Travelling with a disability can be more difficult than if you are able bodied, especially if you have a wheelchair or need the help of other people to get around. Here is the Skyscanner Australia guide to airports, planes, hotels and getting around on a trip within Australia or overseas.

Travelling with a disability can throw up all sorts of challenges, from getting insurance to making your way around unfamiliar places. That said, the key to successful travel with a disability is preparation. It pays to do as much research as you can, book well in advance, ask plenty of questions and reconfirm everything, in writing if possible.

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Travel insurance

Getting travel insurance can be tricky, and more expensive, but having a disability shouldn’t limit your access to a policy, unless insurance companies think you are just too much of a risk.

The Commonwealth Disability Act 1992 (the DDA) makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person with a disability. This includes the provision of travel insurance.

However, there is an escape clause for insurers in the form of Section 36 of the Act. In some cases risks associated with a person’s disability may be too high, or too uncertain, for an insurer to insure you. Rather than make assumptions about someone’s disability, an insurer has to assess the actual risks. If an insurer refuses to cover you their decision has to be ‘reasonable’.

The insurer can place extra restrictions on your insurance, or increase the cost of it, if they reasonably believe the risk for them is high. So, shop around. If you are having issues getting insurance ask your doctor for a medical note explaining that you are unlikely to need medical treatment when you are travelling.

Make sure you check all the details of your policy for restrictions and limitations, including the small print. If you are travelling with a wheelchair make sure that it’s insured too.

Airport security

If you are travelling with a wheelchair or another mobility aid, and you can’t pass through the metal detector without it, then airport staff may decide to use a hand held device, or they might decide to search you by hand. In Australia, and many other countries, you have the right to ask for this to be done in a private room.

Airport security staff might conduct a more thorough search than you expect. Sometimes they strike it lucky. In 2013 a man was searched at Madrid’s Barajas International Airport after a flight from Peru and they found 750 grams of cocaine in his false leg.

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Time to fly

When it comes to people flying with a disability, airlines have different policies. Again, they shouldn’t discriminate. It’s important to talk to an airline representative before you travel, and staff at the airport, if you feel you need help, or have a wheelchair. Also consider what you will do if you have a stop over.

Let the check in staff know if you need help boarding, and also getting off the plane again. They can arrange people to meet you at the gate at your destination. If there is no air tunnel, or you can’t manage the stairs, staff may be able to arrange a hoist.

If you need a wheelchair then the airline should supply you one if yours needs to be put in the hold. You won’t need to pay excess baggage fees for your wheelchair. On some planes, like the A380, you might be able to bring your own wheelchair on board if it can fold up.

Most likely, you will be first on board the plane and last to leave. Airport staff will usually ensure you get through customs and immigration as quickly as possible, without having to wait in a long queue.

You might feel it is wise to book a seat near a toilet, to make it less arduous moving around in flight.

Tiny on board toilets with inward opening doors can be a problem on older planes, but newer jets, like the A380 and the 747-400, include an accessible toilet. Some planes offer a privacy curtain which can be pulled across if the door needs to be left open.

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Securing the best hotel

Generally speaking, large hotel chains tend to offer rooms that are suitable for people with a disability. Other hotels might have some arrangements in place, but some hotels could be unsuitable. When you book a hotel ask if they can guarantee a suitable room, in writing. If in doubt ask them to send you photographs of the facilities.

Skyscanner Australia lets you search for hotels that have facilities for people with disabilities. Simply click on the Hotels tab, choose the city or town you wish to visit and hit the search button. On the hotel results page, there is an extensive filter bar on the left hand side of the screen. If you scroll down to the ‘Facilities’ filter, you can select Disabled Facilities from the Facilities section on the bar on the left hand side of the screen. Tick the option and all the hotels that don’t have disabled facilities will be filtered out of the search.

![On Skyscanner you can select the ‘Disabled Facilities" within the filter panel](http://content.skyscnr.com/cf72dbd199dbe6196830547149501a37/diasbled.PNG "On Skyscanner you can select the ‘Disabled Facilities" within the filter panel")

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On the ground (or water)

It’s best to do some thorough research on the place you want to visit so that you know what to expect. Uneven ground, cobbled streets, narrow alleyways, steep hills, and boutique hotels that lack facilities all might interfere with your holiday plans.

It might be best to avoid mass market tours, because these generally cater for people who can get on an off a coach quickly and then rush around seeing the sights before moving on again. That said, some coach companies offer hydraulic lifts to help disabled passengers get on and off.

Cruising could be a much better option, because most cruise ships have rooms that cater to people with a disability, and lifts and gangways are usually wide. Some shore excursions might be a problem though.

As for car hire, most companies (including Avis and Hertz) offer adapted vehicles, including wheelchair-accessible ones. You need to book well in advance though, and you could find they are only available in larger cities. If you have a disabled parking badge take it with you – sometimes you can even wave it in front of someone to jump the queue at major attractions.

In Australia wheelchair accessible taxis are available in major cities, and you are likely to find them in overseas destinations too.

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Knowing how to get around with a disability can save you time, effort and sometimes even money. Search Skyscanner Australia to find the cheapest deals on flights, hotels and car hire for your upcoming trip.

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