| We had only been back a few days from our
| |
| | electric ones). Youll need to arrive at
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| trip to Europe when Louise said she
| |
| | check-in a bit earlier to book it in and
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| thought we might go to New Zealand next
| |
| | to get a wheelchair for use at the
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| Christmas.
| |
| | airport. Ask for a staff member to help
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| It was then I knew the travel bug had
| |
| | you through to the plane. This has the
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| bitten.
| |
| | added advantage of giving you quick
|
| All we needed was a golden egg-laying
| |
| | checking through customs. Youll be put
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| goose and wed be right. Fortunately for
| |
| | in an aisle chair, which is a wheelchair
|
| us one came along and I know its like
| |
| | narrow enough to get you down to your
|
| finding a needle in a haystack for people
| |
| | seat on the plane and youll get taken to
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| with disabilities to be tripping over
| |
| | your seat first. Unfortunately this also
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| such a windfall, however we were lucky.
| |
| | means that youll be last to get off, but
|
| But enough of multiple metaphors; New
| |
| | dont worry; with the VIP service through
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| Zealand was great!
| |
| | customs youll be first at the luggage
|
| Before we went, we asked people who had
| |
| | carousel! And ask for staff help all the
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| been where we should go. Nearly all
| |
| | way through as it will make things much
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| replied, Everywheres good. Not much
| |
| | easier and quicker.
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| help, we thought.
| |
| | When traveling if you are disabled, its
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| Now we know they were right!
| |
| | very important to book ahead.
|
| There are many reasons why an Australian
| |
| | Unfortunately your days of just dropping
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| disabled tourist should go to New
| |
| | into a town and grabbing somewhere to
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| Zealand. For a start, they speak English
| |
| | stay on the spur of the moment are over.
|
| (well sort of. I had almost perfected my
| |
| | We started booking accommodation almost a
|
| Kiwi accent, but the rest of the family
| |
| | year prior and the internet is a
|
| forbade me prectising in the car). This
| |
| | wonderful (and cheap) tool for this.
|
| makes communication and understanding of
| |
| | Dont rely on those wheelchair friendly
|
| our needs so much easier.
| |
| | symbols because sometimes theyve been put
|
| New Zealand is so close to Australia-
| |
| | there for no apparent reason. Contact
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| only 3 hours on the plane- and so much
| |
| | the owners directly by e-mail and check
|
| cheaper than Europe. Even in their High
| |
| | on steps, space inside rooms, doorway
|
| Season car hire, accommodation and
| |
| | width, safety rails, bathroom
|
| tourist attractions were much cheaper
| |
| | configuration and accessibility
|
| than Europe in the middle of Winter.
| |
| | generally. (In fact, I could write a
|
| Although food and petrol were dearer than
| |
| | book on motel rooms-I have quite a list
|
| Australia, they were still quite a bit
| |
| | of practical suggestions for improving
|
| cheaper than Europe too.
| |
| | them for disabled travellers!) In
|
| Like Tasmania here theres lots to see and
| |
| | general, I found its better to exaggerate
|
| do in a small area. Unlike the rest of
| |
| | rather than downplay your level of
|
| Australia, you dont have to drive for
| |
| | disability. That way youre less likely
|
| hundreds of kilometers between big
| |
| | to end up somewhere unsuitable.
|
| tourist spots (in New Zealand everywheres
| |
| | Youll want travel insurance; if only to
|
| a tourist spot!) And it really is true
| |
| | cover any medical emergencies. We had to
|
| that most New Zealanders are tremendously
| |
| | pay a little more to cover my
|
| friendly and helpful.
| |
| | pre-existing condition, but it wasnt at
|
| Things for me seemed a bit harder than
| |
| | all hard to get. Most insurance
|
| Europe in some ways; but that was because
| |
| | companies will be happy to cover for
|
| with chronic progressive MS things get
| |
| | everything apart from your illness!
|
| worse- and it was a year later. Louise
| |
| | I bought a lightweight partially
|
| was right though; its a good idea to try
| |
| | collapsible electric wheelchair
|
| these things while you still can (and
| |
| | especially for the trip. Luckily I
|
| while our boys- aged 11 and 15-still
| |
| | bought it early enough ahead to iron out
|
| wanted to travel with us).
| |
| | a few teething problems and to get used
|
| Before You Go
| |
| | to using it (at the expense of our house,
|
| Its important for anyone to get organized
| |
| | which has been gradually destroyed by my
|
| for a trip overseas, but when youve got a
| |
| | earlier miscalculations).
|
| disability its essential!
| |
| | Louise began cursing the wheelchair early
|
| Heres some tips;
| |
| | in our trip as its rather small battery
|
| Make sure you take plenty of any
| |
| | began running out of charge and I had to
|
| medication you may need. Never try to
| |
| | keep finding power points and wait for a
|
| buy it overseas. It will be enormously
| |
| | re-charge. In future weve decided to
|
| expensive, or may not be available. Get
| |
| | just take the manual wheelchair overseas.
|
| a covering letter from your doctor and
| |
| | Its a lot less bulky and if youve got
|
| make sure the airline is aware. Needles
| |
| | someone to push, theyll appreciate the
|
| are OK in the hold, but if you need to
| |
| | exercise!
|
| take them as cabin luggage, youll need to
| |
| | Dont forget your disabled parking pass,
|
| make special arrangements.
| |
| | if youve got one. We tried to organise
|
| If you suffer from incontinence, for men
| |
| | an NZ pass before we left, through CCS,
|
| Id strongly recommend wearing a leg bag
| |
| | but it didnt eventuate. So we just used
|
| as it takes away a lot of the pressure of
| |
| | our Australian sticker and had no
|
| trying to find a toilet in time.
| |
| | problems at all. In fact in New Zealand
|
| You also need to choose a good airline
| |
| | youre very unlikely to encounter parking
|
| and inform them of your special needs.
| |
| | problems even in the peak tourist season.
|
| Weve tried some cut-price airlines and a
| |
| | And dont be afraid to say you could do
|
| few wobbly luggage hoists and tarmac
| |
| | with help. Its taken me a while to work
|
| steps later I can tell you it aint worth
| |
| | this out, but most places are set up to
|
| it! Contact the airline well ahead to
| |
| | cater for disabled people and are only
|
| arrange seating. We found the best place
| |
| | too happy to help if given notice. You
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| was up the very back, right near the
| |
| | might be pleasantly surprised and even
|
| toilets.
| |
| | find yourself at the front of the queue
|
| Almost all airlines will take your
| |
| | for once!
|
| wheelchair for free (that includes
| |
| | Need more travel content?
|
