Joe lives with Becker muscular dystrophy and is a passionate writer, blogger, and poet. He shares his experiences to help make travel more accessible for everyone.
Wandering the world on wheels

Travelling with a disability is different to what you see on TikTok and Instagram, it’s difficult to be taken by the hand across a white sandy beach when you need both of them to push your wheelchair, and your standard tyres just won’t do it.
Travelling is more than a selfie at the airport, it’s visiting new places and meeting new people, taking in unfamiliar cultures and eating exotic crisps – that last one might just be me.
It’s fortunate that I enjoy travelling, as that’s now a major part of my working life as Community Manager at Euan’s Guide. Euan’s Guide is an award-winning disabled access charity best known for its disabled access review site.
Travelling on tyres
Although my work is focused on the UK, I’m driven by my own experience as a wheelchair user who longs to see the world. I’ve seen Kenya, Greece, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia and Canada, and whilst I can’t say the journey was always easy, it was always worthwhile.
“Of the places I’ve been, I’ve found Canada to be one of the most accessible.”
In the past five years, I’ve been to Ontario and Alberta, which has given me a more rounded view of the country.
In Ontario, I was amazed at the train service. Knowing that even at an unstaffed station, I’d be able to board is such a comfort. The trains have specific accessible cars, where the staff onboard will lower a ramp for those who need it. We could learn a lot from this.
On our trip to Niagara Falls, we used a cable car to get down to the falls and found the promenade and the walkway to the ship suitable for a wheelchair. If you ever visit the Falls, bring a poncho!
Our time in Alberta was split between Calgary and Canmore, giving us a taste of the city and the wild.
The city has the CTrain tram network, where each stop has elevators, ramps or ground-level access. Many of the retail buildings are connected via the Plus 15 Skywalk, a series of enclosed bridges connecting over 130 buildings. The skywalk provides shelter from the elements and is much smoother to traverse than the roads and pavements – which are actually in good condition. The city uses a grid system, which makes navigation easier.
Canmore, which I often describe as Aviemore’s big brother, is a region designed with outdoor activities in mind, which means plenty of smooth roads and pavements for bikes, which is of benefit to wheelchair users.
Accessible and beautiful, this is one of my favourite places.

Tips on flying as a wheelchair user
Flying as a wheelchair user can be daunting but this should never be a reason not to. Here are a few quick tips to make things easier:
Book assistance ASAP
If you book a package holiday, sort your assistance out right away. You can do this by contacting the travel agency you’ve booked with. This will allow them to make changes, like placing you beside your family on the plane or look at suitable room options.
Transfers
Booking airport transfers is expensive, but some airlines will contribute to the cost, or even cover the cost of a taxi transfer if you can’t safely board a coach. Jet2 is the only airline I’ve found that covers the full cost.
Insurance
Even if your holiday is a long way off, buy your insurance as soon as you can. This shouldn’t affect the cost but can help a great deal if you’re suddenly unable to fly for a medical reason.
“Insure your mobility device through your home insurance.”
Most airlines only cover damage to devices up to the value of £1000 – which is nothing compared to the price tag of a power chair. Knowing you’re covered if something unfortunate happens to vital equipment is essential.
Be prepared
Record the weight of your wheelchair and the wattage of any battery or power attachments. You will be asked for this, and it’s one less stress.
Roll with it
Silly things are going to happen along the way, you may have an uncomfortable interaction or find that a specific location is inaccessible but focus on the experiences you can have, rather than those you can’t. With this mindset, even the worst of holidays can be memorable.
Do your research!
Whilst I prefer to be spontaneous, being prepared can make a huge difference.
I found useful guidance for my trip to Corfu by reading reviews by Euan’s Guide ambassador Tina.
If there’s one thing that makes travel a challenge, it’s a lack of information. If you’ve been anywhere you think people should know about – please share your recommendations at EuansGuide.com and let the world know.