We all know that travel can be an expensive hobby, and that is never more true than when considering accessible travel. Finding cheaper accessible travel options is usually a nightmare to navigate. We often talk about the “disability premium” for travel when discussing matters within The World is Accessible. Premium prices for accessible hotel rooms, privately hired transportation, the shipment of equipment, etc. Before you know it, a trip that may be a “once every few years” type of deal for your average Joe, becomes more like “once in a lifetime” when you factor in the price hikes attributed to traveling with a disability. Not to mention the fact that many disabled folks around the world live on far lower incomes than their non-disabled counterparts.
So, with all of that in mind, I thought it would be an interesting idea to put together some general tips on how to make accessible travel more affordable. Some of these may seem pretty self-explanatory and obvious – but if there’s one thing I’ve learnt from creating The World is Accessible is that there is no such thing as an obvious answer to an obvious question. Many people are new to traveling with a disability and therefore don’t know some of the key information that those of us who are seasoned professionals when it comes to life in the mobility lane, do!
Here’s my 11 tips to consider for ensuring your next accessible holiday doesn’t need to break the bank:
1. Research Your Destination Wisely:
Start by identifying destinations known for their affordability. Countries with lower costs of living often provide more budget-friendly options for accommodations, transportation, and activities. However, it’s important to bear in mind that some more affordable locations may not be entirely geared up for disabled visitors. You may find that accessibility is not quite up to scratch and that’s a factor you’ll need to consider. Try and find that sweet spot of accessible destinations that aren’t going to break the bank.
A workaround may be to try and find an accessible tour company that is operating within the country you wish to visit. Sure, you’ll probably pay a little extra than you would if organizing everything on your own, but it should still come out cheaper than doing the same kind of tour in a major touristy place like Paris, New York, London, etc.
2. Embrace Off-Peak Seasons:
Consider traveling during off-peak seasons to take advantage of lower prices. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also enjoy a more relaxed accessible travel experience with fewer crowds to contend with.
One thing that I personally like to try and do is choose dates that are the final weeks of the “off-season”. For example, if traveling in mainland Europe, look to travel in late April or early May. The weather won’t be as cold as it may have been in the depths of winter and you’re still technically not within the high-season range for prices or volume of tourists.
3. Plan and Book in Advance:
Booking early can significantly reduce costs for accessible accommodations and transportation. Ensure you secure the best rates by planning your trip well in advance. There is, however, a trade-off. Sometimes you can get lucky and find last minute deals on rooms and flights that are yet to be fully booked. Generally though, booking in advance is the best course of action in order to benefit from the cheapest possible rates.
Try Google Flights tracker for keeping tabs on the lowest times to book flights. You can get notified to your email inbox when flights are cheaper, and conversely, when they’re going up in price.
Look out for special discount deals also, such as the Wheel the World Black Friday sale where group trips and tours can often be up to 60% off.
4. Explore Budget Airlines:
Look into budget airlines that cater to your accessibility needs. Many of these airlines offer competitive prices and can be more accommodating than you might think.
I know what you’re thinking.. “Argh, how can I be sure that my needs will truly be taken care of and my mobility device won’t be broken?” – and you’re right to feel concerned. There are instances where folks with disabilities have had nightmare situations with their equipment being broken by airport ground staff. Generally though, the risks involved are present no matter who you book through. You can’t be sure that the ground staff that are working on the day of your flight will follow all the rules and procedures, and you’re pretty much at the mercy of them taking care of your property. That said, I myself have never experienced any damage to my wheelchair, and I’ve taken close to 100 international flights in the past decade. I would say that you stand as much of a chance of having your wheelchair broken if you fly with British Airways or Qantas than you do if you fly with Ryan Air. So don’t be afraid of budget airlines.
5. Hunt for Discounts and Deals:
As touched upon in point number 3, take advantage of discounts and special deals on accessible accommodations, transportation, and attractions. Numerous platforms offer exclusive deals for travelers with specific accessibility requirements. Another option to consider is AccessibleGO – a site dedicated to finding you hotel rooms that match your needs. Keep your eyes peeled for special deals there also. The aim of the game is just to regularly keep checking. A great way to keep-up-to-date on these types of offers is just to subscribe to the mailing lists of your favorite travel booking providers. You can also join deals pages on the likes of Facebook or Reddit, where other eagle-eyed travelers will alert members of special offers.
As The World is Accessible continues to grow, we eventually hope to bring you such information on special deals and discounts, to help enable your budget-friendly accessible travel.
6. Consider Alternative Accommodations:
Now, this one can be a little scary for some folks, and for some others, it may just not be an option if your mobility needs are on the slightly more complex end of the scale. But, if you’re open and able to try something new then why not expand your lodging options beyond traditional hotels? Vacation rentals, hostels, and guesthouses can often provide more affordable and equally accessible alternatives – but of course, it’s extra important to do your research and find out for sure if these places are going to meet your personal needs.
The Youth Hostel Association in the UK has a wide array of accessible hostels to choose from. It’s just one of the many examples of alternative (and often cheaper) accommodation types. Airbnb is another to try – with accessibility filters available when searching. Just bear in mind that Airbnb is notoriously getting more and more expensive, and it’s important to speak directly with the host to make sure that you haven’t been misled with their accessibility information.
7. Master Public Transportation for Cheaper Accessible Travel:
With a little bit of research and prior-planning, this one doesn’t need to be as scary as it may seem at first. Many cities around the world have accessible infrastructure and transportation, such as kneeling buses with ramps, and barrier-free subway stations. Of course, there’s also those countries where it’s a mix of accessible and inaccessible – take the London Underground for example, some stations have smooth access and are a breeze for any person with a disability, whereas other stations are simply impossible to navigate. Generally speaking though, a bit of research goes a long way, and if you find that in the place you’re going they have accessible public transport options, this can be a great way to keep travel costs down.
Bonus tip: look out for travel deals. Paying a one-off fee for a day’s worth of travel (or maybe even a week’s worth) can be an amazing way to travel further, for less. One example (which sadly no longer exists) was when the Opal card in Sydney, Australia, used to give you free travel after your 8th trip within a seven-day period. It meant that if you were a tourist in Sydney for a week, you could pretty much use up those 8 necessary trips within the first day (just going from station to station on your sightseeing adventure) and then for the rest of the week you would have had free travel. Despite this no longer being the deal in Sydney, it pays to look out for quirky offers like this.
8. Explore Free or Low-Cost Attractions:
No matter where you go there will always be some amazing free or low-cost attractions to go and see, as well as all the places that you need to pay to visit. A little bit of research ahead of your trip can help to uncover some lesser known gems, many of which may be far cheaper than the mainstays of a particular travel destination. For an example, when visiting Tokyo, why not check out the free (and totally accessible) Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatories for fantastic views of the city below.
9. Cook Your Own Meals:
This one ties in nicely with some of the suggestions in point six. If you’ve got the chance to stay at an accessible Airbnb or an accessible hostel, you will likely have access to kitchen facilities and so you can save some serious money by cooking meals for yourself. Now I’m not saying you should cook 100% of your meals yourself, because after all, part of the fun of travel is to experience foods from other regions of the world. But, if you can supplement your meals with some home-cooked stuff, you can certainly make a significant saving.
Why not go a step further and explore local markets for fresh, affordable ingredients?
Note: I appreciate that cooking may not be on every travelers radar, especially those with mobility restraints that may make a showdown with some pots and pans a none-starter. But, if you’re willing and you’re able, I highly recommend it.
10. Pack Wisely to Avoid Unnecessary Expenses:
This tip can be taken in two ways. Firstly, packing correctly and making sure you don’t over pack can help to ensure no nasty charges once you get to the airport. This one’s not so much related to anything in the accessible travel world, but is sound advice all round. Having checked bags which are overweight will likely land you with additional fees to pay before boarding your flight.
Secondly, packing wisely and making sure you have spare equipment that you might need is a great way to save on big bills should something go wrong when you’re in a location you’re not familiar with. For example, if you’re a manual wheelchair user that uses tires which have inner tubes in them, be sure to pack a couple of spares, and your tire kit – otherwise, you could find yourself in a tricky spot if you land a puncture when you least expect it.
11. Consider Group Travel:
Explore organized group tours that cater to individuals with accessibility needs. Group travel can sometimes be more cost-effective, and it provides a supportive and inclusive environment. Speaking of which, did you know that within our The World is Accessible community we are in the process of putting together an accessible group trip offer to Rio de Janeiro? For more information once we have it, and to register an interest, feel free to fill out the following GOOGLE FORM.
There we have it! Our rundown of 11 tips. If you’ve made it this far, thanks for sticking through with the entire blog post. I hope that you maybe took something away from these suggestions, even if most of them were things you already knew. Moreover, if you have suggestions of your own that you would like to share then please do let us know in the comments below this post. I’ll be checking out all that you guys have to say and will respond to each of you!
Cheers,
Anthony
Great information! Yes, public transportation can save you so much!