ABOUT
Aloha! I'm Dina!
Planning vacations of any kind involves a lot of research. After all, your goal is to go on a vacation your whole family will love! However, the hours upon hours of emails, phone calls, and looking up just one more thing is enough to make you want to skip the vacation planning period!
Of course, once you think of all the autistic meltdowns, toddler temper tantrums, juggling luggage, and maneuvering around new destinations, the appeal to take a vacation is even less.
I hear you!
When my oldest son was diagnosed with autism, I thought our days of travel were long gone! I didn’t know how he would react in new places or the sensory overload. But all that changed one day when my son came home and asked me to plan a trip to the National Mall in Washington DC. I knew that I couldn’t keep putting off vacations because I thought they were too difficult to plan and meet his needs at the same time.
At the time, I didn’t know that autism-friendly vacations were a thing. After I became a travel advisor in 2018 I went on the search to see if there was anything out there that could support my son during our vacations. I found and studied to become a Certified Autism Travel Professional. This helped me learn how to modify our vacations and make them autism-friendly. Of course, it also helped me fulfill a passion of mine, which is helping parents of children with autism learn how they too can travel the world via a little autistic-globetrotting.
Since I founded Lily and Magnolia Travel in 2018, I have cultivated relationships with tourism suppliers that have programs and accommodations for those with autism. I am happy to say that that list is growing every year! My goal is to remove the stress of autism-friendly vacation planning for you. This means you can vacation with confidence knowing I’ve taken care of all the more difficult components and you can simply pack your bags and be on your way!
I will begin by listening to what you want for a family vacation. I will then use that information to create an autism-friendly vacation package that will make every member of your family happy! Your vacation will include autism-friendly airlines or autism-friendly cruise lines, as well as autism-friendly hotels or resorts, and autism-friendly activities.
Are you curious to see how I can help you? Contact me today and let’s chat about your travel dreams!
your leisure time is extremely valuable!
As a family with a loved one with autism
I grew up as a military child and enlisted in the Air Force when I graduated high school. I am now a military spouse. To say I’ve been to a few places around the world is an understatement since I have spent so much of my life being transferred from one base to the next.
I spent a lot of my childhood in Japan, where I learned a lot about the culture and language. That is also where I met my husband. Much of my extended family lives in Turkey and I feel right at home there every time we visit. However, my favorite part of the world so far would have to be Hawaii. The sun, the sand, and the fact that I can wear a swimsuit and slippahs every day is amazing!
I know that you may not have as much travel experience as I do. And this is why vacation planning can seem overwhelming and scary to you! Add in the fact you need everything to be autism-friendly and accepting and I can see why you want to skip travel for the next decade or so!
Let me help you plan autism-friendly family vacations for you! I can use my travel experiences, as well as what I have learned as a mom of a child with autism, to plan an autism vacation package for your family. You will avoid the stress and overwhelm while getting an autism-friendly vacation to enjoy.
Need more information? Simply fill out my trip planning form and I will contact you with some information soon.
SERVICES & VALUES
YOU DESERVE AN AUTISM-FRIENDLY VACATION THAT IS UNFORGETTABLE
We live in a world of obligations and distractions. We pack so many things into our days and forget to add fun into the mix. A vacation seems to be at the bottom of our lists because they appear as luxuries that we do not have time for.
But let me tell you something… Our time on this Earth is a limited resource and the time we have with our children is fleeting. We only have 18 short summers with our kids.
Are these following statements true in your life??
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You can’t seem to catch a little downtime to recharge your batteries
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Your family doesn’t have the close-knit ties you want and desire
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You’re so tired of the same schedule every single day
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You don’t have money in your budget for a luxury like vacations
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You would give anything to skip out on therapies and appointments for just ONE DAY!
If you think these statements are true, then you need less hustle in your life and more autism-friendly vacations!
A wonderful autism-friendly family vacation will create memories that you will remember for a lifetime! And it will bring your family closer together in a way no other experience can!
A memorable autism-friendly vacation doesn’t need to be challenging to plan. My passion is to help families with autism like your family create their dream vacations. I’ll take care of all the stressful planning, so you can keep doing everything you do until it is time for your vacation.
By listening to your needs, I will guide you along, as we plan a future autism vacation. Every autism vacation package I create is personalized, so you will get everything your family needs for an extraordinary experience.
Professional Fees
As with any concierge or professional service, there is a fee for my services. This is compensation for my experience as a professional travel advisor and Certified Autism Travel Professional. I dedicate love and care to every autism-friendly vacation I create. I make sure that every trip I create is unique, so do not expect a cookie-cutter type of experience when you work with me!
Dont forget to ask me about Military/First Responder and Multiple Household discounts!
THE PROCESS:
STEP TWO:
If we are a good fit, we get started! I'll design a custom package for you, and upon agreement your trip planning begins! I'll keep you in the loop every step of your process.
STEP THREE:
Your trip is booked, the itinerary is in your hands, pack your bags and get on your way! I'm here for any help you may need during your trip!
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
"Dina was fantastic at really getting to know our family and our current situation to make sure that this vacation was as great as could be for us! She was incredibly personable and easy to talk to every step of the way."
- BRIANA B.
"Dina helped with the planning and logistics of the trip. Tips and talking through what to expect of Disney and things to stay away from."