A Guide for People with Disabilities to Travel to Canada Safely
Tourism is a great activity to do especially in countries like Canada that offer a ton of places for tourists to visit and explore during their holidays. From places like elegant views of Niagara Falls, the beautiful dancing lights of The Northern Lights, and the serene sights of Lake Superior.
However, people with disabilities are afraid to engage in tourism because they don't know how to handle themselves in a foreign land they may not know anything about. While it is scary, rest assured that with proper planning and preparation, you can enjoy all the benefits of engaging in tourism despite your disabilities no matter which way they affect you.
For proper preparation for a tour, tourists suffering from disabilities need to be aware of what they need to consider for their plan. So, let us take a look at a guide for people with disabilities to travel to Canada safely.
Research the Accessibility Services
Canada is a country that provides a lot of services to tourists with disabilities in order to assist those who wish to travel within Canada. These services include transportation services and accommodations tailored specifically for supporting people with disability.
Preparation Before Travel
Health Related Preparation
For every tourist suffering from a disability, the first preparation they should start making is for their health maintenance. This includes consulting your healthcare specialist about whether you are fit to travel or not. If you are deemed fit, then ask what you should be doing to maintain your health and not suffer from any unforeseen consequences.
Pack all your daily medication with you along with the prescription and medical certificates for your trip. These steps will ensure that you remain healthy and fit throughout your journey which will allow you to experience Canada at its best.
Plan According to Your Destination
The first thing you need to do is to create a travel plan for the destination you wish to visit in Canada. While Canada includes transportation services and accommodation services everywhere in the country, these services follow different standards which you must be aware of for making better preparations for yourself during your trip to these places.
To properly research your destination, look at the available accommodation and travel services and the tourist attractions of the place. These will help you map out your route through your intended destination for an optimal tour.
Travel Insurance
A very important factor for having a safe journey that tourists neglect during their travels is travel insurance. If you are a person who has a disability and wishes to go on a tour, do not neglect the travel insurance as it can save you during any need of emergency by allowing you easy access to medical equipment and facilities.
It also covers expenses such as trip cancellation or loss and damage to any equipment.
Transportation Services Within Canada
Once you have completed your pre-travel preparations, it is time to delve into the transportation services available to you in Canada. This is an important part as you will be traveling a lot in Canada as it is the second largest country in the world. There are mainly two main methods of transportation used in Canada with both having their benefits and downsides.
Land-Based Transport
Canada has long road systems that connect major cities. This makes traveling via bus, taxi, or personal car travel a viable option to travel around Canada. The country also contains several train systems which take passengers to and from many parts of the country.
While the accessibility is great for tourists suffering from disabilities, there is a lack of personalized options as most option's mentioned here are public transport that are not suitable for people with disabilities. It is also the most time-consuming method of transport as well which can be an issue for tourists with certain disabilities who feel uncomfortable during long travels.
The best option for those looking to travel via land will find renting a car for traveling to be the best option available.
Airways
Your other option is to use airways to travel to and from the locations that you plan to visit in Canada. This is by far the fastest mode of transport as Canada has airports in most major cities allowing for easy accessibility. Airways can also accommodate their services for tourists with disabilities which makes them very comfortable for travelling.
Their downsides include having premium costs and reliance on land transportation to reach the actual tourist attractions of your intended destination. Despite these downsides, if you can afford them, they are worth it for their services.
Accommodation Services In Canada
Once you have figured out your travel plans you can move on to planning your accommodations in Canada. When it comes to accommodation services in Canada, think of facilities like hotels, guest houses, and rental properties.
For tourists with disabilities, hotels are going to be the best option as Canadian hotels come equipped with wheelchair-friendly structures, modified bathrooms, elevators, and services for handling emergency situations. If you are traveling with a service animal, then certain hotels can provide accommodations for them as well.
Tourist Activities in Canada
After you have planned everything to support your trip to Canada, it is time to look into what kinds of tourist activities you can engage in during your stay in Canada. Due to the large number of activities available in Canada, you can engage in both outdoor and indoor activities during your trip to the country.
The only things you need to keep in mind are the accessible services, emergency support, and specialized equipment available at the tourist attraction for tourists with disabilities. This is important as you need to take care of yourself during your visit to such attractions amongst the large crowds that might be present in these places.
If you wish to indulge in outdoor activities like visiting natural trails and parks, check whether these places have all of the support you need to ensure your safety in such remote areas.
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Airlines have exacting arrangements with regards to lightweight gear. Travellers are normally just permitted to convey a limit of two lightweight suitcases. In any case, this breaking point doesn't matter to medical aids, clinical hardware, and supplies.
Find out more at Canada Visa for Medical Patients.
Miscellaneous Things to Lookout for
To fully complete your preparations, you just need to take care of a few things and you are all set for your journey in Canada.
Install Translation Apps
Canada is a culturally diverse country with people from many regions living within its borders. This makes communication with people a lot harder as you may encounter people who don't speak the common English language. To deal with such a situation, install a translator app on your mobile devices to facilitate a smooth connection with the locals.
Be Mindful of All Nearby Healthcare Centers
To ensure that you are always ready for any medical emergencies, make a list of all the nearby healthcare facilities near the locations of your intended destinations to reduce the time needed for searching for a healthcare center in such situations.
Don't Hesitate to Ask for Assistance
Canada has a lot of facilities dedicated to assisting tourists with disabilities in times of hardship such as emergencies, discrimination, and any other issue. So, don't hesitate to reach out to the appropriate authorities for assistance in times of need.
Canada is a country that is very accessible for tourists with disabilities and offers many services to ensure that such tourists can enjoy their time in the country with minimal issues. These services are provided for both indoor and outdoor activities in each part of the country to make sure that tourists with disabilities are safe and comfortable throughout their journey.
So, if you are looking to visit Canada, start by applying for your Canada tourist e-visa and book all your reservations in advance.
Entry into Canada requires either the Canada Visitor Visa or a Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), which only a few countries are eligible. It is important that you should check your eligibility for Canada eTA and apply for Canada eTA at least 72 hours in advance of your flight. Citizens of many countries including Greek citizens, Israeli citizens, Polish citizens, Romanian citizens and Hong Kong citizens can apply online for eTA Canada Visa.