<BR>In checking the hotel websites and with Cosmos the bus tour company we were hopping to take a tour with, we found out, to our dismay,that most hotels in Europe do not have elevators! This could be quite a problem for travelers who cannot for various reasons climb many stairs. <BR> <BR>Unfortunately, we will not be able to find out until 30 days before the tour exactly which hotel we will have so we can't check ahead of time to see how many stories they are. Has anyone of you had this problem and found a way to resolve it and still be able to take the bus tours? We wondered how those with physical problems or the elderly on these tours handle this problem of the stairs. We want very much to be able to take our tour. Any info will be <BR>appreciated. Thanks for your help.

<BR>Mary, in all the trips we've made to Europe, I can recall only one little hotel in Amsterdam that didn't have an elevator. (my husband has bad knees, and it was difficult to say the least, very steep and narrow, so I understand your concern.) and And we've stayed in just about every kind of hotel there is, in most of the countries, including rural areas, and the big cities. While your tour operator maybe can't tell you the exact hotel now (and they're subject to change at the last minute too), they should at least be able to tell you the general type or quality of hotel they normally book. You should also express your concern too. I've only had one experience with a tour, and it was very positive. But Tour companies are used to dealing with all kinds of travelers and problems so I can't imagine that they wouldn't take into consideration these kinds of things. Years ago, a generalized statement like that would have been true, just like most hotels didn't have rooms with private baths. But it's not the case now. I think you'll be ok. (and will look forward to reading about your trip on here.)

I, too, am wondering that you "found out" that most hotels in Europe do not have elevators, as most do. However, Cosmos is a budget tour company, so perhaps the hotels they use are so budget that many of THOSE do not have elevators. Surely Cosmos can tell you which specific hotels they use so you can check them out, or perhaps Cosmos would honor a request for rooms on lower floors, but I wouldn't count on this even if they do. Insist of a list of possible hotels along with the number of stories. Remember, though, that in Europe the first floor is actually the second floor. What we would call the first floor is their "ground floor". So, if your room were on the fifth floor of a five story hotel, you'd actually be on the sixth floor. You may also wish to consider taking your tour with a more upscale company such as Globus (parent company of Cosmos I believe) or Trafalgar. Perhaps to even out the cost, you could take a slightly shorter trip. Otherwise, going economy with Globus may include climbing stairs. In the alternative, you could plan your own itinerary and book your own rooms.

P. S. Since you would be traveling with a large group with Cosmos, you may be able to swap rooms with other travelers, particularly if you or someone in your party has a physical disability. My husband and I landed a room with twin beds once and had no problem finding two ladies who consented to swap their room with a queen bed (being two women, they preferred the twin beds anyway though).

<BR>Thanks ladies for your responses to <BR>my concerns. You have relieved my <BR>mind.It was Cosmos which told me that since this was Europe many of their Superior Tourist hotels may not have elevators. I will talk to my travel agent this week and see if she can check the hotels which may be used on that tour to see if they do or do not have elevators. I could manage if one or two didn't but not every night of a 21 day tour. By the way, the hotel website I e-mailed just e-mailed back that it was an error on the site showing no elevators and they will correct it. Others could also have this concern. Thanks again for your kind replies.