Utilizing the disability travel experts for the trip of your dreams
Planning a wheelchair accessible trip, or a trip navigating around any disability, is a pain in the tush.
If you’ve tried, you know. Most websites don’t have accessibility information, so you’re never sure where you can actually go. Even if you call, the person you speak with may not understand what you mean by accessible, or an elevator could break before your visit.
That’s not even to mention the ordeal in getting there. Air travel is a wheelchair nightmare, and most alternative options aren’t much better.
This ridiculous overwhelm leaves countless families behind. Travel is no longer worth the hassle.
What if it didn’t have to be that way?
Obviously, it doesn’t, or I wouldn’t be writing this article!
Disability travel agents are usually free
Let me start here, because I know that’s the biggest reason you’ve never looked into letting someone else plan your trip for you.
When you book through a travel agent, the majority of the time they charge you absolutely nothing. You gain countless hours of your life back, not to mention postponing the gray hair. Someone else does all of the digging and makes all of the phone calls, while you do you.
Disability travel agents are experts
It’s not just anyone doing the work, either – it’s a disability travel expert. Your trip is planned by someone with a similar disability, or with extensive experience traveling with someone with the disability.
Goodness knows you couldn’t just pair up with a random travel agent at your local travel show and expect them to map an accessible route through Chicago. You can, however, trust your trip to someone with years of experience with the ins and outs of disability travel and all of the hiccups that come with it.
Disability travel agents are paid (by someone else) to do a good job
Travel agents are often paid out of the travel they book for you. For example, when you book Disney tickets through a travel agent, part of that ticket cost goes to the agent. (That also means when you don’t go through an agent, you pay the same price and the built-in agent fee just goes back to Disney!)
This is their livelihood. They’re going to deliver a seamless experience so that they can ensure repeat travel. They’re also available to you throughout your trip to help with any unexpected needs that may arise. While some agents do charge a fee, the chances are high that you’re going to find it worth the balance of time saved.
Here’s where to find one
The people I’m about to recommend are the very best in both accessible travel and family travel (an uncommon overlap). If you’re not sure they are the perfect fit for your needs, shoot them an email or give them a call and find out! They know how important it is to have your needs fully understood, and if they don’t feel they can do that they will redirect you to someone who can.
If none of them feel like a good fit for you, google disability travel agents and you’ll be amazed at the options you find!
Incredible Memories
Kristy Durso of Incredible Memories Travel is one of four disabled people in her family. That means she knows how to travel with just about any need. We booked Disney through her and it was simple and seamless. I wish we had also booked Universal through her, because our experience there was anything but seamless.
She covers mobility needs, ADHD, Autism, cognitive delays, service dogs, and a plethora of food allergies.
Fora
Glenn and Judy Tudor of Fora share their passion for exploring through inspiring others to travel the world. As a full-time wheelchair user, Judy, and her husband, know the ins and outs of planning accessible travel. They help with the whole trip – including flights and in-country transportation. Judy and Glenn lean towards luxury travel and cover all aspects of wheelchair travel.
Sage Traveling
John Sage and his team have a lot of accessible travel planning on their resumes. They don’t solely work with families, but they have expertise all over the world and truly understand the variety of needs that come with disability travel. Their services aren’t free, but you can get a free quote before you commit to anything. They also work with cruise lines to plan accessible excursions. Check out all of the places they’ve planned wheelchair accessible trips.
Spectrum Getaways
As you may have guessed, Spectrum Getaways focuses on autism travel. As a mom of an autistic son, Dina has a very personal understanding of what will make your trip successful. She has invaluable connections in the travel industry and works with her partners to create an unforgettable experience (in the good way).
If you don’t play well with others…
I know some of you will still be totally opposed to the idea of working with a travel agent. I’ll be honest, we travel a lot and most of our travel isn’t done through an agent. I like the ability to book on points and miles and not feel like I’m cheating someone out of pay. I also like the ability to wing it. I don’t always need things to be date specific when I travel.
If you’re too overwhelmed to plan your own trip, but you don’t want to work with a disability travel agent, here are some middle ground options.
Wheel the World
Wheel the World guarantees personalized accessibility, or your money back. That means you can book your hotel and all of your attractions, using personalized filters set to your needs, and be guaranteed an accessible trip. They’re not in every location around the world – but they’re working on it!
Disability Travel Bloggers
Oh, hey – that’s me! When we go on a trip, I create an accessible itinerary based on our experiences. That means, if it’s somewhere I’ve been, I have an accessible guide showcasing the best wheelchair accessible restaurants, attractions, trails, hotels, and more.
I’m not the only one doing this! Google “wheelchair accessible (destination name)” and you may find a pre-made accessible trip just waiting to be taken!
What’s stopping you?
This was #10 in my list of why special needs families have stopped traveling. I hope this has shown you that the need for a travel agent who understands your needs isn’t a barrier! There are great options available for creating the perfect vacation without the stress of worrying about each accessibility detail.