One of our Pathfinders has just been on her first independent trip away. Read all about it here including her Top Travel Tips!

My First Trip Away with My PA – Scotland, Largs

Travelling with a disability often means there’s a lot more to plan—things like accessible hotel rooms, equipment hire, taxis, and routines. But I was up for the challenge of planning my very first trip away with just my PA (no family members) and I’m so glad I did—it was a huge success.

First, I chose the area I wanted to stay in: Largs, Scotland. I used Expedia to look at accessible hotels, and I really liked that they included pictures of accessible rooms so I knew what to expect. Once I found the right hotel, I called and booked directly.

Because my PA can’t lift me (and shouldn’t for safety reasons), SMA UK helped me hire a hoist and commode chair, which made things so much easier. Next, I booked my train tickets and arranged assistance through Passenger Assist—everything went smoothly.

The last big worry was taxis. I’ve had issues before in other cities finding accessible ones, so I searched “accessible taxis Largs” on Google and found Ravi’s Taxi, who had an 8-seater accessible Caddy vehicle. I pre-booked all my journeys in advance, which took away so much stress.

• Create a schedule of things you want to do.
• Stick to your routine—I got up and went to bed at the same times as at home, which made me feel safe and grounded.
• Choose a PA you connect with—you’ll be spending a lot of time together, so it’s important you vibe well.
• Plan your days like a triangle—a calmer first day, a busy middle day, and a slower final day to recover.
• Energy management is key—I thought I’d do three festival days, but with a 6-hour journey, that was too much. Work around what your body can handle.
• Travel comfort tip: Make sure to go to the toilet before long journeys. I didn’t take a laxative beforehand, and it made the trip uncomfortable—lesson learned!
• Ring the hotel — check if there is space under the bed for the hoist to go underneath (we faced a little issue when the hoist wouldn’t go underneath) – we did a side transfer instead from the commode to bed.
• Ring the the Hire Company— To state which exact equipment you need (we received a commode chair – but the bucket wouldn’t slide out underneath) I had to get of the chair for the bucked to be removed.

The whole weekend was a 10/10:

• Going on the ferry to Millport.
• Attending the Om & Bass Festival at Kelburn Castle (I’m an accessibility ambassador, so it was amazing to embrace my hippie side and be in my element).
• Spending time with friends at the beach—which was only 10 minutes from my hotel. I hadn’t been to the seaside in years, so this was really special.
• The hotel breakfast on Sunday—gluten-free toast, avocado, smoked salmon and poached egg—absolute bliss after six months of the same breakfast at home!

I feel so much more confident now about planning trips independently. This was a great starting point, and I’m excited for the adventures to come.

I’m incredibly grateful to:

• SMA UK, who funded the hoist and commode hire.
• SMA UK Smart Moves Grant, which part-funded my Permobil powerchair that lets me change positions, tilt, backrest recline, and elevate my legs—this made the trip possible.
• Pathfinders Neuromuscular Alliance’s Uplift Weekender which I attended. I admired their structured planning. Inspired by this, I used a similar approach for my own adventure, which made me feel safe and grounded.
• And of course, my amazing PA, Liz. Thank you for reassuring me, supporting me, and making this trip so enjoyable.

Right now, I’m physically tired but mentally so alive. I hope my story inspires you to plan your own adventure—because living with a disability doesn’t mean you can’t travel. It just takes a bit more planning, patience, and the right support.