Tips for elderly/disabled travelers

Have you considered a cruise? At each port you could take a tour by car or bus and not have to walk very much.

I have a elderly Aunt that travels often using Viking Cruises. She is very pleased with their services and accommodations for those less mobile.

wrstewart, based on a previous post you are already in Italy? Insights people have may be specific to the cities/towns so more information would be helpful. Right off the bat I would advise hiring private drivers to get you as close as possible to things you wish to see. It wouldn't eliminate ALL walking - large parts of certain Italian towns and cities are pedestrianized - but it would help.

What is your itinerary from this point?

Yes, we are in Italy, and no, we are not yet decrepit! We enjoy art, history, and architecture, so a cruise wouldn't do it for us. I'm talking about getting around with some assistance, like avoiding long lines. I realize given current circumstances, that enhanced security presents challenges. Perhaps someone will come up with more creative ways of addressing that issue, something we also take seriously, but that will not keep us from keeping on traveling. This all started when we discovered a 45-minute to one-hour line to go through security at the Colosseum. It was simply too long for one of us to stand, especially when you must also factor in the additional standing during the tour. We have been using cabs more, but on Saturday there was a huge traffic jam in Rome and what was normally a 10-minute trip took nearly an hour. Surely some clever person has some ideas on how to deal with these issues other than avoidance.

Oh, sorry--itinerary. Our next stop is Venice, which we manouver very well with the vaporetti. After that we visit friends in the Stuttgart area, and then spend a few weeks in an apt. on the Rhein in a small town that we also manage well. Haarlem may be a side trip from there.

Hi, maybe this is a tip.
In most museums, elderly and handicaped persons may skip the line. You have to prove it with your Id or a document stating you are handicapped. Often also you do not need to pay as well as a valid person accompanying you.
I will take a look to see where I find the ad hoc documentation.

wastewart, your second post belies what you said in your original post, in which you said you are mobility challenged and " cannot stand or walk very long".

Based on experience in Bologna and Torino, I'd say that some older museum buildings have elevators that are hidden and staff can escort you, but they may be on the other side of the building. For my Dad on that trip, the longer walk was still somewhat better than climbing stairs.

I assume you're not having any trouble with train boarding, but if you are, then see http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en/Purchase/Info-&-Contacts/Disabled-passengers.

In many museums in Italy, there is a skip the line desk which is also meant for Elderly and handicapped persons.

......We enjoy art, history, and architecture, so a cruise wouldn't do it for us...... I don't understand that statement because I don't how they are related. We see and enjoy a lot of history, art, architecture when we are on cruises. So that doesn't make any sense.

However, consider taking a portable stool or something to sit on while waiting in a line. I know, because my mother had one, there is a folding stool that doubles as a cane. When she stopped, popped it open, and sat on it till time to move. She quit traveling at 92.

This should help you
http://www.accessibleitaly.com/accessibility-in-italy.html

I think we're too late to help for this trip, but my husband travels with the cane that folds into a seat. Standing in line for long periods or shuffling along in crowds aggravates his knees and hip. Maybe you'll find on a shop during the rest of your trip.

I now travel with a walking stick/cane- a Leki Wanderfreund Soft Antishock that I bought via Amazon. I love it because it absorbs some shock while walking on pavement/stone. It also gives me something to lean on while standing.
I also carry a folding portable stool (I bought via REI) that you can carry over your shoulder for taking sitting breaks.
Obviously, also wearing a backpack for maps, papers, a jacket/sweater etc. also is essential.

Thanks so much, Becky; your tips about what to use and where to get them are most helpful!

Thanks so much for pointing us to the website, francoisedegrelle! This is most helpful.

Thanks, Laura!

When I traveled with my elderly mother using a cane and with mobility concerns we could usually skip lines and I could always get her seats on transport (I did have to ask the able bodied teens to get up, they don't always jump up and vacate the seats designated for the impaired) A cane is a badge that will help you secure assistance, elevators, seats, line access. I don't know how well those ones with seats would work for you, but if they do definitely get one.

Consider also hiring a private guide from somewhere like tours by locals if you want to do more challenging local travel. e.g. in St. Petersburg we hired such a guide to take us out to the Catherine Palace and he picked us up at the apartment we rented and had arranged for tickets so no lines were involved and delivered us back to our apartment. If I wanted to go to the Villa Adriana or Ville d'Este, I'd probably do it that way rather than attempting it on my own.

You probably already do this, but definitely arrange for wheelchairs at the airports which will make the long walk to immigration and luggage retrieval less stressful.