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Europe ideas for those with limited mobility?
Posted on 6/25/19 at 10:09 am
Posted on 6/25/19 at 10:09 am
Basics: Mom has cancer and uses a walker. Do you have any recommendations for trips or cruises to Italy, France, or Switzerland? Something where they can see some highlights, but won’t kill them. They’ve never been to Europe and this will probably be their only chance.
TIA
PS: Don’t wait until you’re old and sick to travel. Do it as soon as you can.
TIA
PS: Don’t wait until you’re old and sick to travel. Do it as soon as you can.
This post was edited on 6/25/19 at 10:10 am
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Posted on 6/25/19 at 10:16 am to OldHickory
If you can get a driver that would probably be the best.
I wouldn't say a lot of things are really handicap accessible in Italy. Pompeii, Colosseum, Catacombs. Lots of brick streets too which might not do well with a walker.
Really just depends on what she wants to see and how much of it.
I wouldn't say a lot of things are really handicap accessible in Italy. Pompeii, Colosseum, Catacombs. Lots of brick streets too which might not do well with a walker.
Really just depends on what she wants to see and how much of it.
Posted on 6/25/19 at 10:44 am to OldHickory
My mother recently did a river cruise down the Rhine and raves about it. I was skeptical but she is well traveled and not one to blow smoke so must be legit. See a lot of Europe and stop at cities along the way for events/festivals etc.
Posted on 6/25/19 at 11:28 am to OldHickory
quote:
PS: Don’t wait until you’re old and sick to travel. Do it as soon as you can.
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Can't tell you how many ppl I know worked like dogs & didn't travel, "saving" it for retirement...and ended up in poor health and went nowhere. Bless you for helping to facilitate her travels w/limited mobility.
I agree w/previous poster on the Rhine cruises: LINK There are a bunch along the Rhine, which offer some lovely scenery, castles, etc. to see without even leaving the boat.
The river cruise boats used by Viking are easy to get around, on the small size, and most (all?) rooms feature big picture windows or balconies. Viking's customers skew toward the elderly or multigenerational families traveling together. Knowing that dinner is easily accessible on the boat each evening, or that it's available during the day if a shore trip proves too taxing, seem like an ideal solution for Mom's desire to sightsee despite her limitations.
A friend took her much-older husband (who was a couple months from hip replacement surgery) on a Viking cruise through Hungary...it was his first time back in the country since he fled as a student activist during the Spring Uprising in '56. He had a great time, and they hired drivers at the stops to ferry him around to places he wanted to see (grandma's old house, his old schools, etc). So you might also consider hiring drivers for the shore excursions.
Posted on 6/25/19 at 11:30 am to hungryone
Thank you for that information. Is it best to book drivers in advance or is this something that can be done at port?
Posted on 6/25/19 at 11:32 am to OldHickory
quote:
Thank you for that information. Is it best to book drivers in advance or is this something that can be done at port?
As I recall her saying, the cruise line facilitated the hiring of the drivers. I'm unsure if the cruise concierge on the boat made the arrangements, but I assume so....as she doesn't speak Hungarian (husband does, but is hard of hearing). I don't think they were booked in advance, but Viking's customer service ppl can probably advise you. The Viking cruises are a bit spendy, but the customer service is v good.
Posted on 6/25/19 at 11:34 am to OldHickory
Another suggestion: does the travel HAVE to be European? There are fall foliage tours of the NE US by train and ship, if nature scenery is more appealing than looking at old castles and cities. No transatlantic flight, and you can probably fly direct into Boston from many cities in the SE US.
This post was edited on 6/25/19 at 11:36 am
Posted on 6/25/19 at 11:48 am to hungryone
They’ve done that before. Europe or an Alaskan cruise is what she’s been talking about for 20+ years. Dad’s just always been a workaholic and has never considered a vacation of more than 7 days.
This post was edited on 6/25/19 at 11:49 am
Posted on 6/25/19 at 11:54 am to OldHickory
quote:
an Alaskan cruise is what she’s been talking about for 20+ years. Dad’s just always been a workaholic and has never considered a vacation of more than 7 days.
While an Alaskan cruise offers amazing scenery from the ship, I'd be concerned about mobility/accessibility at the port calls. I'm sure the cruise lines get asked those questions all the time, though, & can provide detailed info on what opportunities are accessible at each stop.
Posted on 6/25/19 at 3:27 pm to OldHickory
Posted on 6/25/19 at 5:12 pm to Trumansfangs
Thanks, hoss.
Posted on 6/25/19 at 5:26 pm to OldHickory
My pleasure friend.
Posted on 6/26/19 at 11:44 am to OldHickory
To the extent they'd be interested in Normandy, it's a heavy tour area (including lots of private tour operators) and they're accustomed to dealing with folks with limited mobility due to the number of vets that return to the beaches. Unfortunately they're doing fewer and fewer of those, but I suspect there are plenty of providers with experience dealing with elderly who have serious mobility issues (and perhaps can bring you to spots to view sites from the car, etc.).
Going in the offseason is going to help a lot, but will come with grayer/colder weather, which I suspect won't be ideal for your parents. Viking does sound like it'll be a strong option and that they'd have some experience dealing with these issues.
Going in the offseason is going to help a lot, but will come with grayer/colder weather, which I suspect won't be ideal for your parents. Viking does sound like it'll be a strong option and that they'd have some experience dealing with these issues.
Posted on 6/26/19 at 3:51 pm to OldHickory
Who is going OP? Are you taking them? Or just 2 elderly people that will need a lot of help?
This is very easily doable, just will take just a tad more planning.
They have to fly into somewhere, so they may as well fly into Paris and see the Eiffel Tower and what not. Hire a driver there to hit big stuff.
There’s Roman ruins in Nimes in southern France. Guy on this board wrote about it a couple weeks ago.
The biggest thing, is simply to look at the medium size cities and below. You have to fly out of a bigger city most likely so hire a driver and driver around for a day. But then spend the rest of your time in small towns. No different then the states, it’s just easier to drive up and park and walk right up to things in smaller municipalities.
The river cruise is a fantastic idea. But I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary.
This is very easily doable, just will take just a tad more planning.
They have to fly into somewhere, so they may as well fly into Paris and see the Eiffel Tower and what not. Hire a driver there to hit big stuff.
There’s Roman ruins in Nimes in southern France. Guy on this board wrote about it a couple weeks ago.
The biggest thing, is simply to look at the medium size cities and below. You have to fly out of a bigger city most likely so hire a driver and driver around for a day. But then spend the rest of your time in small towns. No different then the states, it’s just easier to drive up and park and walk right up to things in smaller municipalities.
The river cruise is a fantastic idea. But I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary.
Posted on 6/27/19 at 9:19 am to baldona
It would be just the two of them. Just exploring possibilities to see if it’s plausible. The difficulty is long-range planning when you’re not sure how they’ll be feeling when the trip comes around.
Posted on 6/27/19 at 9:23 am to OldHickory
quote:
It would be just the two of them.
I'd reconsider this part. Unless dad's especially hale & hearty, they will likely need some support on the road, even if just navigating airports w/luggage.
Posted on 6/27/19 at 10:32 am to hungryone
He’s still a pretty tough old goat. Mom is the main concern. They told me yesterday that they’re gonna do the Outer Banks in a couple of months. We’ll see how that goes before planning anything.
This post was edited on 6/27/19 at 10:33 am
Posted on 6/27/19 at 10:56 am to OldHickory
River-cruise! With this scenario this is the only way to travel in my book. And your parents will feel like they were treated like kings and queens.
First that's so great that your your mom is traveling. I've taken two river cruises on Viking in the last 2 years and would highly recommend them. They do virtually everything for you and certainly take care of people with limited mobility. Our most recent trip had somebody in a wheelchair and they did just fine. Granted you may not be able to take some of the walking tours others do but there is certainly much to do. Also a reminder that based upon the groups on the boat the average age can be skewed into the 60s and 70s.
First that's so great that your your mom is traveling. I've taken two river cruises on Viking in the last 2 years and would highly recommend them. They do virtually everything for you and certainly take care of people with limited mobility. Our most recent trip had somebody in a wheelchair and they did just fine. Granted you may not be able to take some of the walking tours others do but there is certainly much to do. Also a reminder that based upon the groups on the boat the average age can be skewed into the 60s and 70s.
This post was edited on 6/27/19 at 11:00 am
Posted on 6/27/19 at 11:16 am to OldHickory
quote:
hey told me yesterday that they’re gonna do the Outer Banks in a couple of months. We’ll see how that goes before planning anything.
Sounds like a good test run.
But European river cruises are pretty much designed from the ground up for elderly, mobility impaired travelers. Warning: once you get on Viking's mailing list, even death won't get you off. I'm still getting glossy booklets addressed to my MinL a decade after her passing.
Posted on 6/27/19 at 11:22 am to Nole Man
Another Viking recommendation here. We did the Danube cruise with 3 generations. Every walking tour had a "gentle walkers" group that went at a slower pace and included rest breaks. They didn't cover as much ground but hit the important sites at each stop.
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