Greece for the slowly mobile people with knee problems
Sep 5th, 2010, 07:50 PM
#1
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Greece for the slowly mobile people with knee problems
Are there any specific car/guides who can take us around if we are unable to climb hills..well , 3 out of the 6 of us are a little challenged due to knee problems...
.We would love help with Athens, Rhodes ,Katakolon and Santorini...
Please don't say public transportation as we cannot stand for long periods of time nor climb hills..
Thanks
.We would love help with Athens, Rhodes ,Katakolon and Santorini...
Please don't say public transportation as we cannot stand for long periods of time nor climb hills..
Thanks
Sep 5th, 2010, 08:21 PM
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Santorini would be the LAST island I'd suggest someone in your physical condition to visit. The clifftop pathways are uneven, there are lots of steps, and cars can't drive close to the most beautiful and interesting parts of the island.
Sep 5th, 2010, 11:01 PM
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These agencies may be able to help you with a customized Athens tour:
http://www.fantasytravelofgreece.com/
http://www.dolphin-hellas.gr/
Suggest you contact them, explain your needs, and see what they can do to help.
http://www.fantasytravelofgreece.com/
http://www.dolphin-hellas.gr/
Suggest you contact them, explain your needs, and see what they can do to help.
Sep 6th, 2010, 06:17 AM
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brotherleelove,
Don't have much choice with Santorini- we will be on a 10 day cruise thru greece and italy...and I really want to see Santorini...
hemidall, I will email ur suggestions for the Athens tours.
thanks all !!
Don't have much choice with Santorini- we will be on a 10 day cruise thru greece and italy...and I really want to see Santorini...
hemidall, I will email ur suggestions for the Athens tours.
thanks all !!
Sep 6th, 2010, 06:26 AM
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From the destinations you list, I gather that you will be on a cruise, and will have only one day in the first 3 places, and probably (if you are taking the Cruise line I think you are) only about 4-6 hours in Santorini.
My advice, after cheking options is: you should bring along 3 small foldable wheelchairs on the cruise. I mean it. Greece does not rent wheelchairs and its' museums, unlike US & some other placed, do not have wheelchairs available for patrons. These chairs won't help on bumpy, hilly sites, but at least you could see some museums, with the 3 able-bodied pushing the 3 others.
SANTORINI -- EIther take the ship's excursion or do not bother to get off the boat... people not on the excursion are made to wait behind... so they have to stand in line for a long time to get the cable car up to the top.
KATAKOLON -- the port for Olympia. Taxis only take 4, so it's 2 taxis. Olympia site is ALL walking... on the level tho, with some paved paths (see chair advice). Museum is nice -- for crowd avoidance, I advise seeing museum FIRST (9 am) because bus tours do the outside first.
RHODES -- Also a dilemma, because I believe almost all of Rhodes Old Town is no-cars. . There are tours for the physically challenged but they can't drive you in to Old Town http://www.rhodesprivatetours.com/ac...e_disabled.htm This Virtual tour shows what you'd see. Note that some lanes are cobbled but with flagstone walkways either side. http://www.rhodesprivatetours.com/rh...sland_tour.htm
ATHENS -- again, a problem, because so many ancient sites are close together and are not that accessible by car. There are many "taxi tours" that advertise widely on the internet. Be aware that although they call themselves "Tours" they are basically taxi drivers who know the city well and can give you information but they are not licensed guide -- that is, they are not permitted to take you INTO museums or onto ancient sites to show you around. Of course, it sounds as if this won't matter because most of you can't walk that much anyway.
Another problem is your party of 6. Most "taxi tours" seat only 4 + driver, or else it's a Van for 12 =too big & costly! A savvy Greek-American friend on another forum recommends a LIMO service that has vehicles the right size for you. http://www.athens-limo.com/ The website's "FAQ" explains 2 levels of limo-hire... "English-Speaking Driver" and "Driver Guide". The latter would be what you want. FAQ also explains all the hows & whys. It will not be cheap of course, but it's your only day in Athens. ONe big plus: the website shows a USA phone # where you can get pricing and get all your questions answered (but do look at the site and its FAQs first).
If you try it, and enjoy it, write a trip report, to help others with mobility problems.
My advice, after cheking options is: you should bring along 3 small foldable wheelchairs on the cruise. I mean it. Greece does not rent wheelchairs and its' museums, unlike US & some other placed, do not have wheelchairs available for patrons. These chairs won't help on bumpy, hilly sites, but at least you could see some museums, with the 3 able-bodied pushing the 3 others.
SANTORINI -- EIther take the ship's excursion or do not bother to get off the boat... people not on the excursion are made to wait behind... so they have to stand in line for a long time to get the cable car up to the top.
KATAKOLON -- the port for Olympia. Taxis only take 4, so it's 2 taxis. Olympia site is ALL walking... on the level tho, with some paved paths (see chair advice). Museum is nice -- for crowd avoidance, I advise seeing museum FIRST (9 am) because bus tours do the outside first.
RHODES -- Also a dilemma, because I believe almost all of Rhodes Old Town is no-cars. . There are tours for the physically challenged but they can't drive you in to Old Town http://www.rhodesprivatetours.com/ac...e_disabled.htm This Virtual tour shows what you'd see. Note that some lanes are cobbled but with flagstone walkways either side. http://www.rhodesprivatetours.com/rh...sland_tour.htm
ATHENS -- again, a problem, because so many ancient sites are close together and are not that accessible by car. There are many "taxi tours" that advertise widely on the internet. Be aware that although they call themselves "Tours" they are basically taxi drivers who know the city well and can give you information but they are not licensed guide -- that is, they are not permitted to take you INTO museums or onto ancient sites to show you around. Of course, it sounds as if this won't matter because most of you can't walk that much anyway.
Another problem is your party of 6. Most "taxi tours" seat only 4 + driver, or else it's a Van for 12 =too big & costly! A savvy Greek-American friend on another forum recommends a LIMO service that has vehicles the right size for you. http://www.athens-limo.com/ The website's "FAQ" explains 2 levels of limo-hire... "English-Speaking Driver" and "Driver Guide". The latter would be what you want. FAQ also explains all the hows & whys. It will not be cheap of course, but it's your only day in Athens. ONe big plus: the website shows a USA phone # where you can get pricing and get all your questions answered (but do look at the site and its FAQs first).
If you try it, and enjoy it, write a trip report, to help others with mobility problems.
Sep 6th, 2010, 09:21 AM
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Travelerjan,
MANY thanks !!! I will do everything u say..I know it is not an opportune way to do this type of cruise..it was a now or never as one couple celebrates 50 yr anniv. and another 35 yr.anniv.
will try to see about wheelchair from USA...
Andy
MANY thanks !!! I will do everything u say..I know it is not an opportune way to do this type of cruise..it was a now or never as one couple celebrates 50 yr anniv. and another 35 yr.anniv.
will try to see about wheelchair from USA...
Andy
Sep 6th, 2010, 12:55 PM
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Andy, don't just try. Make it happen.
Why don't you just look on CraigsList for used wheelchairs, many people get rid of them after their need passes ... buy 'em and then afterward, sell 'em again if u want. And think about it: the chairs will ALSO help you in Italian Museums, which are not much better than Greek museums in accommodating the less-mobile. AND in Airports... AND getting your friends to the head of lines, and special attention in restaurants etc (and of course, when they stand up from the chairs to take a seat at the table, people will gasp "She walks!! It's a miracle!!").
I'll never forget a day with my Mother in Washington DC... a very healthy woman age 80, whose knees unfortunately were wrecked (no meniscus left, and the knee-replacement surgery had not yet been widely available). Walking more than 100 yards gave her pain. But in the National Gallery, I got one of their loaner wheelchairs and wheeeee! We spent 3 wonderful hours there, no pain. Ever since, I've said wheels are the deal.
Why don't you just look on CraigsList for used wheelchairs, many people get rid of them after their need passes ... buy 'em and then afterward, sell 'em again if u want. And think about it: the chairs will ALSO help you in Italian Museums, which are not much better than Greek museums in accommodating the less-mobile. AND in Airports... AND getting your friends to the head of lines, and special attention in restaurants etc (and of course, when they stand up from the chairs to take a seat at the table, people will gasp "She walks!! It's a miracle!!").
I'll never forget a day with my Mother in Washington DC... a very healthy woman age 80, whose knees unfortunately were wrecked (no meniscus left, and the knee-replacement surgery had not yet been widely available). Walking more than 100 yards gave her pain. But in the National Gallery, I got one of their loaner wheelchairs and wheeeee! We spent 3 wonderful hours there, no pain. Ever since, I've said wheels are the deal.
