We recently received an inquiry through Facebook about handicap facilites.  I thought the discussion might prove of interest to other Karen Brown Travelers and so I decided to include it as a blog.

COMMENT FROM A KB TRAVELER:

KBT travel helped me plan a fantastic trip to Italy 10 years ago and now I want to go to Paris and Provence. anybody with info re wheelchair friendly accommodations in these places, please post. thanks.

OUR RESPONSE:

We do ask the properties we recommend to let us know if they have handicap facilities. If they have indicated that they do, a wheelchair icon will appear with the list of service icons under their description in our printed guides as well as on our website pages. The important thing to consider is that everyone’s needs are specific and since regulations in Europe are not standardized as they are in the United States, if a hotel in Europe says they can accommodate a handicapped guest – it might simply be that they have a ground floor room. So it is very important as the traveler to contact the properties directly to communicate your specific needs and to make sure that your stay will be comfortable.

That being said, I have a wonderful story to share! A close friend who does require a wheelchair selected a property from our guide on the basis of the Wheelchair icon. When she got there and checked in the owner indicated that they didn’t have any ground floor rooms, nor did they have an elevator. Her assigned room, in fact was on the third floor! She then panicked and questioned why they said they were handicap-friendly and HOW was she to get to and from her room. He admitted to identifying their hotel as handicap friendly and he said his reasoning was that he is so strong that he can carry any guest…which in fact he did. He carried our dear friend on his back up and down the stairs!!!  This might make some uncomfortable – which again is why it is important as the traveler to communicate our needs – but, not for our dear friend who has returned to this wonderful hotel numerous times. As she said to me I have to go while he still has his strength!!!

Thank you for using our recommendations and I hope with time we can get even better and more specific as to the facilities offered by hotels.

Karen