Friends of ours are planning the "trip of a lifetime" to see Paris and London around Easter. Unfortunately, he just broke his leg skiing! No weight bearing activity AT ALL for 3 months. Now what? Can they get around with crutches? I can't imagine trying to navigate Europe this way. I see the Louvre loans wheelchairs for free--is that common? They can't cancel some of their reservations, so they are trying to decide "should they stay or should they go?" Ideas? Experience? Thanks!
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Paris, France
506 posts
Unfortunately, Paris is a difficult situation when it comes to wheelchairs. There are places of exception such as the Louvre. Overall there are challenges to be seen and expected beginning with transportation. The Metro is full of stairs, escalators and elevators exist but not as much as one would like. Then there are the insanely small toilets, the step over doorways (usually converted garages), uneven pavement, It can go on and on.
What I recommend is that they consider learning the bus routes instead of Metro - think about using the bus tours to get from place to place. Plan frequent rest stops. Purchase a folding chair (many elderly people have these - and the can sit as needed). Plan only a few activities that are tiring per day - for example waiting in the line to get up the Eiffel Tower can be exhausting even without injury.