My fiancée Rachael Foley and I went on our first guided holiday in June 2023. We chose to go to Sicily for 7-nights. We both have BBS, and I have no vision while Rachael has some useful vision.
Seable Holidays were incredibly helpful, providing us with all the necessary details to choose our destination. They specialise in crafting accessible holidays for the visually impaired, complete with local assistance. Our booking process was smooth, done over the phone, and they even organised our flights from Manchester for a small fee, along with assistance throughout our trip.
From the moment we arrived at Manchester airport, we received assistance every step of the way – from check-in to boarding the plane. The cabin crew were exceptional, ensuring our comfort throughout the flight. Upon landing in Catania Sicily, the assistance continued, guiding us through passport control and helping with our luggage.
At the airport, our chaperone greeted us and escorted us to our hotel in Aci Trezza. Over drinks and dinner, they briefed us on our holiday itinerary and provided their contact details for any assistance needed during our stay.
Upon arrival at the hotel, we were given a thorough tour of our room, with detailed descriptions of its layout.
During our holiday we:
- Relaxed by the swimming pool and lounged on sunbeds.
- Explored various attractions, including a Tactile Museum featuring model replicas of historic buildings from Sicily and around the world.
- Experienced the vibrant local markets of Sicily and savoured traditional street food.
- Embarked on a tour of Aci Castello village, ascending a volcanic rock to explore the Norman Castle.
- Indulged in Sicilian desserts and participated in an ice-cream tasting session.
- Enjoyed a memorable boat trip with a local fisherman.
- Spent a delightful day on the beach, basking in the sun.
- Visited a local organic farm, learning about its animals and history, and sampled Donkey milk.
- Toured a winery, followed by a traditional Italian 5-course lunch paired with different wines.
- Went shopping in Catania city centre for souvenirs to cherish our wonderful holiday memories.
The chaperone made our sightseeing and excursions truly remarkable. Fully trained in sight guiding and fluent in Italian, they assisted us with menus and ordering food, making us feel like we were vacationing with a friend who went above and beyond. There was plenty of time to enjoy the holiday just the two of us though, as our chaperone would arrange a time to come back for us.
It was just so great to have the details of attractions described to us, and the knowledge that the chaperone had, as they were from the country we were visiting, was just amazing. This is the first accessible holiday that we have both been on and it will certainly not be the last!
For anyone hesitant about going on a holiday, I highly recommend taking the leap! Whether joining a group, traveling solo, or with loved ones, it’s worth giving it a try!
There are a number of organisations in the UK who can help you find and book a holiday which is especially tailored for people with sight loss, such as Traveleyes and Seable. Bodies such as Tourism for All UK, Visit Britain and the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) can also provide information about booking a holiday from mainstream tour operators who have made efforts to make their information and holidays more accessible.
While we mention a specific company in this article, please note that it does not imply any form of advertising or endorsement by BBS UK.