How to Make Travel More Inclusive: Real Stories from Various Travelers
What does it actually look like to make travel more inclusive?
For many of us, it starts with the moments that are often overlooked: reading a menu in a new language when you have a food allergy, navigating sensory overwhelm in a crowded airport, or wondering if a tour will accommodate your body size or medical device. These moments might not make the guidebooks; but they deeply shape how we experience the world.
I’m Audra, the history-loving traveler behind The Nerd Traveler, where I explore how heritage, culture, and identity intersect with every journey. And I’m Lisa from 1 2 3 Go Solo, where I empower women to embrace solo travel with confidence — whether it’s their first trip abroad or their fiftieth.
As travelers with food allergies (mine are dairy and gluten, Lisa’s are garlic and onion), we’ve had to rethink what it means to feel safe and welcome on the road. And we’re not alone. We’ve teamed up with other women travelers to share what inclusion looks like in practice — not just in marketing.
This roundup post includes real stories from travelers who have navigated international travel while managing:
- Food allergies
- Neurodivergence
- Plus-size accessibility and the realities of traveling with a medical device
Each of us shares what helps, what hurts, and what we wish the travel industry and fellow travelers understood a little better. We’ll also include practical tools, links, and tips for those of you navigating similar challenges or simply wanting to travel more thoughtfully.
Whether you’re planning your next adventure or simply trying to understand your fellow travelers better, these stories are for you.
What Does Inclusive Travel Really Mean?
“Inclusive travel” is a phrase that gets used a lot in tourism marketing, in DEI conversations, and on listicles promoting accessible resorts or destinations. But for those of us living with specific needs, inclusive travel is not a trend. It is a daily negotiation between what we dream of doing and what our body, brain, or dietary needs will allow.
It means asking a hotel if their “accessible room” has more than just wide doorways.
It means checking if the food tour includes options that will not make you sick for two days.
It means wondering if you will fit comfortably on the plane or if you will have to explain, again, why your medical device cannot go through the scanner.
And more than anything, it means not having to justify why you deserve to be there.
Inclusive travel is about more than ramps and allergy menus. It’s about making space — in itineraries, in infrastructure, in our mindsets — for the beautifully varied ways people experience the world. And when that happens, everyone benefits.
These posts are not a checklist. It’s a collection of real stories from travelers who have learned how to advocate for themselves, plan with intention, and still find joy along the way.
How You Can Help Make Travel More Inclusive
Inclusive travel is not just about personal checklists. It’s about changing how we think, plan, and move through the world — with more awareness, more flexibility, and more care for each other’s realities.
You don’t have to know every detail of someone’s story to make a difference. Sometimes, inclusion starts with:
- Asking before assuming someone can participate in a tour or activity
- Choosing accommodations that prioritize access for all bodies and brains
- Being patient with fellow travelers who need more time, space, or explanation
- Supporting businesses that train their staff in accessibility, food safety, and cultural humility
If you are navigating any of these challenges yourself, we hope this post reminds you: you are not alone. Your needs are valid. And your presence in the world matters.
If you’re a fellow traveler looking to better understand these experiences, thank you for being here. You’re already taking the first step.
If you have a story to share about how you’ve made travel work for you or want to be part of a future version of this post, we’d love to hear from you.
Because making travel more inclusive is not about doing it perfectly. It’s about doing it on purpose.
Need Help Planning a More Inclusive Trip?
Audra offers custom travel planning and advisory services to help you navigate logistics, food restrictions, and destination research with intention. Whether you’re solo, navigating allergies, or just need a nerdy deep dive into itinerary planning, I’ve got you covered. Work with me.
Lisa offers 1:1 coaching for women who want to travel solo but don’t know where to start. If you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to take the leap, she’s the support system you didn’t know you needed. Learn more here.