Traveling with mobility scooter
 

I've having a very slow recovery from a knee injury and am ready to get a mobility scooter so I can get around better. I want to buy one that I would be able to take on a European trip, and would love some advice from someone who has traveled with one. Being lightweight is absolutely essential and more important than price. I weigh about 125 pounds and am not particularly strong and would need to be able to get it in and out of a regular car. And I am wondering about flying. Is it possible to ride one through an airport and somehow check it at the gate? Any tips would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

I would double check with the arilines if they will/can check mobility scooters (there are lots of parts that could easily be broken - and you know how they handle luggage). (I believe they will let you bring folding wheelchairs onto the plane - but obviously this is not possible with a scooter.)

I had to arrange travel for a couple of trips for a speaker who needed a mobility scooter and what we had to do was to rent one in each city he went to - the airlines would not take responsibility for transporting his scooter loose (uncrated). So we arranged for the airlines to provide wheelchairs at each end of the flight - and then picked up the scooter at the hotel in each city.

Rental should be easy - any hotel knows suppliers in their area that supply scooters - the only issue is if you are taking trains between cities - but then perhaps the supplier could pick it up/deliver it at the train station.

Hi linawood,

I'm sorry to hear about your knee surgery and I hope you recover soon! One thing I would be a little concerned about is that many European cities (especially the old historic city centers in smaller towns) do not really accomodate individuals using wheelchairs (I assume mobility scooters would have the same limitations). The cobblestones may be very rough and there is likely to be no ramp, but a steep curb instead. Just a heads up that you might want to take extra care when booking hotels and choosing sightseeing destinations. Again, all my best wishes for a swift and complete recovery!!

We were in France and England in Dec 2004. While I dont have to use a scooter, I have lots of feet trouble and needed a wheelchair in museums, etc. I can speak from experience, Europe is not as disability friendly as the US. There are not the elevator options we have in the US. They were horrid at the Louvre and didnt believe I needed a wheelchair at first. they thought we were trying to get out of paying the entrance fee, because the disabled person was free as well as the person pushing the wheelchair. I had to go through several checkpoints and at one point had to take off my shoes and show them my deformed feet and steel shoe supports. It was very humiliating! A question about the scooter, doesn't it run on electricity? Would you trust an adapter? Transportation at the airport was good, they have motorized carts and will transport you. Likewise at the train station (at least Gare du Nord and Waterloo). I would take a wheelchair and rent motorized scooter. The other concern is the Metro or Underground. Very few elevators (or even escalators). You will want something that can be folded up and stowed in taxi trunk. Didn't see any disabled on buses, so can't comment.

Thanks for the replies. We have traveled a lot in Italy and that is where we would go. I'm thinking about small cities with pedestrian areas and fairly flat - maybe a week in each place. Two top contenders would be Lucca and Trento. As for renting a mobility scooter, I read somewhere online that it cost $500 a week to rent one in Rome! Even though I would be traveling with my husband who could theoretically push me in a wheelchair, I want to be independent enough to go about on my own. Another thought I have for a Mediterranean beach destination would be Ischia. The thermal baths sound so appealing and it looks like there is transfer service available from Naples airport/train station to the hotels. I think Forio has a pedestrian area and I'm wondering about Ischia Porto. In any case, it is lifting my spirits to think there is some hope of a vacation and to let me have the great enjoyment of planning. But, at this point, it is definitely dependent on my figuring out how to get myself around without hurting my knee.

ttt