Apps That Make Accessible Travel Easier

Traveling is a beautiful, enriching experience — but planning a trip can also be a daunting task. From the moment you land at your destination, you must navigate unfamiliar transit systems, find accessible lodging, track down wheelchair-friendly attractions, and more. It’s a lot to take in at once, especially if you don’t know the area well.

Since planning accessible travel can be a big task, we’ve rounded up some travel apps for people with disabilities to make accessible travel easier. With these user-friendly apps at your disposal, you’ll never have to worry about accessible travel preparations.

Accessible Apps for Planning and Preparation

Here are some apps to help you streamline the planning process and ensure that your trip goes off without a hitch.

Allianz TravelSmart

One of the most frustrating things about travel is its unpredictability. You can do everything right and still run into unexpected problems. That’s why it’s important to be prepared for any situation — and that’s where Allianz TravelSmart comes in. 

Developed by Allianz Global Assistance, Allianz TravelSmart is an innovative app that allows you to calculate the cost of travel, get trip insurance quotes, and file claims on the go. With this convenient app, you can receive real-time flight updates and boarding gate information, get location-based alerts about specific events (events, festivals, or even weather-related closings), and locate nearby medical facilities when you’re in a pinch — all in the palm of your hand. 

The app also comes with a medical translator that provides instant translations into 18 different languages, making it easy to communicate with medical professionals despite language barriers. Just like other accessible travel apps on our list, Allianz TravelSmart is available for free on both Android and iOS devices.

Medisafe

While traveling, it’s easy to forget to take your medication, especially if you’re on a trip with a tight schedule and lots of activities. MediSafe is the perfect app for people with disabilities who need to keep track of their medications. This app allows users to create a list of all their prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs and set reminders for when they should be taken. It also allows users to share their medication lists with family members or other caregivers, so nobody is left wondering if they took their medication on time. 

With more than 70 symptom trackers, users can also create a comprehensive list of their health problems and symptoms. You can even sync it with the Healthkit app to monitor blood glucose, pulse, blood pressure, and other vitals. This app is available for both Android and iOS and can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play. 

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Accessible Apps for Finding Amenities

Wheelmap

Featuring an intuitive and user-friendly interface, Wheelmap is a crowdsourced map that helps travelers find wheelchair-accessible destinations in their area or while they’re on the road. The database includes information about accessible restrooms, restaurants, hotels, parking spots, and more. It also allows users to comment on public spaces and report issues as they arise. 

Wheelmap is available in 32 languages, including English, German, French, and Spanish. To download Wheelmap for iOS or Android devices, click here or visit their website at wheelmap.org for more information.

AccessNow

Like Wheelmap, AccessNow provides a directory of accessible facilities across the globe. You can search by location or category (such as restaurants or hotels), filter results by wheelchair accessibility and other features such as braille menus, gender-neutral washrooms, and service animal-friendly spots— and plan your itinerary accordingly. This app also employs crowdsourcing, meaning users can submit and review locations to help others find accessible spots. AccessNow is available for free on Android and iOS.

Accessible Apps for Transportation and Directions

Google Maps

Known for its accurate and easy-to-use navigation system, Google Maps offers voice-guided directions, live traffic updates, and real-time route modifications to help you navigate the road ahead. This app has recently released an accessibility feature that displays wheelchair-friendly spots on the map. With this feature, you can check whether your desired location has things like accessible seating and restrooms. It also provides information about nearby accessible parking and transit stops, which can be very helpful when planning a trip to a new location.

Travel Smarter With Wheelchair Getaways!

While accessible travel apps have certainly made it easier to plan your accessible vacation and manage your schedule, it can still be hard to find a reliable rental service that will pick you up from the airport and drop you off at your destination. But thanks to Wheelchair Getaways, you can rest easy in a wheelchair-accessible rental van.

With over 200 locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico and an extensive selection of wheelchair-accessible vans, Wheelchair Getaways can help you find the perfect vehicle for your needs. All our vans are equipped with state-of-the-art accessible features, including ramps and wheelchair tie-downs for maximum safety and convenience. To request a quote or book your wheelchair van, just fill out our online form. We’ll get back to you ASAP with a detailed price estimate and all the information you need to book your trip!