Traveling with ALS

[Nuts]

OK, riddle me this, Batman: how can a hotel be "oversold" when you have a non-refundable deposit on a room with a barrier free shower?

Oh, it sounded nice: You've been upgraded to Executive class at our higher-end hotel right around the corner. Oh...let me check...yes, they have a barrier free shower.

Nope, the first room on the super special floor had a tub. They did find us an appropriate room, on the first floor, and it's lovely, but again I ask, how do you oversell with non-refundable deposits? For that matter, how do the airlines get away with it now that tickets are non-refundable if you don't show?

It was about to get ugly. Had hubby been tired and miserable it would have been ugly at the first stop. Not that that would have magically produced a room.

Sadly, I think we got someone else's room (they hadn't checked in at 9pm, so how pissed are they going to be if they show up later and don't have a room?). I don't think we would have gotten it if I hadn't dropped the ALS letters (thank you Ice Bucket Challenge) and hubby hadn't been driving around the lobby in his chair.

 

[tripete]

I have asked these same questions for years. As a salesman I could never have gotten away with the way airlines, hotels and doctors treat their paying customers.

 

[gooseberry]

I am afraid to ask what city this was in since we are folloeing a similar path starting next week.

 

[Nikki J]

It has happened to my sister more than once that a promised room with roll in shower is not available and no other hotel offered. I think what happens is someone does not leave as scheduled. It would never occur to me to stay an extra day without asking and I would expect if someone needed the room the answer would be sorry no. But apparently one of those things does not happen.
sorry you had the hassle

 

[Nuts]

Steph, it was on Princeton, NJ. We now call each day to explain our needs and insure they don't give away the room. Nope, grab bars are not enough...

Ugh--thank God for five hour energy drinks. I'm exhausted. Four road hours left so we'll be home by midnight, right?

 

[gooseberry]

I have called the places we are staying on the trip and reconfirmed but you just don't know. We are doing the westward trek so I am losing sleep over the details.

 

[Green Queen]

Steph, you seem to be one of the most level headed people I know. I'm sure you will cope with whatever they throw at you ... hopefully the right room for a start!
As yet we've not asked for an accessible room whilst away. When we were away for Disney on ice, we had a room with the shower over the bath. Nightmare city. I think only accessible rooms from now on.
God bless, Janelle x

 

[Gembead]

I have booked an accessable room for Wednesday and Thursday night later this week, we will wait with baited breath to see if we get one. We have applied for a permission slip to take the lithium battery for the Luggie on to our flight, we hadn't heard from Quantas so we rang them today only to be told that the people who handle this section are off sick so when we book in , the attendants will have to ring thru and get a verbal authorisation...
Love Gem

 

[Green Queen]

Ooooh Gem don't tell me that! I need to get a letter for my travelscoot and finding it difficult...why can't just one thing be easy!
Do you want to know what is just a little bit 'whaaaaaat?'
The WHOLE section on is off sick...mmmmmm

God bless, Janelle x

 

[avnl]

Thus far we have done well traveling with the Zinger. M rolls up to the plane door, I take the 4 lb lithium battery out. Place it my knapsack and board the plane. The Zinger folds like a lawn chair, weighing 36 lbs and is checked into the plane hold and returned to the plane door when we disembark. The battery is a dry cell and 250 watt hour. Planes allow up to 300 watt hrs on flights domestic and international. You need to let them know you have a battery of that type when you check in. I also inform when I make the reservation. I will look for the information on lithium battery's and post it later. I cannot say how the airlines handle the PWCs and scooters.
Anna

 

[cheerleader]

We flew with a PERMOBIL 300 and because it was a gel battery,nothing had to be removed. We did take documentation from the manufacturer and also arranged ahead to meet the baggage supervisor to show him how to turn off the connector. Also taped signs to the pwc saying "do NOT remove battery" and the manufacturers statement. The baggage supervisor personally escorted hubby's chair to the cargo hold!

 

[MaxEidswick]

>We flew with a PERMOBIL 300

how much did they charge?

 

[Nuts]

Whew, we finally made it home Saturday night at 9 pm, and I was EXHAUSTED. A few observations, in no particular order:

- I95 north of New Jersey SUCKS. Potholes, cuts, bumps, and ruts. Poor hubby. I know he thought I hit every pothole in the country.

- 6.5 road hours = at least a 10 hour drive. Period. Just get over it.

- The world is full of @$$^*)#$ who park themselves in handicap stalls. Sometimes just to smoke. I told hubby he should have asked them to vacate. At one point he gave up and tried to use the urinal. Strangers had to keep him off the floor.

- It IS ok to take your hubby into the women's room. Given the issue of urinials, I think that's better than going into the men's room (unless he's in there already, on the floor).

-Truck stops are good places for PALS. We were let into the handicapped shower room at one. I'd have been happy to pay to use that space, but I just asked where the best place for us was and the attendent unlocked it for us.

- Some of the rudest drivers on earth are in NY (near the city--Upstate was wonderful).

- Every man in a wheel chair should have a Uribag. It folds up very small when not in use, and holds a lot when needed.

- I will NOT drive four days straight to get to Colorado in September. He must add one day each direction and I get to decide where and when to take a down day on the way (or whether to make the days shorter).

- The rolling shower chair was WONDERFUL. Not all shower benches are created equal, and it's easier to dry the backside in the shower chair than in the power chair. You never know when the legs will give out.

- About those bumps in the road--hubby's chair was strapped down in the center of the empty space (no front passenger seat) and he was able to tilt and stretch out to lay flat and sleep most of the way. Several bumps bounched his legs off the chair, forcing me to stop and put them back up (he slept through it). Small pillows between the thigh guards and his legs prevented that bounce. He balked at the pillows, but the alternative is to tie him into the chair, which I explained will be no fun if he's asleep (just testing to see if Mark is awake).

- Trilogys should have remote controls. Hanging the unit on the back of the chair is great, but neither of us can reach it there to turn it off if we are driving. It had to sit on the floor beside my seat and I had to pull it into my lap to turn it off while on the move. If it had a remote, our PALS could turn it on and off themselves when they are mounted on the chair. For that matter, turning it off when he's in bed would be much easier if he had a remote. Everything else in the world has a remote! Hey, maybe someone could write an app....

- We will need a trailer to go to Colorado. There is no room for everything we'll need to carry in the van. The "portable" Hoyer came yesterday (and I had to take it to the massage therapist's office today to get hubby off of her bathroom floor, but that's another story), and it will need to be added to the packing list for the next trip.

Has anyone towed a trailer with the Honda Odyssey? Can I have a hitch put on one that's modified for wheelchairs?

Watching our son receive his MBA was a joy and we are both grateful to have been able to make the trip. Hubby was happy to get back to his own bed, but he's excited about hitting the road again. Now if I can just find the energy

 

[GregK]

> Has anyone towed a trailer with the Honda Odyssey?

I've heard it's been done but it's not recommended (for obvious reasons).

Would a roof top cargo carrier be of any help?

 

[Green Queen]

I'm so glad that after all that, the trip was well worth it.
We are planning three biggish trips, then I will be done. Even going to Perth is tiring.
Good luck for the next trip...you drive, your rules. Unfortunately I can't drive anymore so it's never my rules!
God bless, Janelle x