joanw

I would like to take my daughter, who uses a wheelchair at all times, to Rome. I've been searching for a wheelchair accessible hotel or rental near Piazza Navonna area without much luck. Using searches on line turn up hotels that say they are accessible, but turn out to have steps or narrow bathroom doorways. She cannot walk at all. Do any of you have personal experience with a really wheelchair accessible hotel or rental? We plan to go in late September and our budget is up to $250 per night. Any other advice on wheelchair Rome would be appreciated. Thank you so much.

Jean

Is your daughter's chair motorized? If so, I wouldn't limit the lodging search only to the Piazza Navona area. Here are a couple of websites that may help you in your planning.

http://www.sagetraveling.com/rome-accessible-travel

http://www.sagetraveling.com/Wheelch...els-Rome-Italy

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/access...wheelchair.htm

I hope you and your daughter have a wonderful trip!

ekc

Here is another good resource: http://www.accessibleitaly.com/

Have a wonderful time!

bvlenci

There used to be a great Italian website specifically about accessible tourism in Rome. It had evaluations of dozens of hotels, restaurants, museums, and other facilities, with detailed information about steps, door widths and the like. Unfortunately, this great service had to close in 2013 for lack of funding.

It occurred to me today after reading this question that the old databases might still be useful, and that I could use the way-back website to retrieve them. So here is the version of their website as it was in September 2013.

https://web.archive.org/web/20130604...ewlang=english

Unfortunately, when you go down a few levels, it reverts to Italian, and if you click the English option at that point, it spits out garbage. If you get a page all in Italian, you could paste the URL into translate.google.com . (What Google Translate calls "input" should be "entrance".)

I also found this report that recommends the Hotel Ponte Sisto and the Albergo Santa Chiara, which are near Piazza Navona.

http://www.globalaccessnews.com/roll...rome__2012.htm

bvlenci

One thing you should be aware of is that many restaurants in Rome, for historical reasons, have the toilets downstairs from the ground floor. (All new structures are required to have accessible toilets.) The handyturismo site, which I indicated above, is good for finding what the situation is before you get there. When you click on a restaurant, the page that comes up, even if it's in Italian, has an icon next to "Servizi", that will show a wheelchair with the letters "WC". It will have a line through it if the restrooms are not accessible to wheelchairs.

ceezee

I found this. I'm taking one of their tours this June and we know the parents of the owner. Their tours get great recommendations.

http://www.eatingitalyfoodtours.com/...guide-to-rome/

pariswat

Hello
We went into a hotel which had a lift.
the hotel in itself was not great and I've forgotten where it was.
And yes, Some restaurants have toilets in cellars not always easily accessible BUT :
I've found the Romans EXTRA helpful. They are really going to lengths to help kids in wheelchairs (or people in need of attention).
Just call a hotel you think may fit and then ask if he can recommend another hotel if it is not easily accessible.
Good luck.

joanw

Thank you all for such detailed replies. I have sent emails to several hotels and apartments. the problem is that many say they are accessible, but the bathrooms are not. I did make a refundable reservation at one, but I'm still looking. I'd really love an apartment,but so far no luck. any suggestions for anything you can think of, let me know or have experience with, please let me know.
Thanks again.