Leisure Options : Stimulate all senses
If you’re struggling to think of a destination for your next holiday, Leisure Options recommends choosing one that will stimulate all senses for the most memorable experience. Leisure Options is an accredited tourism business that specialises in boutique holidays and travel experiences for people who otherwise may find travel difficult, including those with hearing loss. They take the time to get to know each individual traveller in order to offer them the best tips for travelling and support.
There’s a range of fun and inclusive tours to a variety of wonderful national and international destinations to choose from.
What is your travel destination of choice?
‘We aim to showcase the best of every destination we cover’, say the travel experts. For everyone, including those with hearing loss, this is about making sure all senses are stimulated. The destinations they choose are bright, vibrant and interactive.
One of Leisure Options most popular tours is to the Gold Coast. The tour is designed to be visually stimulating with live parades and performances, tactile through animal encounters, flavoursome due to the great food you’ll get to try, but most importantly – it’s fun!
Britz Campervans : Opt for independence
One way to avoid the stress of navigating airports, or struggling to understand a tour group, is to take control of your trip with a campervan holiday!
Britz provides quality self-drive campervan experiences for travellers and families who want to explore Australia and New Zealand at their own pace. It’s a great tip for travelling with hearing loss as it’s a completely independent means of travel. You can tailor your journey to suit your own needs and preferences, with no need to follow anyone else’s timetable. In addition, each campervan comes with a Vehicle Operations Guide and an easy-to-follow, visual video demonstration of the equipment and facilities that are on board.
What is your travel destination of choice?
‘The great thing about campervan travel is the ability to explore parts of the world that are off the beaten track – choosing just one destination is nearly impossible! A visit to the Milford Sound in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park is simply a bucket list essential. This is cinematic scenery of the most magnificent order,’ exclaim the travel enthusiasts at Britz.
Dive Centre Manly : Explore the deep blue
If there’s one place where hearing loss is no barrier to enjoyment, it’s underwater! Dive Centre Manly has been operating in Sydney since 1962. It offers a complete range of diver training from beginner courses through to instructor level and beyond, with daily shore dives, weekend boat dives and a range of dive travel options. Their top travel tip is to explore marine playgrounds. Participants with hearing loss are at no disadvantage here – divers communicate underwater using hand signals. Dive briefings can also be modified to include visual aids, so everyone has a safe and informative experience.
What is your travel destination of choice?
Manly itself is an ideal travel destination, say the diving instructors. It’s a visually stunning location offering plenty of activities suitable for those with hearing loss. These include snorkelling, diving and kayaking. Alternatively, there are numerous coastal walks to enjoy, with beautiful views of Sydney Harbour.
Mountain Whispers The MW Collection– The “MW” Collection : Soak up luxury in a private residence
Mountain Whispers – the “MW” Collection offers luxury, privacy and comfort in the World Heritage listed Blue Mountains, with four impeccably restored historical properties located in Katoomba and Leura. Every stay is personalised according to the requirements of each guest, with every provision made to ensure the comfort of hearing impaired travellers. One tip for travelling when booking a private residence is to make sure all your conveniences from home are available. At Mountain Whispers, televisions have closed captions enabled. You can enjoy breakfast in the warmth of the Blue Mountains sun, soak in a sumptuous spa or relax in front of a gas log fire. Heavenly! For those who are keen to explore the area, Mountain Whispers will put you in contact with service providers who can accommodate your needs.
What is your travel destination of choice?
The Blue Mountains are hard to beat, as they’re visually stunning as well as being a highly inclusive destination. Echo Point Blue Mountains has an amazing visitor information centre, which takes every measure to accommodate hard of hearing visitors. They have hearing induction loops and ensure every visitor has an amazing experience.
Australian Cycling Holidays : Hit the open road on two wheels
If you’ve always dreamed of a cycling holiday but don’t know where to start, Australian Cycling Holidays could be the answer. Australian Cycling Holidays offers self-guided, fully supported cycling tours, where all you have to do is pedal. All cycling equipment is provided for you, including maps, a water bottle and snacks. They’ll even book your accommodation and transfer your luggage for you so you don’t have to worry about communicating this by phone. All rides are on quiet roads and cycle paths. Support staff are available via text messages if you encounter any problems. There’s also the Cyclewayz app, which is a travel guide with built-in navigation. Australian Cycling Holidays partners with accommodation providers who are happy to provide assistance and travel tips for the hard of hearing.
What is your travel destination of choice?
Australian Cycling Holidays South Gippsland Rail Trail Cycle Tour showcases the beautiful Bass Coast and the Great Southern Rail Trails. You’ll take in vistas of the wild ocean and coastal scenery, the foothills of the Gippsland Strzelecki Mountain Ranges and the sweeping views of Wilsons Promontory National Park. This tour is all off-road on scenic rail trails and cycle paths, so listening for traffic will never be a problem. Enjoy the small country towns, fresh local produce and taste the local wines.
Yooralla : Find a customised holiday to suit you!
Yooralla, based in Victoria, has almost 100 years of experience providing quality tailored services for people of all ages and needs, offering opportunities and empowering people to live the lives they choose.
‘We can help customers with hearing loss plan their trip by assisting them in finding appropriate accommodation, support services, insurance and suitable attractions,’ explains Yooralla. It could be as simple as booking specialised tour guides and equipment for your chosen destination.
Their dedicated holiday and travel services team includes support staff who have extensive experience facilitating the travel needs of others, and those who have first-hand experience travelling as a person with a hearing loss.
What is your travel destination of choice?
Everyone’s preferences are different, so Yooralla find it impossible to choose one. ‘Our customers express what they’re interested in, and we make sure they have the support they need to enjoy the experience,’ they explain. They are there to offer tips for travelling and support clients to pursue the things they enjoy, wherever that may be.
DriveMyCar : Explore the roads of Far-North Queensland
With a wide range of vehicles in over 300 locations, DriveMyCar is Australia’s largest peer-to-peer car rental platform, with rentals available from seven to 365 days. Packages include insurance cover and 24/7 roadside assistance.
If you have hearing loss one travel tip that could help is to find out what kind of customer service is available. At DriveMyCar, customer service representatives are contactable through various channels, so every customer has access to the support they need. Hard of hearing customers can communicate via live chat and email, to have the same amount of flexibility and support as someone picking up the phone.
What is your travel destination of choice?
‘There are endless great road trips available across Australia, but a personal favourite is driving to Cairns through Queensland’, say the travel experts at DriveMyCar. It’s an ideal way to explore the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef. On this route, you will also find a number of hotels and restaurants that cater to the hard of hearing. Additionally, the tourism board offers numerous excursions and tours tailored for people with hearing loss, to ensure everyone can enjoy the experience equally.
Hearing loss doesn’t have to be a barrier to great travel experiences. There’s plenty of support out there, so why not dust off your suitcase and see more of the world? Use these tips for travelling with hearing loss to make your trip stress-free experience.