Old age and disability are no longer barriers to travel

Last month, my partner Lisa reminded me about a birthday party for one of her yoga friends. My immediate thought? How to politely – or not-so-politely – escape. I’m sure I’m not alone in that tactical pondering!

Saturday arrived, and in the taxi, Lisa whispered, "We’ll stay an hour, show our faces, then we’re out." Perfection! I was practically setting a countdown on my watch.

We arrived to a house buzzing with strangers. I made a beeline for the kitchen, two drinks in hand, when my ears – like a finely tuned sonar – picked up a conversation. Someone was talking about their job as a travel agent. My antennae were officially up.

Drinks secured, I subtly (or not-so-subtly) joined the group. I listened, fascinated, as she regaled us with tales from her almost 30 years in the industry, sharing the joy she brings to clients and, of course, a few hilarious anecdotes thrown in.

After a while, I chimed in, mentioning my own passion for travel and how I’d set up Altogether Travel in 2011, specialising in supported holidays. Her brow furrowed. "What holidays?" she asked, genuinely confused. "Supported," I repeated. Still nothing. Almost three decades in travel, and this was a new one on her.

I offered an example: "Imagine one of your long-time clients. They might now rely on home care, need help with medication, or perhaps they’ve lost a partner and their confidence to travel has taken a hit. Or it could be someone with a disability who simply needs companionship when they’re away."

Her eyes lit up. Immediately, she rattled off a list of names – clients she’d lost touch with over the years for precisely those reasons. It was like watching a lightbulb switch on!

I explained how these individuals often become our clients. We have a fantastic team of holiday companions – all experienced carers who absolutely adore travel and seamlessly blend their care skills with their love of exploring. She was genuinely amazed, firing off questions about everything from travel insurance to mobility equipment. It was like a friendly interrogation!

Three hours and several glasses of wine later, Lisa gave me "the look". My new travel acquaintance and I exchanged cards, and in the weeks that followed, a steady stream of enquiries started trickling in from her, all for those elderly clients she’d reconnected with after our kitchen chat.

Some of these we’re now working on together. One fantastic example is a couple who thought their cruising days were over due to the wife’s dementia diagnosis. Thanks to a dedicated Altogether Travel companion, her husband will now get a much-needed break on their holiday, knowing she’s in capable hands.

Another booking will see an elderly gentleman, who lost his wife a few years ago, return to their cherished Spanish holiday spot, accompanied by one of our companions.

She now understands the incredible benefits of supported holidays, and honestly, it’s a win-win for everyone involved.

I’d wager that most travel agents today are familiar with "accessible travel," thanks to its growing presence in the media, like Travel Weekly and recent TV coverage, particularly with disability advocate Sophie Morgan’s Channel 4 documentary Fight to Fly and their "rights on flights" campaign.

I’m sure every agent reading this can think of clients they’ve lost due to age, mobility issues, loss of confidence, health concerns, or disability. But here’s the brilliant news: it doesn’t have to be that way anymore. Options exist that can truly support them to holiday again.

Oh, and Lisa and I have a BBQ to attend in a few weeks. I’m actually looking forward to that one!