Senior travel: Roseau
An easier pace for an older traveller: how many stops fit in a day, which places are step-free, and what the guide says about getting around, medicines and stairs.
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Pace for a day
About 3 stops a day. 5 h out − 45 min rest, divided by an average visit of 42 min (from this city’s guide) + 30 min to move.
Places, easiest access first
- Old Market PlazaStep-free: yes · about 30 minNone of note.
- Roseau MarketStep-free: yes · about 40 minNone of note.
- Fort Young and the BayfrontStep-free: yes · about 45 minNone of note.
- Roseau CathedralStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 25 minA few steps at the entrance.
- Dominica MuseumStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 50 minA step at the door (check).
- Dominica Botanic GardensStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 65 minA few steps on the upper paths.
- Morne Bruce viewpointStep-free: no (check before you go) · about 40 minSome steps at the viewpoint.
Getting around in Roseau
Roseau is hard going for wheelchairs: pavements are narrow, kerbs are high, and hills are steep. The Bayfront is the flattest stretch. Plan door-to-door car rides and choose a hotel with a lift.
- Pavements:
- Narrow and uneven; the Bayfront is the flattest route.
- Getting around:
- Book a driver with a larger vehicle; minibuses are not step-free.
- Hotels:
- Larger hotels have lifts and accessible rooms on request; smaller inns often do not.
- Toilets:
- Limited outside hotels; ask a café.
- Trails and falls:
- Trafalgar Falls has a viewing platform with steps; the Boiling Lake is not accessible.
Medicines and health on the ground
The Dominica guide lists no medicine paperwork. Check the official customs page for your medicines.
- Mosquitoes:
- Dengue and chikungunya are possible: use repellent and sleep under a net or AC.
- Sun:
- Strong UV at the coast and on trails: hat, reef-safe sunscreen and water.
- Water:
- Ask about tap water; bottled water is the safe choice.
- Rivers:
- Currents and slippery rocks: wear water shoes and stay out of rivers after rain.
- Sulphur springs:
- Do not soak if you have heart or breathing problems; limit the time.
- Medical evacuation:
- Serious cases may need evacuation off the island: buy insurance with evacuation cover.
- Food safety:
- Eat at busy counters with hot food; wash hands.
More: how much medicine to pack, medicine times across time zones.
Ask your insurer
Age limits and prices differ by policy and the guides do not hold them, so put these to the insurer before you buy.
- What is the oldest age the policy covers, at purchase and on the last day of the trip?
- Does the price or the cover change after a certain age?
- Are existing conditions covered, and what must be declared?
- Does the cover include medical evacuation and trip interruption?
Not medical advice. This page does not know anyone’s health. Ask a doctor before the trip, and carry a list of medicines and conditions.