Belinda is in a wheelchair and wants to know whether there are any travel companies that specialise in accessible travel.
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Q. Belinda
Do you know of a travel agent who specialises in ensuring accommodation, flights, travel to and from airports and so on are all fully accessible for a person in a wheelchair, but who is independent and wants to travel with her partner, who also has some health problems?
We just need some planning assistance to ensure we get what is needed. We don’t want to arrive at our destination and find out they don’t have a room with an accessible shower, etc. Or worse, discover that there are stairs galore. I would welcome any advice that you can offer.
A. The travel industry has improved vastly with regard to accessible travel in recent times. There are also a number of travel agents who do specialise in accessible travel.
Leisure Options specialises in disability travel and can cater for those with acquired brain injuries, people requiring a travel companion, the frail or elderly and families in need of respite support. The company’s disabled holiday packages can be customised to provide a relaxing or exciting time for people with all ranges of abilities from the independent to those requiring one-to-one support. Leisure Options’ unique holidays have been recognised with wins in the prestigious Qantas Australian Tourism Awards and the Victorian Tourism Awards.
Travel with Special Needs is another great company specialising in accessible travel. All the company’s holiday suppliers have been tried and tested by someone in the disabled community to ensure that they are a good fit before they are offered on their website.
Travability was formed in 2007 when founder Bill Forrester’s mainstream travel agency was asked to organise a tour for a group of elite disabled sailors to attend the world championships. He was so frustrated with the lack of support from the general travel industry in regards to accessible travel arrangements that he decided to do something about it by starting his own company.
Have you got any advice on which travel agents are best when booking accessible travel?
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