Accessible travel is seeing a big shift, not just in conversations, but in how destinations and tourism providers are actually planning for disabled travellers. As we move into 2026, accessibility is no longer being treated as an afterthought. Instead, Accessible Travel is increasingly being built into the way holidays are designed, sold and delivered.
From our day-to-day work arranging accessible holidays overseas, Spain continues to stand out as one of the destinations taking this most seriously. Across popular regions and resorts, we’re seeing steady improvements in hotel layouts, step-free public spaces, accessible transport and inclusive experiences. This isn’t about ticking boxes, it’s about destinations recognising that accessibility improves the holiday experience for everyone, not just wheelchair users. As a result, Spain is winning more new clients over other summer destinations, especially because the number of pool hoists available is so high; hotels in Greece, Cyprus and Portugal, take note!
At the same time, international tourism bodies are putting stronger guidance in place to help airlines, hotels and tour operators improve how they support disabled travellers throughout the journey. While guidance alone doesn’t fix everything overnight, we’re already noticing greater consistency in how accessibility is discussed, documented and delivered, particularly in destinations that actively want to attract accessible tourism.
That said, our experience also tells us that progress is uneven. Many travellers still avoid overseas holidays because they’re worried about whether accommodation, transport or excursions will genuinely work for them. We see this regularly when clients contact us after postponing travel for years due to uncertainty or a previous bad experience. The encouraging part is that, with the right planning and verification, many of those concerns can now be addressed far more confidently than they could even a few years ago.
What hasn’t changed, and what we continue to flag early, is availability! Even in destinations that are improving rapidly, the number of genuinely accessible rooms remains limited.This is especially true for family rooms and hotels with the best layouts, roll-in showers and step-free access throughout. From what we’re already seeing for 2026, those rooms are being reserved earlier each year, often as soon as dates are released.
If you’re thinking about travelling in 2026, now is a sensible time to start the conversation. Booking early usually means more choice, better room options and far less compromise, often secured with low deposits at mainstream prices. When you’re ready, we’re here to help shortlist options that genuinely work and confirm the key accessibility details before you commit, so you can book with confidence.
