[Liz - NZ]

Hi

We are off to Europe for 6 weeks next May - re visiting places we loved 25 years ago when on our OEs. We have had a lot of experience travelling with a wheelchair around NZ and Australia over the last 12 years but when I last travelled Europe/UK, I still had 90% mobility and I used a chair when fatigue set in annd get up steps etc. It's a different ball game these days now I am totally dependent on my manual chair and very concious of what's wheelchair accessible and where I can go. I can weight bear(assisted) still so my husband can transfer me into a car ok and put my chair in the boot so we aim to self drive but we will need to have an itinery as will need to book accessible accomodation in advance. At this stage I am still researching and can find heaps of accessible info on some places (Rome. Paris) but not much or quite contadictory about others (Venice, Florence, Croatia, Spain).

Would love to go to Chianti, Italy and other smaller places in Italy or France - does anyone please have any advice here?

Would really appreciate some reliable web sites or first-hand knowledge please.

Looking at a NCL cruise - has anyone cruised with them?
Thanks

Cheers Liz

[MDK]

Based on my experience, Rome is not too bad, it has some cobbled stone roads but a lot of the city is accessible by w/c.
.

[DaveP]

Try this web site...

http://www.accessibl...ommodation.com/

[roo]

Liz - NZ, on 24 August 2010 - 02:01 AM, said:

Hi

We are off to Europe for 6 weeks next May - re visiting places we loved 25 years ago when on our OEs. We have had a lot of experience travelling with a wheelchair around NZ and Australia over the last 12 years but when I last travelled Europe/UK, I still had 90% mobility and I used a chair when fatigue set in annd get up steps etc. It's a different ball game these days now I am totally dependent on my manual chair and very concious of what's wheelchair accessible and where I can go. I can weight bear(assisted) still so my husband can transfer me into a car ok and put my chair in the boot so we aim to self drive but we will need to have an itinery as will need to book accessible accomodation in advance. At this stage I am still researching and can find heaps of accessible info on some places (Rome. Paris) but not much or quite contadictory about others (Venice, Florence, Croatia, Spain).

Would love to go to Chianti, Italy and other smaller places in Italy or France - does anyone please have any advice here?

Would really appreciate some reliable web sites or first-hand knowledge please.

Looking at a NCL cruise - has anyone cruised with them?
Thanks

Cheers Liz

hi liz i am based in hungary {zalakaros thermal spa town} only 1hr drive to croatia my appartments are 100% wheelchair friendly for more info goto www.sunnyrothvillas.com .
happy traveling

[McTavish]

Hi Liz and Welcome, We cruised with NCL this May embarking in Barcelona and stopping at Pompei, Pisa, Monte Carlo,Rome,and Majorca. The ship was very wheelchair friendly (Norwegian Jade) but as it is carpeted throughout it is very tiring on the arms, it helps a lot to have someone who can give you a push.
The cabins are excellent and toilet and wardrobe facilities are second to none, a lot better than some of the best hotels. They also have a hoist to get you into the pool, this was one reason we choose this ship, although when we arrived the hoist was nowhere to be seen. However this was quickly remedied and in a couple of days it was fully operational.The staff are all very helpful and eager to assist if needed. I personally would reccomend NCL as our experience on our first cruise was just great.Whatever you decide to do hope you enjoy.

[Liz - NZ]

McTavish, on 24 August 2010 - 03:14 PM, said:

Hi Liz and Welcome, We cruised with NCL this May embarking in Barcelona and stopping at Pompei, Pisa, Monte Carlo,Rome,and Majorca. The ship was very wheelchair friendly (Norwegian Jade) but as it is carpeted throughout it is very tiring on the arms, it helps a lot to have someone who can give you a push.
The cabins are excellent and toilet and wardrobe facilities are second to none, a lot better than some of the best hotels. They also have a hoist to get you into the pool, this was one reason we choose this ship, although when we arrived the hoist was nowhere to be seen. However this was quickly remedied and in a couple of days it was fully operational.The staff are all very helpful and eager to assist if needed. I personally would reccomend NCL as our experience on our first cruise was just great.Whatever you decide to do hope you enjoy.

Hi

Thanks for the helpful info re cruise, it's great to hear it from someone with first-hand knowledge. Curious to know how you got on with the stopovers.
Did you take advantage of any of their set tours or did you do your own touring. My husband is into walking and exploring places by foot. He will be pushing me too - not too many in-accessible things deter him or get in his way!

Liz

[tessa]

hello there,
we were recently planning to go to Rome too and found this very good hotel to stay at: Albergo Santa Chiara, right in the city centre. http://www.albergosantachiara.com/
The wheelchair accessible room has two bathrooms and a roll-in shower. If I remember correctly the lady at the reception siad that there were one or two steps to the bar though... But as you're going with a partner anyways it shouldn't be a problem.
I don't have any other experiences for Italy but found this website, that might help you: http://www.italiantourism.com/ For hotels click at the regions you're interested in and if you search 'in advanced mode' you have the possibility to click wheelchair.
As far as as Croatia goes I don't have any experiences but staying in a wheelchair accessible appartment might be a good option since hotels are rare on the countryside. If you're staying in little or big towns though you should also be able to find a hotel. And there are many wheelchair friendly concrete beaches (we've been there only once, but that was pre my bro's SCI).
Hotel chains such as Ibis, Best Western, Radison Blu usually have at least one wheelchair friendly room, maybe you can find something there.

Good luck with the search and planning of your trip

This post has been edited by tessa: 25 August 2010 - 11:09 PM

[Bill Forrester]

A couple more good sites
accessible.travel
accessible barcelona

[stillhamad]

hi


A few days ago we returned my brother and i from vacation to geneva and Paris .. We spent a wonderful time there

This is a Short summary about the trip

most of the public transportation are Accessible for awheelchair (( Buses - trains - metro ))

People are nice and offer help when needed.

Queues were not a problem for us at all tourist sites as the people whose working there let us enter without waiting . as well as the Paris Disneyland and we got a discount on tickets in most of those places.

We stayed at the Ibis Paris Tour Eiffel Cambronne 15ème hotel

it was close to the Eiffel Tower.

I attached pictures of the bathroom, , which contain a roll in shower

As for the bedroom it was tidy and clean.

PARIS, a very beautiful city and worth a visit


I hope that this simple informations useful for those who Planning to visit Paris.

Finally Excuse my english Because i had to use Google's translator to be able to write this summary .

Thanks

Attached thumbnail(s)

• 

This post has been edited by stillhamad: 31 August 2010 - 03:53 AM

[Liz - NZ]

stillhamad, on 31 August 2010 - 03:32 AM, said:

hi


A few days ago we returned my brother and i from vacation to geneva and Paris .. We spent a wonderful time there

This is a Short summary about the trip

most of the public transportation are Accessible for awheelchair (( Buses - trains - metro ))

People are nice and offer help when needed.

Queues were not a problem for us at all tourist sites as the people whose working there let us enter without waiting . as well as the Paris Disneyland and we got a discount on tickets in most of those places.

We stayed at the Ibis Paris Tour Eiffel Cambronne 15ème hotel

it was close to the Eiffel Tower.

I attached pictures of the bathroom, , which contain a roll in shower

As for the bedroom it was tidy and clean.

PARIS, a very beautiful city and worth a visit


I hope that this simple informations useful for those who Planning to visit Paris.

Finally Excuse my english Because i had to use Google's translator to be able to write this summary .

Thanks

Hi Stillhamad
Thanks for information. The English is fine!
Regards Liz