Five Tips for Picturesque Paris
After an amazing trip to Amsterdam last year, I wanted to go on another adventure by travelling on the Eurostar. For someone with a disability, it’s the only realistic way of travelling abroad with my electric wheelchair.
After a lot of deliberation, we decided on Paris.
I had never been before. My mum and dad, who I was holidaying with, had visited many years ago and wanted to see how the so-called City of Light had changed.
In this blog I’m going to share my honest thoughts on the trip and a few tips from my experience, not only from this holiday but from travelling as a disabled person more generally. Hopefully there are a few helpful ideas amongst my ramblings.
Tip Number One – Travel in style with Eurostar
I’m sure you’re not surprised by my first tip, but I would highly recommend Eurostar.
Quite simply, it has opened up the opportunity for me to travel abroad with my electric wheelchair, giving me far greater independence while on holiday.
Booking is straightforward. Eurostar has a dedicated accessibility team who can arrange your tickets and any assistance you need, whether that’s a ramp, luggage support or anything else, all in one phone call.
The best part, however, is that the wheelchair spaces are in First Class. As part of the
experience, you get access to the lounge at St Pancras and your ticket includes a light meal and drink on board.
As I was travelling with my parents, one of their tickets qualified for a companion discount,
while we paid full price for the third ticket. Even so, Eurostar did everything they could to seat us together.
Tip Number Two – Book an accessible vehicle in advance
When booking the Eurostar, I also asked for recommendations for an accessible taxi in Paris. They suggested G7, who have a dedicated English-speaking booking line. I was able to reserve a vehicle with a ramp that accommodated my wheelchair.
Our driver spoke English and met us on the platform holding a welcome board, making the whole arrival process stress-free.
One lesson I learned was to book the return journey through the same booking line. Instead, I arranged it directly with the driver, who later cancelled. Given how easy the original booking was, I should have sorted both journeys at the same time.
Tip Number Three – Use the hop-on, hop-off bus
Whenever I visit a new city, I like to start with a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus. It’s a brilliant way to get your bearings while giving you the flexibility to stop wherever you’d like to explore.
Paris is huge, covering more than 100 square kilometres, so when you’re using a powered wheelchair you need to think about battery life. The sightseeing bus was the quickest and most efficient way to travel between attractions.
We bought a 24-hour ticket and visited Notre-Dame Cathedral, one of the highlights of the trip.
We also stopped for a stroll along the Champs-Élysées and then the following morning we visited the Eiffel Tower before the time on our ticket finished.
The tickets weren’t cheap, but it felt like good value. Given the distances involved, we would probably have spent a similar amount on taxis.
Tip Number Four – Never assume an attraction isn’t accessible
One thing I’ve learned from travelling with my powered wheelchair is never to assume somewhere isn’t accessible. You might be pleasantly surprised.
We enjoyed a boat trip along the River Seine, just as we had on the canals in Amsterdam the previous year, and both experiences were fully accessible.
It often takes a bit of research, either online or through your hotel, but it’s always worth investigating before ruling somewhere out.
For example, the Eiffel Tower has lifts to the lower levels, while although not every part of Notre-Dame was accessible, we could still explore sections of the cathedral and comfortably make our way around the outside.
You may not be able to experience every part of an attraction, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth visiting. Ask questions, do your research and don’t cross places off your itinerary too quickly.
Tip Number Five – Don’t forget your Blue Badge
My final tip is simple: always remember your Blue Badge.
When we visit Spain (a country we visit regularly) without my electric wheelchair, we usually hire a car, and I regularly forget to pack my disabled parking badge. It’s always so much easier
parking in unfamiliar towns and cities when you have access to disabled parking.
Being able to use the same badge across Europe, regardless of the vehicle you’re driving, is incredibly helpful and can make travelling much less stressful.
Needless to say, I receive plenty of stick from my fellow travellers whenever I forget it.
In summary
I enjoy holidays so much more when I have my electric wheelchair. The independence it gives me really enhances the experience.
Of course, there’s always a risk. The thought of my wheelchair breaking down abroad isn’t one I enjoy thinking about. However, whenever I’ve encountered problems while travelling, people have always been willing to help, which gives me confidence that solutions can usually be found if the worst does happen.
Paris is an incredible city with so much to see and do. We barely scratched the surface. It’s also vast, which may make you question taking an electric wheelchair or visiting with a disability at all. However, you can see from my experience, visiting Paris and taking my electric wheelchair were absolutely the right decisions.
Whether you’re thinking about Paris or another European destination, I hope this has given you a few practical ideas and perhaps the confidence to take that first trip if you’ve been putting it off.
