Doc Holiday: Why isn't there a guide to travelling with a disability?

Where can you go to find resources and information about accessible travel in Australia?

Escape's Doc Holiday, Dilvin Yasa, answers your travel-related questions.

My wife has recently become disabled. Can you suggest any apps or websites that help disabled people find suitable services that meet their needs?

Let me to start by saying how sorry I am to hear about your wife. That must be a difficult transition for both of you. I’m quite embarrassed to write this, but here it is: there is no one-stop shop for accessible travel. Not only that, but in Australia, we’re woefully behind our international cousins when it comes to the number of tour operators that offer accessible tours.

Before you start lining the litter tray with this page, not all is lost. Although you won’t find all the info you need regarding airlines, accommodation and tours in the one handy place, there are plenty of websites that can help you plan and book your future travels.

A great place to start is Lonely Planet’s Accessible Travel Online Resources, which is a country-by-country guide, updated biannually. This will be able to point you towards the most relevant organisations for your needs.

ClubMates Travel, a registered NDIS provider, offers supported holidays for people with a disability. Their highly experienced team can work with you to create a personalised itinerary, but they also offer a wide range of accessible group tours. When it comes to accessible tour companies, it’s also worth taking a look at Access Travel, Easy Access Travel and Wheel the World, as well as destination-specific operators such as Iceland Unlimited.

Meanwhile, Flight Centre allows travellers with disabilities to plan for and book their holidays through their Planning Your Flight tab.

I would also subscribe to Travel Without Limits, Australia’s first – and only – disability-specific travel magazine. It has all the latest information you could need, from the best airlines for wheelchairs to passenger assistance apps making airports more accessible.

I am taking my 19-year-old grandson on his first overseas trip, to Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Can you suggest things to do so he has a memorable time without suffering grandma boredom?

What a wonderful first overseas trip to enjoy – and with his beloved grandmother, no less.

You’re really not going to have to work too hard to find activities in Sri Lanka, in particular. I’m assuming you’ve earmarked visits to key temples, such as Dambulla Royal Cave Temple and The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy. But, since you’ve travelling with a teen, I would recommend interspersing cultural sites with those that guarantee a little action.

The key activities I recommend? Climbing Sigiriya Lion Rock fortress in the early morning, before the madding crowds descend and the heat and humidity increases, and going on safari in Yala National Park, which is not only reported to have the highest density of leopards in the world, but is where you can spot sloth bears, elephants, wild water buffalo, and more. If you can’t make it to Yala, another great safari option is Udawalawe National Park, which is celebrated for its elephant population.

If you’re both ultra adventurous types, whitewater rafting and canyoning on the Kelani River are also great options, but if you’d prefer something more laid-back, perhaps you’d consider a surf stay in the beach town of Mirissa, which is known for its beaches, nightlife and whale watching.

One of the things I enjoyed most while I was in Sri Lanka last year was taking the train from Kandy to Ella which rambles through misty forests and tea plantations. Ella, with its bustling bars and live music venues, is geared towards younger travellers, so your grandson should feel right at home.

Now, the Maldives can be a little trickier unless you’re, (a) a couple, or (b) really into watersports. It’s difficult for me to give you exact suggestions without knowing where exactly you’re staying, so I would suggest doing a half-day or full-day tour of Malé to visit the local markets, mosques and landmarks and learn a little about traditional Maldivian life away from the resorts. Once you’re at your resort, common tour options include snorkelling and scuba diving, as well as cooking classes, where your grandson can learn to make typical Maldivian dishes, or popular favourites from neighbouring countries Sri Lanka and India (you might as well reap the rewards!).

I get the feeling, however, that you’ll both be so exhausted by the time you’re done with Sri Lanka that you’ll probably just want to lie by the pool and make full use of your resort’s complimentary range of watersports. Either way, you’re both in for the time of your lives. Enjoy!

Originally published as Doc Holiday: Why isn't there a guide to travelling with a disability?