2 elderly women in Wheelchairs to Paris/Rome
May 6, 2006, 9:14 am
#1
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Florida
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Posts: 201
2 elderly women in Wheelchairs to Paris/Rome
A dear (and rather wealthy) elderly woman and her sister would like to see Paris (and Rome) once more in their lives. They have done a lot for me and have no children. They have asked whether me--and my husband--would escort them, all expenses paid, to Paris and Rome this October.
While they are not wheelchair bound, it will be a necessity in airports, museums, and for walking more than a few blocks. I frequently travel with my father in a wheelchair and that's no problem, but I am looking for ideas:
1. Hotels in Paris and Rome that are central, charming, not in the most expensive category and have elevators, air conditioning, and will be accomodating. Again, they can walk a bit and don't need fully accessible rooms.
2. Chauffered cars for some touring. One of us is fluent in French, we all know Paris well, have no Italian and haven't been in Rome in many years.
3. We are accustomed to traveling business class--they ladies are not. We have a lot of FF miles on Delta and American Express points. They said it was okay for us to be upfront with them in the back--but we couldn't do that. What's the best way to get us all upfront with upgrades? Probably could come up with 200 K points. Any airline departing JFK.
4. Other tips?
While they are not wheelchair bound, it will be a necessity in airports, museums, and for walking more than a few blocks. I frequently travel with my father in a wheelchair and that's no problem, but I am looking for ideas:
1. Hotels in Paris and Rome that are central, charming, not in the most expensive category and have elevators, air conditioning, and will be accomodating. Again, they can walk a bit and don't need fully accessible rooms.
2. Chauffered cars for some touring. One of us is fluent in French, we all know Paris well, have no Italian and haven't been in Rome in many years.
3. We are accustomed to traveling business class--they ladies are not. We have a lot of FF miles on Delta and American Express points. They said it was okay for us to be upfront with them in the back--but we couldn't do that. What's the best way to get us all upfront with upgrades? Probably could come up with 200 K points. Any airline departing JFK.
4. Other tips?
May 6, 2006, 4:15 pm
#2
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: west of DFW airport
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I travel often with my elderly mother-in-law and her sister
We soon learned that we had to watch every step they took as they could trip and fall very easily. My MIL lived in Florida and insisted she could ONLY wear open toed shoes, which easily can catch on carpeting and stairs. We did absolutely all the lifting and carrying. We handled all the luggage and tickets, checking into hotels and arranging meals. It was more than a full time job.
We learned that it was very, very difficult for our ladies to step into a normal bathtub in order to bathe or shower. We tried to find hotels and cruise ship cabins with walk-in showers. Surprisingly these are easier to find in less expensive hotels than in fancy ones. In many places the Holiday Inn Express has walk-in showers. We found the most expensive hotels had the biggest tubs (and most difficult to use tubs). It goes without saying that we had to avoid hotels with steps and no elevators.
We also found it helpful to get bedrooms with the beds and bathroom in the same orientation as often as possible. We carried a night light and insisted they leave a light on in the bathroom.
I hope this helps.
We learned that it was very, very difficult for our ladies to step into a normal bathtub in order to bathe or shower. We tried to find hotels and cruise ship cabins with walk-in showers. Surprisingly these are easier to find in less expensive hotels than in fancy ones. In many places the Holiday Inn Express has walk-in showers. We found the most expensive hotels had the biggest tubs (and most difficult to use tubs). It goes without saying that we had to avoid hotels with steps and no elevators.
We also found it helpful to get bedrooms with the beds and bathroom in the same orientation as often as possible. We carried a night light and insisted they leave a light on in the bathroom.
I hope this helps.
May 6, 2006, 7:17 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Florida
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Posts: 201
Good points...
I always carry a little nightlight for myself, leftover from the kids, but of course we'll have a different currency. I think I can arrange to have a French night light awaitiing me at the hotel. A nice thought. We should only be dealing with one hotel at this point as I talked them out of Rome when I heard they hate taxi drivers that drive too fast! And they are New Yorkers for llife, but one was just in an accident in a NY cab and is terrified. Okay, I'll get her blinders for Paris, especially l'etoile.
May 8, 2006, 2:07 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: san diego, ca
Programs: AA 2MM
Posts: 913
Some thoughts: While in Paris a couple of years ago, I wound up in the American Hospital ER with torn knee ligament. I debated staying, but the American ER doctor pointed out that Paris is not designed for anyone w/a disability.
That said, it could work..we considered giving up our rental apt for a modern-type hotel in the 8th to minimize the crutches on cobblestones syndrome. You could limit the areas to be visited, use a driver for 'sitting' sightseeing, scout restaurants w/out stairs, have an extended arm on duty for walking support.
It would be a wonderful gift for the elderly ladies and their one last time look at Paris, or as much of Paris as you could manage. For recommendations for car/driver and hotels that would cover your needs, I'd suggest the Paris forum of Travel&Dining: Destinations, they are very responsive.
That said, it could work..we considered giving up our rental apt for a modern-type hotel in the 8th to minimize the crutches on cobblestones syndrome. You could limit the areas to be visited, use a driver for 'sitting' sightseeing, scout restaurants w/out stairs, have an extended arm on duty for walking support.
It would be a wonderful gift for the elderly ladies and their one last time look at Paris, or as much of Paris as you could manage. For recommendations for car/driver and hotels that would cover your needs, I'd suggest the Paris forum of Travel&Dining: Destinations, they are very responsive.
May 8, 2006, 4:54 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Florida
Programs: Delta, American, United, Virgin Atlantic, BA, JetBlue, SW, etc.
Posts: 201
Dear old ladies in Paris
Thanks for the tips. Whoops...cobblestones. I twisted my foot when it was caught in one in Prague last year...the shoe was trapped and I jumped to prevent being run over and snap! I was laid up for a month...but somehow it did not act up too badly until I got home. (I only wore my hiking shoes laced tightly for the last 3 days.)
The ladies do walk and do not use wheelchairs routinely, so they can do say, steps into and out of a restaurant, even a flight of stairs to a restroom, or it would be impossible. But they won't enjoy things if they can't be wheeled quite a bit in museums, airports, in the parks, along the Seine etc. They want good food and ambiance and comfort mostly.
Trying to find a hotel they will agree on! And an airline seat. I've heard the business on Air France actually has some new seats...I'll inquire because they are only on some flights.
They also are determined to stay in the first Arron. Quirky, I know.
The ladies do walk and do not use wheelchairs routinely, so they can do say, steps into and out of a restaurant, even a flight of stairs to a restroom, or it would be impossible. But they won't enjoy things if they can't be wheeled quite a bit in museums, airports, in the parks, along the Seine etc. They want good food and ambiance and comfort mostly.
Trying to find a hotel they will agree on! And an airline seat. I've heard the business on Air France actually has some new seats...I'll inquire because they are only on some flights.
They also are determined to stay in the first Arron. Quirky, I know.