Before You Book
Choose destinations and seasons that suit your joints — warm dry climates often suit OA, while extreme heat can flare inflammatory disease. Direct flights reduce time on your feet at airports. Ground-floor or lift-served accommodation removes a major source of pain. Read reviews specifically for accessibility — published star ratings rarely tell the full story.
Travel Insurance
Standard policies often exclude pre-existing conditions. Declare arthritis and any medications honestly — specialist insurers cover chronic conditions at fair prices. Without disclosure a claim involving your arthritis (including unrelated falls or infections) can be refused entirely.
Medication and Customs
Carry medication in original labelled packaging in your hand luggage, with a copy of the prescription or a GP letter — especially for controlled drugs, injectables and biologics. Check destination country rules; some painkillers legal in the UK are prohibited elsewhere. For biologics, carry a cool bag and check temperature requirements with your rheumatology nurse.
Surviving the Journey
On long flights, stand and walk every 60-90 minutes, do ankle and shoulder circles in your seat, and wear compression socks. Aisle seats give more freedom to move. On long drives, break every 90 minutes. Carry a small lumbar cushion and a wheat bag. Request airport assistance in advance — it is free, dignified and dramatically reduces flare risk.
Your Flare Kit
Pack regular and rescue medication for double the days you will be away, plus a topical NSAID, a heat patch, a small ice pack, compression sleeves, a list of medications and doses, and your rheumatology helpline number. A short letter from your GP describing your condition is invaluable if you need overseas medical care.
Pacing on Holiday
Plan one main activity per day, not three. Build in rest mornings or afternoons. Use taxis or public transport rather than walking everything. A holiday is not the time to push through pain — recovery time on return is often much longer than the trip itself.
If You Flare Away From Home
Most pharmacists abroad can help with simple pain relief. The GHIC (replaces EHIC) covers state healthcare in EU countries. For serious flares, contact your travel insurer's 24-hour line first — they will guide you to an approved clinic and authorise costs.