Vacation Get-aways and RA | Arthritis Information

Where is the best place or easiest place you have visited for vacation in relation to your RA? Where did you go that was difficult or unpleasent due to the RA?I am going to answer my question, even though I dont have as much travel experience as many of you. Sorry mine are not a exotic as some of yalls. I did go to a small town in east Texas last spring. My husband and I went with some friends, no kids, to a big ATV event. We just lounged around, ate lots of crawfish, and did a little bit of riding for a whole weekend. It was a blast. Last summer we went to San Antonio and New Braunfels like we do every summer. We spent a couple of extra days in New Braunfels which is an old German town. It was quaint with lots of historical buildings a fabulous antique and resale shops. The only bad day for me was the day we spent on the Guadalupe river. It is freezing cold water that you float in on a tube. Even though it was 100 degrees outside, I still didnt enjoy the river like I did when I was 18. I am being dragged back this year and not looking forward to it. I may have to be the party pooper and bail out early. I would much rather browse through the shops anyways!What's a vacation?

For me it would have to be something that didn't involve alot of walking or if it did some relaxing places to sit.We went to the Mall of America years back. That did involve walking but I managed to have a good time anyway. We mostly spent the day at Camp Snoopy and the kids went on the rides while I sat down near the rides. I just enjoyed being able to get out and see people and sometimes strike up a conversation. There is so much to see and do there. I guess just being on vacation that day helped me to not focus on the pain so much.

I think sometimes the best vacations are not always the ones where you "get away from it all", but the ones where the surroundings, no matter what they are, help to take your mind off of your troubles.The best vacation I've had since the symptoms have reared thier ugly head was this past week in my own home! I sent the girls away for the week to various places and just spent the week at home, ALONE! Slept when I wanted, went out to lunch or dinner when I wanted, putzed around the house when I wanted, had friends over when I wanted, but mainly, I JUST RELAXED!! Terinski...sounds like a wonderful vacation! Probably didn't cost much either

On our holiday last July we did lots of things that were RA friendly. Apart from lots of flying, we took a cruise up the Inside Passage, it was a day long ferry cruise (the ferry that is now at the bottom of the sound). Total relaxation, great views and great food

There are lots of things you can enjoy with RA!

So far, every time I travel, I have one bad ra day, so give yourself time to adjust. I love to travel and always have. I think it will just take some tweaking how I do it and PACK LESS !!!!!!

I also had a great trip to Florida last year but it was with my hubby. So much easier to travel with help. We also stayed with family both trips so I got a lot of support. I am blessed with wonderful family.

roxy38817.3700347222Definitely go with the wheelchair at the airport! All you have to do is mention it when you book your flight and they will take you all over the airport, to the gate, through customs, everywhere. You don't have to walk at all! Don't have to carry your own bags or anything! Don't have to wait in lines! It's almost like being treated like royaltyLast summer we went to a wonderful place called the Inn at Moro Bay in Northern CA. It is right next to a bird sanctuary. Our room had a deck with a private hot tub. The meals were delicious. They also had a heated pool that was actually warm enough to not agravate my RA. We did some short wooded walks along the coast, did lots of relaxing and reading, went to a farmers market and pretty much just relaxed.Oh I forgot about the worst. Hong Kong. We went up 13 moving stairs outside that lead to a high cliff along the sea. It was beautiful going up because I got to see many levels of cliffside living. Going down was another matter. There were only steps. My two grown kids each took one arm and carried me down all 13 flights of stairs after my legs gave out. I felt like a toddler.Well, I have yet to go on a vacation since I got RA. I am probably going to see my parents in Texas this summer. I will let you know how it goes. They live north of Dallas. I am hoping to fly in and have a week's stay.

i forgot to mention Las Vegas... soooo much walking. It wore me out. I dont know if I could do it now. I want to go again though, I didnt get ot see everything that I wanted to the first time.

I also want to go to a B&B in the Texas Hill Countru. I want to go and get spa treatments and massages and then go to a wine tasting and just a little bit of window shopping in the historic little towns. Yea, thats what I want to do.

A cruise would be great except I have this un-natural fear of ships...I seriously start to get anxious just looking at the deck plans on the internet. Sad huh?

I love cruises in realation to RA! Thay are handicap friendly, you never have to cook or try to figure out where you want to go to eat, your bed is made for you everyday! If you never get off the ship while in port you will still have a fabulous vacation!

For me, I absolutely adore Venice, but it can really take it's toll physically. Because it's an entire city that is built around water, they tend to build up. When we were there we stayed at a lovely b&b, but it was on the third floor with steep staircases and no elevator. (this was not mentioned on their website or in conversations with them via the internet) It was not that they were trying to hide it, for them it's just part of the way the city has always been and they assume everyone knows that. I would suggest to anyone that's planning a trip there to make sure you are staying at a larger place with elevators, or find one of the few places that has a room on the ground floor. (Even if you do find a room on the ground floor - be sure to find out where they are serving breakfast because it is often served on the top floor so you can have a view)