douggee

Hello all

I recently found this great site and hope there are those that can offer some help. I've made the decision to take my "trip of a lifetime" in 2013. My initial plans are to spend a week in England/Scotland/Ireland, 2 weeks on a River Cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest (or the reverse depending on what country I start in), a week in Italy, and a week in Greece. Yes, this is a whirlwind trip but I need to pack in as much as possible since I'll never be able to visit Europe again. I'm 58 and mobility challenged. I can only walk a short distance (a couple of city blocks, max) using a cane or crutches so I need to travel with my full-size mobility scooter. I want to take this trip before I am no longer able to walk at all. Unfortunately I will be travelling alone since none of my friends can afford to come close to the $40,000 I am budgeting for this trip. A big chunk of that is going toward first-class airfare between the U.S. and Europe. First or maybe business class is a necessity since I would need to be able to keep my legs elevated and/or lay down during the trans-Atlantic portions of my trip. Flying between various spots in Europe I may be able to fly coach if there is enough legroom as I'm 6'3" and cannot keep my legs in a cramped position. Additionally, I have not been aboard an aircraft of any type in almost 20 years. Even back then I nearly always flew first class for the extra legroom. I do know for sure that I will need to fly between Italy and Athens since Greek borders have been closed to international trains. However, my overall choice to travel between various points would be by train. Given the above I have many questions.

-I know it will be difficult to travel with the scooter and my travel agent will do everything she can to make arrangements but can anyone give me any tips or hints on how best to accomplish this? Do most trains have a spot that can carry a scooter?

-Can anyone suggest the best time of the year to make this trip? I'd like to avoid the height of the tourist season but would like warm, comfortable weather, hopefully little rain and definately no snow.

-In each of the countries I have listed are there suggestions for what areas are a "must" to see that have easy access, i.e. no stairs/steps? I want to spend as little time as possible in the major cities with the exception of Athens. I'm an accomplished amateur photographer and love to photograph people, landscapes and senic spots more than museums. I want to be able to meet the locals, go where they go, eat what they eat, etc.

-Because of my disabilities I'm thinking of hiring a car with a driver guide in many areas. In Athens "George the famous taxi driver" has been highly recommended by Matt Barrett (www.greektravel.com). Although more expensive than a group/guided tour it may suit my needs better. Any suggestions or pro's and con's? At this point in the planning stage I am very willing to consider all suggestions including handicapped group tours.

-I do not want to carry large amounts of cash. Would credit cards, debit cards, traveller's checks, a combination of those, or is something else the best way to go?

-I already know I will be purchasing some bulky and expensive souvenirs and gifts for friends such as a cuckoo clock from Germany. Is it best to try to carry those purchases with me or can I ship them from a store? Suggestions?

-If I were to learn the basics of one language (other than English, lol) through a program such as Rosetta Stone, what language might give me the most bang for my buck?

-If doing all the above I can come in under my budgeted amount I'm considering adding a cruise on a sailing vessel that will stop in ports in Italy, Turkey, Greece and some of the Greek Islands such as Mykonos. Has anyone been on one of these such as offered at http://starclippers.com/index.php ? Would you suggest that for someone who has mobility issues? I shouldn't have any issues walking on the ship unless the seas are rough but would again have to have my scooter transported from the ship to the dock so I could get around while in port.

-I need to travel with quite a few prescription medications including two narcotics, methadone and morphine tablets, for pain. Will I run into any issues carrying these. I'm assuming I will need to keep them in the original bottles but am concerned because of the large quantities that will be needed for the length of trip I'm planning. Quantities will quite literally be hundreds as I am prescribed between 9 and 12 per day each.

-Am I crazy for wanting to do all this in 5 or 6 weeks? Probably, but it will be my one and only chance to do this. OR.....should I just bury my head in the sand and give up since the planning and travel are going to be difficult? I've never been outside of the U.S. and Canada so any kind of info would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for any who reply to my post.

zeppole

Does your travel agent specialize in travel for the mobility-impaired? If not, you should find one who does.

I would also recommend that you look at tours that specialize in travel for people with scooters and wheelchairs. I realize that (a) there is probably no one tour that will cover all the sights you want to see, and (b) you want to get beyond the bubble of being a tourist, but I think you should nonetheless look into the option of joining a tour for Italy, which presents some exceptional obstacles to sightseeing for the disabled.

Since your budget is so very large, I am thinking you might be able to afford to join a group sometimes, and be on your own in between.

At a minimum, I think you need to find a social network of disabled travelers with whom you can share tips, and perhaps leads on contacting groups abroad that would ease your way. They can share tips with you about the best airlines to fly and what to expect in the way of help using trains. Perhaps they can help you find a companion guide or helper in some cities who would speak the local language and assist you with trains, etc.

Can you drive? You might find it easier to rent a van in Italy and drive than take trains. But a tour group specializing in travel for the mobility challenged might get you where you really want to go, and it might be too difficult if you are always on your own.

http://www.disabledtravelersguide.com/

http://www.disabledtravelers.com/

http://www.globalaccessnews.com/books.htm

Judy

Do you have friends that would like to accompany you? They don't have to fly first class and perhaps you can help with their expense and use them as driver.

douggee

Thanks for the info. I won't go so far as to say my travel agent specializes in tours for the disabled but she takes her disabled mother with her on many trips so is familiar with making arrangements. Her mother also travels with a scooter.

One of the disadvantages of living in a very rural area is that there are few travel agents to choose from. I need to travel 90 miles to visit the one I selected. I contacted several travel agents before selecting this one. As soon as I would mention disabled and the scooter they became much less willing to help, in fact 2 told me they couldn't help me at all.

I'll definately look into the social sites as you suggested, thanks. I've found a few disabled tours and will provide that into to my travel agent today if she hasn't already found them. Thanks so much for the links

Yes, I can drive and considered renting a villa in both Italy and Greece but not knowing traffic laws (and the dang speed cameras) or even where to go would be big issues that would probably stress me out so much I wouldn't enjoy it. That's why I might be better off hiring a private guide and car for portions of my stay. Yes, I like the idea of spending time on my own as well as time with a group.

One thing I forgot to ask in my initial post is are there any festivals, etc., in Great Britain, Italy, or Greece that I might try to schedule in?

Thanks again

douggee

I would love to have a friend go with me but even flying coach this trip is more expensive than they can afford. I've asked most of my friends and always get the same answer. Would love to but can't afford it.

nytraveler

My experience is limited - but I did do a trip to Paris with a colleague that used a scooter - rented on the spot. (The hotel rented it for us and it was at the airport to meet us with the van. Public transit was basically inacessible (OK for wheelchairs but not scooters) and we had a van with driver for everywhere he needed to go. Large public buildings were OK - but at times we had to use alternate entrances to avoid steps. (He could walk short distances - no more than a half a block or so - with time and truoble - but basically needed the scooter to get anywhere. We also had to use a hotel with handicap access rooms - many in europe do not have any.)

I have no idea how this is handled on trains - but I know that many trains are NOT flat with a platform - but up 2 or 3 steep, narrow steps. I would definitely look at all of the rail websites and get info on handicapped access.

zeppole

douggee,

Sounds to me like your present travel agent has enough comprehension of the situation to do a good job for you.

Picking up a local guide who speaks the local language plus English might be a great advantage for you. I wish I could offer some ready links for that, but I don't have any. If I come across any, I will be sure to add them to this post.

You might also try posting your questions on Slow Travel and TripAdvisor. Sometimes the people who post on those boards actually live in Europe and they might be able to find local organizations for you and answer your questions about trains.

zeppole

Here's a start:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/tombarlo...e-a-companion/

http://www.disabledtravelers.com/travel_companions.htm

zeppole

And one more:

http://z8.invisionfree.com/UK_DPS/index.php

zeppole

Sorry -- this is the better link:

http://www.disabledphotographers.co.uk/phpbb3/

Wa145nzJeffery

You need to check out what prescribed medication is allowed into each country. I know that it is illegal to take any coedine based medication into Greece - they confiscate it at the airport.

kybourbon

Rick Steves had a book Easy Access Europe. On his website, he has multiple links for resources including travel agents that specialize in this type of travel and a list of tour companies.
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/easyaccess.htm

Reids Guides also has some links you might find useful.
http://www.reidsguides.com/t_tu/t_tu_disabled.html

This person wasn't traveling alone and was using a wheelchair, but you might find her trip report helpful. She may have encountered some obstacles that you hadn't considered.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...wheelchair.cfm

>>>My initial plans are to spend a week in England/Scotland/Ireland,<<<

Did you mean a week in each? If not, no, you can't do all three in a week.

Gynna

A few thoughts before I’m off to work. First, I admire your spirit to go on this trip of a lifetime alone. It will not be easy, but with your spirit, you will have memories that cannot be replaced. I always say to those you want to travel, do it now, because we don’t know if we will be physically able to do it “tomorrow." I travel with my husband who uses a manuel wheelchair and it can be done!

Below are a few websites which I have found helpful in planning past trips. Hopefully copy and paste will work:

http://access-able.com

http://www.disabledholidaydirectory.co.uk/
(destination also outside of UK)

http://www.gimponthego.com/

http://www.goodaccessguide.co.uk/

Sorry need to leave now.

jamikins

I am sure you will have a fabulous time! It may take a bit more research but that can be part of the fun!!

1 week is not enough to cover all the areas you want to in England/Scotland/Ireland unless you mean 1 week in each. I think you will find that larger centres (London, Edinburgh) will have more things accessible to you. 1 week in London would give you a great amount of time to do all that you want to see!

Or a week split between Edinburgh and London.

Here are some websites for London to get you started:

http://www.visitlondon.com/maps/accessibility/

http://www.alondonguide.com/london_disabled.htm

http://www.londonforfun.com/info-for...ttractions.htm

http://www.hotelsin-london.co.uk/infofordisabled.html

http://ableize.com/access-and-travel...Access-Guides/

I hope this helps!

Dayenu

If you have time and money - would you take a cruise? A trans-atlantic cruise, or 2 - to London and back? Maybe same price as 1st class flight but so much more convenient!

Jean

I don't think you'll find first class service offered on any inter-Europe flight, but you will find business class offered on many flights.

At many airports (even high-volume ones), you board and de-plane most inter-Europe (and some international) flights out on the tarmac. Passengers are shuttled between the terminal and the plane on buses. Old-school, steep, metal stairs are rolled up to the plane for ingress/egress.

Use www.seatguru.com to compare airline seat configurations, legroom measurements, notations about 'good' and 'poor' seat selections, etc.

If you decide to add a cruise, ask tons of questions. In some ports, passengers are ferried to the dock on small tenders. I don't know if a scooter could be accommodated.

Others may disagree, but I would choose destinations based on accessibility over "I really want to see xyz!" For me, overall enjoyment would trump a wish list. I would also choose a group tour geared to the disabled over traveling solo.

Good luck with your planning. I hope it all works out and that you have a great trip.

immimi

Post your query on the Slow Trav website and you should get
some good information on travelling with a disabiity from
posters who do so regularly.

http://slowtalk.com

or google: slowtrav

lavandula

I second Dayenu's idea of a cruise. A Rhine or Danube cruise would take you to a lot of places without you having to negotiate airports. I don't know how you'd get a scooter on the trains. I think many people with restricted mobility go for cruises and they are set up for people who have tricky health situations, with doctors on board.

My husband's aunt just took her wheelchair-bound octogenarian husband on a cruise around New Zealand and it worked out OK. In Sydney, where the cruise left from, they had to hire disabled taxis to get round (they are from Perth) so all that had to be booked in advance as there aren't hundreds of them on the road. They also found that there wasn't much they could do in the city as even parks don't all have disabled access (ramps, etc) and she had to push him as that was the type of wheelchair he had. We did manage to find a pub which had an easy entrance and a lift inside which took chairs down to the dining area, so we could have lunch with them.

I do feel though that about 90% of the problems they would have had were due to not knowing the lie of the land - a disabled person resident here would have known where the disabled ramps were, and what were easy-to-navigate sights to be seen, good pubs, etc. They mostly weren't with us but spent some time with my father-in-law, who also doesn't know the city that well. Maybe bigger cities have websites on disabled travel for that city and can give tips.

Lavandula

lavandula

oops, "a lift inside which took chairs" should read "a lift inside which took wheelchairs".

Lavandula

oliverandharry

I want to recommend to you a site that was really helpful to us last year in Paris, it is www.sagetraveling.com. This is a travel agency specializing in European travel for persons with disabilities. While we didn't use the services, the website alone was invaluable for information on what is accessible in many European cities, with specifics like how to get to the top of the Eiffel Tower, for example. Hope it's helpful.