Alex adds that access goes beyond bricks and mortar. “Accessibility is also about sensory experience, social dynamics, and emotional regulation. Many of the barriers I face are invisible, but that does not make them any less real.”
Thoughtful design features like tactile maps, quiet rooms, pool hoists, and Changing Places toilets matter deeply – even more so when they’re consistent, not just a lucky exception.
Isaac Harvey, a wheelchair user and content creator, sums it up: “Accessibility isn’t a checklist. My access needs won’t be the same as someone else’s. The only way to get it right is to ask and actually listen.”
4. Integrated design
When I asked contributors what they’d change about accessibility in travel, one theme came up again and again: build it in from the beginning. Across the board, those I spoke to emphasised the same message: true accessibility must be embedded, not added on.
“Too often it’s a bolt-on,” says Charlie. “But when something is well-designed, it doesn’t necessarily have to be specifically for Disabled people – it can just work for everyone.”
Tanvi agrees: “Include Disabled people in the design process from the beginning. Think beyond the basics and plan for real inclusion.”
Isaac adds that the cost of exclusion is higher than most realise. “The Purple Pound is worth billions. When things aren’t accessible, businesses lose a whole market of loyal, informed travellers.”
The bottom line
It’s not just ramps, lifts, or hearing loops that make a destination truly accessible – though those help. It’s how a place makes you feel. It’s being recognised, respected, and free to explore without fear or friction. When that happens, it turns travel from an obstacle course into something far more powerful: a joy shared on equal terms.
Isaac mentioned a chat we had recently, when I said that the best accessible travel experiences are the boring ones. No drama, no chaos, just smooth, ordinary travel. And ironically, that kind of travel still feels extraordinary when you have a disability.
The feeling of being safe, welcome and seen is what makes travel meaningful – not just for Disabled people, but for everyone. Accessible travel shouldn’t be the exception; it should be the baseline we all expect and demand.
As Alex put it, “Inclusive travel means I do not have to explain or justify my needs. It means my access is built into the experience rather than granted as a special exception. It is rare, honestly, but when I do experience it, I remember those places forever.”
Great Job Carrie-Ann Lightley & the Team @ Condé Nast Traveler UK Source link for sharing this story.
