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Viewing Romantic Trips to Rome, Italy for Disabled TravelersRomantic Trips to Rome, Italy for Disabled Travelers
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No more are wheelchair-bound people limited to enjoying foreign destinations by paging through exotic travel catalogues. Many places in the world have identified a new niche in the tourism market, and now cater to the disabled on a big scale. By Gaizka Pujana No more are wheelchair-bound people limited to enjoying foreign destinations by paging through exotic travel catalogues. In recent years, many places in the world have identified a new niche in the tourism market and have started to cater to the disabled on a big scale. In fact, organized tours offer trips to wheelchair-friendly hotels, museums, and other places of interest so that disabled travelers can enjoy their destination just as much as the next traveler. Rome, the grand capital of Italy, is no exception. Roma has joined this trend in a big way. Admittedly, in the past, Rome seemed to be oblivious to the daily trials of wheelchair-bound locals and visitors as they tried to maneuver their way around the City and enter buildings that were not easily accessible. However, it is heartening to see that many new building projects have considered the disabled, and are now providing ramps and lift features that would not have been in place perhaps a decade ago. There are many things to consider when planning a trip to Rome, especially when you need to consider the use of a wheelchair as well. The first thing to think about is where you are going to stay. The logical choice, of course, is to pick hotels that are as centrally located as possible so that you do not have to travel great distances to sightsee. Simply being in the heart of the City, near wonderful old buildings or plazas, is great in itself, and it is definitely worth compromising on grandeur and opulence by downgrading to a slightly less expensive hotel that is well placed. When making a reservation, be sure to determine if the hotel has wheelchair-accessible rooms and check the height of the beds, the size of the room, and other important features such as grab bars in the bathtub, and wall-mounted flush buttons for the toilets. Also, ensure that the elevator door will open to a size that will accommodate you and your traveling companion, and that there are no unforeseen obstacles such as front stairs instead of ramps. Rome is a city like no other, and you will definitely want to tour as many sites as you can. The first floors of many of the major museums are wheelchair-accessible. Unfortunately, many of the second floors can be reached only via a stairwell. It may be worth contacting the museums in advance to see what types of facilities they have (including accessible bathrooms) and ask if they can make special arrangements (such as opening side doors, etc.). Take the Vatican Museums as an example. For starters, wheelchair-bound visitors are allowed to jump the long lines and may enter ahead of other tourists. Thereafter, most of these magnificent buildings are reasonably accessible. The Sistine Chapel is accessed by a lift and then a steep ramp, while a separate elevator enters other areas of the museum. In general, it is advisable to visit all museums as early in the day as possible in order to avoid the bustle of the crowds and to have the full attention of museum personnel. Traveling around Rome is easiest done by hailing one of the many cabs, although it is possible to do so by bus. Walking/rolling around the City may be a bit of a challenge due to the heavy congestion, cars parked on the curbs, and uneven cobbled roads. However, a little determination, forethought, and innovation will ensure that you and your traveling companion enjoy a remarkable and truly unforgettable visit to this grand old City. About the Author: Gaizka Pujana is the co-owner of Barcelona Homes, S.L., a company that specializes in providing short-term tenancy solutions in Seville and Barcelona through its web pages: Appartement Rome, Rome apartments, and Accommodation in Rome. Article Source: Adult Escapes - http://www.AdultEscapes.com More free articles: 1st Rate Articles - 1stRateArticles.com |
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