Article - Making Your Holiday Traveling Easier

With families and friends scattering farther away from one another, many of us must travel during the holidays to be with our loved ones. Who said getting there is half the fun? If you dread the travel that goes along with the holidays, begin planning your traveling now to keep yourself more comfortable. This is especially important if you have trouble traveling due to physical discomfort.

The staff at Dynamic Living offers the following products and tips that can help make the journey a little easier.

Planes
Handling luggage is one of the biggest obstacles for travelers.

• There are many options for travel bags and one is bound to work for you!

  • Four-wheeled luggage has very little weight to manage and can easily be guided with one hand. It is great for people with or rollator. Because it can glide so easily through the airport, four-wheeled luggage is the perfect choice for a carry-on.

  • Two-wheeled luggage is generally very easy to drag almost anywhere and is good for check-in luggage. Be careful not to pack too much into one case if you will have trouble lifting it off the baggage conveyor belt.

  • While it may seem that backpacks would put unnecessary strain on your back, modern backpacks are excellent at distributing weight evenly around your shoulders, waist and back (when properly adjusted) and leave both hands free for holding onto escalators, canes, or walkers. Many people with disabilities swear by backpacks and the freedom they allow.

  • Fanny Packs provide a great way to keep your identification and tickets close at hand without having to actually hold them as you maneuver from gate to gate.

• Add-on luggage handles, such as the Ergonomic Luggage Handle, are available to extend or change the angle of the luggage handle on two- wheeled luggage. This is much easier on your shoulder and back.

• Make your luggage easily identifiable so that you do not unnecessarily remove the wrong bag from the luggage belt or keep bending over to check ID tags. Tie a brightly colored ribbon (anything but red, which is the most common) on the handles or use a large and colorful luggage ID tag.

Trains
Traveling by train may mean longer trips and drafty places.

• Walking cane and seat combinations can be great while traveling. With this item you always have a cane to help keep your balance and a seat available whenever you need it.

• The lighting on a train is not always ideal for reading, especially at night. Make the journey easier on your eyes using a travel book light.

• A shawl can help you keep warm and cozy in cool train carriages and may also be useful as an extra cover-up wherever your trip takes you.

• Many trains have tables between the seats or seats that face each other. Take advantage of this setup to keep your friends and family entertained during the journey using a set of low vision cards. If you include a card holder in your carry-on, you won't have to worry about dropping your cards when the train jostles a bit.

Automobiles
Most of us will travel at least a short distance by car this holiday season. Adding a few comfort accessories will make car rides easier on your body.

• Support handles help you get in and out of your car by helping you maintain balance and giving you additional support while maneuvering.

• Swivel seats eliminate the strain of twisting to get in and out of the car. They are light and easy to take into any car.

• Seatbelts can be uncomfortable to use but are a safety necessity. Seat Belt Strap Adjusters help you ride more comfortably by positioning the shoulder strap away from your neck and across your shoulder instead. Another cure for seat belt chafing is a shoulder pad that cushions the edges of the seatbelt.

Taking planes, trains, and automobiles is never a comfortable experience, even for the most fit and limber of us. Traveling, even short distances, can be filled with roadblocks for those of us who have some mobility difficulty, loss of vision or other physical challenges. Plan ahead to make yourself comfortable and enjoy the ride!

© Copyright 2007 Dynamic Living, Inc.
Dynamic Living Newsletter may only be redistributed in its unedited form. Written permission from the editor must be obtained to reprint or cite the information contained within this newsletter.

(return to top of page)