Although the significant variation in our community means this may look different for everyone, with some in our community not feeling that longer vacations are options for them either right now or for the foreseeable future, we still felt that including this section was very important as many have asked us for tips specific to this! As always, let us know if you have any questions. That is what we are here for!

First, what is your medical team comfortable with? We are starting with this one because if they are comfortable with you traveling locally but not internationally, or are comfortable with you staying within 5 hours of your home but no farther, these are all important conversations to have with them. This can help you ensure that they are comfortable with your travel plans.

1.) Consider packing a small travel-size air purifier to bring with you, especially if you have MCAS. You can call the airline ahead of time to see what they allow, but usually they allow small ones to be packed in luggage, not carry-on items though.

2.) Make sure to pack and have a medical passport- see our Medical Passport section to get some ideas!

3.) Make sure to pack extras of everything including emergency medications. You can never be too careful! If possible, we recommend keeping medications in a personal bag that you have on you, and someone else you are with can have extra doses just in case a bag is lost or stolen. We also recommend talking to your specialists ahead of time about pharmacy information near where you will be staying, in case they need to call in a prescription for you.

4.) Make sure to proactively hydrate very well prior to traveling and bring empty water bottles that you can bring to fill after checking through security. Often there are stations where you can either purchase water or fill your water bottle at water fountains. Some may find that being extra vigilant and mindful of hydrating days leading up to the trip also helps.

5.) If you use electrolyte solutions, bring extra, extra, extra!! Can’t have too much and if it is something you heavily rely on, it is important that you don’t run out.

6.) Bring your To-go Bag that has everything you might need urgently. See our To-go Bags section for ideas.

7.) Dress in layers and comfortably. Dressing comfortably is important but so is dressing in layers, especially if you struggle with heat or cold intolerance. It can be hard to predict what environments you may be in, so planning ahead of time can be especially helpful. This also includes packing items like instant hot packs, instant cold packs, and fans.

8.) Do your research specific to the weather and temperature where you are going and pack accordingly, while also packing for the unexpected. You can also look at previous weather data from prior years to get some added insight as well. A link to a helpful site that provides you with this information can be found here. It is supposed to be warm and you aren’t sure if it will be too hot for you? Assume that it will be (err on the side of caution), and plan accordingly. For some hot weather tips and tricks see our Navigating Heat section.

9.) Consider bringing a mobility aid with you even if you aren’t sure if you will need it. Having it with you just in case can be really helpful. Some examples can include a lightweight wheelchair or rollator. See our Helpful Items section for some ideas.

10.) Research hospitals and health centers near where you will be located. Some in our community may only choose to travel to places where they know health centers are readily available and trust the quality of care delivered. This is something that will vary per person and based on other co-occurring conditions and health history as well.

11.) Consider wearing a medical ID band either as a necklace or bracelet. For information specific to creating medical IDs see our Medical IDs section.

12.) If traveling with family or friends, please make sure they are well aware of what you may need while traveling. Discuss with them what your symptoms are, how pacing is important for you, and help create a plan of action ahead of time that allows you to pace throughout the trip and creates space and accommodations for symptom flares. See our Pacing section to learn more about pacing specifically and access our pacing handout.

13.) For those in our community who use mobility aids, and who don’t use mobility aids, we still recommend considering packing a collapsible stool if you think it would be helpful. Having one of these with you can be great when you find yourself in lines needing to sit. An example is seen in our Helpful Items section!

14.) If your medical team has recommended compression garments for you make sure to pack extras, just in case, and wear while traveling. Compression garments (specifically compression socks) are actually recommended for individuals who don’t have these diagnoses when on planes given the increased risk for blood clot development. Wearing compression while traveling can be very helpful for some- to learn more about compression options see our Managing Symptoms section.