New Edinburgh travel agency looks to help people with health and mobility challenges
“Accessible travel is relevant to far more people than many realise” – Sarah Baum, co-founder
A specialist travel agency has taken off in Edinburgh as its founders look to improve the lives of people with health challenges.
Michael Connolly and Sarah Baum established Accessible Housing Scotland (AHS) in the summer of 2024 and have now branched into travel.
Covering the likes of cruises, city breaks, family holidays and group trips, AllWays Travel will cater for everyone but will have a particular focus on helping remove the stress from holiday planning for those with mobility, health or accessibility requirements, its founders said.
The new agency prides itself on a “people-first alternative” to online booking platforms, with a highly personal service including home visits to prospective travellers. It is both ABTA-bonded and ATOL protected.
The venture’s founders met six years ago while working together in the solicitor and estate agency sector. Baum ran her own solicitor estate agency in Edinburgh, while Connolly joined the team after completing his studies in international business and Spanish. He has since gone on to complete his LLB in Scots law.
Connolly said: “Clients deal directly with us, not a call centre. We take time to understand individual needs and budgets and build holidays around that.
“We use trusted tour operator partners and will deal with all travel enquiries and are happy to visit clients at home, too, meaning they are relaxed in their own environment.”
Through their work in property, the pair became increasingly aware of how poorly accessibility is often considered, particularly for people navigating housing with mobility, health or additional support needs. This led them to jointly establish AHS.
Baum said: “Accessible travel is relevant to far more people than many realise. Too often people are left to piece things together themselves but we work hard behind the scenes to make sure that the entire journey works, not just the destination.
“Our aim is simple - to make travel planning feel reassuring and straightforward, and to make sure accessibility is considered from the very start, not treated as an afterthought.
“As we grow, we’re keen to build stronger relationships with specialist accessible travel operators where that genuinely adds value,” she added.
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