Poorly designed travel websites and a limited (or non-existent) choice of trips can make planning a vacation difficult. On top of that, there's an overwhelming lack of information from travel companies about the availability and suitability of accessible vacations.

When it comes to choice, accessible options are in short supply, especially when it comes to adventure and wildlife trips. The European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) conducted a study in 2014 of three million travel service providers across Europe. They found that just 9 percent had accessible products on offer. This is a huge failing of the travel industry. Travel — including adventure travel — can and should be for everyone.

In 2012, ENAT conducted a study which reviewed 41 European National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) websites. Only 19 included information specific to travelers with disabilities.

And what about browsing vacation company websites? Under the EU Web Accessibility Directive, public sector websites and apps must be accessible by September 2020. (Private companies, however, aren't covered.) Then there's the 2019 European Accessibility Act which requires businesses with an annual turnover of more than €2 million to have accessible websites for online sales by 2025. It's an important step forward.

The EU passed legislation in 2006 so that passengers with disabilities are legally entitled to free special assistance when traveling by plane or ferry. Similar rights apply in the US. However this is not the case across the globe. In Brazilian airports, for example, there are no dedicated assistance services for passengers with additional needs.

Even in Europe, passengers often aren't getting the assistance they need — or in good time. In 2018, four UK airports were still found to be failing passengers.

Those with hidden disabilities can often find seeking help extremely difficult at airports. The noise, queues and sensory-driven retail areas can be overwhelming and extremely challenging for many.

A green lanyard scheme has been introduced in the UK to help identify those with hidden disabilities who need help, but this is currently only in UK airports. On arrival overseas, passengers often do not continue to receive the help they require and can be left stranded.

Additional pre-departure information via airport websites, familiarisation films and visits are a great help to customers with autism spectrum disorders, for example. But they're only available at a few airports around the world.

Wheelchairs aren't allowed on aircraft, so they must be put in the hold. However, for those reliant on wheelchairs for their independence, handing over this essential and trusty equipment to untrained staff can be terrifying.

This often means leaving passengers immobile at their destination. Wheelchairs and other personal mobility aids are treated as 'special luggage' for insurance purposes. Compensation for lost or damaged devices will rarely cover the actual cost of replacement.

Once onboard — and even when using an onboard wheelchair — the configuration of planes means that it is often impossible for those with reduced mobility to use the toilets without the help of a companion, as cabin crew are not permitted to help lift those who need assistance. The traveler has to make a choice between risking traveling alone or forking out for another plane ticket for someone to travel with them.

Those with hidden disabilities risk being ignored or brushed aside by untrained staff, like the Ryanair passenger who was told that she didn't "look disabled". Others may be unable to sit next to their carers or receive priority boarding that can make all the difference for someone with autism.

Forty percent of UK train stations remain inaccessible to physically disabled people. In Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, only 5 percent of train stations are accessible for wheelchair users — and that's despite the city holding the Paralympics in 2016. Then there's New York City, where 75 percent of subway stations aren't wheelchair accessible. In Paris, a shocking 3 percent of the metro is fully accessible, having been excluded from France's disability and equality laws of 2005 due to the age of the network.

Although some city buses reserve areas for wheelchair users, there is often just one spot — and it's usually shared with prams and pushchairs. Delhi might have one of the most accessible metro systems, but buses largely remain inaccessible as they lack ramps. Drivers aren't trained in helping passengers with mobility impairments, regularly cruising on without stopping.

Getting a taxi can be very difficult in cities like Beijing and throughout India. On the flipside, London is renowned for the accessibility of its black cabs. But even in countries where accessible taxis are available, users sometimes get charged extra.

Hiring a car can also be a struggle. Finding a vehicle with hand controls, or a van with lifts or ramps, is impossible in many places.

The way we design our public spaces is crucial. A lack of drop kerbs and accessible pavements are a challenge for many traveling to cities such as Bangkok. Worldwide, there have been numerous cases of vehicles knocking wheelchair users out of their chairs, thanks to poor pedestrian accessibility.

What about the museum, national park, café or restaurant you're heading for? Unfortunately, it's a similar story. Sixty-three percent of the UK's most-visited tourist attractions were not fully accessible for users of wheelchairs and other mobility aids. And it's not just about physical access, either. Only a third of UK tourism venues are equipped to fully accommodate people with autism.

Ramps, accessible toilets, accessible car parking spaces, large print menus, hearing loops, Braille signage... All these things can transform the experience of someone with access requirements. Yet staff attitudes can also be a barrier. A survey by Guide Dogs UK found that 75 percent of all assistance dog owners surveyed had been refused access to a service at some point because they had an assistance dog with them.

You can expect the very best service and facilities if you are staying in a five-star hotel — that's if you're not disabled, of course.

There's no worldwide standard for official hotel classification systems, but a UN report looked at the criteria in four- and five-star hotels in countries around the world. 'Accessible for guests with reduced mobility' was present in only 26 percent of hotel criteria catalogues. Compare that to 'minibar' (present in 80 percent) or 'number of towels per person' (85 percent).

European hotels fared even worse, where the prominence of accessibility standards was present in just 17 percent of four-star hotel criteria.

This is despite building regulations for new hotels or extensions demanding that at least one in 20 bedrooms needs to be wheelchair accessible. VisitEngland schemes also contain good practice accessibility guidance.

For any star rating to be achieved in India, the hotels must have at least one accessible room. However, often this room is 'under renovation' and unavailable, particularly in the budget category.

Is this the warm welcome you'd expect from a hotel?

The 2006 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is an international human rights treaty ensuring equal access to — among other things — "cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport". That includes equal access to tourism venues and services. It's been ratified by 177 countries (although not the USA). However, the extent to which countries have put legislation into practice — and then ensured compliance — varies tremendously.

Under the Equality Act 2010, tourism providers in the UK must make "reasonable adjustments" to ensure that, as far as possible, people with disabilities enjoy an equal experience to that of non-disabled persons. The reality is, though, that the law is too vague. Unless disabled people make complaints, many businesses do not make the adjustments required.

This is outrageously unfair. A freedom of information request to the Equality and Human Rights Commission found that just 19 inquiries have been received in regards to accessible travel and tourism issues from January 2016 to June 2019.

Finding the support and finances, let alone the stamina, to pursue legal action is daunting for anyone.

Surprisingly — and unknown to many — the Equality Act also applies to vacations overseas if booked with a company in the UK.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 demands that hotel rooms must be accessible both at the booking stage and on arrival. But as with all disability and equality legislation across the globe, the implementation and compliance isn't always up to scratch. India passed a similar act in 2016, setting time frames for businesses to comply — however many are failing to do so.

The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations were introduced to the UK in 2018. This meant that those companies booking accommodation, flights or car hire were committed to providing information on "whether the trip is generally suitable for persons with reduced mobility and upon the traveler's request, precise information on the suitability of the trip taking into account the traveler's needs". This regulation focuses too much on mobility issues, forgetting that the majority of people face hidden disabilities.