The Bailey travel journal
Preparation is everything!
I have been lucky enough to have
had the chance to experience
many types of holiday to many
destinations, home and away… I
have not let my sight impairment
limit my horizons. Travel is one of
the most fun and rewarding things
that I am lucky enough to be able
to do. It allows me to experience
foreign cities and local cultures. The
fact I can’t see the sights properly
only heightens my curiosity. I ask
my wife to describe the details and
vista. Then I add the scents, sounds
and tastes… your imagination can
run riot. I can walk away from a
view with a better picture of it than
a sighted person who has just
stopped for a glance. Over the years
I have become a seasoned traveller,
developing many skills and tricks
for navigating through airports and
other unfamiliar areas.
Travel can be daunting if you have
a visual impairment, but there are
many opportunities for the taking.
The number of companies which
operate specific programmes for
VIP’s has reduced but one such
company that is still operating is
called Traveleyes. They organise
group holidays for VIP’s that are
“liberating, fun, and yes, eyeopening, too”.
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2014 · Issue 11
It’s worth reminding you that the
tips and ideas that follow are
merely my personal method for
travelling. Your comfort level,
mobility experience, and common
sense may all dictate whether or not
these tips are also suitable for you.
Travel is not an exact science. Many
situations can occur on the day
of journey such as gate changes,
cancellations, and unforeseen
delays. Remember that these are
events that affect everyone who is
travelling, not just you!
De-stressing a trip begins in the
planning stages. Find out about
your destination, so you know what
to expect and what sights you’ll
want to visit. In addition, keep your
sanity by building in some down
time, you’ll get more value (and
better memories) from a trip that
proceeds at a comfortable pace.
Don’t plan out every single minute
of a trip. It’s better to add an activity
or two once you’ve arrived at your
destination and have a better sense
of the possibilities. You may also
not be able to do certain trips as
planned, so bear this in mind and
leave yourself some wiggle room.
If you can, find out about any
potential journeys you may need
to make. Nowadays, this can
often done online in advance;
you could download an “App” to
your mobile phone or ask at your
accommodation reception. Inform
the bus driver where you want to
get off so he knows to call it out,
and sit near the front of the bus. It
is also important to carry your cane.
Whether you choose to use it or not
for mobility purposes, your cane
helps to notify others that you are
visually impaired.
When you travel by air, always let your
airline, travel agent or tour operator
know if you need any extra assistance
at the airport or on the plane. An
airport, you very quickly realise, is not
a great place to be visually impaired.
Poorly piloted baggage trolleys,
non-speaking departure boards,
too many people in too much of a
hurry - it can seem like a nightmare.
Request help at least 48 hours before
you fly. This support could include:
someone to meet and guide you
through check-in, baggage check
and customs controls; someone to
tell you personally when your plane is
boarding if you are in a ‘silent airport’.
Take advantage of the pre-boarding
service offered by planes and trains
and only take carry-on luggage if
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