Originally Posted by
magster416
Katja: thanks so much for the info..that makes sense. I really would like to take the walker on board as you always hear horror stories of wheelchairs/scooters/walkers being damaged during transport.
Keep in mind that most of the time, things come back out of the hold just fine. But some of the time, it's a disaster. And when that disaster happens to your wheelchair or walker that you absolutely must have in order to function, well, there's no good way to recover from that.
Originally Posted by
magster416
When we are in Germany, we usually rent a scooter that folds up and fits into the back of a rental car..this year we are renting a station-wagon like contraption (forgot the name), last year we had a Ford S-Max.
Yes, car rental can be exciting when you're not familiar with the models. Our biggest challenge was renting a car in France into which we had to get our luggage (minimal, as we are confirmed carry on travelers), my wheelchair, and my handcycle (disassembled, but still a giant monster). It took 3 people half an hour of rearranging, but it worked.
Originally Posted by
magster416
Anything else I should keep in mind? I just love these forums. has anybody ever read the fantastic trip reports by SFO777 and Eightblack?
Sounds like you're an experienced TATL traveler. From a disability perspective, my advice is usually something along the line of:
- expect to need more rest than usual
- don't be a martyr; on a trip it's not shameful or wrong to use more mobility aids than you do in your every day life
- allow lots and lots of time for everything
- try to find out about accessibility at your destination, but realize that you may not be able to plan everything in advance
- assume that there IS a way to get there rather than the opposite