About Freedom Trippers
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit building the world's most honest wheelchair travel guide.
Enabling freedom through accessible exploration.
Our mission at Freedom Trippers is to seek out, experience and document travel destinations and activities for people with a wide range of mobility impairments. We strive to provide accurate information from our personal travel experiences as people with mobile limitations ourselves as well as from our families, friends, and/or caregivers that join us on our travels. We research places of interest around the globe so we can then provide maps and tips on various modes of travel including airlines, subway systems, ships and ferries, trains and automobiles for persons with mobility disabilities. We seek to search out and refer the top companies around the world based on accessible entrances and exits, friendliness and helpfulness of staff, and accommodation for persons with mobility impairments. We will attend and provide detailed insight on a wide variety of activities including local restaurants, museums, cultural events, sporting venues and adventure options available for people with varying degrees of mobility limitations. Our goal is to provide information and education to people around the world, to educate them about people with disabilities. We are the Freedom Trippers, our goal is to empower those with mobile limitations the freedom to travel!
A world where disability is not inability.
We envision a world where every traveler — regardless of mobility, age, or ability — has access to honest, practical information that makes adventure possible.
Freedom Trippers is building that resource: real reviews, real ratings, and real stories from travelers who navigate the world on wheels. We are handi-capable!
Born from a personal need. Built for everyone.
When founder Gigi Hard began planning international trips with a wheelchair and 400-pound powerchair, she discovered a glaring gap: there was no comprehensive guide for wheelchair travelers. No roadmap. No honest ratings. Just uncertainty.
That gap became the spark. Freedom Trippers was founded to fill it — offering practical guidance, accessibility scorecards, and inspiration to travelers with mobility disabilities, seniors, veterans, and anyone who has ever wondered: can I really go there?
Milestones on the road to inclusion.
501(c)(3) Nonprofit Status
Officially recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt nonprofit organization.
International Destination Guides
Honest, wheelchair-rated guides to destinations across Europe and beyond.
Wheelchair Rating System
A 5-level accessibility rating system covering terrain, transport, attractions, and accommodation.
Growing Community
A community of travelers sharing real experiences and supporting one another.
Founded with Purpose
Built by a disabled traveler, for disabled travelers — with lived experience at the core.
Capitola, California
Proudly based in Capitola, CA, serving travelers across the United States and worldwide.
"Disability is not inability."
Gigi Hard
The vast expanse of Southern California, where I grew up, has always been a place of sunshine and seemingly endless possibilities. For me, however, navigating this landscape has presented unique challenges due to several lifelong health conditions, including Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrome and spinal stenosis. These conditions have progressively impacted my physical abilities, necessitating the use of a wheelchair for anything beyond short distances, and a powerchair for longer journeys. This personal reality has shaped my perspective, turning everyday activities into opportunities for problem-solving and innovation.
My desire to explore the world, a dream fueled by seeing airlines like Frontier offer flights to destinations like Costa Rica, led me to purchase an "all you can fly" pass. I envisioned using it to visit family and friends across the country and perhaps even venture internationally. Yet, as I planned these trips, a critical question loomed: how would I manage the logistics of traveling with a 400-pound electric wheelchair? Standard taxis weren't an option, and the availability of accessible routes, services, and repairs in unfamiliar places felt like a significant unknown. I realized that for individuals with mobility impairments, there wasn't a clear roadmap, a comprehensive guide to navigating the world. This absence of information struck me as a significant gap, one that I felt compelled to fill.
This realization sparked the genesis of Freedom Trippers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing that much-needed roadmap for travelers with mobility disabilities. The name itself embodies the core mission: enabling freedom through accessible exploration. While some have expressed doubts about international travel accessibility, I firmly believe that with proper information and planning, these adventures are deeply enriching. Freedom Trippers aims to be that resource, offering practical guidance and inspiration to individuals with varying degrees of mobility limitations, as well as to seniors, veterans, and others seeking to travel with confidence.
The journey to establish Freedom Trippers was not without its hurdles. The most significant challenge involved the extensive and complex paperwork required to gain 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. This process demanded meticulous attention to detail and a considerable investment of time and energy, resources that are already stretched thin by managing my health and pursuing my education. However, the vision of empowering others to overcome similar barriers and experience the joy of travel provided the unwavering motivation to persevere through every form. This project is more than just a business idea; it is a direct response to a personal need and a commitment to creating a more inclusive world for explorers of all abilities.
Inspired by our story? We'd love your help.
Freedom Trippers runs entirely on volunteer power. Whether you're a traveler, writer, developer, or advocate — there's a place for you here.
freedomtrippers2024@gmail.com
Ready to start your adventure?
Read our travel stories, explore destination guides, and join a community that gets it.