My wife has had two knee replacements and a hip replacement which went south that has affected her gait. Before our trip, she developed severe tibial tendonitis. She was a trooper walking short distances in Italy aided by a telescopic hiking stick. She brought along her NJ state Handicapped Driver placard and smaller ID card on the trip and we learned that by showing it, you are escorted to the front of the line and enter museums and other attractions right away! You are also eligible for free tickets, regardless of your citienship (free also if you are 65 or older!)! The free ticket opportunity is not easily determined on the venues' websites and often happens as you present the ID a the facility. You may be issued the freebie pass and instructed to apply for a refund online. So, free advance reservation, timed Coliseum tickets? Mmmm. Walk up and see the Florence Duomo? You bet! Show your handicapped ID and go to the front of the line!
Posted by
Citizen of the World
2681 posts
That’s the world as it should be! I’m glad you two will be able to see more of what Italy has to offer because of an enlightened policy that recognizes you shouldn’t have to wait in lines when you have accessibility challenges.
Posted by
Coeur d'Alene
381 posts
My husband is legally blind and travels with his guide dog. Many of the countries we’ve traveled to in the EU offer this benefit at museums. We were very grateful.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
17058 posts
(free also if you are 65 or older!)
Great to hear that you and your wife had a wonderful experience in Italy, Mark! But just for clarity? You may have meant that an assistant accompanying a visitor with a disability may be free? Not all individuals over the age of 65 are free to visit Italian museums and other attractions which have entry fees.
Posted by
OP
NJ
9 posts
Ah! I was not clear. Yes, my wife, with her disability placard and/or 65 and over AND I were both entitled to free tix - I as her assistant in the case of disability and both of us as 65 and over so it was “double coverage”! Should be this way in US for all parks, museums, etc! We did not encounter any venue where this was not the case.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
17058 posts
Should be this way in US for all parks, museums, etc!
I'll agree that it's a nice thing but currently in the US, many of our museums and National Parks/Monuments are losing critical funding needed to keep them adequately staffed and maintained. As well, many provide senior discounts; something that the Italian State Museums eliminated some years ago.
Great travel deal: if you don't already know about it: the "National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Access Pass" provides fee-free access to US citizens or permanent residents with documented permanent disabilities to NPS parks/lands, and covers companions traveling in the same vehicle. Bargain-priced lifetime or annual senior passes are available as well (we have one) although it remains to be seen if they can still afford to issue them in near future. :O(
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/accessibility/interagency-access-pass.htm
https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm#america-the-beautiful-passes