Tips For Accessible Travel for All Kinds of Trips

The cohort of the traveling public that identifies as disabled continues to grow. And as it grows, the calls grow for greater support for these travelers.

Things are getting better at destinations around the globe, but until full accessibility is the norm, travelers can use these tricks to help go farther, do more, and overcome obstacles.

Consider Accessible Destinations

Especially in Europe, major cities are making significant strides toward improving accessibility.

For instance, according to Condé Nast Traveller:

Dublin has made all its curbs wheelchair-friendly and has added accessibility provisions to some of its most popular destinations, like the Guinness Storehouse.
Reykjavik, following Icelandic laws on accessibility, has made many of its hotels fully accessible and has added access for all travelers to its famous Blue Lagoon.
Amsterdam has a special assistance team ready to help travelers navigate the city, from its streets to its trams and canals.
Paris has made attractions like the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and the Musée d’Orsay largely accessible.
London has more than half its restaurants and a third of its attractions accessible to virtually all travelers.

In the U.S., cities like Fort Lauderdale and Honolulu score highly for accessibility.

It’s difficult to generalize about accessible cities. Location and popularity with tourists aren’t always deciding factors in what makes a destination accessible.

man sitting in a wheel chair outside a van in the mountains

Look For Accessible Travel Types

Just as with cities, travel types are hard to generalize when it comes to their accessibility.

Cruises

Cruises can be an excellent mode of travel for many disabled travelers. One key advantage is that travelers can stay in the same room for the duration of their trip.

Royal Caribbean’s 5,518-passenger Symphony of the Seas gets high marks for accessibility from Cruise Critic. Its 46 accessible cabins feature wider doors, roll-in showers, lowered closet rods and more, but note: There are only 46 accessible cabins on a 5,500-passenger ship.

That means it’s vital to plan ahead and reserve ahead to get one of those coveted cabins.

Ships from Holland America (the Koningsdam), Celebrity (Reflection), Princess (Regal Princess) and Norwegian (Norwegian Bliss) all get high marks from Cruise Critic, but the pattern is the same: Roughly a 100-to-one ratio between the number of passengers and the number of accessible cabins.

Tours

Organized tours can be a great option for disabled travelers—but only if the tour can accommodate their needs. For that reason, tours specifically designed for accessibility are often the safest choice. Working with an accessible-travel specialist can help match travelers to the right tour.

Road trips

Road trips to national parks are popular among travelers who identify as disabled, as well as parents with stroller-age kids. Most of the popular parks have wheelchair-friendly areas, especially for iconic sights like Old Faithful.

Road trips also have the advantage of being more flexible; if a traveler needs to stop they can.

Train trips

Train travel is often one of the most wheelchair-friendly ways of getting around, especially in Europe. Trains are fast and comfortable, with wide aisles, and the frequency of trains to many destinations means that even if you miss a train, there’s likely another one leaving soon.

When traveling by train, make sure your wheelchair or other mobility device is stowed nearby, especially if your stop is a quick on/off one.

Ease into big trips

Travel can feel daunting for someone who’s recently experienced a decline in mobility. For those travelers it’s a good idea to ease into big trips.

A road trip – even if it’s a short day trip from a suburb into the city – can be a good way to understand this new way of getting around. The stakes are low, and the trip can be easily aborted.

A more ambitious trip is the next step, whether it’s a longer car trip or a short flight. This provides a good opportunity to work through travel challenges and pick up pointers on how to travel comfortably.

If that works, a major cross-country or international flight is the next step. Flying to Hawaii – a destination that ranks high for accessibility. Plus, it’s Hawaii. It’s hard to go wrong.

Prep For Flying

Flying takes preparation. Travelers should label all mobility aids, especially their wheelchair. (If the traveler is an infant, this applies to their stroller.)

In addition, travelers should not check their chair at the counter; instead, they should take it all the way to the gate, even if they use an airport chair to get from the check-in counter to the gate.

At the gate, travelers should:

Arrive early

Make sure there are gate personnel to seat them on the plane
Disassemble their chair and bag any loose parts (and label the bag)
Use toilet facilities before boarding
Limit fluid intake
Be prepared to use an aisle chair to be seated on the plane

Flying can be a major challenge for many disabled travelers. Taking short flights to get accustomed to the routine is a good idea.

Work With a Specialist

Organizations like Easy Access Travel and Wheel the World help connect travelers with accessible lodging and transportation, and offer tours specifically designed for the disabled travel community.

In addition, many travel professionals have extensive experience working with travelers with mobility limitations.

If you have a travel professional you like, ask about their experience working with disabled travelers. Quiz them on their knowledge of accessible destinations or travel options.

Having someone who knows the landscape is even more important for travelers navigating disabilities.

Join Affinity Groups/Leverage Resources

There are many Facebook groups for disabled travelers, including a large one organized by Wheel the World.

You can also connect with like-minded travelers through resources like:

In addition, the U.S. State Department has extensive information for travelers with disabilities on both a dedicated page and in its destination guides.

Plan Early – and Don’t Forget Travel Protection

The number of accommodations for disabled travelers is far less than the number of disabled travelers – so plan early. Start research into destinations and travel modes at least eight months in advance. Make reservations six months ahead of time to request what you need.

Part of the trip planning should include the purchase of travel protection. Look for a plan that may cover pre-existing conditions, like the Premium Plan of travel insurance with assistance services from Generali Global Assistance.

Learn more about coverage for pre-existing conditions (and take a short quiz on what constitutes one of these conditions) here.

The Premium Plan may help cover you if your condition flares up either before your trip, causing you to cancel, or during your trip, forcing you to interrupt your travels and return home.

The Plan may also help cover emergency medical expenses, including evacuation, up to the plan limit.

Best of all, the coverage is easy to buy. It starts here, with a quote.

Travelers of all mobility and ability levels are finding it easier than ever to see the world. Travel protection from Generali Global Assistance can help protect their adventures.