Italy with 78 year old w/ walking trouble

[Anonymous]

Dh wants me to take his mom on a trip to Italy before the end of the year. I know it's late planning this but I always plan trips last minute and it always works out fine. I've never been to Italy (but I've traveled elsewhere in Europe) and she has never been out of the USA before. My husband has spent tons of time in Italy for work in the mid-2000s and would like to have his mom go to the main touristy sites of Rome, Venice, and maybe another city. She has knee problems and can't walk for long periods of time. He seems to think she can do this but I don't. I think of Rome or any european city and I immediately think "lots of walking!" I also worry about her tripping and falling on the cobblestones. She also doesn't like stairs. This just seems like it would be too much for her. He counters with, "well, how to all these other retirees get around Europe?" (River cruises or they're just in better shape, I say).

And I know y'all will ask - why isn't he going? He doesn't have any PTO left, and I have 3 weeks I need to burn by 12/31 or I lose it. I have one week accounted for, so this trip could be two weeks if needed. I've taken her on trips but it's always been usa road trips to national parks with the overlooks right in the parking lot, ya know?

Thoughts ? Or any other ideas on where I could take her? Like I mentioned, we've done all of the National Park stuff out west. I thought about Iceland as I've been there before and that's an easy road trip place, however, I went in summer. November or December weather there can be a beast.

[Anonymous]

Do a river cruise. I have a friend who’s in her 40s and she said it was a lot of fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do a river cruise. I have a friend who’s in her 40s and she said it was a lot of fun.

+1, I hate cruises but this is really the ideal scenario for one.

[Anonymous]

Your husband sounds dreadful.

[Anonymous]

How much does she want to see of these sites? Is it like a "see from the outside and click a pic"? Or go inside and read all information cards?

If she just wants to go for the sake of saying she's seen all the big sites, you can problem find special tours. At minimum, a lot of Euro cities have tuktuks or three-wheelers that can zip you around for a 1-2 hour tour.

[Anonymous]

We took my mother-in-law to Greece this past spring. She has similar mobility issues and before the trip I convinced her to bring a walker. It was small and folding, and it saved the trip. She was able to do most things, albeit at a slower pace and my husband are three kids and I. We did take a cruise but got off and really toured every port and she did it all with the exception of climbing to the top of a few ruin sites at Corinth and Delphi.
She had an amazing time and after four years of sitting at home doing nothing during and after Covid, it really made her feel like she’s able to travel again. She and my husband are going on a European river cruise next month. At 80 I think she has felt like her life is sort of over in terms of being able to travel and now she sees that it is still possible.
I would suggest that you do it with help, meaning get private guides for the sites you really want to see, plan lots of breaks, plan transportation ahead of time, and lots of downtime needed. Since you’d be the one with her the itinerary is up to you.
In Rome there are lots of things to do from cars/golf carts and you can enjoy lots of sitting in cafes etc without much trouble. Venice does have the issue of stairs and steep bridges which could be a challenge but you can take boats most places. I’d probably do Rome and Florence if you want a land-based trip and spend a few days in Tuscany as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do a river cruise. I have a friend who’s in her 40s and she said it was a lot of fun.

OP's MIL is 78-not in her 40's.

My MIL has limited mobility due to hip replacements and while they've done some Viking River cruises, they mainly stuck to the boat, even while in port. The excursions still require some mobility.

[Anonymous]

I think this is doable, but I would approach it from "we are taking a taxi everywhere." This is more of a "sipping cappuccino in a sidewalk café while the world swirls around you" versus "I will visit the Vatican AND the spanish steps AND the colesseum before noon to check everything off my list! then tour the gelato factory and learn to make pasta and craft a Venetian mask and also go to a mock venetian ball. All on the same day I arrive on my red-eye flight from LA."

Book hotels that have accessible entrances and rooms--ensure that there are no stairs to the lobby for example (although sometimes these very clever lifts are hidden in the steps.)

Book a golf cart tour of Rome, boat tour around Venice. Taxi everywhere around the city. And I mean everywhere--if your restaurant is five blocks away, get a taxi.

Also have really good medical insurance with medical evacuation in case she falls and breaks her hip. (or you get injured and your husband has to fly out to pick both of you up.)

[Anonymous]

Venice

Stay here. https://www.capisanihotel.it/it/

Both my parents had limited walking. My sister got married in Italy and wanted my parents to come.

This place is not on the water it is 1 block away. There are 2-3 steps to enter the hotel. The hotel has an elevator and also has good restaurant on site.

If your mother can walk 1/2 block to the vaporetto she can ride around on the vaporetto and take short stops off of the vaporetto. My parents rode all over Venice on the Vaporetto.

My parents were both happy they went.

[Anonymous]

Viking River Cruise for sure.

[Anonymous]

she has never been out of the USA before

This is a very bad idea. At 78, I do not see this being a good idea. She has no idea if she can (physically) do this or not.

[Anonymous]

15:36 poster

I've been to Venice in both November and December. It is a nice time to visit. You need a good winter coat but the crowds are gone.

[Anonymous]

What does your MIL say about these ideas? I'd let her wants - and her sense of what she can do - guide the planning.

My mom has limited mobility in her early 80s and touring around would be just impossible now. She and my dad take a lot of cruises - including river cruises - but she rarely leaves the ship. It's just too hard for her. So some of this will also depend on how limited your MIL is. If she can walk, but slowly, then I think a casual, laid back trip to Italy would be fine; if she really can't walk much, and doesn't use a chair, then this seems like a recipe for frustration.

And how much do your wants and needs count here? Do you care if this is a trip you enjoy, too, or is the point really just to help your MIL have a good time?

You are really good for considering this, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dh wants me to take his mom on a trip to Italy before the end of the year. I know it's late planning this but I always plan trips last minute and it always works out fine. I've never been to Italy (but I've traveled elsewhere in Europe) and she has never been out of the USA before. My husband has spent tons of time in Italy for work in the mid-2000s and would like to have his mom go to the main touristy sites of Rome, Venice, and maybe another city. She has knee problems and can't walk for long periods of time. He seems to think she can do this but I don't. I think of Rome or any european city and I immediately think "lots of walking!" I also worry about her tripping and falling on the cobblestones. She also doesn't like stairs. This just seems like it would be too much for her. He counters with, "well, how to all these other retirees get around Europe?" (River cruises or they're just in better shape, I say).

And I know y'all will ask - why isn't he going? He doesn't have any PTO left, and I have 3 weeks I need to burn by 12/31 or I lose it. I have one week accounted for, so this trip could be two weeks if needed. I've taken her on trips but it's always been usa road trips to national parks with the overlooks right in the parking lot, ya know?

Thoughts ? Or any other ideas on where I could take her? Like I mentioned, we've done all of the National Park stuff out west. I thought about Iceland as I've been there before and that's an easy road trip place, however, I went in summer. November or December weather there can be a beast.

Still baffled as to why you having more leave than your husband means you should have to use it to shlep his elderly mother around Europe solo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does your MIL say about these ideas? I'd let her wants - and her sense of what she can do - guide the planning.

My mom has limited mobility in her early 80s and touring around would be just impossible now. She and my dad take a lot of cruises - including river cruises - but she rarely leaves the ship. It's just too hard for her. So some of this will also depend on how limited your MIL is. If she can walk, but slowly, then I think a casual, laid back trip to Italy would be fine; if she really can't walk much, and doesn't use a chair, then this seems like a recipe for frustration.

And how much do your wants and needs count here? Do you care if this is a trip you enjoy, too, or is the point really just to help your MIL have a good time?

You are really good for considering this, OP.

^ Me again and super duper procrastinating..,

Just found this website of wheelchair accessible tours of Italy - this could help, if your MIL does use a chair (or is willing to use one): https://disabledaccessibletravel.com/accessible-destinations/italy/