Leisure

Going on holiday

Summary: Holiday ideas, making arrangements and further information.

• Choosing a holiday that suits you
• Making arrangements
• RNIB Leisure

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Everybody needs a holiday from time to time. A change of air, a different environment, meeting new people or simply taking time for yourself can really be of benefit.

This section will give you some useful ideas about choosing a holiday and making arrangements, as well as ways of getting further information.

Choosing a holiday that suits you

There are as many different holiday options as there are people wanting to take a holiday! Here are just a few ideas to help you decide what break is right for you.

“The first few trips are about confidence building. It doesn’t matter where you go as long as you go somewhere… Blind people tend not to want to explore for obvious reasons. But those who do have a fantastic time. They really gain a lot from it.”

Specialist hotels

A number of specialist hotels around the UK cater specifically for blind and partially sighted people, their friends and families.

A “specialist” hotel has staff specifically trained to offer support to blind and partially sighted guests. The hotels often have additional features such as colour contrasting surfaces, talking lifts, tactile signs, talking menus and a range of useful products from liquid level indicators to make a cup of tea in the morning, to talking alarm clocks.

Days out and evening entertainment are often included in the price.

For a full, up-to-date list of specialist hotels see our Hotel Guide.

“We were met at the station so problems of finding our way to the location were sorted. I was given a guided tour of the facilities and room. It all seemed natural and I forgot this was a special hotel.

When I went to pour myself a coffee using the kettle in my bedroom, I found a liquid level indicator hanging on the cup. The aids and assistance were available, but it was up to me whether I wanted to use them.

Trips were organised so if I wanted to be adventurous I could, or I could do my own thing.”
Mary

Activity holidays and themed breaks

Many specialist hotels offer activity holidays and themed breaks, such as music and walking holidays, among others.

There are also holiday venues around the UK offering you a range of options if you are feeling a bit more active!

For example, three Calvert Trust Centres in

• Northumberland (telephone 01434 25 02 32)
• Cumbria (telephone 01768 77 22 54)
• Devon (telephone 01598 76 32 21)

offer options such as abseiling, archery and swimming for people with disabilities, including blind and partially sighted people.

Higham Hall in Cumbria (telephone 01768 77 62 76) and Knuston Hall in Northamptonshire (telephone 01933 312 104) are just two of many residential colleges throughout the UK that welcome blind and partially sighted participants on courses ranging from poetry to Tai Chi, and languages to local history.

The University of Bristol runs residential courses in the summer for blind and partially sighted people interested in topics such as art and architecture. Contact the Centre for Access and Communications Studies (telephone 0117 954 5710) for more information.

You could also contact the Vitalise (telephone 0845 345 1972), who arrange escorted group holidays in the UK and overseas for blind and partially sighted holiday makers.

“Everything about the weekend was great. The staff were quite amazing, food delicious, tutors had unbelievable patience, fellow guests were very interesting and what can we say about the weather, perfect!”
Norma, participant at a keyboard tuition weekend

Residential homes

RNIB’s residential homes offer a good option for older blind and partially sighted people who may need more care and attention on holiday, for example help with dressing.

Facilities at RNIB homes include a library with books in large print, braille or tape, a hydrotherapy spa and gardens. Activity organisers provide a range of activities and trips out.

RNIB has residential homes in

• Somerset
• Yorkshire
• East Sussex.

Group holidays and local societies

Group holidays are a great way to meet new people.

Some local societies for blind and partially sighted people organise group holidays in the UK, and sometimes overseas. Normally, there is a local collection point, which makes travelling more convenient.

For contact details of your nearest local society, contact the RNIB Helpline (helpline@rnib.org.uk or telephone 0845 766 9999 or 020 7388 2525 - some callers may find it cheaper to call a landline, so we have detailed both 08 prefixed numbers and landline equivalents where available).

If your local society does not arrange trips, they may know of organisations in your area that can help. Again, you could contact the Vitalise for details of their group holidays.

“I’ve been on lots of group holidays, from wine tasting in France to sunbathing in Thailand to tandem riding. I enjoy the variety of holidays available, I enjoy being in a group of like minded people, and I’ve met a lot of good friends, both visually impaired and sighted”.
Wayne, who regularly goes on Vitalise holidays

Hotels and guest houses

Most hotels and guest houses offer a warm welcome to people with sight problems.

When you make a booking, do tell them how they can help you make the best of your stay. For example, let them know if you need an orientation tour of the hotel or a lift from the train station.

RNIB’s Leisure team have details of some hotels in the UK recommended to us by blind and partially sighted holiday makers for their welcoming service, good location or great facilities. You could also contact your local society for details.

Under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), a hotel cannot refuse to serve you for a reason related to your disability, or offer you a different standard or manner of service. For example, they should not assume that, because you are blind or partially sighted, you would be happy with a room with no view. They should also not refuse to accept you because you have a guide dog, for example, or because they believe you pose a fire risk, unless they can justify their reasons.

Holiday providers should make reasonable adjustments to accommodate you, and be willing to offer “auxiliary aids” to make your stay more comfortable. For example, if you are unable to read the menu, they could enlarge it or read it out to you.

“At a recent visit to a hotel in Nottingham, we were looked after extremely well. Staff were happy to show us to our room as we were unable to locate it ourselves. They came and collected us in the morning to take us down to breakfast, where the restaurant staff were also very obliging and helped us with the buffet style serving arrangements. Everyone was very courteous and we could not have asked for more from anyone.”
Stephen

Holidays abroad

There are specialist tour operators who arrange holidays abroad specifically for people with visual or other disabilities, for example Vitalise and Enable Holidays (telephone 0871 222 4939).

RNIB Recreation and Lifestyles team campaigns for mainstream tour operators to make their information and holidays more accessible.

We also work closely with

• Tourism for All UK
• Visit Britain
• The Association of British Travel Agencts (ABTA).

“I enjoy visiting different places and learning about foreign cultures and people’s different ways of living. The sunshine is also a bonus! Often when I have visited places like art galleries or museums overseas, people have been happy to do their best to help.”
Bella

Making arrangements

The key to having a great holiday is in the planning. Here are some points to consider.

Information services

There are many sources of information to help you plan a holiday. Your local travel agent should be able to help. The internet is another good source of information.

You could also contact tourist information centres. The main UK tourist boards will be able to give you details of centres in your local area. Contact

• Visit Britain, formerly known as the English Tourism Council (telephone 020 8846 9000)
• Visit Scotland (telephone 0845 225 5121)
• Northern Irish Tourist Board (telephone 028 9024 6609)
• Visit Wales (telephone 0870 121 1251).

Booking

There are several options when it comes to booking your holiday. You could contact your travel agent or the hotel of your choice directly.

You could tailor make your own package, or use the internet. Whilst we acknowledge that at present not all websites are accessible to blind and partially sighted users, RNIB continues to campaign for internet accessibility.

If you have access to the internet, one accessible travel website which you could visit is lastminute.com

You could also try Traveleyes, a company specialising in providing holidays for blind and partially sighted people and sighted travellers.

When booking independently, remember to inform the hotel or tour operator of any special requirements you have, for example

• a ground floor room
• a taxi to meet you at the airport or train station, if possible
• any specific dietary requirements.

Always re-confirm what has been discussed so that your expectations can be met.

“I like going on mainstream holidays because they treat you like any other guest. If you ask for help they give it. You need to tell them that you have a sight restriction and you need to tell them what you need in terms of support.”

Passport and visa

When travelling abroad, your passport must be valid for the duration of the holiday, but some countries also require a longer validity than the holiday duration.

Ensure that any visa and health requirements, such as inoculations, are met.

Contact your destination country’s embassy for more information. Your travel agent should also be able to give you advice.

Insurance

It is a good idea to take out medical and personal insurance to cover you whilst you are on holiday.

Ensure that the company you choose is a member of the Association of British Insurers and inform them of details such as medical conditions and your age.

RNIB Leisure Services can provide contact details for insurance companies recommended to us in the past.
(Please note however that this does not consist of a recommendation by RNIB).

Travel by coach, rail, sea and air

Before travelling, inform the travel company of your needs. The majority of coach, rail, ferry and airline companies do offer reliable assistance, but it’s important to let them know what support or assistance you require in advance.

“On my flight, I was delighted to find that all the instructions on things like safety procedures were available in braille. The staff were very helpful, they showed me where the buzzer was to call them and told me to let them know if I needed any help. I also loved the champagne!”
Bella

Financial assistance

There are some trust funds and organisations in the UK who may be able to help pay for a holiday.

Information is available from RNIB’s Recreation and Lifestyles on organisations who may be able to help with funding. However, as funds are often limited you should apply as early as possible.

See charities for people in need.

Your local authority social services should know of your nearest trusts or organisations. Some local societies for blind and partially sighted people also offer financial assistance.

RNIB can also consider making small grants to registered blind or partially sighted people who have not had a holiday for at least five years.

Contact the Welfare Rights Service (telephone 0845 766 9999 or 020 7388 2525 or brit@rnib.org.uk) for further details of grants, social security benefits or additional allowances you might be able to claim.

Finding an escort

If you would like some assistance on holiday, your local society, or the society near to your holiday destination, may be able to put you in touch with a volunteer who can act as a sighted guide.

Suggestions of organisations can be found in RNIB Leisure Services publication “Helping you to take a holiday”.

If I have a problem?

If things do not go quite as expected, let your hotel or tour operator know exactly what the problem is straight away. Then, between you, you can attempt to resolve any difficulties whilst you are still on holiday.

If the matter is not resolved, give the company full details of your complaint on your return.

Should you feel you have been discriminated against and would like some advice, contact RNIB’s Helpline.

RNIB Leisure

RNIB provides information on holiday and leisure opportunities available to blind and partially sighted people.

You can contact us at

RNIB
105 Judd Street
London
WC1H 9NE
Telephone : RNIB Helpline: 0845 766 9999 or 020 7388 2525
(Some callers may find it cheaper to call a landline, so we have detailed both 08 prefixed numbers and landline equivalents where available.)
Email : helpline@rnib.org.uk

See also Hotels and holidays

Content author: helpline@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/10/2008 16:12