Active trips ruined by people not up to it

Surfsup we did that Vesuvius walk. It ruined all our nice light summer shoes and though I was only in my late 30s/early 40 s, it was exhausting.
Vowed never to repeat and never did. But, took up walking later and walk willingly for miles up and down hills.
It’s a joy and a privilege to be able to do this, long may it be possible. I am now uncomfortably close to 80.

I have had two holidays rather ruined by someone coming on them really not fit enough. On one because they were on their own and so was I people tried to pair us up with me as a carer. The last thing I needed since the holiday was to get away from caring responsibilities with my parents. But as others have said people don't always realise what a particular holiday or even a day trip out will be like. Tricky one.

I understand what the OP is saying. These trips do normally state what level of fitness is required eg lots of walking, not suitable for those with limited mobility. However, I did do a trip to Italy a few years ago which included visiting Pompeii and a trek to the top of Vesuvius among other things. One of the travellers was 83, as fit as a fiddle and left me standing. I was 20 years younger and consider myself pretty fit but I was in awe of that lady.

Quite right .

It must be so easy for people to mis-judge their body's capabilities. I can well understand someone telling themselves that "I've done x/y/z before that was very similar and I was fine". I don't think anyone should rate it as selfishness if someone goes on a holiday above their "body's level of capability" - as the person may well remember having done something similar before with no problem at all - and so why would they have a problem now?

I'm mentally checking out whether to go back and have a holiday in a Devon town I particularly like - having not realised there were various bits I've not explored there yet. It's a hilly town. My mind is saying "I want to...I've been there before....why shouldnt I?" - though my body is saying "There's some nice places in flat Norfolk you've not been to".

I'm holding myself in check wondering - but it's because I'm thinking "Have patience - it's only about 10 years until you can do exactly what you please when you please all the time. So you could visit there "later" ". - ie I say 10 years time - because I'm 72. (Yep....I've got LOTS of plans for what I'll do in Heaven come the time......ain't joking...). But, if someone doesn't think the way I do (that would probably be most people then....) then I can understand why they wouldnt think "Well - I can always put whatever-it-is off for a few years and then I'll do it" and just decide to be "firm" with their body and go on the trip anyway now.

None of us know the details of the conversation that took place, and the woman might have agreed to make her own way back. At that point she might have felt well enough to do so. But this was a very high-end holiday, and you might have thought that there was sufficient staffing on the tour for someone to have walked back to the starting point with her.

As others have said, you can’t make assumptions about anybody who is feeling unwell. In most cases, it will be something minor, but sometimes it will be life threatening.

I don’t understand how nobody missed her - I’ve been on a number of activity holidays and you do start to look out for each other and notice if someone is missing, or seems to have a problem. Of course, people might have asked after her and been reassured.

That has clearly been a major error in the cruise operator’s procedures though and hopefully they will be called to account.

Granatlast007

LOUISA1523

Granatlast007

The story about that woman made me think of Michael Mosley. We just don't know as we get older how things like heat will affect us and climate change is making heatwaves more frequent and intense. It was, apparently, a very hot day.

The photo of that woman showed someone thin and determined looking, I can imagine her saying she would be fine. Probably there would have been a problem for the whole group regarding leaders and splitting the group if someone accompanied her back. they could have messaged the ship to let them know of course.

It's the shenanigans of the family that get me, she was old, she was on a trip, quite possibly her death was painless and over quickly. Better than a long, painful death in a care home!

'Shenanigans of the family'....WTF ??

...because the woman was an adult and made her decision and these days everyone thinks they should be protected whatever risks they take and life is full of accidents, that's why we have insurance.

Many years ago, we remember a family sueing a riding stable because their child fell off, falling is a part of riding, you can't avoid it. the child was ok but broke her wrist. In the riding world everything now costs a fortune, there are absurd rules about safety and wearing safety gear that virtually stops you moving let alone riding and of course, insurance costs are astronomical.

As I said above, it's just like Michael Mosley who went off on a hot hot day for a walk, made a wrong decision and sadly, died.

But did the stable mount her on a bucker or rearer? Did the stable approximately assess her level of competence?

Allira

I do know my limitations now.
However, sudden illness could happen to anyone.

Or a sprained ankle, a migraine all sorts of things that can mean you suddenly can't go on. It could happen to anyone.

I agree more compassion is needed ..most people only think of themselves

Knittypamela

We went on a trip to see New England in the fall. There was a blind man on the trip. His wife insisted they sat at the front of the coach in the best seat for the view. The courier said she'd normally give everyone a chance to have that seat. It really annoyed the other passengers as a blind man didn't need a view.

The courier was at fault. If there was a policy of seat rotation, which has been the case on trips I have been on, that should have been adhered to.

No excuses.

If I had been on that trip, I would have complained, with justification.

Sueinkent

For trips to remote places or harsh environments, there should be an age limit. I have climbed mountains, travelled through India and the US as well as other parts of the world but wouldn’t dream of doing anything like that now for the very reason that I might spoil others enjoyment. I would have no problem with there being an age limit. It’s common sense. I feel very sorry for the lady in Peru but really she should have known better. People think they are immortal.

I see your point - but one can't do age limits on things - because that would be age discrimination. People are going to vary anyway - even within the same agegroup. One can see people in this agegroup there (in person or on YouTube videos) doing stuff a lot of us couldnt do when at our youngest and fittest. Me - I'm just envious when I notice people in their 70's for instance there at a gym lifting weights (something I've never done).

On the other hand there are people in their 20's for instance that can't do very much physically - some of them because they've never done very much and others because they're too ill to even live a basic "normal" life.

One can't tell just by age. It's a general rule that, on the whole, most people get more unfit as they get older - but one can never tell. I've certainly been told by someone that she went across to talk to an older woman she didn't know that was sitting there on her own at a "church" event. She didn't get the chance to open her mouth - as that older woman promptly said "It's alright dear...you don't have to feel sorry for me - as I'm quite happy to have a bit of a rest right now - because I've just spent several weeks trekking across the Sahara Desert on the back of a camel and I'd quite like a rest right now". So - one can never tell re a particular individual. Cue for me thinking "Role model for old age".

Several years ago I arranged a coach trip for a day in Dartmouth for my art group. The idea was that it's somewhere scenic, we would explore and have lunch somewhere, and we would take photos and then paint them later in the class.

Never again! People complained there was nowhere they fancied eating lunch, but anyway, off they wandered. We were due to meet back at the coach at 4 pm and several were missing. It turned out that 2 of them had caught a local bus to another resort but I didn't know that. We couldn't find them. The coach driver was understandably annoyed.

Eventually they appeared. The coach set off. As we got closer to home, people complained that the coach was passing the end of their road and why couldn't they all be dropped off separately instead of back at the meeting point where their cars were parked.

I got home with a migraine. Never again.

We have been on many cruises over the years and book ourselves on tours we think we can cope with. On a few occasions people have not turned up at the meeting place to go back to the ship. Everyone is counted at least twice when boarding the coach or whatever transport we are using and we have had to wait for the few tardy people who don’t understand time. Never have we gone back without a passenger. There have been telephone conversations between the bus and ship on one occasion where it turned out that a man returned on a different coach but all problems have to be resolved.
I do not know which cruise line was involved in the incident.

Where I live a local culture group organised a walk and talk to a place of interest which could only be accessed at a very low tide. A group of elderly people arrived with sticks and mobility issues and it took so long to help them, that the walk had to be abandoned because it was deemed to dangerous with the tide window. The years following big warnings were given that people of limited mobility would not be allowed on the walk.

I don’t mean the OP. I mean the lady who was left behind on the island.

For trips to remote places or harsh environments, there should be an age limit. I have climbed mountains, travelled through India and the US as well as other parts of the world but wouldn’t dream of doing anything like that now for the very reason that I might spoil others enjoyment. I would have no problem with there being an age limit. It’s common sense. I feel very sorry for the lady in Peru but really she should have known better. People think they are immortal.

I usually go on group walking holidays and its astonishing to me that people regularly turn up who cant walk. Surely you must know if you struggle to get round Sainsbury that a walking holiday is a no no. Plenty of other types of holiday on offer.

Some years ago we were on a holiday to Canada, there were two ladies on the trip, they usually travelled together, but didn’t meet otherwise. One had become very confused, but travelled anyway, it was very disruptive for everyone, but particularly for the tour manager. This lady lost her belongings frequently, handbag, passport etc, and her companion became very angry and upset. The family had dropped her companion at the airport without a word of warning, and driven away.

A friend of mine with many health issues recently took a 10 day cruise in the Med without health insurance as it was too expensive. I thought this was incredibly stupid.

I'm in a ladies walking group which have easy, medium and difficult walks. Each one is advertised with the difficultly rating and advising if there are steps or hills.
You still get someone attending who complains it's too steep, fast or far and then we all have to slow down and take breaks. Very annoying.

A travel brochure I receive has a grading system for their holidays. Non of them have a grading of 1 so not inducing me to book a holiday..
The last" expedition". cruise I went on had checks for the trips and a board to put a tag on when you arrived back on board. Empty tag spaces instigated a follow up check.

My husband has walking difficulties so we have booked two holidays abroad next year, both in small towns where the hotel is close to all facilities and beach. Days will be spent on sun beds, beach, people watching, a little light shopping, taxis to local attractions - nothing that isn't doable and nothing that will inconvenience anyone else but we will have a lovely, stress-free time.

The lady was certainly mis-treated by those in charge of the shore trip and her family have my heartfelt sympathy.

DH and I are cruisers. DH has been deteriorating in his mobility for some time but particularly in the last few weeks/months. Not so long ago he was pretty fit and well for a 79-year-old. He has just been prescribed new medication which we hope will help (apparently it can be a "wonder drug" or a "nightmare drug") so right now we don't know which it will be.

We are going on a World Cruise in January and have been careful to choose shore trips that appear to be gentle, but you simply don't know for sure till you get there and find the paths are unmade, steps are non-standard height or the route is hilly. He will be taking a rollator but even that might not help him.

We toyed with hiring or buying a mobility scooter but even they don't cope with rough terrain - they can even struggle to get up a standard UK kerb.

We wouldn't want to hold others up, but we simply won't know till we get there and try.

We hope people won't be too critical if we get it wrong, but believe me we WILL be sensible enough to learn!

I don't understand how this could happen. I have been on many cruises, and was always given a card to clock in and out. There was usually someone standing by the card register to make sure you used it. If anyone was missing, there was usually an announcement asking them to report to the desk.

Bluebelle totally agree. I think apalling of the group leader/ company as they are responsible I would have thought for coming back with same number that left? Yes irresponsible of passenger but regardless...to leave someone behind!

There's a guy would does terrific free walks in London every weekend. I went on a couple but got a DVT in 2023 and haven't been able to keep up with his 5 to 8 mile walks since. I still get his emails telling us what he's planning for the next week, read them with envy then delete.