Beach Vacations

Just as it sounds this is a trip to the beach. Our beach trips have been to the US Virgin Islands and the Caribbean. To see out top picks for Beach Vacations click here: Top Picks Beach.

Beach vacations can be relaxing if well thought out OR they can be challenging and not enjoyable if you choose the wrong type of beach vacation.

There are all inconclusive resorts, large and small, there are individual hotels/motels and there are private homes/condos that you can rent. We have done all of these and can say that not all of them are enjoyable for a family with an autistic child.

All Inclusive Resorts

If you choose this type of accommodation, try to stay away from resorts that are larger than 250 or so rooms. Larger resorts mean more people, commotion, and potential lines in the dining areas all of which can upset your autistic child. We have stayed at exactly ONE large all inclusive facility and it was a bad experience for us--so we never stay at large resorts.

Smaller all in inclusive resorts have some advantages. Not worrying about meals, having a variety of food options and having a host of activities organized and planned for you can be fun for the rest of the family.....

(Note: An important consideration for your trip if you also have typical children is making sure that the trip is balanced and will also be enjoyable for the whole family--this is more challenging than it sounds. While planning the trip with your autistic child in mind you might forget that your other children also need to be considered and the trip must be something that everyone can enjoy.  Performing extensive research on the location, getting there, accommodations and activities is necessary and in some cases might involve pre trip "training" .  By "training" we mean, if you think you would like to go horseback riding on the trip then before you go you must make sure that your autistic child is ok with being on a horse--DON'T wait until you are actually on the trail ride!)

Hotels

Following the same logic that we talked about regarding all inclusive resorts, try to find smaller hotels with  250 rooms or so. This is a better fit for the same reason that a smaller all inclusive resort is a good fit. Smaller hotels will be easier to navigate with your autistic child and you might actually have better more intimate service.

Room Configuration

Room configuration is important regardless of the accommodation selected.   Suites work well since you can have your child actually in the same room without having your child in the same bedroom. Of course the best room configuration is one that you are most comfortable with and will depend on the age of your child and how many of you are traveling. We have found that with the 5 of us, suites or connecting suites work well, OR if the hotel or resort doesn't have these then multiple connecting rooms work well (however hotels tend NOT to guarantee that they will be able to connect you--we have found that if you tell them that you have a special needs child they are usually more accommodating).

Private Homes or Condo Rentals

This option is our personal favorite, especially on a beach vacation. Renting a condo or a home lets you customize your room set up as well as cook meals which in many cases not only helps with the budget but given your child's special food needs can actually be more relaxing than searching for a restaurant.

(NOTE: Restaurants.....by the way...fall into the same category of A Trip to The Supermarket from our Getting Started page. You need to be sure that your child is restaurant ready, by that we mean go to restaurants with your child before leaving on the trip. We know many families avoid restaurants, however your child should become desensitized to sensory aspects of a restaurant in order to be able to travel. Many airlines no longer provide meals on the flights so you may be searching for restaurants or a place to eat at an airport--the worst way to introduce your child to a restaurant is at an airport!)

Renting a condo or a home relieves a lot of the potential stress of a restaurant. We have had some of the best beach vacations renting condos and private homes. We almost always take this route when taking a beach trip. Since you can't stay on a beach or in the sun all day, and often your autistic child will need down time or time for other activities, staying in a place with a living room or large "hanging out" area works well. You don't even have to actually be inside to achieve this--often  beach homes have large "outside rooms" that are covered and have comfortable furniture, tables and chairs for relaxing or doing a favorite craft or activity.