I have a cornea condition that requires me to use eye drops made from my blood plasma. (I know, it's weird, but it works.) The vials have to be kept frozen. Once I thaw one out, it has to be kept refrigerated for the 3 days that it's good for.
Has anyone else traveled with meds that have to be frozen or refrigerated? We'll be in a hotel in London for 3 days, then a cruise ship for 12 days.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
3062 posts
A friend travels with similar meds and uses a very, very small ice box about half the size of a shoe box. Ask the ophthalmologist who prescribed the medication what product they recommend and get a letter from them for airport security if you’ll be carrying it with you on to the planes.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
6277 posts
Speaking with your ophthalmologist 's office, or the pharmacist who dispenses your eye drops sounds like your best resource.
Refrigerated medication coolers are easy to find, but actual freezers are not. I needed a refrigerated cooler for several years for an injectable medication that had to be kept cold. Putting a couple of freezer packs into the cooler along with the meds was all that was needed. Our hotels had a refrigerator, and the cruise ship provided a minifridge that maintained a cold enough temp. (The standard mini fridge in a cruise ship cabin is just a cooler, and is not cold enough). I made arrangements ahead of time with both the hotel and the cruise line's Special Needs department to keep my freezer packs frozen in one of their freezers. But you need to keep your meds frozen, which is more complex. You will need to arrange with your hotel and cruise line for this. The ship may be able to store your drops in their Medical Centre.
Posted by
Freedonia
17468 posts
If you are looking for a hotel room that also has a freezer, my suggestion is an aparthotel. They have full kitchens and the refrigerators usually also have a freezer compartment. (But it's always best to check.)
Some chains are, in no particular order, Stabridge Suites, Residence Inn, Citadines, Fraser Suites, Wilde by Apartcity, Native, and Hyatt House.
All have branches in London. Some more than one.