Options for having a great vacation with your child or young adult with autism
For parents with children or teens on the spectrum, planning a vacation can be a daunting chore. I am here to help you with that planning. I have been planning vacations for several clients with children diagnosed with Autism. I have since been certified by IBCCES as a Certified Autism Travel Professional. I am also Autism Friendly certified by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Please see below for my recommendations
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My recommendation for one cruise line and one resort is based on feedback from my friend and former co-worker Mike for Royal Caribbean and my own observations of Beaches Turks & Caicos.
I am a Diamond Plus member of the Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society, which means I and my wife, Linda, have been on a lot of cruises with Royal Caribbean. This has given me the opportunity to see the cruise line and the ships staff grow with their expertise and ability to accommodate both those passengers needing special assistance and children on the spectrum. Their children's club crew have all undergone training in children with Autism and Mike has found the whole crew to be very good with children and now young adults with Autism. As long as the ship is notified in advance, and sometimes this is where the travel agent comes in, and it should really be all the time, that you have booked a Stateroom/Suite and that your child is on the spectrum. So, even if you are not a Platinum or above Crown & Anchor member, they will expedite your check-in and boarding of the ship. If other accommodations also need to be made for your child, your travel agent, which I hope at some point will be me, will contact special services to make arrangements.
I am a Diamond Plus member of the Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society, which means I and my wife, Linda, have been on a lot of cruises with Royal Caribbean. This has given me the opportunity to see the cruise line and the ships staff grow with their expertise and ability to accommodate both those passengers needing special assistance and children on the spectrum. Their children's club crew have all undergone training in children with Autism and Mike has found the whole crew to be very good with children and now young adults with Autism. As long as the ship is notified in advance, and sometimes this is where the travel agent comes in, and it should really be all the time, that you have booked a Stateroom/Suite and that your child is on the spectrum. So, even if you are not a Platinum or above Crown & Anchor member, they will expedite your check-in and boarding of the ship. If other accommodations also need to be made for your child, your travel agent, which I hope at some point will be me, will contact special services to make arrangements.
I want to thank Mike for graciously allowing me to use these pictures of his son with autism for my families on the spectrum travel web page. Thank you Mike!!!!
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The larger Royal Caribbean ships like the Anthem of the Seas and the Oasis Class ships offer many activities for the children and teens to keep them active.
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Of course meal times can be some of the best times together on the ship. Remember to ask for a table for just the amount of people you have traveling with you and one other tip, if your son or daughter, and I do realize it runs mainly in the males, if auditory, the dinning rooms can be noisy. Remember to bring the noise canceling headphones with you.
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My 1st choice for an All Inclusive Resort
If you have a child or young adult with autism or on the spectrum, Beaches are the resorts for your family! There are three Beaches resorts, Beaches Ocho Rios, Beaches Negril, and the best for last, Beaches Turks & Caicos. Beaches Ocho Rios and Negril are located in Jamaica and are smaller than Beaches Turks & Caicos located on the T&C Island of Providenciales but all are Certified Autism Centers by the IBCCES.
If you are unsure about Beaches and want to try it out, I suggest you try Beaches Negril. Why? My reasoning: Beaches Negril is not the smallest Beaches Resort, it is of medium size and while it is slightly more expensive, it is located much closer to the airport than Beaches Ocho Rios. This will hopefully cut down on the anxiety of an hours drive to Ocho Rios. Here you will be able to experience all that Beaches has to offer in a luxury included resort. Beaches is excellent at both making your child with autism feel warmly welcomed and if needed, accommodating any dietary restrictions any of you may have.
If your child or young adult is ready for a larger Beaches Resort, it is time for Beaches Turks & Caicos. This is currently their largest and best (in my opinion) resort for both adults and children. There is so much to do here and the variety of restaurants is unbelievable. Just as a side note, this resort is always full, so book early. I recommend a year in advance if possible. The Beaches resorts are just a family friendly resort and with the autism training by all staff members, you can actually relax and enjoy a meal by yourselves without worrying about your child/young adult, as they will be in good hands!
Having been to Beaches Turks & Caicos many times I have seen first hand how well they run everything and how the children are cared for. If you don't like cruising, this is the best land based resort for you and your family members with autism.
For more information, please see the PDF flyer below and then call or email me to book.
