Holiday for Mum

cepheus

Hi, I am looking for holiday ideas for my Mum which won't be too stressful. Seems like mission impossible!

My Mum is 86yo, and semi invalid, so she can walk a little using a wheely aid, but has begun to use a portable wheelchair when getting on and off the plane for her last holiday. Greater problems can quickly flare though, hence my reluctance to book ahead or be tied. She thinks I worry too much.

The last three vacations have had mixed luck to say the least.

My mum booked a trip to Egypt with my Brother's family 3 years ago but no-one checked there were no lifts in the hotel, and she ended up had to share a room with them (long story). She felt quite isolated at times since it was generally too much for her to go on coach trips.

2 years ago Mum went on a cruise with me, this started badly since neither of us could get any sleep having cabins below the kitchen which worked all night with rattlung trolleys. After being moved to a different cabin she generally enjoyed it and made some friends, but getting on and off the ship was difficult without a smooth ramp.

Last year she went to Turkey with my Brother and nearly got badly injured when on a horizontal escalator at Manchester airport which turned into a vertical one whilst she was still in a wheelchair! This shook her up badly.

Insurance is difficult but just possible, especially in the EU. She lives in Lancashire England and me in the South, so I would need to drive up. Somehow I can't face travelling up North to come down to Southamption or Dover again (and again) so this limits the cruises to Liverpool and possibly Hull. She likes warmth and sun.

Options:

Her preference is for a Rhine cruise, possibly from Hull? Is this practical without a lot of changing? She thinks good weather is likely there, I'm not too sure.

I suspect this Spain/Morocco cruise from Liverpool to is more practical. Hopefully the engine will be quieter than the last one.

More ambitious holiday, see her Brother who she hasn't seen for 60 years in Austalia (very long trip but this might require less chopping and changing than the Rhine cruise, and people could gve us lifts to and from the airports)

My preference, probably to wait for a warm (and healthy period) drive up there and take her to a country hotel for a week in the car.

I have Fibromyalgia but just manage, my main problem is sitting for long periods and insomnia, anything disturbs it!

PasturesNew

You could look through this for ideas and options http://www.disabledholidaydirectory.co.uk/

e.g. they have some recommended cruise lines http://www.disabledholidaydirectory.co.uk/about/disabled-cruises.html

tiamaria

Can't offer much help but I'd like to say good on your mum - mine is 82 and won't even go into the town to shop (& she lives just off the main street), won't go hardly anywhere so your mum is brilliant even to consider a big holiday.

Would add that Aus is a helluva long journey and I would recommend business class up if she can afford it - I really think that economy would be too much for someone that age.

alocacoc

hi great your mum wants to do this with you but everything youve done sounds very stressful complicated and ended up as a problem

why not just book some simple flights to spain so short flights no faffing
Ive never had a hotel with no lifts in spain?

and just take a stroll relax in the sun on the balcony etc

Bronnie

I know it seems hassle and you have health problems yourself, but heck! if you can manage it and (she sounds raring to go) let her fulfill her dreams. She's 86!!!

There can be lots of help for disabled travellers, especially if you plan plan plan before you go! How amazing for her to see her brother again after 60 years if that's what she wants.

If you are well enough to facilitate that trip to Australia and laid back enough to go with the flow and accept the limitations and restrictions that travelling with an 86 year old inevitably bring, that would be an amazing thing to do for your mum.

If she has the money to spend, then use it; spend as much as possible as suggested, to make the trip as comfortable as possible.

Years ago, when my kids were small, I managed to take my mum on a little trip to fulfill a dream of hers. Nowhere near as ambitious as your mum's plans, but at the time, it seemed like a lot of organisation and hassle with medical equipment, kids, buggies and wheelchairs. She passed away, the following Spring and sorting through her things, I found her diaries and letters from her friends she'd visited that made me realise how much the trip had meant to her and I can't begin to tell you how glad I've felt in the 10 years that have ensued, that I'd managed to fulfill her dreams.

cepheus

alocacoc wrote: »

hi great your mum wants to do this with you but everything youve done sounds very stressful complicated and ended up as a problem

why not just book some simple flights to spain so short flights no faffing
Ive never had a hotel with no lifts in spain?

and just take a stroll relax in the sun on the balcony etc

Well this is equivalent to the trip to Turkey and look what happened there with the airport escalator. Flying can be very stressful, with volcanoes, snow, (a bomb alert delayed this flight), my Dad (who has now passed away) was sick on an aircraft due to the pressure change and nearly died. Travelling involves enough stress for me as well as older people, and I can't help think a less exotic holiday, one were I drive her 50 miles in a car to a hotel would be more relaxing!

I will contact a relative today to see how much changing around is required on these Rhine cruises.

Alan_Bowen

The first thing I would do is check out the vessel, the Olympia, to see if it has a lift as the description on the tour operators website makes it clear you would have to move from deck to deck from lounge to restaurant and then back to the cabins. On small river cruisers the stairs can be steep and only a few have lifts. The ferry from Hull shouldn't be a problem but find out how long the coach journey is to meet the cruise as getting on and off coaches may also be a problem if she has to do it three or four times a day

Jake'sGran

I really admire your Mum. She is obviously prepared to go anywhere despite past traumas. I can't get insurance (heart problem) and have considered just having the basic - loss, damage etc - but my OH is not interested so it's a NO GO all round.

I'd like to go to OZ to see my sister for a last time and would only go Club Class or First but the length of the flight is a grueller, usually 14 hours plus another five for the last lap. Emirates are said to be the best carrier.

I'm not sure a cruise is ideal either because of her mobility problems. But if she really fancies one it would be best to go on one of the luxury ships.

cepheus

Jake'sGran wrote: »

I can't get insurance (heart problem) and have considered just having the basic - loss, damage etc - but my OH is not interested so it's a NO GO all round

Presumably you have checked

http://www.ehicplus.com/?referer=mse1

although this is only OK for Europe

Mum has diet diabetes, angina and oesteoprosis

knightstyle

My 89 year old MIL srays with us every year in France and has a great time. Flying Flybe who look after her but the ferry companies are good as well. Look at Gites de France and tick the handicape box when searching.

travellerboy

The flight to Australia is a hell, can be up to 36hrs if you are unlucky. The only way, with your problems, is first class, Expensive !

I would agree the least hassle would be a cruise, suggest Holland America Cruise as they are geared-up for the elderly and disabled. They do have cruises from/to UK and the disabled cabins are bigger.