Milestones Magazine Late Summer 2022

There’s nothing worse than arriving at a
hotel after a long travel day and being told the
accessible room you booked is no longer
available. Or have you ever been in a situation
where you’ve booked an accessible room only to
As a result, Wheel the World was born and
assists travelers with booking accessible
vacations to over 140 destinations worldwide.
“We have a clear belief and purpose to make
the world accessible,” says Alvaro.
learn that it doesn’t meet your accessibility needs?
These issues are way too common and are an
example of some of the challenges travelers face.
Through Wheel the World’s website, users can
create custom accessibility profiles allowing
Wheel the World to recommend listings that
Wheel the World’s mission is to make the world
more accessible. They strive to make travel
worry-free by providing travelers with reliable
accessibility information, comprehensive
planning, and personalized support before and
during their trips. Founded by Alvaro Silberstein
and his lifelong friend Camilo Navarro, Wheel
the World was inspired by a 2016 trip to Torres
del Paine National Park in Chile. This journey
felt impossible after a car accident left Silberstein
paralyzed from the waist down. Organizing an
accessible trip to Torres del Paine was no easy
are compatible with their travel aspirations
and personal accessibility needs. Using the
Accessibility Mapping System (AMS) volunteer
“mappers” crowdsource real-time information
on more than 200 data points including
wheelchair accessibility, transportation logistics,
bed height, room width, braille signage
availability, adaptive equipment requirements,
and more. Travelers can also view detailed
photos of places to stay showcasing the
property’s accessibility. There is no fee for
travelers to access this information.
feat. After lots of extended research, contacting
multiple tour operators, and researching a
special wheelchair, the duo realized it was
possible. An accessible wheelchair called a Jolette
(used for difficult terrain) could be used to
navigate the park.
The company’s travel experts also work
directly with customers to plan and customize
their travel experiences in addition to aiding
with securing accessible transportation during
their vacation.
After meticulous planning, the trek occurred,
and the experience went viral. Alvaro and
Camilo soon received numerous requests from
travelers around the world to assist with booking
accessible trips.
In addition to providing places to stay,
Wheel the World offers a variety of accessible
things to do, multi-day trips, and group tours.
No travelers are excluded, as the company
caters to travelers of all ages and abilities.
Mark Zuckerberg, Founder of Meta even shared
To plan your next accessible vacation, head to
the story during a global meeting.
www.wheeltheworld.com
M
16