CPAP -recommendations
We are taking a Tauck northern Italy land trip. As a CPAP user I’m wondering if any other users had recommendation for traveling with you CPAP machine. In the hotel? Do you carry it on the bus or pack for luggage handling? What about when you travel by boat or train? Thanks!
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I don't use one but went on a recent land tour with friends who do. They carried their's on the plane in wheeled carryon luggage. He used a large sized carryon (20-21") and she used an underseat sized roller bag. For hotel moves they carried that suitcase down to the coach and the driver stowed it in a special compartment under the bus then they picked them up at the next hotel and carried up to their room. That special compartment is available to anyone who wants to bring a bag down themselves since Tauck prefers that you limit the number of bags to 1 per person that hotel staff, TD and driver have to handle for each move. You could of course pack the CPAP in that bag if you choose. For boat/train transfers it kind of depends on the tour and whether it will be the coach or a separate truck handling the luggage for all.
Of course make sure for any hotel stays that your's is dual voltage and you have an adapter plug. You might also need an extension cord if you can't find a plug near the bed. Most hotels now do but you never know with some of these historic properties.
The one challenge they had was getting distilled water. Mostly they just used bottled water. I did note recently that on river cruises Tauck will supply distilled water on the ship if you notify them ahead of time.
Good tip about the distilled water Claudia, surprised no one has ever mentioned that before. Personally, I would never pack CPAP checked luggage, what would happen if it got damaged or lost. How do people cope with the cleaning of the tubing when not at home?
I’ve had an Inspire device for the past 8 months ,so no worries for me thank goodness, just mention when I have to go thru security.
CPAP goes with us in its own carrying case as if it’s the Crown Jewels. Never packed in anything, never put under the bus. If we can’t get distilled water we do without the humidification. Bottled water should not be used we have been told by the doctor and the medical equipment company.
Folsomdoc, I get not putting your CPAP in checked luggage with the airline but I don't get the difference between a locked compartment under the bus or inside the bus? Do you carry it around with you on the day's sightseeing excursions? Whether in a locked compartment or a locked bus you're still trusting the coach driver and that the bus doesn't get broken into.
If it’s in the passenger compartment I’ve stowed it above the seats so that is where it is. The bus is locked I’m not really worried about breaking and entering. If it’s under the bus it’s in with other stuff that may be shifting around, maybe something heavy flips on it, who knows. Those compartments are not spanking clean and I’ve had luggage come out soiled. I don’t want the CPAP case damaged or dirt getting inside. I’m being extra cautious because for travel it’s not easily fixable or replaceable.
Yes, I certainly wouldn't put the machine in the hold without it being inside another bag with padding. I probably wouldn't put it in the overhead either unless it was the sort with doors on them like airline overheads. One sharp turn or stop and things start flying around. Unless the bus is crammed full, there's usually room at the back to place bags. Two ladies on one of our tours would do that with their carryon's instead of under the bus mostly so they had easy access during the day.
Claudia, with all due respect, you don’t have one. We’ve traveled with them for 20+ years. The newer units come with a well padded case meant to absorb the shocks of transit. TSA allows this as a third carry on and (so far) overseas security and airlines have as well. We’ve had them as well as backpacks, purchased souvenirs, hats, you name it on thousands of bus/miles. I have never experienced stuff “flying around” that was placed with a little care above the seats, except for maybe a jacket that was too casually stored.
Sorry for any offense.
We recently did the week in Venice,Rome and Florence
We had the Cpap machine in our rolling duffel carry on which we took on the buses without any problem
We have seen things fall from the above seat storage on buses!
If you are a frequent traveler, I recommend talking to your sleep specialist about getting a ResMed Air Mini. It's not inexpensive, but it is tiny, lightweight and eliminates the need for distilled water. Some people say it is a little louder than their bigger unit, but I don't really notice that.
I don’t think they are available any more.
One of my friends - mentioned in my first post - bought a smaller unit for travel. Unfortunately she hadn't done enough research. Tried it twice at home and both times had severe allergic reaction. Did more research and found out that wasn't uncommon for that unit. Thankfully she didn't wait until our tour to try it out. Bummer. They travel a lot and she was really hoping it would work.
The AirMinis, as well as other travel sized CPAPs are still being sold. They may be difficult to get on short notice because there is a chip shortage and their competitor Phillips had a big recall that left people needing to buy new equipment. Best course of action in choosing equipment is to work with your sleep specialist who knows you and your needs.