Tips for Traveling With Limited Mobility

Amazing, adventurous, and awe-insipiring travel should be available to everyone. But it can feel like a struggle for travelers with limited mobility. If you have difficulty walking, use a wheelchair, cane, or are otherwise encumbered - it can be difficult to approach travel planning.

What destinations are the top choices for travelers with limited mobility? What tour companies and modes of travel are suggested? We have the answers for you.  

If you or a family member are looking for tips on traveling with limited mobility, here are our top tips.  

It’s not as difficult as it might seem to find accessible travel options today. Many resources exist, including tour companies that focus specifically on travel for those who need special assistance. Top companies include:

Relaxed Explorer

Enable Holidays

Travel for All

Sage Traveling

There are also tour companeis that focus exclusively on senior travel, such as Road Scholar and Eldertreks - though it's important to recognize that senior travel and limited mobility are not one and the same.

Eldertreks for example is not a great choice if you have difficulty walking as they are designed for active travelers and involve moderate to strenuous hiking. Road Scholar offers thousands of educational tours, though not all will be appropriate if you have limited mobility.

Top Destinations for Traveling With Limited Mobility

• Amsterdam
• Vienna
• Budapest
• Rome
• Paris
• London
• Singapore
• Sydney

When you have limited mobility, it's important to find destinations that don't require a lot of walking or moving from place to place, that have easy access for wheelchairs or walkers, or that aren't hilly with uneven ground.

Europe is highly recommended - many cities have close proximity when it comes to walkable attractions, restaurants, and shopping. And some countries are on the cutting edge of making their cities more accessibility friendly. See below for some top European cities to consider.

If you are traveling in the UK, be aware that many boutique guest houses are not well set up for limited mobility travelers. Many don't have elevators, stairways are small, and bathrooms are often quirky to say the least.

Asia is an outlier when it comes to providing extensive accessible options. While it's not impossible to travel around Asia with a wheelchair, you will run into some challenges as most hotels and attractions are not wheelchair friendly. Singapore is a notable exception.

Traveling in Europe with Limited Mobility

These days, most mainstream cities, airports, and tourist attractions are easier to access for those traveling with limited mobility. 

John Morris of WheelchairTravel.org notes: “While most assume that the United States is the gold standard of accessibility, many cities in Europe are welcoming to the wheelchair traveler. Germany in particular stands out, with the highly accessible cities of Berlin and Munich.” 

Important note about European travel: Though European towns and villages sound and look lovely, do not underestimate the difficulty of walking around on uneven surfaces for extended periods. Many destinations in Europe have cobblestone streets which can put a strain on feet and hips, and are not easily navigable for wheelchairs or walkers, particularly if the streets are old and in disrepair.

Top Accessible Travel Destinations in Europe:   

1. Amsterdam: Charming Amsterdam is known for its cycle and pedestrian friendly streets and canals. While not all trams are wheelchair friendly in Amsterdam, the streets are flat and the canal boats offer a fantastic way to see the city. 

2. Vienna: Generally called one of the friendliest cities to disabled travelers, Vienna boasts wide sidewalks, is fairly flat, and has a multitude of beautiful open, airy squares. And it’s the epicenter for classical music. What could be better? 

3. Budapest: In the past few years, Budapest has burst onto the scene as a major tourist destination. They have good public transportation (though not all Trams are wheelchair accessible, a portion have been updated with more to come), and their famous thermal baths are a huge draw for rest, relaxation, and healing. 

4. Rome: While Rome's considerable crowds are one of the biggeset pitfalls for limited mobility travelers, there are still many ways to enjoy this classic Italian city. Many accessible bus tours are available and most attractions have ramps. And when you get tired? Rome is great for wiling away an afternoon at a cafe or restaurant doing some people watching.

5. Paris: Paris is well known for it's historic art scene and almost all museums and other attractions are wheelchair accessible. 

6. London: While London is sprawling, it's easy to get to one major hub and see a lot of tourist spots in close proximity. All top attractions are wheelchair friendly, as are many taxis. 

Road Scholar, previously Elderhostel, is geared toward the senior traveler looking to incorporate education into their travels. Tours often include in depth lectures given by scholars or professors.

Search for European vacation packages with very easy physical level »

Top Cruise Destinations for Limited Mobility Travel

• Alaska 
• Columbia River, USA
• Mississippi River, USA
• Danube River, Europe
• Caribbean
• The Galapagos
• Antarctica

Cruises are one popular option to consider. Specifically designed to have everything you could want available in close proximity, you have beautiful views, delicious food, and less ground to cover than on a larger cruise ship.

Imagine relaxing throughout the day on your balcony with a view of the sea - and you only have to unpack once! 

Cruises also dock in city centers meaning that it will be faster and easier to access key tourist attractions.  

Another great benefit to traveling by cruise is the ability to rent equipment that may be cumbersome to travel with otherwise. A great resource to keep in mind is Special Needs at Sea which specializes in making rentals available to cruisers. 

Silversea’s sleek, comfortable small ships are the perfect choice for a cruise. Their patron is typically 50 + and all activities are geared to this. A great option for couples and singles, it can be a challenging trip for multi gen groups depending on age groups.

Alaska: Alaska cruises are a great option for wildlife lovers. You can enjoy the landscapes of this "last frontier" and even catch a whale breach or two! Many excursions on Alaska cruises will certainly be adventurous in nature, but others are cultural, taking time in the port towns to educate travelers on the native culture. 

Columbia River cruises: The Columbia River traverses the stunningly beautiful Pacific Northwest United States. This is a great cruise option for travelers who love the outdoors. It's also great for history buffs eager to follow the path of Lewis and Clark.

Danube River: One of, if not the most popular river cruises in Europe is along the Danube. Whether eastbound or westbound this cruise will visit some of the top classic sites in Central Europe. The ports are well traversed by tourists, so many attractions and restaurants will be wheelchair friendly, though not all. 

The Caribbean: Warm air and waters, idyllic beaches, for those looking for a beachy getaway look no further than the Caribbean Sea. 

The Galapagos: For wildlife lovers, nothing could beat the Galapagos. Many companies offer small ship cruises to the Galapagos, and this would be a very comfortable way to travel for those with limited mobility. 

Other Types of Accessible Travel Options 

Train Journeys

If a cruise is not your style but you’re still looking for something requiring less movement, consider a train journey.  

This can be a great way to cover a lot of ground, and similar to a cruise you’ll pass by stunning scenery every day. Stops are typically spread far apart giving you time to relax, and enjoy the journey. Train platforms can be very busy, fast paced places however, so plan ahead for taking extra time to get where you need to go. 

UK based luxury tour operator, Abercrombie & Kent, operates tours all over the world. They offer several train journeys to such far reaching places as India and South Africa. 

Coach Tours

For some, a coach tour, while comfortable, might not be the best choice when considering the strain of continuous de-boarding and on-boarding down steep bus steps. 

But if that’s not an issue for you, this can be another excellent way to minimize over exertion and travel in comfort. Coach tours incorporate a lot of great guided visits to tourist attractions and local establishments for meals and accommodation. 

SmarTours offers near full-inclusive tours, at reasonable prices. They go to exotic destinations as well as offering more classic trips in Europe and the Mediterranean.

Custom Tours

If you want a little more customization and involvement in your travel itinerary, look into finding a custom tour operator. They can help you find specific destinations and activities suitable to your physical condition.

Myths & Mountains are well known for providing immersive tours in such locations as Nepal, India, and the Galapagos. And they give a lot of control over the itinerary to you, so you have the ability to plan as much or as little strenuous activitiy as you desire. 

See all tour operator reviews »

Match with a Custom Trip planner »

For the Adventurous

If you’re looking for something with a little more chutzpah, there are many options are available. Consider a luxury safari tour - which may still include a bumpy jeep ride - but will allow you to rest in the evening with a lovely dinner, and get a spa treatment the next day. 

The benefit to a safari trip is there is very little walking involved, and it's possible to find extremely comfortable accomodations with a luxury tour. 

Even the adventure capital of the world, New Zealand, has its fair share of activities available to older and disabled travelers. If you want to go jetboating, parasailing, even bungee jumping, new Zealand crews are very accomodating to all creeds wanting an adventurous experience. 

National Parks have made a huge effort in the past few decades to incorporate accessibility. So even if you travel on two wheels, you can venture deeper through the parks to marvel at the natural beauty. And now with the advent of "glamping" you can have all the benefits of sleeping outdoors without the bugs or tossing and turning in a sleeping bag on the hard ground.

General Tips

Requesting travel assistance in advance from your airline can vastly improve your flying experience. If you need wheelchair assistance, all airlines can have one waiting for you at the gate after a long flight.

Alison Gardner, Editor of popular site Travel With a Challenge recommends this service highly, saying “Stepping out the door of each plane at each airport connection, there was either a waiting driver and wheelchair or a golf cart with my name attached to it. This turned a usually slow, painful journey into pure bliss.”  

Travel Insurance and Medications

Your required medications may not be available in your country (or countries) of travel, so be sure to check in advance with your prescriber if you will be gone for an extended period. Keep your medications on your person (not in checked luggage) and make sure it is always in the original container with clearly marked labels.

Also keep in mind that in some rare cases, some medications are prohibited in certain countries. Always check beforehand, and if in doubt, contact the embassy or consulate of the country you are visiting. 

Not all travel insurance is created equal. If you are concerned an emergency may arise, MedJet is a good option, recommended by the Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality. They assist with medical air transfer primarily, but have other services as well.

Additional Resources

AARP - with their own travel section including tips from experienced travelers like Samantha Brown, AARP is a great stop to make while preparing your vacation.  

Independent Traveler - A great resource for more independently minded travelers.

Disabled World - A wealth of information, tips, and articles not only travel related.

SATH - Founded in 1976, this organization helps provide helpful and extensive information to senior and disabled people looking to travel.

Sage Traveling - European specific information for disabled travelers. 

Wheelchair Traveling - A great website for all ages wheelchair travelers. They have a diverse offering from personal stories, videos, and advice columns.

Caring.com - Assisted living resources for seniors, encouraging an active lifestyle. This article has a lot of great tips for seniors looking for their next travel experience. 

Also browse: Top Tour Companies For Seniors