Autism Travel

Don't be overwhelmed at the thought of planning a Family Vacation for your child with autism. We get it.

Awesome is for everyone. We want all the tools to serve all guests, no matter their challenges or abilities. A family vacation takes a planner, parents with kids on the autism spectrum have to be superplanners. Having help is awesome!

After all, there is a lot to consider, from how to avoid travel-induced anxiety attacks, to what kind of foods a resort offers, to not knowing how your child will respond to a disruption in their routine. Autism spectrum disorder affects 1 in every 36 children

But travel can also be a great experience for a kid with autism. Travel can be a family bonding experience and offer a gentle push for a child with autism to try new things. Traveling also can open your child's eyes to new interests and open your eyes to strengths you didn't even realize your child had.

KIDS with autism thrive on schedules, and vacations in new places far from home can cause discomfort and disrupt routines. With proper planning and organizing, we'll help you and your child adjust so everyone in the family can travel together.

Travel Tips for Children with Autism

Flying and ASD

Autism Certified Travel, Resort & Cruise Destinations

TURKS & CAICOS
Beaches Resorts® – Turks and Caicos. All-Inclusive for the whole family. A 45,000 sq-ft waterpark; 10 pools, five themed villages with special sensory accommodations. Choose from the architecture and ambiance of Italy, France, the Caribbean and Key West villages with 12-miles of beach and comforting clear turquoise waters. Endless fun activities for everyone from tots to tweens and teens, featuring Sesame Street characters, an Xbox Play Lounge and a sizzlin' teen disco-on Grace Bay. Voted World's #1 Best Beach by TripAdvisor Travelers.

PUNTA CANA
Grand Palladium Bávaro Suites Resort & Spa became Autism Certified in 2018. In Punta Cana. The staff is IBCCES. 5 swimming pools, age-based kids' clubs, 13 restaurants, 22 bars, a casino and tropical landscape provides perfect harmony for a paradisiacal haven: fine white sands and 1 km long beach. Surrounded by palm trees and sumptuous vegetation.

Nickelodeon Resort
The family that plays together, stays together. Villas, swim-up suites, whether you choose to explore the Aqua Nick water park for a splash'in good time, a golden sand beach, have a slime of a good time!

JAMAICA
Beaches Resorts® – Ocho Rios and Negril, Jamaica. Voted in Top 10 Best Beach Resorts by Parents magazine. There's something for everyone in the family. 22-acres of tropical gardens, gorgeous private white-sand beach, 6 gourmet restaurants, 3 swimming pools, a dedicated scuba practice pool and watersports to explore. A Pirates Island waterpark and extra large accommodations.

Legoland: Certifying Autism

Friendly Options U.S. Parks

New sign posts at the ride's entrance say on a scale of zero to 10, (zero=low sensory stimulation & 10=being high) the Brick Party carousel is rated a 2 for touch, a zero for taste, a 3 for sound, a 4 for sight and 1 for smell.

Legoland parks' initiative gives as much information as possible for guests who are on the autism spectrum or who have other sensory disorders.

As part of the process, park employees, (model citizens), have been trained to assist families w/members on the autism spectrum. All park attractions have been labeled with the sensory guides so families can judge whether a ride might be too intense. Quiet rooms are set up for visitors who need a break from the smells, sounds and sights of a typical theme park.

IBCCES has accredited other travel brands, like Six Flags America, Sesame Place, the Peppa Pig Theme Park, destination marketing organizations, zoos, restaurants, museums and several hotels, incl: Beaches resorts in Turks and Caicos and Jamaica.

Other parks have systems to cater to families with autistic members. Disney and Universal Studios have their own programs.

Royal Caribbean International works with Autism on the Seas; among others and scheduled sailings with dedicated staff, private entertainment venues, dining assistance and respite times.

An autism-certified destination is a level of understanding, you don't have to feel like you have to explain yourself if your kid is having a sensory meltdown. Or if you have a strange request. There are times with children ... the crowd level would just be too much for them. Ask a park employee for a quiet space, people trained will understand and say, "Yes, I can help you." Have a 'bricktastic' day

At Legoland, each ride has a priority lane, and families can request an assisted-access pass for those lanes at guest services, a first aid station for earplugs to help with sound and overstimulation.

All North American parks this spring will be certified autism centers by the Int'l Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), which offers autism certification programs in education, healthcare, travel sectors, +. First at Legoland's Florida park near Orlando then parks in California and New York this year.

Awesome is for everyone. We want all the tools to serve all guests, no matter their challenges or abilities. A family vacation takes a planner, parents with kids on the autism spectrum have to be superplanners. Having help is awesome!

According to CDC, ~ one in 36 children has autism spectrum disorder, and one in 6 has been diagnosed with a developmental disability, including autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

And many more, ask us!