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Wheelchair rentals

Posted by (Ventura, CA, USA) on

Talk about timing.....my wife injured her knee and is now in a knee boot and crutches and we are leaving for Italy on Wednesday. We might have to cancel our trip but we don't want to if we can make her as comfortable as possible.

Does anyone know if there are any pharmacies or other businesses that rent wheelchairs by the day while we are there? At least then I can get her somewhat mobile to make the best of the situation. Especially in towns we will be at for 4 or 5 days.

We will be in Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre, Lucca, Montepulciano, and Rome. We will be in Italy about 30 days total. We have been planning this trip for a year.

Posted by
16716 posts

Charlie, check these sources (on the Sage Travel Disability Experts website) for wheelchair rentals in Rome, Florence and Venice.

http://www.sagetraveling.com/rome-wheelchair-rental-and-delivery

http://www.sagetraveling.com/florence-wheelchair-rental-and-delivery

http://www.sagetraveling.com/venice-wheelchair-rental-and-delivery

Hopefully someone else can help with some of your other locations. I will be very honest say say that I think you're going to find the CT a challenge even if you DO find a rental because of the steep terrain and number of steps. Monterosso is probably your best bet of the villages. Venice - because of the number of steps across the bridges - promises to be a challenge as well BUT if she can manage SOME of the steps on her crutches, then you might be OK. I would take taxis whenever possible (not a possibility in Venice or a lot of the CT, unfortunately) from trains to hotels as you'll be managing luggage by yourself. You may also want to make use of them or hired drivers for other sightseeing explorations as well.

Do you know how many of your accommodations have lifts (elevators)? I'm so sorry for your last-minute snag, and hope you don't have to cancel your trip!

Posted by
8362 posts

I hate to say that your specific cities on your itinerary are about as unfriendly as they go for someone with mobility ossues. Steps, cobblestone streets, walls and bridges just don't work well.
My wife had a case of mid foot arthritis come on, and we got her thru airports okay with wheelchairs. The problems then just start outside of the airport.
I would suggest still going, but you might need to rent a car and see the countryside. I would suggest a.completely new set of cities. I now.drive my wife to the front door of all hotels and shops. Unfortunately that's not feasable when there are ZTLs, streets designed for chariots and a ciity with canals and bridges instead of streets.
There's still so much to see outside any Italian city from the seat.of a car. With the time you have, you could really get around.

Posted by
16716 posts

Charlie, what did you decide to do, and were any of the contacts above helpful? You are supposed to be leaving day after tomorrow and I'm concerned for you and your injured partner. Crossing fingers that you've found enough rental wheels in enough places to make a go of it! 🤞

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