Finding the Right Travel Agent
Author: Tanya Rabe, Right Foot Adventures
When you’re planning a trip as an amputee or a traveler with accessibility needs, the process can feel like navigating an unfamiliar city without a map. There’s excitement, but also the pressure of making sure every detail works for you. That’s where the right travel agent for you becomes a game-changer.
But here’s the truth that no one really says out loud: “finding the right travel agent — the one you click with — can be surprisingly hard.”
Accessible travel isn’t just a specialty. It’s personal. It’s emotional. It’s layered. And honestly? It takes one to know one. Someone who understands not just the logistics, but the lived reality behind them - the little things that make or break a trip, the questions you ask yourself before anyone else even thinks to ask you. That level of understanding comes from experience, empathy, and someone who truly sees you.
Ask Questions… Lots of Them
A good travel agent will never make you feel like your questions are inconvenient. In fact, your questions help them understand exactly what you need to travel comfortably and confidently. Ask about their experience. Ask how they handle accessibility challenges. Ask what resources they use, what destinations they understand well, and how they advocate for clients. This is your trip - your comfort matters.
Interview More Than One Agent
Here’s your permission slip: you don’t have to settle for the first agent you meet. Think of it like choosing a prosthetist or a physiotherapist - the relationship matters and we all know how personal we can get with our prosthetist! Meet a few. Compare how they communicate.
Accessible travel isn’t just a specialty. It’s personal. It’s emotional. It’s layered. And honestly? It takes one to know one. Someone who understands not just the logistics, but the lived reality behind them - the little things that make or break a trip, the questions you ask yourself before anyone else even thinks to ask you. That level of understanding comes from experience, empathy, and someone who truly sees you.
Ask Questions… Lots of Them
A good travel agent will never make you feel like your questions are inconvenient. In fact, your questions help them understand exactly what you need to travel comfortably and confidently. Ask about their experience. Ask how they handle accessibility challenges. Ask what resources they use, what destinations they understand well, and how they advocate for clients. This is your trip - your comfort matters.
Interview More Than One Agent
Here’s your permission slip: you don’t have to settle for the first agent you meet. Think of it like choosing a prosthetist or a physiotherapist - the relationship matters and we all know how personal we can get with our prosthetist! Meet a few. Compare how they communicate.
Notice who listens, who rushes you, and who treats accessibility like a checklist instead of a conversation. Choose the one who makes you feel heard.
A New Resource for Canadian Travelers
One of the biggest barriers has always been finding travel advisors who truly understand accessibility, not just claim to. Until now, there hasn’t been a reliable, centralized way to find someone with real accessible travel experience.
That’s why ACTA (Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors) is launching its brand-new Accessible Travel Advisor Directory, a resource designed specifically for Canadian travelers. This directory lists ACTA-member advisors across Canada who have demonstrated that they meet accessibility-focused criteria. And, as the program grows, education around accessibility within travel and everyday life, will grow too!
For me, now a member of ACTA’s DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) committee, I’m proud to help shape this directory from the ground up. Applications are ongoing, and advisors must outline exactly how they qualify. More requirements will be added over time to ensure that the directory remains credible, supportive, and genuinely useful.
You Deserve the Right Match
Accessible travel is personal, and so is choosing the professional who helps you plan it. Take your time. Ask the hard questions. Trust your instincts. And know that resources like ACTA’s new directory are here to make the search a little easier.
One of the biggest barriers has always been finding travel advisors who truly understand accessibility, not just claim to. Until now, there hasn’t been a reliable, centralized way to find someone with real accessible travel experience.
That’s why ACTA (Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors) is launching its brand-new Accessible Travel Advisor Directory, a resource designed specifically for Canadian travelers. This directory lists ACTA-member advisors across Canada who have demonstrated that they meet accessibility-focused criteria. And, as the program grows, education around accessibility within travel and everyday life, will grow too!
For me, now a member of ACTA’s DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) committee, I’m proud to help shape this directory from the ground up. Applications are ongoing, and advisors must outline exactly how they qualify. More requirements will be added over time to ensure that the directory remains credible, supportive, and genuinely useful.
You Deserve the Right Match
Accessible travel is personal, and so is choosing the professional who helps you plan it. Take your time. Ask the hard questions. Trust your instincts. And know that resources like ACTA’s new directory are here to make the search a little easier.
When you click with the right travel agent, the entire world opens up in a way that feels possible, supported, and wonderfully yours.
For more information on accessing ACTA’s Accessible Travel Advisor Directory, contact Tanya at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Do you have a travel story, question, or tips that you’d like to share? Send Tanya an email. Looking for accessible destinations? Visit www.rightfootadventures.ca.
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