Top 10 Tips For Travelling with Parkinson's

emPowereD Team
May 27
3 min read

Want to know our Top 10 Tips For Travelling with Parkinson's?

Let's take a look at our top 10 tips for travelling with Parkinson's to help you have a great holiday. Bon voyage!

1. Consult Your Healthcare Team Early when travelling with Parkinson’s disease.

Doctor listens to a woman's heartbeat with a stethoscope in a bright clinic. The woman wears a light blue sweater, looking calm.

Before booking your time away, speak with your neurologist or Parkinson’s health professional and discuss your plans.

They can help you:

Adjust medication timing if crossing time zones.
Plan for extra doses or changes in routine.
Get a medical letter detailing your condition, medications, and any assistive devices you use (This letter can be helpful at customs or airport security.)
Find out if the names of your medication are different in the places you are going to and know if you will be able to get access to additional medication if required.

2. Pack Smart

Open suitcase with lime green bag, purple bottle, floral dress, and sandals on a patterned background. Straw hat partially visible.

Always carry medications with you in your hand luggage, in original packaging, along with a printed medication schedule and your doctor’s contact information. Bring along more medication than you expect to need, as you never know when you may encounter delays.

3. Book Accessible and Flexible Travel Options

Where possible, when booking flights, trains, or cruises:

Choose direct routes to reduce fatigue.
Research what early boarding options are available on your particular mode of transport. Depending on your symptom presentations, you may consider requesting wheelchair assistance or priority boarding if you feel this would be beneficial.
Select aisle seats for easier access.

4. Manage Medication Across Time Zones

Travelling across time zones can disrupt your medication schedule. Work with your healthcare provider to adjust timing while maintaining consistent intervals between doses. Some travellers find it helpful to set alarms on their mobile phones or use medication reminder apps such as Medisafe Pill Reminder.

Four wall clocks display times for London, New York, Tokyo, and Moscow against a gray wall. Clocks show different times, indicating time zones.

5. Prioritise Rest and Hydration

Hand holds a glass water bottle with a wooden cap against a sunny blue sky. Sunlight shines through, creating a bright, uplifting mood.

Plan for rest days before and after big travel days. Stay hydrated, especially during flights, to prevent low blood pressure and fatigue.

6. Secure Comprehensive Travel Insurance

Hand holding a pen filling out a travel insurance form on paper. A stethoscope lies nearby. The scene conveys a clinical, organised setting.

Ensure your travel insurance covers pre-existing conditions like Parkinson’s. Declare all medical conditions and equipment to avoid claim issues. Some insurers specialise in coverage for people with chronic conditions.

7. Prepare for Airport Security

To ease the airport experience:

Review the government procedures of the country you are entering to fully understand what the customs process is. This is a link to the Australian Government webpage.
Keep medications and medical devices easily accessible.
Inform security staff about any implants or devices that may trigger scanners. If you have had DBS surgery, be aware that there is a possibility that the metal detectors can turn the DBS device off if you pass through. Tell security that you have a ‘pacemaker-like device’.

8. Stay Active

While routines may be disrupted, aim to incorporate light exercise, stretching, or walking into your travel days. This can help manage any symptoms and maintain mobility.

It’s important to keep up with any exercises you may be doing to help you manage your PD symptoms. This could just mean making sure you do mobility exercises when you are travelling by plane, walking up and down an aisle while on a train or making time for walking, yoga or swimming on your trip.

Person with tan backpack walks on Brooklyn Bridge, cloudy sky, NYC skyline in background. Others walk ahead. Calm, urban mood.

9. Local Resources

Smartphone displaying GPS navigation is mounted on a car dashboard. Steering wheel visible, blurred background through windshield.

If you have any difficulties with symptoms or medication management overseas, it is worth researching near-by medical facilities in case necessary.

10. Enjoy the trip!

Travelling with Parkinson’s may require extra planning, but this does not mean it should stop you from pursuing what you enjoy. Travelling can offer you reconnection to your goals, your friends and family, and what matters most!