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As a parent of a child with autism, you may have thought that vacations were a thing of the past. After all, who has the time to find safe accommodations, check out child-friendly restaurants, and determine which attractions are sensory-friendly? Trust me, I get it. My boys have autism. At first, I was scared to even think about travel. We are a military family though. So, travel is something we need to do, whether we are ready or not. I decided to begin to embrace travel with my boys. Yes, they have autism. Yes, I need to plan accordingly for their needs. But the wonder in their eyes, the excitement on their faces, and their ability to learn new things make it all worthwhile. I guarantee you can go anywhere with your autistic family. However, today, I want to talk about why autistic families should consider an all-inclusive resort. You will be amazed at how wonderful these resorts are for children with autism. By the time you are finished reading, you will be more than ready to chat with me and let me plan your next all-inclusive vacation.
Reasons Why Autistic Families Should Consider an All-Inclusive Resort
Beaches is an Autism Certified Resort
Beaches were the very first all-inclusive resort to become autism certified. This means their staff is qualified to work with autistic kids in many areas. Every staff member receives specialized training in sensory awareness, motor skills, social skills, communication, and much more.
More all-inclusive resorts will most likely follow suit in the near future. At least I hope so, since approximately 1 in 44 children are diagnosed as having autism spectrum disorder.
Multiple Restaurants on Site
When you choose to vacation at an all-inclusive resort, you will have the opportunity to choose from many restaurants on-site. This may seem overwhelming at first. When you have a child who will only eat one thing though, all these restaurants in one semi-small area means you can find what you want before a hungry child has a meltdown.
Plus, being all-inclusive, you can order whatever you want, whenever you want. If your autistic child is feeling adventurous one night, they can order a new food that sounds good. Maybe they will love it. Maybe they won’t. The good news is you won’t be paying extra for it if it ends up being thrown out. And they can order something else if they don’t like what they originally ordered.
Multiple Swimming Pools
Autistic kids love the water. Not every autistic child loves the sand though. So, while all-inclusive resorts are located right on the beach, you may not spend as much time there. Your autistic family might be at one of the swimming pools more.
Since there are multiple swimming pools at these resorts, you can usually find one that has fewer people than the rest. This means your autistic child won’t become overstimulated while in the water.
Kids Camp
Your kids will love attending kids camp while at an all-inclusive resort. They will have other kids to play with. Fun activities are always happening at these camps too. All you need to do is sign your child in and then you can go off on an adventure of your own.
As your travel advisor, I can help make sure the resort understands your child has special needs. I can make arrangements for certain scenarios in advance, and you can verify them when you arrive.
One of the best things about Beaches Resorts is they have a one-to-one Beaches buddy for kids with autism. This means even if your child normally needs help with certain activities, they won’t need you to stick around while on vacation. Their specially trained buddy can help them.
Numerous Activities
There are a plethora of activities waiting for autistic families like yours at all-inclusive resorts. You don’t need to do them all. You can easily choose the ones that you know your family will love. And if your autistic child wants to try one, they can. You won’t need to worry about paying anything extra for an activity they end up stopping after a few minutes.
VIP Treatment at Customs
Beaches Resorts offers their guests VIP treatment at customs when they arrive. Instead of standing in line with everyone else, you get through customs quickly. This is quite helpful for autistic children who don’t do well in line. Especially after a long plane ride.
I know I am ready to move around and have fun at that point!
These are many of the reasons why autistic families like yours should consider an all-inclusive resort for vacations. You will discover many other reasons, especially after you arrive at one of these resorts. I have been a firm believer that travel is for everyone for many years now. Yes, I struggled with traveling with my oldest autistic son at first. But the pure joy he showed, as we were traveling, made me see that it was something we would get through together. And this was before there were so many autism-friendly destinations available! So, if you are ready to finally make your vacation dreams a reality, contact me today. I would love to plan a vacation at an all-inclusive resort for you and show you how incredible a little time away from home can be for your entire family.
