- Plan ahead! For example, pack warm clothes if cold aggravates your overuse injury.
- Identify where you want to stay, the activities you want to do, your methods of transport and the assistance you need. Choices range from a fully catered cruise where you get off at each destination to go sightseeing (minimum effort meals, activities, housekeeping, transport and childcare) to back-packer style hostel and coach travel trips (self-sufficient meal purchase, preparation, activities, bed-making, repeated packing and unpacking and luggage handling) or even camping.
- Schedule yourself extra time (for rest or to fit in your activities when able). You could finalise plans and book outings if you find your medical condition isn’t a barrier.
- Use luggage you can easily manage, light and with wheels and so on.
- Leave lots of time to make transfers, move your luggage and stretch and move around. Travel light. Consider mailing some of your luggage or purchases home.
- Take quick-drying clothes that you can hand wash and drip-dry.
- Let the plane and train carriers know in advance that you will need assistance.
Checklists
If you are going on a trip there are many things to organise and it can be very helpful to put together a check-list of things you need to do.
Early actions
- Book accommodation
- Find someone to look after pets.
- Use information maps and guides to plan the trip.
- If travelling by public transport, book travel and any transfers.
- If travelling by car, book in for a pre-holiday technical check at NRMA or equivalent.
- Book car service. Check spare tyre.
- Organise travel insurance.
- Arrange for watering of garden and indoor plants.
- Check that you can manage your luggage (pack light)
Security Arrangements
- Stop newspapers/mail.
- Ask neighbours to collect junk mail.
- Stop milk and periodic deliveries.
- Leave contact addresses and phone numbers with neighbours.
- Check door and window locks.
Departure day
- Take perishables out of fridge
- dispose of garbage
- lock windows and doors
- turn off lights and unneeded power points
- turn on any security devices.
Items to take on a journey
- First aid kit, medication and treatment aids like a heat pack
- toiletries
- sunscreen
- camera/film or video camera
- comfortable walking gear
- sun glasses/hats
- books/magazines/games/music
- maps
- electric torch batteries
- corkscrew/bottle opener/can opener
- picnic blanket and large plastic sheet
- garbage bags
- carry bag/back-pack for small items
- phone and address details for family, friends and neighbours
- special equipment for the specific location, such as swimsuits or cold weather gear
- snacks for the trip
- your favourite drink
- bed-linen, towels, laundry powder if un-serviced accommodation.
While you’re here…
While you’re here, how about helping us out with a donation?
We’re a really small organisation doing a really big job. We give people with RSI across Australia the info they need to get the right treatments, navigate the worker’s compensation system and better manage daily life.
Every little bit helps – so make a donation here to help us as Australia’s only RSI support organisation.