Possibly Mobility Challenged-major vacation planned

A couple of things to consider.

1. Physical Therapy. If your physician has not prescribed it talk to them now. A PT might be able to give you a good assessment of where you are and what is physically possible. I know you aren't seeking medical advice, but honestly there's no other advice that's going to help

2. Can you walk half a mile now? Can you do that 8 times a day?

Honestly if the response to 2 is no than it's time to come up with a plan B for this trip. Could you spend the time in a city instead of on this walking tour?

I did a tour with a woman with a similar type of condition, but she was able to just skip any long walks by just waiting at the bus and for walks she wanted to do she was always the last to arrive and then left a good half hour to 45 minutes before the rest of us to get back to the bus. If you don't have those options, it's going to be tough.

I am not on a tour. I planned this whole trip myself. I do not have walking tours planned, but I do have half mile walks from train stations to where I am staying. In some cases half mile walks from where I am staying to restaurants or other attractions. And, if I want to walk around the cities or towns, I am guessing it would add up to a half mile or a bit more. When I was in Italy and Switzerland, I took a lot of trains and buses and was still racking up 5-6 miles of walking a day just to see things and shop.

OK, the way you posted it before it sounded like a walking tour.

I think I would start budgeting for taxis and be prepared to pay for a ride from the train/bus station to the hotel or to dinner etc....

Thanks, Carol. That is what I am doing. I am looking up the taxi companies that take credit cards also. For me, all this planning and budgeting does help.

When you start using your walking stick I think you will find walking a lot easier. Walking half miles to and from places with your mobility difficulty, though, is just plain foolish. You certainly need to take taxis. I don't know why such walks are even part of your planning. I have had some difficulty walking for the past year or so and last August when we were in the UK we took cabs everywhere and budgeted for it. Our trip would have been entirely spoiled otherwise.

Don't go looking for taxi taking credit cards. That adds a level of complication that you do not need. Just go with cash. Far easier and convenient. While you may not want to turn this into medical advice, you are dealing with a medical problem. It seems to me that your doctors should have the first and nearly the last word on your conditions. You need to carry any medication that reduces the problem - probably mostly pain - because you will need that relief if you made the condition worse during your travels. Also I would make sure you have travel cancellation insurance (if you are still eligible) should your condition make it impossible to go. A tough break but your own body will be the best guide.

Thank you again for your thoughts. I do have travel insurance, but it is somewhat limited. When I bought it, I did not anticipate having to cancel this trip and I sure hope I do not have to. But, taking more taxis is probably a reality.

Remain flexible. If you have to miss something just consider it a reason to return. Do not overdo one day and end up a wreck the next - pace yourself for sure.

The advice to see a PT is good - hopefully they can give some helpful advice on exercises. Also speak with Dr about trip and pain management.

In one of your earlier posts, you say that your friends will have cars in Portsmouth. So you should be good to go for at least part of your journey.

I have bad knees. I thought I prepared adequately for my recent trip to the UK. I was wrong.

I cannot agree more with the person who said to take taxis. Especially when I stayed in places up or down hill and there was no bus, I took them just to get up and down the hills.

I didn't have much trouble with trains. Most stations had lifts. I used them. Funny, the signs clearly said for anyone with luggage to use them rather than the stairs.

I also didn't have much trouble with buses. In London I used them for every journey except to the airport when I took the Piccadilly line. I liked the bus because I could see stuff along the way.

I'm not a very intense tourist and I expect to not be able to do everything on my list. One of the things I really wanted to do on this trip was a walking tour of London. Maybe another time after knee surgery.

I realized that I would probably not be able to keep up with the group, so I added more time to the museums where I could easily find benches to rest for a bit and take in what I was seeing. And all but one of the ones I went to had lifts.

About the toilets. Many of the handicapped ones were on the main floor, unisex, and also set up for baby changing. When there was no lift to the toilets and I felt like I could not do the stairs, I used them. You do not have to be in a wheelchair to deserve to do that.

Have you considered renting something like this: www.travelscoot.com

I have rheumatoid arthritis and while I can walk I have difficulty with long distances. I've done this and it's been awesome. It folds up and on weighs about 37 pounds with battery.

Have you looked at a cane with a seat attached. There are many to chose from if you google cane with seat. Here is one.
http://www.carelinemedical.com/products/2425/?gclid=CKaJl5ak5c0CFVBefgodZFcDOg

I would also encourage you to see a physical therapist and the sooner the better so you can get as much done before your trip. A good one will be able to give you advice about positions for sleeping that won't involve adding more pressure on your hip. I say this as I'm sitting next to my husband with a hip issue. He also has other issues, so he travels with a cane that turns into a seat. I can't find the brand on it, but don't get a cheap one- he broke one of those on the trip last year.

Has anyone here had any experience with getting mobility assistance in the UK? We just talked with a friend whose still recovering from two knee surgeries and is here in the U.K. with a cane. She said she contacted her airline and told them she needed mobility assistance and they were fabulous at getting her off the plane, rolling her through a behind-the-scenes passage and up to the front of the immigration line. Might be worth checking on.