ambage

My 71-yr-old mom and I would love to go to France next year (including Paris). Mom is fairly mobile, but can't really deal with a lot of stairs or extreme walking. Any advice on what to do and see? Any words of advice to maximize the experience for my mom?

Thanks.

ggreen

Hi ambage, I think you and your mother definitely should be able to manage Paris, even without "extreme walking". Just keep it easy and don't pack too much into one day (but I'm sure you already knew that!). The great thing about France is that it's wonderful just to be there - you'll really feel like you're there just sitting in a café drinking a coffee or infusion (herbal tea)! Pick the sights you most want to see and savor the experiences.

As far as mobility goes, the good news is that there are Metro stations all over Paris, so you're never very far from a subway station. The bad news is that there are a lot of stairs in the stations, especially in the corridors when transferring from one line to another!

Here's a recent thread about using buses in Paris:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34809349

Outside of Paris, you may want to look into a tour (search the posts here for recommendations on ones in the area(s) you'd like to see). Otherwise, as good as the train system is, you may want to rent a car to facilitate getting around... I guess it depends on how extreme "extreme walking" is!

Dave_in_Paris

My advice would be to pick your Paris lodging very, very carefully. Even quite mobile older people may become fatigued. You want a hotel or an apartment (ith an elevator, of course) with an attractive cafe and two or three nice restaurants, and a two-line bus stop, no more than five minutes away by foot.

Underhill

Nice would work well, as it's very flat. There's quite a lot to see there: museums, historic houses, Roman ruins, the fabulous sweep of the Promenade des Anglais..much to enjoy.

Dijon would work nicely too, and it's a very pleasant city with fine museums and interesting churches.

We're skipping Paris this year because of my bad knee; just too hard to get around, even with taxis.

Gretchen

I'm not far off your mom's age with bad knees and a disdain for stairs and long correspandances in the Metro. The bus system is wonderful and in some cases can get you closer to your destination than the Metro. And there are always taxis.

MorganB

In addition to the bus, the metro line 14 has elevators from the platform to ground level at every stop.

Underhill

Gretchen,

How do you manage the big steps up into a bus? That's given me trouble.

FainaAgain

Here is a Fodorite's report on trip to France with his 87-year-old mom

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34497442

Dejais

Ambage...I am actually taking a trip to Paris this September with my mom who is 67. I will be doing a trip report when I return and will try and include how we do with mobility and fatigue.

However, I will say that I have planned my days with free time for just resting or strolling in case she gets tired. I have also geared our activities to her level. For example, I found a wonderful evening concert at a church that I am sure she will love.

I would say to anyone who would like to do this to DO IT. I know that even just the planning and the giggly phone conversations we have had so far will be memories we will both cherish forever. I can not wait to have this wonderful experience with my mom.

historytraveler

A lot of good advice here and I'll offer my own from personal experience. When you can't seem to get a taxi, just go into a nearby restaurant, hotel whatever and say that your mother is feeling a bit ill and could they please call a taxi for you. I always leave a tip (usually refused). I've found that people are very helpful when it comes to elderly mothers.

Underhill

Caution: take a cushion with to the church concert it it means sitting in pews. That can be hard on old backs.

mari5

historytraveler: 71 isn't elderly! seems fairly young to me. &gt
I've had 2 "no cartiledge" knees for at least 5 yrs. Had one replaced 3 yrs ago and the other finally about 7 weeks ago. Have avoided a lot of steps for several years and traveled overseas at least 8 times in the past years. YEs, the bus is good in Paris...and sometimes just getting on a good line one can "ride to the end and back" , past a lot of the tourists sights, PLUS getting to know the hubbub of Parisians, and seeing the suburbs etc. AND getting off when arriving at sites you want to visit. You can use Taxis for specific places.
If one can walk several blocks from a central hotel,or even a mile of strolling...you can see a lot.
A CAR is great to visit small towns in the countryside of FRance. IF she already has a blue handicap placard it can be helpful when driving in Europe. The LOGO is the same as in the U.s.....
Most museums have lots of steps, HOWEVER most have an elevator tucked away someplace and a security person is usually helpful is letting you use it. Having a cane helps her AND helps to not have to stand so long, do steps, and park far away sometimes.
Paris AND FRance is very doable to someone in your mother's position. Being in a wheelchair would be another topic.
I know she and you will have a GREAT time.
Hotel Brighton on Rue du Rivoli is in a central location...and I know there are many others.

historytraveler

mari5,

I agree. Age is always relative My usage of the term was only in context of the request for help. One probably wouldn't get far requesting a call for a ttaxi for their athhletic,sprightly mother.

I admire those who continue their travels despite bad knees etc. I intend to do likewise. And, when I can no longer travel on my own, I'll do the tour thing. Will likely be a tour guides worst nightmare as my wish is to 'expire' while traveling. Just bury me in the local church yard.

nessundorma

Hmmmm. I wouldn't be too Pollyannish about the difficulties of Paris.

I would book a hotel in the 8th arrondisement, perhaps near the Champs-Elyesees. This is a part of Paris where the streets are very wide and very flat and even, and the Eiffel Tower is always in view. Do NOT book in Montmartre or the 5th arrondisement, which is hilly, or in ile st louis or ile de cite, where you will have to walk twice as far to get to anything. Le Marais has too many narrow, uneven sidewalks (or no sidewalks). Perhaps the 6th does too.

I would plan a boat trip on the Seine (using the public Batobus) as a wonderful way to see many, many sights without fatiguing the knees.

I would pick two things to do each day for ONE hour each. That is: I would go to the Louvre and plan to spend an hour there MAXIMUM. If you want to go back the next day, fine. But no overtaxing. In fact, I would forego the huge museums in favor of the small ones: check out the Rodin Museum, the Marmottan, the Jacquemart Andre.

I would invest in a portable seat, so Mom can sit down whenever and wherever she feels like it.

Plan for a rest at the hotel each day between 5 and 7.

I would go light on spending money on entry fees to museums or fancy meals in favor of spending money on taxis.

I would eat in neighborhood bistros a few steps from the hotel, or pick a hotel with a good restaurant (or one next door).

I agree with the advice that Nice is a great destination outside Paris for its flatness and Gallic charm.

Bon voyage!

Underhill

A portable seat is an excellent idea; it's amazing how much standing one winds up doing that wasn't expected.

In Paris you can rent a wheelchair at a pharmacy, if you should need one, and they are generally available in museums. A godo way to visit museums is to look around for an hour or so, then go have a cup of coffee or whatever in the museum café. The Louvre has a good one that overlooks the underground entrance hall. After that you can spend another hour looking around, or as long as things are comfortable for your mother. The Louvre has a good map that shows all the elevators, by the way; you can get one at the information desk.

Paris is a great city for sitting and watching the world go by. Aside from cafés, the Luxembourg Gardens and Tuileries Gardens are pleasant, and there are many benches.

Robin4

I would reconsider the idea of taking the batobus or any of the boat tours. I thought it woud be easy and relaxing. I was able to go down the stairs without much pain but I found it very painful to go up after the tour was finished. I used the stop near Notre Dame other stops might be easier. The steps are higher that I expected.

I managed riding buses without much trouble. When I boarded I held onto both rails and the drivers were attentive and helpful. I think they are able to lower the steps if you request it. As a matter of fact, one driver offered this to me but I was able to negotiate it without a problem.

nessundorma

Thanks for the first hand details and reality check on the boats on the Seine.

Dave_in_Paris

Underhill,

Several Paris bus lines are "wheelchair friendly" with double-door access at the middle of the bus, and in those cases boarding by foot should also be relatively easy. You can find a list of those lines on the RATP site. I would carry a cane, whether I needed one or not, as a signal to the driver that you have trouble walking, a visual communication of your reason for boarding at the rear.

ambage

Thanks to everyone for such prompt and thorough advice and encouragement!! Just when I was starting to steer mom towards another destination, you have all convinced me to move forward with our plans for France!!!

Thanks again.

USNR

Do you want to know what made Paris easier for us in 2005 compared with Paris in 2000? We are both in our very late 70s. Between the two visits, my wife and I each lost 30 lbs. of needless, useless fat. Voila! Gone were aching feet, throbbing knees, and creeking hips. The weight loss made our old joints move so much easier! How did we lose the weight? Following a sensible diet that cut out a lot of sugars and fats. Getting in a long walk each day. And, best of all, chasing after a new dog!