london and Paris and a wheelchair

Check the site below regarding wheelchair and bus. Any possibility that she can get a walking cast? The bigger problem is that there are many places that are not fully accessible. www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/transportaccessibility/1171.aspx

Most buses in both London and Paris now have wheelchair ramps but there can be problems if inconsiderate vehicle owners have blocked the bus stop and the bus can't pull up to the kerb. Both in London and Paris only very limited parts of the underground/metro are wheelchair accessible with many unavoidable stairs or escalators.

Gloria, last year I broke my big toe in a stupid accident. I was actually in hospital for 4 days over a dumb toe, but anyway, I had a cast on it and I was supplied with a special and strange boot/sandal which made me walk on the heel of the injured foot. So for a month, with that boot and a cane, I was very mobile, my only real problem being that I could not drive my car. Perhaps you could ask if the same could be done for your daughter. (I'd be happy to send you my boot/sandal to try!)

Thanks for the many replies and advice!
Norma, She is getting a boot today--the Dr said she could still make the trip and suggested a wheel chair--which we think we will take. She has crutches as well but is so very tired of using them! Perhaps a cane will work as well. Perhaps with the boot she will be more mobile than she thinks but of course she wants it to heal .

Oh, good. I hope with the boot and a cane she will find herself able to walk reasonably well and perhaps not need a wheelchair.

You might want to consider getting the type of cane that can also fold out into a three legged seat! It would allow her to rest in lines or sit down even when there are no other seats. That would take less space and weigh less than a wheel chair. If you find you really need the wheel chair- rent one once you are over there. But DO go ahead and arrange for 'speical assistance' and a wheel chair for both your depature and arrival airports on both ends of your journey. Not certain whether you will need/want it for the Eurostar and St. Pancras and Gar du Nor stations (I assume you are traveling that way).

Since the metro is out how does one w a wheelchair-and a cane--get to Versailles? The one bus I read about is at the end of a metro stop. Are there tours by bus which include both the transport and the admission--and if so, which is the best??

A quick google will get you information on bus tours to Versailles from Paris ... Cityrama comes to mind as one. You may have to be realistic and scale down your plans a little if the wheelchair proves to be a real hindrance. For instance, you could substitute the Chateau Malmaison for Versailles. Malmaison is accessible by RATP bus from La Defense (which can also be reached by bus). It is a small & pretty chateau once the home of Empress Josephine. Just a thought ... Versailles will still be there for next time.

Gloria, the RER is not out of the question for Versailles. I am not sure where you are staying, but all you need to do is get a bus to nearest station for the RER line C . There may be some stairs , but the RER is not as "deep" as the metro,, since soon at it leaves the city it is above ground.. no stairs at station at Versailles. Problem will be 10 minute walk to palace, but I recall there was a shuttle bus that runs people up there( for a fee). Frankly Versailles is going to be tough,, its so crowded your poor daughter will have mainly a good view of peoples bottoms as they crowd around her in the palace, And the wheel chair will be difficult to impossible to use in some areas of the grounds and formal gardens, thanks to the gravel paths that seem to dominate.. You can however rent a golf cart type thing to tour grounds, from what I understand they are first come first serve, but I would contact the Versailles website and ask if you can reserve one for a wheel chair user. They are not cheap, but since a Cityrama tour to Versailles will end up costing your family a few hundred euros anyways( I think it was 50 euros each, but could be more or less) that renting a golf cart is a decent option.