Accessible Europe: 2006
Foot-loose and fancy-free is not so easy if you have a disability. Which countries take better care of travelers with physical limits, and how? Any practical tips for those dreaming of travel but concerned about mobility?
- Please don't post questions here. Use our Travelers Helpline.
Rail Travel in Germany
I travelled in Germany in May 2005 using a German Rail/Drive Pass. German Rail (DB Mobility Service) booked my reservations by e-mail -- wheelchair space only in 2nd Class, so don't buy a 1st Class Pass as I did before I discovered that fact (no wheelchair space in 1st Class at all). The wheelchair space on the ICE from Wuerzburg to Munich was very nice. I did not need to get out of my wheelchair, although I could have done so if I had wanted. My wife sat in the seat across from me, and our large suitcase was next to me. My backpack was in the seat next to my wife, which was reserved for me. The wheelchair toilet was interesting -- you needed to step on a button to flush it and wash your hands -- neat trick for a paraplegic. The space on the EC from Munich to Lindau was adequate, but not so nice as the ICE. Assistance in boarding and alighting was efficient and presented no problems. The rental car worked fine with my wife driving (Ford Montego station-wagon from Hertz). I recommend rail travel in a wheelchair, at least in Germany. We stayed in a hotel near the Munich Hauptbahnhof (Hotel Brunnenhof). Level entrance around the side, one step at the front entrance. Adequate elevator. Typical wheelchair room, with roll-in shower. A bit expensive. Getting from the Main Train Station in Munich down to the S-Bahn platform was troublesome, as the elevators did not work and security personnel assisted me in using the escalator instead. For touring Munich in a wheelchair, don't forget to buy a key (schlusel) for the public toilet. Next time, I plan to use German Rail even more, and may even try a night on a CNL. Gute Farht!
George Gentry <email>
Long Beach, CA USA Sun 12/31/2006
Non handicap rooms
I just returned from travel in Poland. I found very few rooms that were handicap ready. One of my problems was that the beds were so low. I quickly figured out to ask for a twin bedroom, even though I was traveling by myself. That way, I could stack one matress on top of the other. I was able to function much better.
Rita Van Zant
Hendersonville, nc USA Mon 12/18/2006
London mass transit
My daughter and I travelled to England and Wales in April of 2006. This was my first time using a wheelchair. I suggest avoiding the Tube. While stations are often accessible (and they indicate the logo on their maps, etc.), the trains may not be. So you get into the station and down to the train and can't get on or off due to a significant drop/rise in the train/platform. Also, lifts are sometimes a problem.
Found that the busses are all accesible, although occasionally (like anywhere) a driver may not be deeply familiar with how to make the wheelchair acccess work, or it just may not work properly. For the most part, people are really helpful and that makes it easier. As I recall, I rode free and my companion for a discount (may have been the other way around). In London, even with all of this, we were only able to accomplish about 1/3 of what we normally would cover, but still had a lovely time.
In one of the stations, had the good fortune to talk with a gentleman whose wife has been wheelchair transporting for a number of years. He expressed how things have really improved over the last bit, to the point where that eve they were going to try to go to the theatre for the first time in years, due to the strides being made in accessiblity. He was most gracious and said if we had any trouble with the Tube, to access a member of staff and they would do all to help. We actually needed a cab because we were misdirected by a staff member, and they obtained one at no charge due to the massive mixup.
I strongly agree with speaking with management about special needs before arrival and pinning down specific data. We had reserved a car for our "road trip" segment to Wales, and when we got there discovered that the trunk space was inadequate to accommodate luggage and the folded wheelchair. The rental company was very kind and upgraded without charge, but I should have checked to see ahead of time whether the space was adequate. The name of the car was similar to here, but the dimensions were, it appears, a bit more petite.
We were almost without exception treated with grace during our entire visit. At one stop, near Trafalgar, the bus had some problems with the lift system being positioned oddly and we couldn't get my wheelchair up onto the bus. Out of nowhere appeared a gentleman (appeared to be homeless) who knocked on the bus door, got the driver's attention, got him to reopen the access door and commandeered two gentlemen on the bus to help me get up (and promise to help me get off) the bus at my destination. When I turned to thank him, he had disappeared into the crowd. At our destination, the two gents made sure that we safely disembarked. It sure gave me a "spoonful of sugar" when I needed it!
ML Boergert
Raleigh, NC USA Fri 09/08/2006
Wheelchair accessible vacation rentals in Europe
I was recently trying to plan a trip to Oahu, looking for accessible vacation rentals on the island (don't get me started!) I stumbled across a couple sites with accessible vacation rentals in Europe and became intrigued, so spent quite a bit of time researching. I was AMAZED how many accessible places there are over there now! Not only vacation rentals that say they're accessible (which, of course, you have to take with a big grain of salt and do careful research on) but also purpose-built resorts and rentals that are completely designed for the disabled. I never thought I'd get back to Europe as an adult, but now I'm planning to do just that. (And these all make Oahu look pretty sad, let me tell you! We finally decided to go to Kauai!)
I thought I'd share some of the web sites I found for places specifically designed or adapted for the disabled. Many of these are in southern Europe. (And yes, I know Cancun isn't in Europe, but I threw it in anyway!)
http://www.accessibleitaly.com
http://www.brittany-breaks.co.uk
http://www.accessvillaspain.com
http://www.eria-resort.gr/ http://www.ineedaholidaytoo.com/index.htm http://www.pechvigne.com/indexenglish.html http://www.repandise.com/GB/index_GB.htm http://www.accessible-villa-spain.co.uk/ http://www.cancunaccesible.com/eng/ http://www.portalturismoaccesible.org/us/index.htm http://www.laesperanza.com/gb/ccb.htm http://www.accessiblebarcelona.com/index.htm http://www.player.pt/player/mysite/english/index_en.asp
If you don't mind doing some extra research, the following vacation rental services allow you to search on specific criteria, one of which is wheelchair accessibility. You, of course, are responsible for checking out exactly what is meant by that in each case. But there are some terrific-looking places, and some of them give specifics about their accessibility.
http://www.homeaway.com http://www.cyberrentals.com http://www.greatrentals.com http://www.la-sonrisa.com/engwelcome.htm http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk
I would love to hear from anyone who has stayed in any of these places or used any of these services.
Kathy Stice <email>
Seattle, WA USA Mon 08/07/2006
Ireland and beyond
I use a power chair and just returned from a trip through Ireland - Bruges - Amsterdam and the Rhine. First, in going to Ireland, I would try to avoid Heathrow - it is just too big and chaotic. Airport staff was helpful. However, even with a 2 hr. layover, I was unable to make my connecting flight to Dublin. Second, it is possible to rent a mini-van with a ramp in Ireland from Parfit, Inc (parfit.ie) in Dublin. In getting into Dublin, Parfit will pick you up at the airport. However, driving in Dublin is hectic, so I picked-up the van after seeing the Dublin sites. It is possible to get to the downtown area by bus or taxi. (Many van taxis carry channel ramps - you duck your head and sit between the front and back seats.) Most of the sites in downtown Dublin are accessible, as are the sidewalks and trams. Finding a restaurant or pub with level access can be trying. As for accommodations, Jurys Inn on Parnell has a room with a roll-in shower. After leaving Dublin, I stayed at B&B's in Ennis, Dingle and Blarney. A list of accommodations may be obtained from the Irish Wheelchair Assoc. The list comes with a disclaimer and I strongly advise asking specific questions about the accommodation, i.e., how many steps are there?, etc. I was surprised a couple of times by what passed as accessible. Also, if a particular B&B cannot accommodate you, the owner might know one in the area which can.
In going from Brussels to Bruges to Amsterdam to the Rhine, my biggest problem was the train connections. Even when I called ahead, it usually took some effort to get someone to operate the wheelchair ramp or lift needed to board the train. This was most frustrating when there was only a small window of time in which to tranfer to a connecting train. It seemed that the ramp could never be moved fast enough and I often spent time in the station waiting for the next train rather than seeing the sites. I don't know of a solution to this problem. Otherwise, traveling in Europe is great and seems to get better every year.
BK <email>
CA USA Sun 07/16/2006
UK and Ireland for disabled visitors
I arrange tours for travelers with disabilities and would like to share a little info. that readers might find helpful. In London, although all black taxis are now wheelchair accessible by law; the best ones for use with a larger power chair or motorized scooter are called TX-1 taxis. You can't just flag them down on the street; but the concierge at your hotel should be able to call one for you if you give him a little notice before needing it; and have them come to pick you up. You can then make arrangements with the individual taxi driver to return to a given place at a certain time to take you back to the hotel. My suggestion is not to use the tube if you are a wheelchair user. Although some of the tube stations do have lifts (elevators) many do not, and the lifts in the ones that do are often broken; which means you can go down in one at your departure station, and arrive to find the lift broken and with no way to get up to street level other than escalator or stairs. The escalators are very long and steep and are dangerous if you have mobility issues.
In Ireland, there are no vehicles for rent to do a self drive trip that have a ramp or wheelchair lift, although Hertz now offers cars with hand controls, but they must be booked well in advance. And, if you can't transfer into a regular vehicle, the hand controls don't do much good. Dublin is easy to get around; in the countryside a driver guide using an accessible vehicle is the way to go. I can suggest a few if anyone is interested. Or, take a small group tour that is geared for travelers with disabilities.
Wales is a very special part of the UK and as such, it must adhere to the same standards as England and Scotland with regard to accessibility. In Cardiff, most of the "chain" hotels do have excellent disabled rooms, some with roll in showers. There are even some lovely country-house hotels with one or two excellent rooms adapted for disabled guests. The Welsh people are very warm and welcoming, and the country itself is enchanting. Plus, it's small enough that you can base in just two areas and see it all doing day trips, instead of changing hotels every night or two.
Being there are no language problems; and there is much to see all over the UK and Ireland, and the people are wonderful and welcoming and extremely helpful, they make a wonderful "first trip" to Europe for the disabled traveler.
Ann Litt <email>
Philadelphia, PA , PA USA Sat 07/15/2006
UK Oxygen Therapy Support
We recently returned from UK (based in London) where we used the NHS Oxygen Therapy set-up and tanks, but paid for it ourselves. Warning: The British system is not as user friendly as North American equipment. It is much heavier, there are no tow-along carts, and it is not nearly as commonly seen or experienced as in, say, California. What that means is it is bulky, heavy, expensive and draws curious or suspicious stares from everyone. Hotel staff are wary of it - and all back packs, of course - until it is thoroughly explained - to every shift. There are some better alternatives. If anyone wishes additional information along this line email me at Dweet49-pch@yahoo.com with the word "Oxygen" in the subject line. Oh, the flight both ways using British Airways tanks worked fine.
Dwight Metcalfe <email>
Salinas, CA USA Fri 07/14/2006
New Accessible Europe Book
Rick Steves has just created a great book with accessible Europe. We are taking our first trip to Europe and it has been our bible. Thank you so much.
Even travel in the US can be a challenge when someone is in a wheelchair. We will go next month and let you know how we do. gloria
Gloria Dyer <email>
Santa Cruz, Ca. USA Tue 07/11/2006
Slow Walker in Venice
A while back I posted an inquiry on the Traveler's Helpline because my husband and I were planning a trip to Venice, but a well-meaning friend told us it would be too difficult for me because there are a lot of stairs.
Don't believe it! Yes, there are stairs, about 1/3 as deep as the ones in your home and always with a railing.
I was more intimidated by the necessity to get off and on boats. We used the Alilaguna ferry from and back to the airport. It has a long, gentle ramp to accomodate both passengers and their luggage. Vaporetto #1 also has a ramp and is absolutely the best way to see Venice from the water.
The streets of Venice were crowded at all hours, but everyone seems to move at a more leisurely pace than here. There is just so much to look at. I never felt pushed or jostled.
There is a very helpful website, www.comune.venezia.it/handicap that gives a lot of useful information.
I saw several wheelchair users and spoke with a few of them. They were also having an enjoyable visit.
(While in Sorrento I saw two blind men who appeared to be perfectly happy, but that's another story).
So do as much as you can and don't waste time worrying about what you can't do.
Diane Schroeder <email>
Brookfield, WI USA Fri 06/23/2006
Germany
I am currently in Wuerzburg, Germany. They try to be helpful when it comes to disabled people. But I still notice little things that are wrong when it comes to ramps and how accessible travel is within the city. My mother will be comming soon and she is permantly disabled. I am worried that we will not be able to go to the different attractions because of the parking locations and the accessibility Germany has.
My tip to anyone comming to Germany is to be prepared. Parking is far from stores and their are stairs everywhere. You should check out which places are good to go to with disabilities before you spend your money. I know the Residence has a elevator and some large stores as well. Most small shops don't have good accessibility so try to avoid those as much as possible. Wuerzburg and Kitzigen are the Bavarian wine country. It is worth comming, locals are friendly and accepting of Americans.
cz
USA Mon 06/19/2006
Response to Diane
Just a quick response to Diane- she mentions imagining that the cobblestones would be very problematic. My best friend and I toured the Rhine Valley last spring ('05- you can see my entry or email me for more info) with a transfer chair (4 6" wheels) and while the cobblestones were tough in many places, esp. castle grounds, they weren't bad if the cobbles were evenly shaped. Also, the cobblestone streets don't have curbs for the most part, which is a huge perk. 2 recommendations: a gel pad for sitting on and frog legs- mentioned by someone in another entry here. Finally, our experience was everyone in Europe was ready to jump in and help!
Laurie <email>
Chandler, AZ (formerly San Francisco), USA Sat 06/17/2006
Cruises
My wife and I recently returned from an Oceania cruise which began in Turkey and ended in Venice. We paid for several ports of call excursions ahead of time based on the cruiseline's description of how strenuous they would be. Bad idea. Even the easiest moved way too fast for us. I walk with a cane. After the first couple of such shore visits, we cancelled the rest and moved about at our own pace, seeing all we cared to see.
We also found that a rental car took us where we wanted to go when we wanted to go there. It was far more flexible and usually less expensive than the cruise planned bus excursion.
I know that most of you prefer tours to cruises, but one of the main benefits of a cruise is that your "hotels" are consistant and handicapped friendly if you inform the cruisline of your needs ahead of time.
Jake Tanner
Geneva, CH Sat 06/10/2006
We just returned from a trip to Germany, Austria and Switzerland. This was my 4th time to visit Europe but this time I seemed to really notice the physical requirements needed to get to most of the "touristy spots". I am a therapist and so I am very cognizant of the challenges that you face. Generally speaking, I think it really is true that we Americans are in much worse shape physically than Europeans, regardless of whether you have a handicapping disability. Maybe I'm just getting older, but I found myself huffing and puffing up long, steep hills to visit many castles, having to stop and rest frequently. (I fit the description of the average american: slightly overweight, I try to exercise regularly 2-3x/wk. and am in fairly good health) I noticed on most of these treks to "see the sights", there were no signs posted warning of a strenuous hike uphill, nor did they give any distance measurements. True, at Neuschwanstein there is a carriage ride (expensive) that you can take to the castle, but I don't recall any other similar attractions offering that. Touring Europe is a physically demanding and strenuous trip under normal circumstances, I can't imagine doing it if I had a disability. Kudos and Praises for your courage!!!! Just go slowly and remember to build in LOTS of extra time in planning your days there. Also, keep in mind that in many of the small towns and old historic city centers, that cobblestone streets are the norm. Big, bumpy, uneven cobblestones! They are difficult to walk on at times, and I would imagine nearly impossible to maneuver a wheelchair over them. Unfortunately, most of the small villages do not have smooth sidewalks (I am thinking of Bacharach on the Rhine, absolutely precious town, RS highly recommends) However, at most restaurants, sidewalk cafes, and hotels, a car or van can pull up very close to let you out with just a very small transfer involved from car to wheelchair to inside the building. I will try to keep thinking of info that might be helpful and will post more later.
Diane
Hattiesburg, MS USA Tue 06/06/2006
Traveling in Germany
In Nov. 2004 my husband and I went on a
the wheel chair and the cane. I
Neuschwanstein Castle. We had booked our tickets on line before we left the USA because they, supposidly, had a "handicapped" tour only on Wednesday's and it was the last tour of the day. When we got there we were told there is no "handicapped" tour. I could go in with the rest of the tour group or I could leave. I was determined to see this beautiful place so I made it through but very slowley. Every step up and down was an event. Several people in the group wanted to carry me but I couldn't allow that. The topper of this "experience," was since it was in Nov. it got dark by 4pm. the horse drawn carriage that took us half way up the road was no where in site and I would have had to walk down the steep mountain road to get back to my car. Fortunately, my husband saw a small rest area type restaurant and he asked if anyone could help us. We obtained a ride with a nice couple who worked in the rest area and I was saved that long walk. Germany was, for the most part accessible to me but there were some glitches along the way. More information is needed for the handicapped traveling in Europe because the streets are narrower and the cars are smaller. Even the public transportation is not always easy to get on. The best transportation system I have found is in DisneyWorld in Fla. There was never a problem getting on an attraction or going by mono-rail, boat, or their bus system. Maybe city planners should take some hints from Disney on how to deal with the handicapped.
Victoria Hahn <email>
Millstone, NJ USA Fri 05/12/2006
walking w/a cane
Just returned from 3 weeks in Amsterdam and Italy. Having had total knee replacement in early January, I was concerned about the amount of walking I was going to encounter, so I took along a folding cane, which was a lifesaver. My knee hurt all day, every day, but I didn't care, I was enjoying the trip so much! One thing, tho--the only 'handicap' toilets I found were in airports or train stations. None of the hotels, museums, etc. had them. Most of the museums we saw didn't have very many places to sit and rest, either. You, too, can walk the cobblestone streets with a cane...just go slower and keep the Tylenol handy.
Daisy
USA Wed 05/03/2006
Ireland
Having just returned from 3 weeks traveling around Ireland I was surprised at the numbers of places that are inaccessible to people with handicaps. The Rock of Cashel, Cliffs of Mohr, New Grange, Glendalough - all high tourist areas but if you were in a wheelchair or elderly or have difficulty walking you were out of luck. It looked like a new visitors center being built at the Cliffs would help but I couldn't see anything being done at the other areas. At the Rock of Cashel we were able to park in a handicap parking spot but once we walked to the entrace we were met with steps. Inside more steps. Tourism is the main source of income for Ireland and they need to step up and see what can be done to make all their major tourist areas accessible to all
Vicki Blake <email>
Spring, Texas USA Mon 05/01/2006
Touring Ireland
My friend and I just returned from a 3 week drive through of Ireland and found a number of touriest sites were inaccessible to those with handicaps or the elderly. Check ahead before you make a special trip to a some place like the Cliffs of Moar and then realize the walk to the Cliffs is beyond your capacity and there is no other way to reach the view.
Vicki Blake
Spring, TX USA Thu 04/27/2006
Rome has Living Angels
Rome is not a great city if you have disabilities. My husband has a problem walking so we use a wheelchair.
Not knowing what to expect I think you should always get a PRIVATE tour guide. I know it can be expensive but I tell them why we need a private tour.
A company in Rome actually knocks down the price on a private tour if you have such problems.
www.angeltoursrome.com
They charged my fmaily of eight (inlaws) 35euro per person for each tour, they charge 25 euros per person for a group tour and usually 50e per person for a private. I know it changes so please dont quote me on this, I wouldnt want to upset them as they are so kind.
Anyhow they do understand your situation and get you and all the family pass lines and right up infront of the most interesting things. It made our trip so much more rewarding. It is a pity they are not yet set up in Florence, we needed them there.
But then thats a whole new story for another day.
But be sure, Rome is not well organised. Angel Tours Rome makes up for that
Thanks guys
Elaine
Elaine Miller
London, USA Wed 03/29/2006
London Accessability
London is pretty accessible, but not like NYC. My 85 year old mother and I went there a year ago and found we could go most places with a wheelchair. We used black cabs many times and had no problem. However, my mother was able to stand up, step into the cab and get to a seat. I found that most curbs had been cut down to accommodate a wheelchair as the Disability law has just gone into effect, but that not all were actually cut deeply enough for her chair to roll across. Occassionally it would bump a higher one and, try as I might, I could not get it to go over. When that happened my mother would have to get out of the chair and walk a few steps until I could get the wheelchair all the way onto the sidewalk where she could settle back into it. While that worked for us, it might not for others. Also, we had a few scarey moments when a traffic light changed as we were trying to force the chair to roll over a particularly high curb cut and the traffic hurtled at us - London cars stop at nothing. Additionally, while the underground must accommodate wheelchairs by law, in practice it does not always do so smoothly; and in spite of its name, not all of it is underground. Returning from a visit to Greenwich which we had gone to by a comfortable boat ride that morning, we needed to change trains during the ride only to find ourselves stranded on an elevated platform open to the elements with the weather deteriorating into a nasty, wind driven rain. We were unable to access the elevator that was supposed to take people in wheelchairs down to the next level to change trains - its scaner refused our ticket. It took twenty minutes or more to locate a security guard to help us and to find him I had to leave my mother to go downstairs into the main part of the station. Fortunately there were three of us traveling together, so she was never alone. But, it was an uncomfortably cold experience for her.
sunny H
NYC, ny USA Wed 03/08/2006
Scotland Travel
I traveled with a wheelchair bound friend to Scotland May 2005. With the exception of pushing the chair up some sizable hills, I found Scotland to be very accessible. The UK has recently (2004) enacted their own version of the ADA, and with the exception of reworking the insides of 400 year old buildings, we were able to see most attractions that we wanted to. Trains, city buses and of course taxis are all very accessible. The people are all very friendly and helpful. The tourism bureau offers booklets specifically for accessible travel (accomodations and attractions rated on level of accessibility) at www.visitscotland.com It was a wonderful trip and I definitely recommend it.
Holly <email>
Richmond, VA USA Tue 03/07/2006
Accessble Europe
I have used a wheelchair since a toboggan accident in 1969. Since then I have traveled extensively in France and less so in Germany and Belgium. In fact, I completed my BA in French at the University of Toulouse in 1972.
My observations about European travel, at least for someone who cannot walk or stand at all, is that it's still pretty much impossible to travel independently in Europe. For all my trips (1971-72, 1974, and 1995) I had the help of my sister or my husband and I needed it nearly everywhere we went.
A couple of points:
--although the international symbol of access (that little wheelchair on a blue background) is showing up, there are really no enforced standards that attach to it. This is unfortunately not much different than here in the US, where recently I've found "accessible" hotel rooms with unusable tubs or showers and beds that are about 45 inches high (the accessible height is 19-20 inches). It seemed in many hotels in France that "access" meant inclusion of a ramp, and a very steep one at that. One "accessible" hotel in Grenoble had such a narrow hallway to the rooms that the concierge just said I should crawl on the floor to reach the room. I have no idea what the room itself looked like, as I didn't take him up on that suggestion. In Germany, even in new buildings "built after WWII" the elevator started on the second floor, leaving a whole flight of stairs to climb before "access" kicked in. The lesson is that you really can't rely on guidebooks or brochures that show the access symbol, so it's still hard to book in advance unless you actually talk with the hotel management. And even then, it's nearly guaranteed you'll need some kind of assistance if you are more than just a little bit mobility limited.
--It might be best to start a stay in a boring old American-clone hotel for one night, until you can get your bearings and have a day or two to look around for a "better" place to stay. And, I'd never be able to travel for a short time or on a tour because everything does take me longer than the rest of the world. We found that a car was still our best bet for traveling around since it gave us flexibility of schedule and location. Maybe things have changed in the past 10 years, but I could never make the public transportation system work when I was in France in '95. All the people were very nice and helpful, but the ends of each trip couldn't be assured. I didn't try the TGV, so I don't know if that has been figured out (entry/exit, food service, seating, and restrooms).
I'd love to know more about your research, too. Did you have standards against which you measured access? Did you use a wheelchair in your reviews?
Another question: have you done any research on house sharing options for access? Do you know any resources I might find on that?
Terry Moore <email>
Garden Home, OR USA Sun 02/26/2006
Rhine Valley Accomodations
We are traveling in Europe in April with a teen in a wheelchair. I am currently trying to find accomodations in the Rhine Valley that are wheelchair accessible and would prefer a castle for the fun of it. I've e-mailed about 10 of them and no one has a room (knew it would be a long shot to start with) but figured that I would put a note here to see if anyone knew of anything?
Meg <email>
Papillion, NE USA Sun 01/29/2006
Spain in a Wheelchair
I took a trip to Barcelona, Seville, Granada, Madrid, & Toledo and managed to succefully navigate in a wheelchair. Madrid was the easiest to get around...all of the major sights are within rolling distance (although it takes some muscles to get up the hill going from the Prado to the main square). Barcelona is easy to see on a hop on hop off bus. The Alhambra in Granada had a lot of cobblestone and was a challenge and I took a taxi back to the parking lot after it was done. Seville was very easily navigable. Perhaps the best part of the trip was renting a car in Seville and driving to Granada and back through the hill towns. Toledo was the most difficult but well worth it. At some places I let my friends push me because of the steep hills. If I had known where the hills were I would've been alright. Overall it was the best trip I've ever been on. If you have any questions, let me know!
John Sage <email>
Houston, TX USA Wed 01/11/2006
Cabs In London
I too am sorry and sad that the Browns had difficulties with the cabs in London. Living and working in London I use them every daywith my electric wheelchair, To get an idea of how the ramp workd the cab manufacturers have videos on their site : www.lti.co.uk
Tony
London, UK Sat 01/07/2006
London Black Cabs
I am sorry to hear that the Browns of St. Louis had trouble with the black cabs of London. I have had only great success with them. The cabbies were helpful and we were never denied service (I think there is a law about that). The hotel called one for us a few times and we were never charged extra. The only place in Europe that we were denied service was in Florence; all it took there was a phone call from the TI office to the cab company and there were no further problems.
Kaye Norlin <email>
La Salle, IL USA Thu 01/05/2006