Ask The Expert!
by Candy Harrington, editor of Emerging Horizons
Slow Walker in Italy
My wife has Sjogren's Syndrome, which is an autoimmune disorder that causes severe fatigue. We would like to go to Italy and since we have not been there before, we are thinking a tour would be a good introduction. Do you know of any companies that have slower paced tours, where you are not on the go from the crack of dawn until after dinner? We need a tour that allows us to start mid-morning and end late afternoon.
In your case, I would recommend a private tour, rather than a group tour, as it will give you more flexibility if your wife has a bad day. Remember, travel can be tiring, even though you are having fun, so fatigue may be a bigger problem when you travel than it is when you are at home.
You didn’t say if your wife uses a wheelchair, but I do recommend that you take one so that she will be more comfortable on days when she is tired. You can find good deals on used manual wheelchairs on Craig’s List, if you don’t have one.
As for a specific tour operators, I’d recommend Vivicos International Travel. This Rome-based tour company specializes in tailor made tours, and they can customize a private tour to suit your particular interests and needs. They provide a wide variety of tour options throughout Italy, and they can also provide lift-equipped transportation if required. I’m sure they can put something together for you, but be sure and stress that you really need a slower paced tour, with a little flexibility for when your wife has a bad day. For more information contact Vivicos through their website at www.vivicostravel.com.
— February 21, 2010
