Lilly2016

Hello Everyone
i am soooo happy i found this group- our travel agent has been clueless and I'm so pressed for time. you all have been so helpful.

I have an 11 year old son with an injured foot. Dr. says he is cleared for Europe in August, but because his foot is still dislocated we don't want him on his foot too much. But don't want to cancel our once in a lifetime trip either. We already switched our planned Spain itinerary to Germany and France. Germany to see family and France to see Paris (Louvre, ET, ND ) ... My question is.. I would like to be able to rent a wheelchair or a scooter to help him with mobility if his foot really hurts and can't walk. Travel agent says Europe is not as accommodating to handicap / injured people. I'm sure that handicap and injured individuals do visit these sites don't they? If you have Any information where I can arrange this accommodation ahead of time. Please Let me know. Thanks so much

StCirq

Every single major (and minor) tourist site in France has an official website. Every one of those websites has information about handicap access. I would be quite sure the same is true of German sites. If you need a wheelchair or scooter for general purposes in France, there are pharmacies you can rent them from. IME, the French are beyond accommodating to handicapped people

When are you going to stop consulting this travel agent? When was the last time s/he set foot in France or Germany?

janisj

>>When are you going to stop consulting this travel agent?<<

Immediately I hope.

You can rent a wheel chair in most cities. And while he won't be able to climb the towers at Notre-Dame -- he will be able to go up the Arc de Triomphe (there is an elevator). Most major sites and museums have loaner wheel chairs.

historytraveler

Can relate my trip to Paris some years ago when I was in a wheelchair. At the Louvre, after they spotted me, waved us through (son and daugher-in-law ) received free admission for myself and person pushing chair. How ‘s that for being accommodating? That was years ago, and I’m sure things have improved. Didn’t miss a site in Paris or London. The problem with many travel agents is that they’ve never been to the places they give advice on. IME, they are completely useless. There are a few exceptions but very few.

suze

Travel agent says Europe is not as accommodating to handicap / injured people. You need a new travel agent.

I have zero experience with your question BUT found the links below in under 2 minutes of a Google search:
https://en.parisinfo.com/practical-p...ng-wheelchairs
https://en.parisinfo.com/practical-p...ility-scooters
https://www.sagetraveling.com/paris-accessible-travel
https://www.mobilityequipmenthiredir...ble-4-wheeled/

StCirq

Same exact thing happened to me, historytraveler, in 2012. Was waved right up to the front of the line with my husband, both got free admission, and were shown how to get to the handicapped restrooms and guided through the Louvre to the places we wanted to see. I've seen numerous examples of this sort of thing all over France.

Lilly2016

thank you so much.

Lilly2016

StCirq and history traveler WOWWWW you have no idea how happy you made me TY soooo much
I told my 11 yo about this and it lessened his anxiety tremendously.
The manager at AAA made me wait 3 precious days for this particular agent (their Europe expert), i guess she's only been on a river cruise not much else. Yes, she has given me such incorrect info. the other one i went to was not much help. I'm pretty good at researching. Just soooo limited with time, as we have 3 other trips before this Europe one and I fell behind with my son's surgery and injury.

Thanks for all your help.

*** I am not planning on taking a wheelchair with us.... did you guys reserve it when you arrived there, or did you get it at the museum ?