the idea of going on holiday when you have a medical condition may seem daunting, you don’t necessarily have to restrict yourself too much. People with all kinds of conditions travel every day, and the majority enjoy perfectly hassle-free breaks.
As well as making sure you are prepared for your trip, it’s important to pick your destination carefully; some places are just better suited to those with certain conditions. As you will see in the rest of this article, suitability could be influenced by a number of factors, including weather, terrain and even air quality.
Bearing all of that in mind, let’s delve into some of your options! By the end, we hope you’ll have a better idea of where to spend your holiday time this spring.
Asthma-friendly destinations
Only you will know what sparks your asthma symptoms – everyone’s condition is slightly different, so think about your own triggers when looking for somewhere to go. Here, though, are a couple of ideas to get you thinking.
Berlin, Germany – Firstly, the historic German capital is relatively flat, which means you can walk for hours without running out of steam. The city’s incredible architecture, however, promises to take your breath away in all of the right ways. From the stunning Brandenburg Gate to the fantastically odd Fernsehturm television tower – you’ll find yourself looking up for much of your trip.
With humidity levels typically low in spring too, this is could be a great choice if you have asthma.
Tuscany, Italy – If you’re determined to avoid smog and pollution, a countryside break might be your best option, and we can’t think of many better leafy destinations than Tuscany.
Famous for its wine and beautiful rolling hills, this part of Italy is a major draw for those who just want to relax with a glass of red or white in hand. The landscape isn’t quite as flat, so you’ll still need some fitness if you’re planning to head out walking, but the air promises to be fresh.
Travelling with a disability
You will be used to managing your mobility at home, and you’ll no doubt know your limits, but being somewhere different can be testing – you won’t always know what’s around the next corner. With that in mind, here’s some more inspiration.
A Caribbean cruise – There are a number of reasons why cruises can be great for people with physical disabilities. You will have easy access to everything you need during your time away, including various restaurants, shops, bars and pools. You’ll also see various different countries without having to pack and unpack more than once or drag your luggage around.
Last but not least, all ships are wheelchair-accessible these days, so you needn’t worry about getting around. With all of that in mind, what better place to spend your cruise experience than the Caribbean?
Seattle, United States – Some of the United States’ most obvious holiday locations – like San Francisco, New York and LA – can be pretty hard-going on wheelchair users, but head to the northwest and things get a whole lot easier. Seattle, Washington, regularly features at the top of ‘disability-friendly destination’ lists, and the city has plenty to offer inquisitive tourists. Postcard-perfect scenery is impeccably complemented by a wealth of cultural attractions, and an easy-to-use public transport system makes seeing all of it pretty effortless.
Holidaying with joint problems
If you live with a joint condition, like arthritis, the priority of your holiday will undoubtedly be relaxation. There are extra steps you can take to ensure the best for your bones. Hot springs, for example, are said to ease aching, as is salt water.
With this in mind, you might consider visiting Turkey, where you can find not only traditional baths but the beautiful Pamukkale – a World Heritage Site boasting some of the world’s most impressive natural salt baths.
Japan and Iceland are also known for their natural hot springs, so be sure to consider these as potential destinations. With three different options, you should find that at least one suits your budget.
Celebrating Easter in Europe
If you are looking to celebrate Easter in a new and exciting setting, you have plenty of potential destinations around Europe to consider. Orthodox Christians across Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia and many more countries will be celebrating according to the Julian calendar, which places Easter Sunday on May 1 – over a month later than in the Gregorian calendar you are probably used to.
The main benefit of this is that you have more time to prepare for your trip and the celebrations. It also means you can beat the rush by avoiding bank holiday weekend, and get more sun as a lot of mainland Europe starts to warm up around this time of year.
The choice is yours!
With all that said, where will you choose to go this spring? Whatever your decision, it pays to prepare properly. Check out our travel tips before you set off, and be sure to arrange the appropriate travel cover!