[nagdu] Member of NAGDU traveling to France in May has had issues with a hotel there

[cheryl echevarria]

Good morning all:
I thought this was an interesting issues.
One of our members of NAGDU has been contacting me about travels to Paris, France in May, for studying aboard with her school here in the states, and the hotel wants to charge this person $1500 more just to have her guide dog stay in the hotel. I am keeping the name out, should this person wish to let us know, then they can do so.
Anyway, I first contacted the International Guide Dog Foundation out in the U.K. to see if they knew anything of this. They did not and directed me to the F.F.G.D.A, which is the French Federation of Guide Dog Associations and the response is below, this hotel is taking advantage of this person, thank god that they are there yet, and should they need assistance on this issue, they will help them before or after they leave.
So this also helps for those interested in traveling to France any time in the future, so if our webmaster would like to take down this information, please do.
Dear Cheryl
Thank you for contacting us.
The Law of 11 February 2005 guarantees free access for guide dog users to all places and facilities open to the general public: public buildings and transports, shops, hotels, restaurants, museums, etc (only sanitary restrictions or security requirements can limit access eg care units in hospitals, kitchens in catering facilities). Please note that you can be required to show your disability card and a document identifying your dog as a guide dog.
So the hotel may charge a fee for a pet dog but may neither refuse nor charge any addition for a guide dog.
I suggest you inform the hotel that the dog coming with the lady is a guide dog and if necessary inform them of the law (refusing access is punished by a fine amounting to 150 to 450 Euros) as it may happen that your interlocutors are unaware of guide dogs access rights, even in Paris. Should you need help, you can seek advice from the French Association of Guide Dog Users (copied in).
Kind regards,
 
Anne VIOT,
Secretary
 
F.F.A.C. – French Federation of Guide Dog Associations71 rue de Bagnolet – F-75020 PARIS Tel.: +33 1 44 64 89 89 
Fax: +33 1 44 64 89 80E-mail: federation at chiensguides.fr
 

Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY State
Leading the Way in Independent Travel!SNG Certified - Accessible Travel Advocate!Cheryl Echevarria, Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatravel.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com2012 Norwegian Cruise Line University Advisory Board Member.
Affiliated as an independent contractor with Montrose TravelCST - #1018299-10Echevarria Travel and proud member of the National Federation of the Blind will be holding a year round fundraiser for the http://www.NFBNY.org after Hurricane Sandy and other resources. Any vacation package booked between November 6 2012-November 6, 2013 and vacation must be traveled no later than 12/30/2014 a percentage of my earnings will go to the affiliate.  Also is you book a Sandals for couples or Beaches for families and friends resorts vacation, $100.00 per booking will go to the affiliate as well.  You do not need to be a member of the NFB.org, just book through us.