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Holidays for People with a Hearing Loss

Has being hard of hearing restricted your enjoyment of holidays? Now you can travel in the company of people who understand hearing difficulties.

Many people who have a hearing loss hesitate to go on an ordinary package holiday but would welcome the opportunity to travel in the company of others who know what it is like to be deaf.

Hearing Concern LINK offers such opportunities. Not only will you be with fellow-guests who understand your difficulties, but you will also have assistance from a person skilled in helping hearing-impaired people to communicate.

• How the project works

These holidays are intended for adults with impaired hearing whose main mode of communication is speech (not sign language). At some point on the outward journey, members of a party will be joined by a person skilled in communicating with deaf people (usually a lipspeaker).

There are no age limits on the tours advertised, but they are offered subject to minimum numbers taking part.

Demand is increasing as more people find out about these unique groups.

The programme of assisted leisure breaks is to be continued and expanded to allow us to cater for increased numbers. However, the total number of places will still be small relative to the potential need. If you are willing to share, please tell us (single rooms are always in short supply). Remember, too, that you can bring a ‘hearing’ relative or friend!

Remaining UK Holidays (2009) - all with communication support

Scarborough Singles Break – 5 days, September

Single rooms for everyone! Based at the famous Grand Hotel, overlooking the South Bay, this short break includes half-board and excursions (3) to Filey, Flamborough Head, Beverley and Whitby. All bedrooms have private facilities. Depart 14 September. Price £259 – no supplement but you will need to book early. See previous item for joining points and discount option. Grand UK holidays are for persons aged 55 or over.

Guernsey:- Depart 28 September for 4 nights.

We shall be paying a return visit to the delightful Atlantique Hotel (Perelle Bay) – book your own flight or ferry (as in 2006). Please ask for full details.

New!  LONDON WEEKEND BREAK  9-12 October 2009 

Choice of 2 or 3 nights b@b at 4-star hotel in Kensington (prices start at £125 for 2 nights sharing)

 Commuting option available (for those not needing accommodation) 

Participation in HCL’s annual Convention is included at no extra cost 

This is a great opportunity for those who live some distance from London to combine attendance at the Convention (where you will meet many others affected by hearing loss and hear expert speakers) with the chance to visit some of London’s best attractions. There is a commuting option for those who live near enough to come into London on a daily basis (see below). 

A flexible programme of escorted sight-seeing and visits will be arranged (to fit around the Convention) but these will be optional, should you wish to go your own way at times. A list of suggested visitor attractions for which you can “vote” comes with the booking form.  Entrance charges for these attractions will be payable on the day. Communication support will be provided. 

This break will be suitable for all whose preferred means of communication is spoken language, and who are living with hearing loss. It is open to non-members as well as members of HCL. A Continental breakfast is included at the hotel, but if you want “full English” on any of the days it will be available for an extra £3.95 (payable at the hotel). We shall advise on the least expensive bus/tube fare options in London. 

A limited number of day visitors (not needing overnight accommodation) will be accepted on the Saturday or Sunday. These non-residents are asked to make a donation of £20 for each day (no meals included except lunch at the Convention). Early application is advised – please fill in and return the booking form as soon as possible. Your stay can be extended if you want more time in London, on request. 

For full details contact Philip Barron, c/o HCL, 19 Hartfield Road, Eastbourne BN21 2AR

or  email travel@hearingconcernlink.org 

Telephone inquiries to 0208 680 2229

Bookings are now also open for a 4-night visit to Guernsey from 28 September to 2 October (extra nights possible if you want to extend your stay).

We provide half-board at the award-winning Atlantique Hotel and communication support, but you book your own flight or ferry. There are flights to Guernsey from more than a dozen UK airports, so there’s probably one near you!  Price for accommodation (4 nights) is £220 per person in a twin room or £280 single. Just ask for fuller details.

 Airports serving the Channel Islands include: Gatwick, Stansted, Exeter, Plymouth, Bournemouth, Southampton, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Leeds Bradford and Liverpool.

Winter breaks early in 2010 – details will be available this autumn

• Each trip has its own documentation, so please be specific in your requests (it is too wasteful to send everything to everyone).

Continental Holidays All with communication support

Krakow City Break 4 days from 19 September (to 22nd Sept)

The city of Chopin and Pope John-Paul II – and Royal capital of Poland for 500 years – Krakow is renowned for its architectural and artistic gems. Our price includes 3 nights b&b at a central hotel, airport transfers, guided tours of the city and castle and one excursion. Fly from Gatwick at 12.55, return landing 17.20. Price is £379. Single supplement £63. Please ask for the full 4-page itinerary. Times are provisional at this stage.

• Reminders

You can make big savings on most of these leisure breaks by bringing a relative or friend to share a room. That person need not be hearing-impaired. Please be specific about where you wish to go when requesting further information.

We may add further departures to some of the destinations shown above if there is sufficient demand. We may also offer some new destinations. So if you cannot travel at the times listed, to a particular place, it is worth informing me that you are interested in that place. We welcome suggestions for the future too.

Profoundly deaf persons who depend on sign language should be aware that BSL support is not provided on these holidays. At present we can only cater for those whose preferred means of communication is speech.

• Contact

If you are interested, please contact Philip Barron at:

4 Anselm Close, Croydon CR0 5LY

Email: philbarron@waitrose.com

Tel: 020 8680 2229

Fax: 020 8680 2815.

Please specify the destinations that interest you as each holiday has separate documentation.

Apply early if you need a single room.

Please remember to include your postal address so that we can send you the information.

Early application is advised, as all offers are time-limited. If you don’t find what you want immediately, remember that new offers will become available during the year and you can register to receive our Travel Updates.

• Frequently asked questions

Are there any age limits?

No, unless otherwise stated. If you have mobility problems, please advise us at time of booking.

Can I bring a ‘hearing’ friend?

Certainly. Relatives and friends are very welcome.

Why is it important to respond quickly to our offers?

Because we reserve rooms and coach and/or flight seats for a limited period. Any not taken up will be released by a date agreed with the tour operator, after which your chance of getting a place will be much reduced.

How can I find out about future holidays?

Please contact philbarron@waitrose.com or visit the website at regular intervals.