“Travel, unwind and enjoy yourself! Life is meant to be lived beautifully!”
Traveling with dialysis may seem challenging, but it doesn’t have to mean giving up the freedom to explore the world. This is the inspiring story of Gheorghe from Romania who turned a life-changing kidney failure diagnosis into a new way of discovering the world. From exploring Europe on group tours to planning independent holidays in Greece, Italy, and beyond, his journey shows that dialysis and travel can go hand in hand. With thoughtful planning, access to holiday dialysis clinics, and the support of bookdialysis.com, he continues to embrace new destinations, cultures, and experiences alongside his wife. His story is a powerful reminder that life on dialysis can still be filled with adventure, independence, and unforgettable travel memories.
“For as long as I can remember, I have loved traveling to discover, experience, and feel new things: cultures, traditions, religions, architecture, museums and historical sites, gastronomy, and dreamlike landscapes.
Until 2019, I traveled primarily within Romania, once or twice a year, during my vacation. In 2020, I was diagnosed with renal failure and had to adopt a rather strict diet to keep my creatinine levels and other medical parameters within an acceptable range. From that point on, I began traveling more frequently, as I needed to experience beautiful things and find a way to disconnect from my serious medical issues. These little getaways served as well-deserved, blessed rewards that helped me maintain my mental balance. In October 2021, I began my first dialysis sessions. Up until then, I had been on numerous 7–12 day coach tours across Europe. Since I was not allowed to eat processed foods or too much animal-based protein, I brought food from home for at least a week. Traveling this way was more difficult, but the places I visited and the experiences I had made the effort worthwhile. My travels to Italy, France, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, and the Balkan countries were truly wonderful and engaging. Once I began hemodialysis—requiring three sessions per week—trips lasting longer than a single day became a challenge. Furthermore, the typical group coach tours I used to take became difficult to organize. It was quite a complex task to plan and book dialysis sessions in the cities I visited, ensuring they aligned with the itinerary of the group I was traveling with. Even so, I managed to visit major cities and tourist attractions across the Czech Republic, Austria, and Hungary. Since I faced far fewer dietary restrictions after starting dialysis, I was able to fully enjoy the flavors and tastes of the local cuisine in the cities and countries I visited. To overcome the challenges of coordinating dialysis sessions with the activities of the groups I used to travel with, I decided in 2022 to start traveling independently to specific destinations, staying in each place for a week or two. Organizing these trips and booking hemodialysis sessions became much easier. I chose hotels as close as possible to the dialysis centers, which allowed me more time to explore the cities and regions I was visiting. My first trip was to Corfu, followed by Rhodes, Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily. Over the years, I have visited Corfu twice and Crete three times. It was a wonderful experience, and I’ve always wanted to return. In 2027, I will be heading back to Chania, Crete! To gain more independence and mobility, I got my driver’s license in 2023. Since then, I’ve been using rental cars during my vacations. The difference is immense! I’m able to visit many more tourist attractions—even on the days I have a hemodialysis session. I always travel with my wife, and it works out great. The bookdialysis platform has been a huge help in planning and booking my hemodialysis sessions. It’s well-structured and thoughtfully designed; it’s intuitive and easy to use, and there’s also a fantastic app. To save time, I stopped traveling by coach to my vacation destinations. I started flying, even though I was initially afraid to fly. I had to adapt to these new circumstances, especially since I also lose time on the days when I undergo dialysis.
I have also experienced hesitation when it comes to planning and going on vacations. Much of this stems from cumbersome and restrictive booking procedures. For instance, within the network of clinics where I receive dialysis in Romania, scheduling sessions in other countries is only possible within that same network. Furthermore, to check for availability, one must submit documentation that includes numerous medical test results. Many of these laboratory tests entail additional costs, which are not covered by the clinic where I undergo dialysis. During my first few dialysis sessions while traveling, I had concerns regarding differences in dialyzers and medical supplies, the technical proficiency and empathy of the medical staff, and the situation in non-EU countries. After a year, I have come to realize that these fears were unfounded. In every instance, the dialysis sessions went excellently—even in Istanbul. At the moment, I feel hesitant about going to dialysis clinics where no doctor is present. I hope to overcome this soon!
I felt wonderful and safe in all the dialysis clinics I visited. The medical staff demonstrated professionalism, empathy, and understanding. The dialyzers and the clinics’ equipment were top-notch and functioned perfectly. After my dialysis sessions and throughout the rest of my vacation I fully savored the joy of traveling through dreamlike destinations.
To all dialysis patients whose health status allows for travel, I recommend trying “holiday dialysis.” Don’t let the comfort of familiar staff and your regular clinic or concerns about different types of dialyzers and new medical personnel, stop you from taking a vacation. These fears are unfounded, especially when it comes to countries in the European Community, Switzerland, the UK, the USA, and others. In fact, many clinics in Turkey also meet European standards. Travel, unwind, and enjoy yourself! Life is meant to be lived beautifully!
You don’t always have to choose a dialysis center close to the hotel where you are staying. For example, last year when I was in Sicily, I stayed at a hotel in Palermo but chose to have my dialysis at a center in Alcamo, located 65 km away. I did this to make it easier to travel to the western part of the island after my dialysis session. It saved me an hour of driving. Also, in 2027, to ensure I can get around the entire island efficiently, in addition to the dialysis center in Alcamo, I have booked a few dialysis sessions at a center near Catania. For those who follow a low-salt or salt-free diet, please note that most restaurants can provide dishes prepared without added salt. Furthermore, you can purchase and consume various salt-free food products at supermarkets.
