Me time Chic trip! Just how easy is it to travel to Paris and enjoy the sights if you use a wheelchair and have arthritis? our intrepid traveller finds out words: Sharon Kilty G oing on holiday as a wheelchair user isnt always easy and, as my arthritis has progressed over the last few years, Ive lost confidence in my ability to travel. Buthaving been taken on a lovely cruise a few months ago, I decided it was time to bite the bullet and take a trip to Paris with my daughter, andI began to research some of the difficulties I might face. I started reading travel blogs to see what my chances of being able to travel around Paris were, and realised that it would probably be easier than travelling round a lot of UK cities. A core reason for this is because Paris city bus service has been made fully accessible to wheelchair users. All buses have a ramp that comes out in the middle entrance of the bus, so you can go straight on and park yourself in the disabled parking square, which is marked on the floor. Armed with this information, I began booking hotels and trains. My experience of travelling on trains in the UK has been extremely hit and miss. On the day we departed, my train into St Pancras, London, caused the usual anxiety because despite booking assistance beforehand the guards were surprised and unprepared for myarrival. Once we were at the Eurostar check-in, however, life became easier. I had booked a seat on the Eurostar as a wheelchair user, so they already knew which seat I was travelling in. The other delight was that I was upgraded for free, and enjoyed a meal at my table while travelling at great speed through the countryside. In France, Id booked a hotel at Gare du Nord, close to the station. Here, my daughter and I encountered our first problem. Despite requesting a wheelchairaccessible room and phoning the hotel to confirm this, we were confronted with a tiny room that I could only just get my wheelchair into. The hotel was full, so we couldnt move to a different room. We had no plans to be in the room for any length of time, but this would have been extremely frustrating had we been staying for a few days. Itturned out that the best laid plans dont always work out. Thankfully, I had prepared for this possibility by bringing extra painkillers, my own pillow and various other comforts to ensure I would get the best nights sleep regardless. Access all areas Wandering around Paris held no other major barriers for us, and the problems we did face were easily overcome On our first morning, we went to a local caf to have breakfast. The biggest issue I found in Paris is that a lot of the cafs and restaurants while having chairs and tables outside under canopies do not tend to have wheelchair access into the restaurant. Those that do are hugely cluttered once you get inside the door, and waiters have to perform masterly furniture removal procedures to get you settled at a table. This can feel rather embarrassing as you become the centre of attention when the entire restaurant is being reorganised around you. However, it seemed to be perfectly acceptable and nobody batted an eyelid, so my daughter and I very quickly got used to this procedure and started to laugh about it. Wandering around Paris held no other major barriers for us, and the problems we did face were easily overcome. A key thing to remember is that if you are disabled, entrance to any of the major attractions in Paris for both yourself and your carer is free. On the whole, I had no problems finding disabled toilets, and most of them were of outstanding quality. Overcoming challenges The most restrictive element of travelling around was the capacity of my wheelchair battery. The trickiest place to visit in Paris proved to be the Sacr-Coeur as it is set on a hill. Fortunately, theres a funicular railway that takes you within a very short distance of the building. My main piece of advice to anyone planning to make this journey or similar trips abroad would be to plan in advance and create an itinerary. Make notes of all the alternative entrances that you will need to access, and prepare as best you can for any surprises. A big concern of mine was having a bad arthritis flare and being unable to control my pain level. I prepared for this as best I could by taking extra medication with me and as many comforts as possible. Its also useful to go with a relaxed attitude and a good sense of humour, as there will always be some things you cant prepare for. As a result of this success, my daughter and I are now planning another trip via the Eurostar, as we both prefer train travel to flying. It can be quite daunting to do these things for the first time but, if you do your research and prepare for things, you can travel with confidence. tips on traveLLing tips on traveLLing n If you would like tips on travelling with arthritis, call Arthritis Cares free helpline on 0808 800 4050. Our trained helpline team can offer information and can also send you a copy of our Travelling
