Holiday dialysis FAQ
Common questions about travelling on dialysis, and about booking your sessions through Dialysis Go.
Travelling on dialysis
- Can you travel on dialysis?
- Yes. Thousands of people on haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis travel every year. The key is arranging treatment before you go: for haemodialysis that means booking sessions at a unit near where you're staying, and for PD it means having supplies delivered to your destination. Talk to your renal team first so they can check you're fit to travel and prepare your records.
- Can you travel on dialysis? Yes — here's how →
- Can you fly on dialysis?
- Yes, flying is usually fine on dialysis. The main thing is timing: where you can, dialyse the day before you fly and book your first session at your destination for the day after you arrive, so the gap is never longer than your usual longest gap. Keep all your medication in your hand luggage, stick to your fluid allowance on board, and ask the airline for assistance if walking long distances is hard.
- Flying with dialysis: what to know before you board →
- Is holiday dialysis free?
- It depends on where you live and where you're going. UK residents with a GHIC, and EU/EEA residents with an EHIC, can get pre-arranged dialysis at public units in EU countries on the same terms as local patients, which is often free. Private units, and most countries outside Europe, charge per session.
- Holiday dialysis for UK patients: NHS, GHIC and going abroad →
- Does Medicare cover dialysis abroad?
- Original Medicare generally does not pay for dialysis outside the US, so you pay the clinic directly. Some Medicare Advantage and private plans include limited cover abroad — check yours before you go. Within the US, Medicare covers dialysis at Medicare-certified units in any state.
- Travelling in the US on dialysis: Medicare, guest units and paperwork →
- How much does dialysis cost abroad?
- The clinic sets the price per session and it varies a lot by country — from roughly the low hundreds to over a thousand per session. Spain, Portugal, Mexico and Thailand are at the lower end; the US is one of the most expensive. Try our cost calculator for a ballpark range by destination.
- How much does holiday dialysis cost? →
- Do I need special travel insurance on dialysis?
- Usually, yes. Standard policies often exclude dialysis unless you declare it during the medical screening and the insurer agrees to cover it — get that confirmed in writing. Check what's included (routine sessions, emergency dialysis, delays caused by a medical problem) and the claim limit for dialysis, which can be well below the real cost of sessions abroad.
- Travel insurance and dialysis: what to check before you buy →
- Can you go on a cruise on dialysis?
- Yes. Ships don't carry dialysis machines as standard, but specialist operators arrange haemodialysis on board selected sailings, or you can book sessions at units near the ports of call. For port dialysis, map your treatment schedule against the itinerary before you book the cruise. If you're on PD, the cruise line can usually arrange for your supplies to be delivered to the ship.
- Dialysis on a cruise: your options and how to plan →
- Can I travel with peritoneal dialysis?
- Yes, and PD is often easier to travel with than haemodialysis. Your supplier can usually deliver fluids to where you're staying, but most need two to four weeks' notice for an international delivery. Confirm that your accommodation will accept the boxes, and pack a few days' supplies in your luggage in case delivery is delayed.
- Peritoneal dialysis abroad: arranging supply delivery →
- Where is the easiest place to go on holiday on dialysis?
- Spain, Portugal and Greece are among the easiest for European travellers: lots of units in resort areas, used to visiting patients, and GHIC/EHIC cover at public units. The Canary Islands have dedicated holiday dialysis centres. Further afield, the US, Mexico and Thailand have many private units that take visitors.
- Holiday dialysis destinations →
- Can I have dialysis in the Canary Islands in winter?
- Yes. There are dedicated holiday dialysis centres in Puerto del Carmen on Lanzarote, Playa del Inglés on Gran Canaria and Morro Jable on Fuerteventura, plus several units on Tenerife. Winter is peak season on the islands, so book three months or more ahead for November to March.
- Holiday dialysis in Lanzarote →
Booking with Dialysis Go
- How far in advance should I book holiday dialysis?
- Four to eight weeks is comfortable for most destinations. Popular resort areas in peak season — the Canaries in winter, the Mediterranean in July and August — book up three months or more ahead. We can sometimes arrange sessions at shorter notice — contact us and we'll tell you what's realistic.
- Planning dialysis while travelling: a step-by-step guide →
- What does it cost to book through Dialysis Go?
- We show you the clinic's exact price per session before anything is booked, and our own fee, if any, is quoted upfront with no hidden charges.
- Will my insurance or health plan cover it?
- Sometimes. Some national systems have reciprocal arrangements, some private travel policies include dialysis if declared, and some don't cover it at all. Check with your insurer and your health plan before you travel, and keep all receipts and confirmations for any claim.
- Do you handle peritoneal dialysis as well as haemodialysis?
- Yes. For PD we help you arrange supply delivery to your destination and, if you need it, a local unit for support. For HD we book your in-center sessions.
- What documents will the clinic need?
- Typically a recent dialysis prescription, blood results from the last 4–6 weeks including virology (hepatitis B and C, HIV), and a fit-to-travel letter from your nephrologist. We give you a precise list for the specific unit.
- Can you book if I'm hepatitis B or C positive?
- Often yes, but not every unit has an isolation machine or room available on every date. Tell us upfront so we only approach centers that can treat you.
- What if my travel dates change?
- Let us know as early as you can and we'll rebook. Clinics usually accommodate reasonable changes; some may charge if it's very close to the date.
- Do you arrange the travel and hotel too?
- We arrange the dialysis; you book your own flights, hotel and hire car. Once your clinic is confirmed we tell you where it is so you can book somewhere nearby. Our Travel resources pages point you to booking sites and have a checklist for each — those are affiliate links, so we may earn a commission, but you book and pay directly with the provider and their terms apply.
- Is Dialysis Go a medical provider?
- No. We arrange bookings between you and licensed dialysis units. Your care is provided by the clinic and overseen by your own nephrologist. We don't give medical advice.