Travel and days out are meant to be enjoyable — a break from routine, a chance to explore, connect, and rest. But for people living with a hypermobility syndrome, travel can feel overwhelming before it’s even begun. Pain, fatigue, joint instability, and unpredictable symptoms can turn what should be a positive experience into a source of anxiety. 

The goal of travel planning isn’t to “push through” symptoms — it’s to enable participation, conserve energy, and support independence so you can enjoy the experience in a way that works for your body. 

Understanding variability 

One of the most challenging aspects of hypermobility syndromes is variability. Symptoms can fluctuate not just day to day, but hour to hour. Good travel planning isn’t about controlling every outcome — it’s about building in flexibility, support, and options. 

Communication: setting yourself up for support 

Clear communication is fundamental to safe travel. Anyone you’re travelling with should understand your condition, your common symptoms, and what helps when things go wrong. This doesn’t mean sharing every detail — it means ensuring that someone knows how to support you if fatigue spikes, pain escalates, or mobility becomes difficult. This is about risk management and confidence. Knowing that support is available reduces stress, which in turn can reduce symptom flare-ups. 

If you’re travelling without your usual support network, consider: 

• Letting accommodation staff know you have a disability 
• Carrying an ICE (In Case of Emergency) contact on your phone 
• Using medical alert apps or cards, particularly if you can become non-verbal during flares 

Assisted Travel 

East Midlands: East Midlands Airport Assisted Travel  

Birmingham: Birmingham Airport Assisted Travel 

Manchester: Manchester Airport Assisted Travel 

Liverpool: Liverpool John Lennon Airport Assisted Travel  

London:  Heathrow Airport Assisted Travel  

London: Standstead Airport Assisted Travel  

Energy management: pacing is not optional 

Pacing is a core strategy for living with HMS — and it’s especially important when travelling. 

A helpful framework is the traffic-light system: 

• Green activities: low-energy, low-impact, enjoyable (e.g. sitting by the sea, short accessible walks, birdwatching, cafés) 

• Amber activities: manageable but tiring (e.g. museums, short excursions, gentle sightseeing) 

• Red activities: high-energy or high-impact (e.g. long travel days, flights, hiking, standing for long periods) 

Typically we would recommend planning days that are mostly green, with the occasional amber activity. Red activities should be spaced out and followed by intentional rest — sometimes the rest of that day and the next. Travel itself is often a red activity, so scheduling rest on arrival isn’t a luxury — it’s a sensible adjustment. 

Using mobility aids and support services 

Mobility aids are tools, not admissions of defeat. 

Aids exist to: 

• Reduce pain and fatigue
• Protect joints 
• Extend participation 
• Improve quality of life 

Using a wheelchair, mobility scooter, walking aid, braces, or splints — even part-time — can allow you to see and do more without triggering a flare that ends your trip early. Importantly, having an aid does not mean you must use it all the time. Choice is key. 

Preparing practically (and realistically) 

Preparation can significantly reduce stress and physical demand. 

• Carry medications in labelled packaging with copies of prescriptions 
• Check airline or travel restrictions well in advance, particularly for liquid medications, medical devices, or batteries 
• Pack comfort and pain-management items  
• Break luggage into lighter loads or use wheeled options to reduce joint strain 

Preparation isn’t about expecting the worst — it’s about reducing the cognitive and physical load so your energy can be used for enjoyment instead. 

Flexibility: the most important skill 

Even with excellent planning, bad days happen.  Plan with options, not rigid schedules. 

If you can’t manage the planned activity: 

• Can it be swapped with a rest day? 
• Can a red activity become amber or green? 
• Can plans shift from “going out” to “staying in together”? 

Flexibility supports autonomy and reduces the emotional impact of symptom flares. Enjoyment doesn’t have to look the same as originally imagined. 

I’ve come up with some helpful extras you can download too.

About me:
I’m Yaz, a final year student from Keele University studying MSc OT. This is my final placement. This post was inspired by one of the clients we worked with. Discussing how to stay comfortable during travel got me interested in writing this and creating some resources.
I just want to say thanks to Mariana, Sialou and Amy for their help proofreading too.