A new study has revealed which of the most popular travel destinations are the best for retirees or disabled travellers, with Paris found to be the most accessible city in Europe.
The research, by specialist travel insurance provider, Good to go, has explored which of the most popular European travel destinations offer the best options for accessible city breaks, taking into account several important factors that are often considerations for older or disabled travellers, and those living with pre-existing medical conditions.
The destinations were ranked based on a number of factors, including; flight time from the UK, types of public transport, available hospital beds, accessible tours/attractions and restaurant accessibility.
Scoring highly across the board, Paris was revealed as the number one destination. The city of lights ranked in the top five cities across all metrics other than the number of forms of public transport, and the number of accessible attractions.
Top 10 most accessible destinations
- Paris
- Lisbon
- Milan
- Florence
- Venice
- Athens
- Amsterdam
- Prague
- Munich
- Berlin
Three Italian cities (Milan, Florence and Venice) ranked in the top five destinations, with the cultural centre of Florence taking the top spot for both accessible attractions and accessible restaurants. These high rankings came despite the fact that both Florence and Venice rank amongst the bottom cities for available forms of public transport.
Despite being one of the closest destinations in terms of flight time, Dublin ranked fifth bottom in the list. The 1 hour 20 minute flight time did not hide the fact that the Irish capital scores poorly for available forms of public transport and number of hospital beds.
Ranked at the bottom of the list, the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul scored poorly across most metrics. The iconic city does boast some of the best availability in terms of public transport, but ranked last in every other metric.
The 5 least accessible cities
- Istanbul
- Stockholm
- Warsaw
- Madrid
- Dublin
Grant Winter, compliance officer at Good to go, says: “Understandably, for many people living with disabilities, medical conditions or mobility issues, going abroad to an unfamiliar location can be off putting. There are often concerns about leaving an established support network, being able to get around a new city, and what might happen if you need medical attention.
“The good news is that travel is becoming increasingly accessible, with many world class, must see locations being extremely accessible and easy to navigate. Our research found that several of the world’s most iconic, cultural cities are also some of the most accessible, meaning that these destinations offer the perfect travel opportunities for everyone, regardless of age or disability.”
For more information about travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions, with no upper age limit, please visit: https://www.goodtogoinsurance.com/travel-insurance-pre-existing-medical-conditions
