I have read many articles, watched some videos, and when you mention disabilities, it seems most feel you are either in a wheelchair, or an athlete,nothing in between.
So hopefully, I can inquire here.
My wife and I are in our 70s,arthritic, walk with canes.
Every so often,we have to take a break,either sitting or leaning.
We are thinking of spending a week in the Baixa/chiado area and we're concerned about navigation of the city.
I know of trams,buses,metro and have some questions.
As far as the metro,I know maps say whether accessible.
Do those logos mean to actual platforms?
As far as buses and trams(not talking of 28),
Do they have kneeling or low steps,as my wife has trouble with her knees.
Thank you in advance
Posted by
Vancouver, BC, Canada
1385 posts
Bolt ride share is very cheap in Portugal. For two people, it is not much more than taking transit. With Bolt, you can go door to door. With transit, you still need to deal with walking, stairs, stations, standing, waiting, etc. Use Google Maps directions and you can get a time/cost estimate for your various trips; you may be pleasantly surprised by the cost and convenience.
Posted by
OP
71 posts
Thank you.
That is very helpful
Posted by
Vancouver, BC, Canada
1385 posts
If you decide to use Bolt, load and set up the app on your phone while at home. There is a text verification required and Bolt will bill and refund you $0.01 to make sure it all works before you go on the trip. Some of my friends on the same trip tried to do it using an esim while in Portugal. It would not work probably because they did not have a working telephone number with the esim.
Uber is also an option, but we found Bolt was cheaper with more discounts for new users.
We avoided taxis on the advice of many who say they were ripped off by taxi drivers who did not use meter and over-charged. With Bolt or Uber, you are only charged what you are quoted and accept, and are usually cheaper than taxis. Just be aware of "surge pricing"; in the middle of rush hour and a big rainstorm, the quoted fare will rise depending on supply and demand..
Posted by
OP
71 posts
Pardon a stateside old man who sometimes is technology challenged,but I have never heard the esim term.
Coud you please explain it,like I would explain math to my granddaughter
Thank you
Posted by
Cascais, Portugal
1849 posts
As a 70 plus year old, I agree with the Uber/Bolt suggestion. I’ve significantly decreased my use of the metro in the last few years, mostly because I cannot depend on the elevators and escalators working when I need them. Baixa is a good area due to the fact that it’s flat. Chiado is not flat at all!
There are hidden elevators to go from Baixa to Chiado but you still need to climb hills once you are there.
Buses are plentiful but I have more difficulty determining routes, etc. There are modern trams that go from Lisbon to Belem that are a good option. The commuter train also goes that route but once in Belem, there is a large set of stairs to climb (can’t remember if it’s on the way to or from back to Lisbon).
An e-sim is a sim you simply download from an app that gives you data internationally. You don’t have to physically remove the original SIM card and replace it with a temporary one. If you google e-sim, many options will pop up. I’ve used them successfully but did have a bit of a learning curve. But, your cell phone must be unlocked to use either the physical or e-sim. Major carriers will have international plans but they are extremely expensive.
Posted by
Vancouver, BC, Canada
1385 posts
Peppersdad1947
Many travellers, like me, will buy a cheap travel sim or esim to use mobile data overseas. A sim is the physical chip that you insert into a slot in your phone. An esim is an electronic version of a sim which you can download into your phone. Most new phones can use an esim.
One problem with most travel esims is that they are data only and do not provide you with a telephone number for call or SMS texts. Bolt requires SMS text to verify your new account.
(Orange Holiday travel esims is an exception which provides a French telephone number which is good for calls and texts all over Europe, including Portugal and Spain based upon my personal experience. I bought my Orange esim before my trip set to activate upon landing.)
If you do not mind paying for an expensive international roaming plan with your home cellular service provider, you can choose to use your home cellular number overseas.
However, I would still recommend that you load and verify your Bolt app and account while at home using your home cellular texting before your trip. It would be a pain to be fussing over an unfamiliar new esim or setting up a new app after arrival at a foreign airport. I would want to be able to request a Bolt as soon as possible.