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From Times Online

September 11, 2007

A Paris city break for a wheelchair user

Maureen Robson wants to take her mother to Paris, but needs to know about accessible transport services and hotels

France, Paris, Jardin des Plantes and Grande Galerie de l’ Evolution of the Museum d’ Histoire Naturelle

It’s my mother’s 80th birthday next year and I’d like to take her on a European city break to celebrate, such as Paris, Rome or Florence. She is confined to a wheelchair with Parkinson’s so I need a mode of transport and a hotel that will be easy to access. Can you wheel someone onto the Eurostar to Paris in a wheelchair? And which hotels are a) central and b) wheelchair friendly, also with disabled bathroom facilities? What would you recommend? Maureen Robson, by email

Ginny McGrath, Times Online Travel News Editor, responds: I have got some advice for you from Tourism for All, (email info@tourismforall.org.uk) a charity that provides infomartion about tourism services to disabled people, people in a wheelchair and their carers. They assure me that Eurostar does have wheelchair access in Paris and London.

A statement issued by Eurostar says: "If you make a wheelchair booking on Eurostar you will be travelling in the dedicated wheelchair passenger space located in one of our Leisure Select and Business Premier carriages. A ramp will be available and you will be assisted by Eurostar staff when boarding the train.

"Please arrive at the Eurostar terminal at least 45 minutes before departure and notify a member of staff that you require assistance. You can also make a booking via our contact centre please call 08705 186 186 or 0044 1233 617 575 for which there is a fixed booking fee of £5. There are toilets located at each end of every carriage. There are also disabled toilets and baby changing facilities available."

Further to that, Tourism for All recommends the Access in Paris Guide for accommodation.

A further link they have suggested in the dedicated section of the tourist board site, listing hotels that have the "tourisme et handicaps" label, i.e. hotels that have been inspected for suitability under either or all of physical, mental, hearing or visual impairment categories. The organisation who does the inspections is at www.tourisme-handicaps.org but it is only in French.