If you are a long-term oxygen user, you may already be acquainted with the extra steps required when going on holiday. But you might think that all that extra fuss – obtaining medical certificates, checking international regulations, the research needed before you pick a destination, etc – is only worthwhile if you are going to be away for long periods of time, two weeks or more. But portable oxygen for short travel is perfectly possible to arrange, and it can be much easier to organise than you expect, allowing you to enjoy a weekend away just as much as a longer holiday. Let’s have a look at what you really need for a short break, what you can skip, and, generally, how to make your short trip run smoothly and safely with the oxygen you need to be comfortable.

Is It Worth Arranging Oxygen for Just a Few Days?

You might feel as though you should try to ‘make do’ and bring along your own supply of oxygen, be it a portable oxygen concentrator (POC), a full cylinder, or even your liquid oxygen (LOX) set up – but these can be bulky and heavy and simultaneously delicate, easy to break, and notoriously difficult to repair and expensive to replace… But arranging for supplementary oxygen to be brought to your short break destination is not only sensible, it is positively recommended. This way, you won’t have to worry about transporting all the oxygen and equipment that you will need, just enough for your travels. 

Having said that, always overestimate this to allow for delays and unexpected complications, so bring anywhere from 50% to 100% more than you will need during transit. (That is to say, if the travel time is two hours, make sure you have enough oxygen to be comfortable for three to four hours.) There are several reasons for arranging to good supply of oxygen to be waiting for you:

  • You will be able to avoid limiting your activities or perhaps skipping a treatment. If you are wary of ‘over-using’ oxygen, you might try to use less than you need, which can then impact upon your health and your enjoyment of the short trip. Knowing that you have a good supply will mean that you can use as much oxygen as you need, without fear of running short.
  • You will be more relaxed if your oxygen is arranged in advance. Having that peace of mind is a good driver for you enjoying your break away from home, and frees up your mind to concentrate on exploring your holiday destination and otherwise making the most of the trip.
  • Even the shortest of visits deserve full support and can help to ensure that any snafus are sorted without causing you medical distress or worry. OxygenWorldwide can help your weekend travel with medical oxygen go smoothly, taking a lot of the stress and emotional load off your shoulders by arranging destination-side oxygen, even for just a day or two, as you need it.

What Type of Oxygen is Best for a Weekend Trip?

We touched on the various pieces of medical oxygen equipment above: let’s have a closer look at these now.

Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POCs)

What it does – POCs work by filtering the natural atmosphere, reducing the mix from 20% oxygen and 80% nitrogen by reducing the nitrogen levels and providing a flow of pure, or nearly pure oxygen to the user. The advantages of this are that it doesn’t require the use of provided oxygen, they are easily portable, and not too bulky.

Recommended for: if you will be flying, you will almost certainly need to switch to a POC for the flight (do check as there are a limited number of models accepted by the FAA). Also useful for day trips and short excursions as well as for use on buses and trains. Perfect if you are self-sufficient and fairly mobile.

Pro-Tip: remember that your POC needs charged batteries to operate effectively. Carry spare batteries and get into the habit of charging them as soon as possible when you change depleted ones for those that are fully charged. If you’re going to be out and about for a whole long day, remember to take your spare batteries with you.

Oxygen Cylinders

What it does – Large, bulky and heavy, these cylindrical containers hold compressed oxygen that is accessed via a regulator and a mask. These devices can deliver a higher flowrate than a POC, and are often used when medical oxygen is required overnight.

Recommended for: longer term stays or if you will be out and about with a POC, returning to use the cylinder when needed. They are perfect if your trip away is to be based in one place, so it can be set up and left until it needs to be replaced or refilled. There is much less to carry if you use an oxygen cylinder, but you will need to source a local supplier at your destination.

Liquid Oxygen (LOX)

What it does – Liquid oxygen is exactly what it sounds like. As the liquid boils off (don’t worry, this happens at relatively low temperatures!) into gas it expands massively, so you get a lot more oxygen for the volume and weight of the holding tank.

Recommended for: Use in-country. LOX is so very compressed that it is banned from all flights, and its carriage across borders can be tightly controlled. But if you need high-flow rates at night-time and occasionally throughout the day, LOX is a good solution because a little goes a long way.

OxygenWorldwide can help you with sourcing a lot of this equipment and also with arranging for oxygen and/ or equipment to be delivered to your holiday destination. However, we cannot help you decide which equipment to use that will best suit your medical condition and your required flow-rate – that’s one for your medical team!

Traveling with oxygen for short trips, as for long, does require some legwork on your behalf and part of that will be ascertaining your desired flow rate, the best equipment for your needs, and the rules and regulations of transporting the latter to and from your destination country – after you’ve done that, OxygenWorldwide can spring into action to take care of the rest.

Packing Checklist for a Short (Oxygen-Supported) Trip: Key Things to Remember

  • Your POC or oxygen delivery device, complete with all its accessories
  • Power cords, adaptors (suitable for the destination country, if necessary), chargers
  • Spare cannulas and tubing (better to have it and not need it than the alternative!)
  • Medical paperwork: fit-to-travel certification, oxygen prescription, medical summary
  • Pulse oximeter so you can keep an eye on your stats. This is not compulsory, but it can be very useful
  • Contact information for OxygenWorldwide and/or the local oxygen supplier
  • Your EHIC/GHIC card, if you are traveling in Europe

Choose the Right Destination for your Weekend Break

Obviously, your medical condition will preclude certain destinations even with good access to medical oxygen – very high altitudes, for example, are probably never going to be much fun for you, even for a short stay. Even moderately high altitudes can be problematic, so do check with your doctor before committing to go. Instead, aim for easy-to-reach destinations that you can get to in a few hours in the car or on the train – even short-hop flights are good choices. Choose flat cities, coastal areas, and places that have accessible centres (walkable, not too steep, wheelchair friendly (this usually means gentle slopes, which are easier for tired lungs when walking). When booking your accommodation, make sure that the room is easily accessible and has a good power supply, including one close to the bed if you use oxygen overnight.

How OxygenWorldwide Can help – Even for Short Stays

OxygenWorldwide coordinates with local suppliers to deliver your oxygen shortly before you arrive, so it is ready and waiting for you on arrival. We can deliver your supplies to hotels, holiday rentals, guest houses and even to your friends’ or relatives’ homes if you are visiting and stopping with them for a night or two. 

Among the services offered, we can arrange for cylinder refills and device drop-offs, even if you’re only staying a couple of nights and are using the stay as a ‘refuelling station’ for your oxygen. And we offer multilingual support and communicate clearly with you throughout the process so you are never stressed, wondering if your oxygen supply is taken care of or not.

You focus on the trip—we’ll make sure your oxygen is ready and waiting when you arrive!

To conclude, with a bit of planning and some help from OxygenWorldwide, your need for oxygen doesn’t have to hold you back from short breaks, spontaneous getaways or weekends visiting loved friends or family members. The key, as always, is preparation and good support – and OxygenWorldwide is here, ready and waiting to make even the shortest trips run smoothly. Let us know your travel plans – and we’ll take care of the oxygen side of things, so you can enjoy the break from your daily round.