I am not a nasty person but ……

I can't walk fast now, and I'd never join a walking tour if it meant everyone else had to go at my speed, I think it's very selfish

Oh dear BigLouis, has Prague joined Barcelona as being sadly famous for street crime??

That's a shame. We went to Prague before the Iron Curtain collapsed, so an odd experience, being eyed with suspicion by Police, and as potentials to get some foreign currency by desperate locals! And it was a real eye-opener, to see what the 'glories' of Communism really meant, just about naff-all in the shops, and meat at a premium for our meals!

Oh, and on the sad note of Communism, on our tours of Prague (on buses!) and later on Bratislava, we saw several parties from E Germany (presumably the chosen lucky few of the party faithful). Despite the shortcomings of basic life for the Czechs, they regarded themselves as far luckier and better off than the Germans, so we could only guess how horrible life was for THEM!

As for the perils of a walking tour, well, that's the price of going in groups, isn't it? We've had coach tours when some selfish nitwit (or a couple) has been late back so upsets the schedule for the day or half-day, lots of THEM about!

We'd be more likely to set off with a guide-book or some notes and visit places on our own, though IsNibs has been waiting months for a hernia op (postponed once, at about 18 hours lack-of notice!), so we can't walk for miles anyway.

I would simply have told the tour guide that I unfortuately cannot walk so slowly and that I would see them back at the hotel, or dropped out on the no doubt planned visit to Theresienstadt and saw the sights of Prague that had been missed during the walking-tour.

It would have spoiled it for me and made me feel very cross. I don’t think you’re being unreasonable at all, it was selfish of the op. I bet she wasn’t too popular.

I think the tour guide should have just politely told the lady that the walk was not suitable for people with walking aids and not allowed her to go.
Some people with walkers can hold their own, but not on cobbled streets etc. The lady was probably as embarrassed as you were angry to be unable to cope and holding everyone up.
I would report the tour guide to his/her governing body.

That seems a great idea Maple. As I said people may not always have a realistic view of what they can or can't do.
I wouldn't want my holiday spoilt by somebody who isn't capable of taking part in activities but I can imagine its not always a clear cut thing.
Lets face it, we all make mistakes.

I went on a river cruise last year - the Rhine. We were asked to opt for a walking group at various levels 1-5. 5 being the slowest. I know my limitations so opted for a slow group. It worked very well.

I don’t think you are being unreasonable. Anyone signing up for a walking tour needs to be able to at least keep up with moderate paced walkers. Personally, what happened to you would have driven me crazy!

I am amazed that the person with the aid did not offer to stay at the hotel while you others went to a place that she could not manage.

don't think you are being unreasonable. I did a walking tour - including Charles Bridge - which is a must see in Prague and beautiful. It is difficult for people with mobility problems but maybe a walking is a bit much for them.

I'm surprised that someone who needed a walking frame was deemed suitable for a walking tour. And even more surprised that the lady thought it OK for everyone else to have to go at her speed.

I know there are holidays / tours for those with disabilities - but they seem to be rejected on the basis that they are somehow 'inferior'. So it's a bit of a problem.

I don't use a walker, but I cannot and could not keep up an ordinary moderate walking pace for any length of time, so I would never - for my own comfort and everyone else's - take part in one of these activities.

There has to be a level of fitness for some holiday activities, and it is not being discriminatory to exclude those who cannot attain it... as long as there are options open to those who are not able to. Which I believe there are, mostly. So this lady was being rather selfish IMO. Or maybe just thoughtless.

zakouma66

Poor thing , trying to navigate their way around that situation. I wouldn't have been annoyed, I would have helped them and perhaps tried to take a taxi to those places of special interest.

My OH uses a walking aid. You can't really in any practical sense help them, they use the walker to walk at their own pace!

I’d have been really irritated and struck out alone (or with other dissenters), you’re not being nasty at all!

Nor me!
It sounds horrendous all round.

I'd be really cross if someone did it, and really embarrassed to think I might now do it to others.

No, you’re not being unreasonable. I have mobility problems, and wouldn’t dream of going on a walking tour, spoiling others people’s enjoyment.😗

We had a holiday with Riviera travel where you had to state that you were fit to do the walking on the tours. One man on this trip had Parkinsons disease and kept falling over . After a couple of days the lady in charge of the tour took advice from their head office and was told that he would not be allowed to go on any more of the trips which were every day . Two ladies had offered to help him on the next trip but were not allowed. We felt sorry for him but he was a real liability.

Vickymeldrew I was born disabled but didn't get my rare hereditary neurological condition diagnosed until 2022.

Since being widowed 20 years ago I would never go out with anyone let a lone a group of people if the activity involved a long walk as I can't keep up. When my son when to look at Manchester uni may moons ago I didn't go on the walk around the campus because I knew I would slow everyone down . They said it didn't matter but it did to me. So instead I walked about the museum they had there by myself.

I think it's very wrong of anyone who goes on a guided tour that can't keep up the average speed walking . I am going on my first holiday since 2005 in May. I on going on the train as I couldn't stand being crammed in on a coach nor can I go abroad as I couldn't get up the steps or stand being crammed in with a lot of people. When my husband was alive I went in my wheelchair as the children where young when my health got worse and it was the easiest way to go out as a family as a resume out children never missed out.

Disabled people know their limitations and people who walk slow do. So they never expect able bodied people to have to slow down in group activities.

Ask what age range the group you will be with are and are their any disabled people walking? It's not rude or wrong to ask it's common sense.

If I am walking with a friend to a bus stop and know their bus is due I tell them to go ahead so they don't miss their bus. I do not expect people to walk at my pace as not only am I slow but I start of in a straight line and veer off. I don't do it on purpose it's just my brain thinks I am going straight but my body does something different.. Takes a couple of minutes to stop my body. I end up walking up someone's drive ,or into a fence or wall or once fell into a privet hedge . Luckily it was dense or I had visions of people going past on the bus with my legs sticking out of it 🤣🤣🤣

When I go on my holiday I am picking things to do on my own as I wouldn't expect strangers to have to accommodate me. But I would never go on a holiday just for disabled people. I was widowed at 45 and am very independent. And well aware of my limitations.

Sorry your holiday got spoilt and you didn't get to see what you wanted. Hope you do this time.

Thank you to all who replied. The tour was an ‘add on ‘ where the guide was tipped at the end.
It’s good to hear that I don’t need to feel too guilty at feeling frustrated by the other lady’s mobility problems. I will definitely check things out before going on anything similar again.

Not unreasonable. I'd have a chat with the tour organisers beforehand.

No yanbu. I’ve been to Prague and with the cobbled streets and steps ,it’s not really for those with mobility aids. Plus it gets really busy and crowded especially St Charles bridge . We were doing about 15000 steps a day.
Was it a free walking tour or did you pay ?. Either way the guide should have said something about mobility issues .

We got stuck on Charles Bridge surrounded by crowds of people and not able to go forwards or backwards. It was not a pleasant experience.

If it was one of the free walking tours of Prague which you just turn up at the start and tip the tour guide at the end you maybe are being unreasonable.

If it was pre-booked and paid for I assume there were guidelines to distance that you would be walking and time allotted and I agree with you.

My holiday options are limited by poor mobility, but top of my list of priorities is not to do anything that might hold others up. I would rather miss out that mess things up for others. It is frustrating, but it is life.

The tour companies usually tell people in advance that a reasonable level of fitness and walking ability is required so they really should have told that person. You are not being unreasonable but the person with the frame is. Nothing you can do about it,though. Check the company you are going with, it should be in the fine print. Good luck !

No , not nasty at all.
I’m all for making sure places are accessible for all, and happy to help now and then. but some common sense and thought for others is also required.
A few years back a gentleman who had big difficulties getting around and needed help in the hotels was on the same tour as us. He said he was happy to come as he knew people would help him. No thought that these people were on holiday and there for a rest.