We're heading to Italy in exactly 3 weeks and my 11 year old daughter just broke her leg yesterday. She is casted from mid-thigh to toes. Other than getting bulkhead seathing (we hope) does anyone have any advice for us? Can wheelchairs be rented in Rome, Florence or Venice? do museums have wheelchair available? If you get a chance, could you e-mail me. i always have trouble finding my own posts. Thanks! Cathy

Don't count on bulk-head seating. Some planes (please don't ask me which one, my memory is terrible) have emergency exits in the bulkhead area and you must be physically able to help with the exit door to be able to sit there. We traveled from Japan with my husband in the same condition--it was not fun.

Shouldn't she be able to get one of those seats in the center aisle that is right in front of the movie screen? They have more leg room, right?

My daughter has an orthopedic disability following bone tumor surgery that makes her knee incapable of bending (for life), and let me tell you, this is a real challenge to work through with the airlines. Bulkhead is just so-so as an option. What she really needs is an empty seat beside her to put her leg to the side. You have to develop a cast-iron hard head to deal with the gate agents and insist that your daughter MUST be seated in a seat that will meet her needs. She can NOT fly all the way to Italy with her leg stuck up in the air towards the ceiling. If you have to get bumped to a later flight, you may have to be prepared to do that. Once, only, I have negotiated, almost to the point of holding up the entire plane, and the only available solution was to put her in business class (by herself). She was in tears about that, and the seat is still not as good as you might suppose (requires a lot of pillows to support it because the foot rest doesn't go up high enough). <BR> <BR>For reasons of personal privacy, I choose to post this anonymously, but I will write to you. I don't think I will have lots of great ideas for you about dealing with wheel chair need in the cities you list (Venice, in particular is going to be difficult, and some places she will simply have to miss. The Doges Palace, the upstairs of Basilica San Marco, and the Colosseum in Rome come to mind). The similarity between our daughter and yours ends with the airplane seat. Ours can walk "normally" now; even climbs steps; she just can't bend her knee. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

You may not want to hear this solution but I would really consider using the travel insurance and postponing the trip. My 9 yr. old daughter broke her leg just 10 days before we were to go to Disney last year and we are so glad we postponed for 4 months. It would have been awful for her and for us I think to maneuver her around.

Well, yes absolutely, if travel insurance has been purchased, then it might be good to use it. Separate from the disability considerations, I wonder how much pain is an issue. <BR> <BR>But you can't defraud an insurance company, and expect them to pay out benefits by buying a policy now. What about that AFLAC duck? What does a company like that provide in a situation like this? <BR> <BR>The airline(s), on the other hand, may be very sympathetic, and permit changes to your dates with little or no penalty. Especially if you are with an airline based here in the US, I would go directly to the "city travel office", if there is one near you, perhaps with your daughter in tow, and see what they will do to work with you. <BR>

Hi Cathy, <BR> <BR>What a shame about your poor daughter! I'd either call the nearest Italian government Tourist Office in the US and/or your hotel in each city regarding the availability of wheelchairs. I very seriously doubt whether any of the museums have wheelchairs for visitors. You must also realize that many of the streets in Italy, even in the major cities, are paved with cobblestones--not a lot of fun in a wheelchair. On the other hand, I think you might be able to rent a collapsible wheelchair (one that at least folds in half vertically)here in the states, and check it on the plane.

thanks all...we didn't get travel insurance for a variety of reasons. I think we'll just wing it and take the slow route. since our family seems to be compulsively on the move, this may be a blessing...to be "forced" to sit at cafe tables, sip the local wines and watch the world go by. what a shame! My daughter is feeling perkier today so I'm hopeful for a successful trip. the airline couldn't guarantee bulkhead seating (its' reserved for families with infants) but we may luck out at the airport. the airline very graciously has pre-arranged for wheelchairs and/or electric carts at the airports. So off we go, I guess!!