Location Guides – An Introduction
(Last Updated February 28, 2025)
Read this first: What to expect from each of Have Age Will Travel Location Guides
Location Guides are an extremely helpful resource as you plan your trips. They also fuel your travel dreams and help you decide where you want to go. General location guides are available by the dozen, but Have Age Will Travel location guides will be your go-to guide for mobility!
What is True about each Location Guide
Each Location Guide includes posts titled: Overview, Terrain, Mobility Requirements for the Most Visited Sites and Transportation. See below for descriptions of each.
The Overview Post:
This post is the location’s snapshot post. This may be a location you know very little about and would like to learn more. Perhaps it is already a place on your radar and you want to start gathering general information. It could also be a place you are already planning to visit. In any of these cases, this post is the mobility starting point for each location. It covers general mobility considerations and links to other posts that will get into the specifics! Also, these posts are great ones to send to your fellow travelers to gauge their interest!
An Overview: Paris and your Mobility
Vienna and your Mobility – an Overview
The Mobility Requirements for the Most Visited Sites Post:
Critically, in these location guide posts, I discuss what is required of you physically at the location’s major sites. Everyone may tell you that you have to visit one specific site. However, if the only option is to climb stairs that are too challenging for you, you may need to plan to view the site from afar (but not actually go in). The last thing I want is for you to have your heart set on seeing something, only to realize when you get there with your paid ticket that you will not be able to visit due to mobility requirements.
For mobility-aware travelers, many sites are difficult to visit. This may be due to the ancient age of a site and making it more accessible may damage protected history. Alternatively, there may not be sufficient funds for updates to the site. Another possibility is that it is already on a long list of sites the country plans to improve in terms of accessibility. Americans are used to accessible locations thanks to the Americans with Disability Act and may be surprised at accessibility differences in other countries. The good news is that more and more sites are receiving updates to improve access for all. Our goal is to take away the guess work, so that you know what will be required of you for you to make informed decisions.
Mobility Requirements for Rome’s Top 3 Sites
Paris: Mobility Requirements for the Top Three Sites
Accessibility of Vienna’s Top Sites
The Terrain Post in Location Guides:
The type of terrain significantly impacts how you will navigate the location. Visuals are useful in these cases and I try to share as many as possible with you in these posts. How hilly is the place? Are there ways to avoid climbing those hills? How many streets include cobblestones? Is it muddy or extra slippery in the winter? These types of questions are answered in each location guide’s terrain post.
Parisian Terrain and your Mobility
Vienna’s Terrain and your Mobility
The Transportation Post:
For each location, this post covers getting to and from the location. It also covers transportation within the city/town/region. What are the mobility requirements for the metro? What are the options to get into town from the airport or train station? Is taking a taxi worth saving my energy? Is renting a car best or will I regret how far I have to walk once I have found parking? Where there are multiple transportation options, I list pros and cons of each so you can choose what fits best for you.
Paris: Transportation and your Mobility
Vienna: Transportation and your Mobility
I hope this introduction will help you to better navigate the Location Guides!
