Travelling with an autistic child requires careful planning and an in-depth understanding of the kinds of challenges your child will face in your destination. As a parent, you know your child best. While it can still be hard to predict how they may react in a completely different setting, there is a lot you can do to make the trip more predictable for them, and allow them – and yourself – to enjoy it and grow.

This guide offers practical, informed advice to help you plan travel that accommodates your autistic child’s needs, while still being enjoyable for the whole family.

Can I go on holiday with my autistic child? 

Many autistic children rely on routine and predictability to feel safe. Travel, by its very nature, disrupts this. New places bring unfamiliar sounds, smells, people and situations, any of which can trigger anxiety. While most travellers seek the joy of the unknown, autistic children often experience it as a threat.

“We went away once with Edward,” a mother tells me, “but it wasn’t much of a holiday for any of us. Everything was unfamiliar to him and he went into meltdown after meltdown. We didn’t do it again.” Stories such as this from parents of autistic children are commonplace. The trauma that entering into the unknown can bring to an autistic child is heartrending for the parents, and upsetting for siblings, who are deprived of a holiday themselves.

However, holidays with an autistic child need not turn into nightmares. But they do need a lot of very careful planning. There are a number of quite simple ways to reduce the stress and anxiety an autistic child can face when travelling. The key three things are to be able to share in advance exactly what the holiday will look like, visually; involve the right people with the right training to guide you on your activities; and to choose a destination and accommodation which avoids overstimulation and can provide familiarity.

Children like Edward will be much more able to cope when they know what to expect, are met by trained people who understand the behaviours that others can find evasive or rude, and can establish an element of routine in the new setting. Autism need not prevent a family from having an enjoyable holiday together.

Why is travelling hard for autistic children?

Being in unfamiliar settings and situations, especially when the rules aren’t clear, can trigger anxiety. The potential for triggering situations increases in a different country, where norms and expectations are foreign not only to the child but also to an extent to their parent. Your child may experience any of the below more or less intensely.

A key part of travelling is to find contacts in your destination – guides, hotels, drivers – who can accommodate and be understanding of your needs. A good travel planning company will be able to identify these. Before you leave, prepare contacts in your destination – guides, hotels, airlines – by sharing with them the challenges your child experiences. Any reputable provider will do their best to mitigate for these, or at least be supportive.

• Sensory overload – bright lights, crowded spaces, noise and strong smells can feel overwhelming. Let your contacts know if your child will wear ear defenders, and plan to avoid sensory-heavy environments.
• People unfamiliar with autism – while autistic traits are becoming more familiar in the UK and USA, the condition is largely unheard of elsewhere. People you meet may not understand that your child will interpret things very literally. They may not understand that a lack of eye contact, unusual body language or asking a lot of questions is not meant to be rude, or that repetitive actions are self-regulation mechanisms. Some cultures can be warm and welcoming in a physical way, especially with children, and not understand that your child may not appreciate hugs and proximity with strangers. Let your providers know how your child reacts to all of the above. 
• Hyper-sensitivity – The strong tastes and different textures of unfamiliar cuisine can be hard to cope with for autistic children. New fabrics in bed linen, or materials / labels in activity-specific apparel, such as lifejackets, could be triggering. Tell your contacts what your child can eat and whether there is anything they will reject in terms of food and even furnishings.   
• Emotional regulation – unfamiliarity or anxiety can trigger meltdowns or withdrawal. Let your contacts know this is not your child being naughty – it’s due to the world not working in a way they understand. 
• Co-occuring conditions – If your child also experiences ADHD or another condition – which is very common among autistic children – let your contacts know, along with how this affects them – focus, movement, impulse control.

If things don’t go to plan…

While planning and being able to communicate the steps of each day is critical, there may be circumstances beyond your control that waylay your plans. Try to anticipate what these may be, and think of the Plan B and Plan C. If you can tell your child what will happen if the plane is delayed, or if bad weather means you can’t go kayaking, they are less likely to react badly.

Introduce routine

Even in a new setting, you can introduce familiarity to comfort your child.

This may be bringing some items they are used to – their own knife and fork, or the blanket they like the feel of, to  make it feel like home.

Try to establish a rhythm they can predict, such as sitting at the same table for dinner, and ensuring the meal they can eat is on the menu each time you go. It may be that you are not able to try as many different experiences – different restaurants or spontaneous timings – as you would otherwise, but the likelihood of your child being comfortable and of having a meal together without meltdowns is sure consolation.

It may be tempting to stay at a number of different destinations within a country, to explore the breadth of experiences available. You know your child best, and can gauge whether moving between hotels or staying at one will work best for them. If staying longer at one place is the best option, find somewhere that is near enough to a variety of different landscapes and experiences to make the most of your trip.

If you’re planning a sabbatical, or a longer trip, and need to continue education while abroad, the best option is likely to be taking a SEN-specialist tutor with you. While online tutoring is generally a feasible option for many non-neurodiverse children, we find in-person to be the best approach with autistic children. Choose a tutor who can get to know your child in advance and who is highly experienced with autism, such as those at Firefly Education.

Make food and clothing easy

Plan ahead for food. Research restaurants or accommodations that can provide recognisable meals. Once you’ve found a restaurant that works, you may like to stick with it rather than trying something different – your autistic child will be more comfortable with familiarity. Ensure the restaurant will have the meal you need before you go – get in touch to pre-order – and ask to reserve the same table so there are no surprises.

Pack favourite snacks. If your child only eats specific brands or textures, bring a supply from home.

With clothing, comfort is key. Many autistic children have strong aversions to particular fabrics or textures. Try on any new clothes you buy for the trip in advance – before removing the labels!

Autism-friendly trips with LiNGER

At LiNGER, we have curated numerous trips specifically for families with autistic children, each entirely tailor made to them and their needs.

We know that no two families are the same. With the right support, and the right plan, a holiday can be enjoyable for everyone.

Have a look at a sample Costa Rica itinerary here, specifically for a family with an autistic child, or get in touch to talk through options.