Q. I am a single lady who walks with the aid of a crutch due to having Lupus. I am interested in travelling through Europe. What travel options are there for single women with mobility challenges? - Tanishka du Plessis
A. One of the most visible and welcome benefits of the European Union experiment has been widespread legislation designed to improve the lives of people with disabilities.
Where other countries lag in providing accessible hotels, public transport or attractions, Europe in many places sets the benchmark on how to do it properly.That said, some countries are still better than others, and not only because they have better facilities - while able-bodied travellers may swoon with happiness at the sight of an ancient cobbled street rising up a steep hill in a village in Tuscany, that same street will be a nightmare for anyone who needs to walk with the aid of a cane.
The very age of so many European buildings and tourist attractions means they have difficult access - I can't help thinking of those bitterly steep and narrow staircases in so many French hotels.There are many benefits to travelling by ship, chief of which is that your hotel travels with you and you won't need to lug your bags from place to place.
You unpack once and make your cabin your home. You will also meet like-minded people and are likely to make friends with your fellow voyagers.
There are various cruise lines but your best bet is to see what local agents such as Lifestyle Cruises has on offer. You can also use an operator that specialises in travel for people with disabilities, such as Sage.
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