Special Travel Needs
Senior CitizensMany organizations offer discount travel options for senior citizens. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP, 1909 K St. NW, Washington, DC 20049; toll-free in U.S., Tel. 800-227-7737) is open to anyone 50 years and over willing to pay a small fee. The National Council for Senior Citizens (925 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20005) has travel information and tips on discounts.
Students
The discounts and tours available to students are too numerous to overlook. A clearinghouse for this information is the Council for International Education Exchange (CIEE, 205 E. 42nd St., New York, NY 10017) with information and services for youths under 26, students, and teachers. Write for their Student Travel Catalog.
Women Traveling Alone
The problems of traveling alone are the same worldwide for women and require some exercise of caution in Italy just as elsewhere. For example, make sure your hotel is located in a good neighborhood (avoid the areas around train stations especially), so that you feel comfortable going out at night. Carry money for emergency taxis and walk on well-lighted, busy streets at night. And you might delay visiting remote villages, especially in the off-season, until you have some company or can arrange a tour. For example, the totally male-dominated cafés and piazzas of small-town Sicily will make you feel, at the very least, uncomfortable.
Disabled Travelers
Although there are no organizations providing travel discounts for the disabled, there are quite a number that facilitate travel. The Travel Information Center (Moss Rehabilitation Hospital, Tabor and 12th, Philadelphia, PA 19141) will send you travel tips and information for up to three cities for a small fee. Mobility International (Box 3551, Eugene, OR 97403) and Whole Person Tours (Box 1084, Bayonne, NJ 07002) are two organizations that publish regular newsletters and magazines for its members as well as organize special tours. The book, Access to the World: A Travel Guide for the Handicapped (published by Facts on File) is full of useful advice and hotel listings. And the Information Center for Individuals with Disabilities in Massachusetts (ICID, Fort Point Place, 1st floor, 27-43 Wormwood St., Boston, MA 02210) will send a list of specialized travel agencies, tour operators, and publications (small fee for out-of-state residents).