International Travel Companion For People with Reduced Mobility

Experience bilingual female travel guide available to accompany adult or child internationally. I am a piano educator and visual artist.

If you have a 15 year-old daughter who is participating in an international music competition in Paris and you cannot go with her, I would be helpful as a chaperone and translator and ensure she is ready and confident. I will verify all travel details and keep her company in the event flights are delayed. I will ensure the hotel room is clean and safe and would occupy a separate room next door or across the hall and stay there while she is sleeping. (In case she wakes up in the middle of the night and is scared or hungry, she can easily reach me). I will accompany her to the venue nice and early and make sure her clothes are pressed and clean, and shoes shined and hair is nicely coiffed. She could see me in the audience for reassurance. I can even help her prepare with vocal exercises or hand and body exercise for piano competitions. I will ensure she has healthy meals and gets in touch with you at the times you arrange. I will accompany her for sight seeing during the day, in case of a 3-day conference, etc. I will make sure she has her money and understands the currency exchange rates. I'll keep a smile on her face and make sure she has fun.

For accompanying adults - just as a travel buddy with reduced mobility. Strictly platonic. I will arrange for rental of a mobility scooter for each of us. So many travel guides have groups and there is too much walking and too many stairs. It is helpful to have someone arrange a fun itinerary without having to arrange for special entrances to concerts, boat trips, museums, restaurants and so on. When swimming, it is always safer to have a swim buddy.

I would research ahead of time and discover interesting and fun things to do. When travelling alone, you take a chance when asking a stranger to use your camera to take pictures of you by the Louvre, the Eiffel Tour, the beach. I'll take photos of you. I would arrange for there to be a place to sit comfortably on the beach, with shade and spray sun screen on your back. Many people with mobility issues cannot bend down to lie on a blanket on the sand and getting up is even harder.

It's fun to share meals, like Tapas in Spain or Dim Sum in Chinatown I'll find out where to do laundry or dry cleaning. I'll check hotels for the comfort of beds, chairs, sofas and toilets.

It is nice to see theatre or hear a symphony concert with someone. I would accompany you to a night of Karaoke or poetry readings... up to you.

Some hotel and restaurant toilets are too low. On vacation you don't want to ask for special disability bathrooms. I'll make sure that won't be the case.

It's nice to have someone help you find gifts to bring home or postcards and help decide what to write.

I am not a caregiver. I just have experience and sensitivity to needs of people with mobility issues. Another instance is swimming pools that are hard to enter and get out of; the steps are too far apart, there is no handrail, and the ladders have rungs too far apart too. I would ensure that the hotel has easy access without making you feel different than anyone else.

I have a great sense of humour and am a good listener.

All my travel expenses must be paid plus a modest daily salary.

If interested, lease tell me about yourself and send your name, email and phone number.

Thank you.