Italy with a senior citizen

When the Acqua Alta hits Venice, it only lasts a few hours and does not affect the entire city. It invades Piazza San Marco as the lowest spot in the city and sometimes a few other spots. It is not a reason to skip Venice, especially if none of you has seen it before.

So how many regular posters fall into the senior citizen category?

Count me in with the "senior citizen" group -- both of us looking back at 70th birthdays. And traveling much more after turning 65 ... maybe slower, but more often and longer trips.

Bring water proof boots and enjoy magical Venice....I saw Paris in a whole new light ( see what I did there?) when I took my parents as we tended to slow down and sit at cafes more than I had on my previous trips there...so a had a different perspective, and it was very relaxing...btw my mother was a 70 year old Italian lady when I took her to Paris....LOL go and enjoy!

So how many regular posters fall into the senior citizen category?

Guilty as charged! I'm 67. When we went to Europe last July, I checked the health app on my iPhone for the days we were gone. We walked 8-12 miles a day, with one day topping out at 14 miles! Not bad for two old codgers.

To the OP, you say you will be in Tuscany for a couple of days. Instead of trying to find somewhere else to go, especially since you'll be using public transportation, I suggest you stretch out your time in Tuscany.

Where will you be based? I'm assuming you'll be staying in one of the larger cities that's easily accessible. If so, and if your mother needs a break from walking, you could do a wine tour.

So how many regular posters fall into the senior citizen category?

Had the same thought before I replied to the OP. :-) My spouse is over 70 and while I am a "child bride" I can see Medicare looming in my near future. Never slow down!

Another senior here, and with some walking difficulties (I use a cane). I've visited Venice before and I'll be doing it again this Oct. If we run into an aqua alta I'll buy a pair of rubber boots- I'm sure our hotel can point us to the nearest store. Or we'll head to a neighborhood that isn't flooded for the few hours that it will last.

But if the possibility of this is too off putting, I agree that extending your stay in Tuscany and visiting a couple more towns would work well.

I traveled with my 80 year old mother for two weeks in Italy -- 6 days in Florence, one night in Siena, 7 nights in Rome and home. Remember two nights gives you one day in a place and the one thing age does is slow you down and tire you out. Rushing from pillar to post is not necessarily the way to go.

A general bit of advice. START the trip at your furthest point whether it is Tuscany or Venice. When you arrive in Rome go to the FCO train station and get tickets to Venice or Florence. Hotels are not ready for you at 8 in the morning anyway and this way you use that first jet lagged day to get to your furthest point. This gains you one day of real travel as you don't have to rush back the day before the flight to Rome.

I would stay no fewer than 3 nights in Venice which gives you two full days, then head for Florence (or Siena or wherever your Tuscan destination is) for at least 3 nights and then finish in Rome with at least 3 nights. That gives you a day in Rome for historic Rome and one for the Vatican and you are there and ready for your return flight. If you don't have this may days, then I would cut one stop. Too much travel for only one full day in a place.

Also take advantage of sidewalk cafes to rest. Yeah it is expensive to get gelato or coffee that way but these places have few places to sit and rest; and once you have your table you can sit as long as you need to. Not also that every toilet in Italy is either up narrow stairs or down narrow stairs (I exaggerate only slightly) so if this is a problem for your mother then pay attention to rest room opportunities that don't involve this.

My trip was one of the most wonderful of my life and something my mother loved and talked about the rest of her life. Great idea and great idea to be doing it while she is young old at 70 rather than old at 80. I say this as someone now older than your mother.

I made four trips to Eutope with my elderly mother, the last when she was about 75. We hit acqua alta while in Venice, and as others have said, it wasn't a big deal. My mother got a kick out of it.

If your mom has some difficulties walking, consider that everywhere in Italy you can summon a taxi by cell phone and go back to your hotel; everywhere but Venice...