The main organisations for visually impaired people have hotels in the UK and organise holidays in the UK or abroad, especially catering for the visually impaired traveller/holiday maker and family, whatever their age. These organisations are:
RNIB Holiday & Leisure Service
The RNIB run two specialist hotels, for blind and partially sighted people, one in Blackpool and one in Eastbourne.
The RNIB also publish a VIP hotel guide, which contains practical information on holidays for people with sight difficulties. It offers a full range of accommodation of different prices around the UK and lists the different services that each hotel offers. The guide book is available to buy in large print, Braille and on tape at a cost of around £3 or can be seen at Bury society for the blind or borrowed from the library's visual impairment service.
For more information of the RNIB's holiday service telephone: 0845 766 9999.
Action for blind people
Action for blind people own and run two specially adapted hotels for visually impaired guests, one in Weston-super-Mare and one in Bognor Regis. They also have coach tours across Britain for visually impaired people 55 years and over. Information on these and other holiday services can be obtained in large print, on cassette or in braille by getting in touch with action for blind people's leisure office, telephone: 020 7732 8771.
Guide dogs for the blind adventure group
Guide dogs for the blind association arrange activity based holidays for guide dog owners. These range from holidays afloat to fell walking in the Lake District. For further information on these and other holidays contact GDBA Holidays, telephone: 01539 735080.
Henshaws Society for the Blind
Henshaws society for the blind own and run one hotel specifically for visually impaired people. This is the Belmont Hotel in Llandudno, which is ideal for people of all ages. For further information and for reservations telephone: 01492 877770.
Other booklets and information on other suitable holidays are available from:
RADAR,
12 City Forum,
250 City Road,
London, EC1V 8AF.
Telephone 020 7250 3222.
Holiday Care Service,
2nd Floor,
Imperial Buildings,
Victoria Road,
Horley,
Surrey, RH6 7PZ.
Telephone 01293 774535.
Automobile Association,
Disability Helpline.
Telephone 0800 26 20 50.
Airports, rail and travel companies will often offer individual assistance if advised in advance which may make your journey more enjoyable. Contact the individual company or enquire through your travel agent.
