Is 2020 the year that you plan the holiday that you always dreamt of? 

Travelling with a wheelchair is an experience in itself.  Some places are easy, some are hard and some are just downright impossible. Sometimes Google will help and sometimes it will annoy you or give inaccurate information. 

Here are my top five travel tips that I found while travelling the world in a wheelchair. These simple tips will get you on your way to having the holiday that you are dreaming about. 

1.    Research.                                                                                                                              

Do your homework beforehand and plan it with an open mind. Planning is half of the fun of taking a holiday. I have spent many late nights on my computer, looking up places to stay or researching things to do in another country. I cannot stress enough the importance of taking the time out to sit down and plan. Write down everything that you want to do on holiday. The Internet will be your best friend and give you an idea of what you are to expect in a new environment. Also, ask other people that have travelled in a wheelchair there before or someone that may live in that city. Social media has some amazing groups that can assist. 

2.     Travel with an open mind.                                                                                              

Accept that some things will go wrong and embrace the art of problem-solving. Let's just accept it! Things will go wrong on your holiday but it's how you deal with the problem. I have been in some sticky situations from losing wheelchair parts after a long flight to having a blow out with a wheel on my electric wheelchair in the middle of Paris. Problem-solving can be fun and in the end, the situation might become a funny story that you tell your friends and family when you get home.

3.    Keep your accommodation close to the centre of town.                                                       

Some of my most awkward situations have been around transportation when I am overseas.  By being close to the activities or the city, in a worst-case scenario, I have walked. As frustrating, as this has been not getting a taxi and knowing how to speak the language, it has opened up new experiences. For instance in Rome walking back to the hotel I found a nice little pub and met some new friends. While my body had told me I wanted to go home to bed, fate had other ideas. In Paris, we rolled from the train station to the Louvre, some 7.5 km away. It was awesome and we saw things we otherwise would not have. 

4.     Experience what the locals do                                                                                                 

Let's face it - you travel to get away from your comfort zone. Try a local café, go to a market and get off the beaten track. For a wheelchair user, this can be daunting but I encourage you to challenge yourself. If it doesn't work out have a laugh and make sure you get that Instagram or Facebook post to prove you had a crack. Don't be shy to try new things you will be surprised at what it possible.  

5.     Take a manual chair as well as electric if possible                                                   

Our wheelchairs are our most valuable pieces of equipment and essentially our legs. When I travel overseas I like to take two chairs to maximize the benefits of going somewhere new. I do this so if there is a tour that is not accessible I can always throw a chair in the boot or even ockie strap it to a Tuk Tuk, as we recently did in Bangkok. Yes, I got my Insta moment doing this and it was awesome. An electric wheelchair can restrict you in some countries but having a manual can open the city up and you can really experience new things. Another reason I like to take two chairs is my manual can act as a trolley for my party’s bags. It's hard juggling bags and wheelchairs so this solves that issue.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Where there's a wheel, there is always a way to travel, the world is your oyster. As someone with high tone cerebral palsy, I must admit I like my comfort zone and getting out of this can sometimes be hard. I have ticked off 37 countries, some amazing, some ok and some I will never go back to. That is the joy of travel. I wonder where I will be off to next? I have approximately 170 plus more countries to choose from. Who’s coming?

About the Writer: 

Marlena Katene is Australia’s most unique entertainment journalist. Having Cerebral Palsy Marlena communicates via an ABC Board and iPad. After completing her Bachelor of Communications degree Marlena has been blessed to interview a wide range of people ranging from Ed Sheeran, Robbie Williams and even the Dalia Lama. While her journalism focuses mainly on music she also has written on other issues and freelance writes for a variety of magazines. Apart from her journalism work, Marlena is an avid traveller and adventure seeker. In 2016 she became the first person in the world with Cerebral Palsy to Base jump, achieving this feat by jumping off the 421 meter KL Tower in Malaysia. Addicted to travelling she is always seeking the next adventure and place to explore.