Interview Vijftig+ magazine

In September 2024, Sonia Groot (27) founded DiscoverAble, a travel agency focused on tailored travel for people with physical disabilities. The agency operates online but still provides highly personal service. Sonia started the agency based on her own lived experiences.

“Accessibility should be the norm, not the exception,” Sonia believes.

What was the reason for starting DiscoverAble?

“ My mother has been living with MS for over 40 years and uses an electric wheelchair. Whenever we traveled together, we kept running into the same frustrating problem: a lack of reliable information, which made it incredibly difficult to book truly accessible accommodations. We also dealt with broken promises—hotels claiming to be accessible, only to find stairs at the entrance or doorways that were too narrow when we arrived.”

Have you traveled with her often?

“We used to travel a lot when I was younger. After I turned 16, it happened less often, but now we’re starting to go on more trips together again. We’re even planning a three-week trip to India right now. But honestly, the challenges have always been the same—nothing has really changed.

When you go on vacation, you want peace of mind. But for us, traveling often meant stress, uncertainty, and having to improvise. I kept thinking, there must be a better way. That’s what led me to start DiscoverAble.”

I heard some hotels even told you and your mother that they “don’t do disabled guests”?

“Unfortunately, I still hear that—even today. And not just from hotels. Other players in the travel industry say that people with disabilities take too much time, cost too much money, or simply aren’t part of their target audience. That’s not just discriminatory—it excludes entire families.

Everyone should have the freedom to decide for themselves whether a trip suits their needs. That’s why we provide honest information about what is and isn’t accessible.”

How would you describe DiscoverAble’s mission?

“Our mission is to make the world accessible to everyone by pushing the travel industry to become more inclusive. Accessibility should be the standard, not the exception.

Most mainstream travel agencies offer limited or no specific accessibility options. A big part of the problem is the lack of understanding around what accessibility really means. This often results in customers receiving incorrect or incomplete information, or being told that arranging an accessible trip just isn’t possible.”

Who do you specifically cater to?

“We offer tailor-made travel packages for people with physical disabilities and their caregivers, arranging everything from wheelchair-accessible accommodations to accessible activities. But it’s not just for people who use wheelchairs. It can also be for those with limited mobility, people who walk with crutches or walkers, elderly travelers, or anyone who simply doesn’t have the energy or headspace to plan a trip themselves. We focus on what each customer wants and needs and build the entire trip around that.”

So you don’t have a physical travel agency?

“No, we operate online but provide very personal service. Clients can call us, email us, or schedule a one-on-one meeting to discuss their travel wishes.”

As a travel agent, how do you know if accommodations are suitable for people with physical disabilities?

“We personally visit the accommodations to check everything, we take photos and measure everything from the height of the bed to the space between the sink and the toilet. We also look at reviews from other travelers. We never book a hotel without first getting recent photos of the room. I’ve already visited hotels in places like Mexico, Portugal, and Croatia, and I’m planning to visit one in Vienna soon to verify accessibility. I also do a lot of online research. In Facebook groups, people often share their experiences with specific accommodations. Many people get overwhelmed trying to figure everything out themselves, so they’re happy to let us take care of it.”

You also focus on the Netherlands. How accessible is our country for people with physical disabilities?

“If I had to give it a score, I’d say a 7.5 out of 10. A lot is accessible, but you really have to know where to look. There’s definitely room for improvement. For example, disabled parking spots are often used to store building materials or portable toilets during nearby construction. Or bikes get parked in front of platform lifts, making buildings inaccessible. We really need a shift in how we think about accessibility. In cities like Amsterdam, many hotels and restaurants are in older buildings. The default excuse is often that the building is too old to be made accessible but that’s not always true. Sometimes all it takes is a bit of creativity and the will to make it happen.”