Have Scooter, Will Travel ...
to Rome by train
by Jann Hartman

Our first stop in Italy was a brief stay at the Milano train station, where we changed trains to Rome.  We were met by a man with a scissors lift whose job it was to off load me riding my three-wheel scooter.  Our train was late getting into Milano, but within the hour we were put on another train to Rome termini (main train station).

Even though we spoke no Italian, we found a little HS Spanish can actually go a long way in Italy.  We bought  Eurail Passes before we left the US, and we often made reservations for the trains (even though it cost a few extra dollars). On overnight trains, we opted for a sleeper rather than sharing a six bunk "couchette." Again, we paid a little extra for sleepers, but it was well worth it to us. And there was always room for my little scooter to park in the room with us. A bit crowded at times, but safe!

Since our schedule only allowed two partial days in Rome before moving on to visit relatives in Sicily, we wanted a nice leisurely walking tour starting and ending at the train station. After depositing our luggage in a locker, we found a tour guide at the tourist information office at the station. We opted to pay him for a private tour for the same price as a bus tour. It was a good experience for us all.

As an able-bodied person, our guide had little experience with having to navigate the streets of Rome with a person in a scooter. He became very good at looking for the few cutouts and paths of least resistance that made touring safer and easier for us all. He even shared our frustration at cars parked blocking the few curb cuts.

We got to see the famous Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Arch of Constantine, the Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, and much more. Our guide made sure to take pictures of us various places like the Tivoli Fountain where we tossed in a few coins (to assure that we would return to Rome someday).

The nice thing for me about having our own guide is that you can set your own pace: resting and eating, as needed. They have good maps, but I was much more interested in making sure I wasn't run over by the traffic. We got a really nice guide book and some postcards to read about where we had been. A private guide is very helpful in negotiating prices, too. There is so much to see and do in Rome that it would takes days, even weeks to do it justice. But, even if you are just passing through by train you can get a nice "taste of Rome" in a day or so.

Do make sure you know the name of the hotel where you are staying. Take one of their business cards or have them write down the name and address as not all hotels have signs outside the building. We stayed a few blocks away from the train station, but I could never recommend it for anyone with a handicap. The room was nice, but the elevator was way too small (we had to take the scooter apart to get it in the elevator, necessitating several trips).

We found out that just asking if they have an elevator is not enough. After finding this problem here and elsewhere in Europe, we were much more careful in checking out the accommodations, never taking anyone's word that the hotel or rooms were suitable for our needs. It is best to go and see for yourself as everyone has different requirements.

We also traveled in October when it is a little less busy. That way we could make our own arrangements upon arriving at the train station. We would often "wheel" down the street until we found a hotel with no steps (or a rare ramp). Other times, I would wait in the train station (usually in the tourist bureau or ticket area) while John would find a suitable hotel and book us a room. This worked well for us in Italy and throughout Europe. Another way to find a place to stay is through a taxi driver. We often got walking directions for places close by.

I did not expect Europe to be as accessible as it is in most places in the US. After all, Rome is an ancient city, and cobblestones and steps are everywhere. But, what I needed and got was reasonable accommodation.

Jann and John with son and wife in Taormina, Sicily

I do wish they had a chair or bench available to use in the shower. That was impossible to get. In the future, I would learn a few phrases to ask for help or assistance. The longer you spend in an area the more you learn about where and how you can travel the best.

If you take a scooter (or motorized wheelchair), you will have to know some things about your vehicle, adapters, and electricity. For instance, you need to know where and how to charge your scooter's battery. Be sure your vehicle is in tip-top shape before you leave home. We had several minor mishaps, but had simple tools with us in order to reattach wires and such.

My Amigo scooter has some wear and tear from our travels, but that's no problem. I was much more concerned that we all arrived together. We went prepared, had a wonderful time, and very few problems. We found helpful people everywhere and we tried to be as flexible as possible. Maybe, we will return to Rome someday...you just never know!

"People in wheelchairs place the greatest demands on accessibility...
But when a building meets the wheelchair user standards, everyone benefits!"

Here are some links you may find interesting and useful:
Travel and Tourism for All
Have Scooter, Will Travel
Electricity 101

Copyright © 2001 Jann Hartman
Published April 2, 2001

Questions about planning a similar trip? Comments for the author?
arojann@yahoo.com

Jann and John have traveled extensively. They have enjoyed cruises to the Caribbean, Panama Canal (and San Blas Islands), and South America, family vacations in the Canadian Maritimes, on the island of Montserrat and also to the Dutch island of Saba, NA. For their 30th anniversary, they traveled through 11 European countries in 27 days by train. They are always on the lookout for a new travel experience.

Jann had Polio as a child in PA, and has recently had to get a three-wheeled scooter for mobility. So, while they intend to keep traveling, they are looking into ways to make it do-able for them with these new restrictions. Due to health problems with Post Polio Syndrome, they may be using a travel trailer to go to places in the US and Canada. Jann has been to the 48 contiguous states. While not sure she will ever get to Alaska or Hawaii...she doesn't rule them, or other places, out.
Have Scooter...Will Travel!

You'll find a list of Internet sources for differently-abled travelers on our links page, and you'll likely enjoy Rome on Wheels about getting around Rome in a wheelchair.

Would you like to add an article about your travel experiences in Europe? It's easy to do.

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