How to make 11 year old's birthday special abroad?

[bdayhelp]

We are going away in winter for a short break in the sun after a tricky year, it was the only time we could go, (Gran Canaria) it's over DS's birthday, thinking it would be an exciting birthday. His sibling has just had a birthday and I think it has made him realise he won't get all the traditions we usually do, and likely wont have all his presents (I can't ask family to send ahead it feels too rude!) he's being very gentle and polite about it but I can tell it's disappointing him. He's ASD and ADHD just for context, and a very young (soon to be) 11.

Anyway, do you have any suggestions of things we can do to make him feel special on his birthday, bearing in mind we are all on holiday so we are all getting that treat, what will help it stand out for him?

I used to love having my birthday abroad as a child/teenager! It used to happen a fair bit. I would always have either an ice cream sundae or a fancy looking mocktail with sparklers in, and it would feel like everyone was making a big fuss of me!
Depending on where you’re staying, could you call ahead and ask them to put some balloons up in your room?
You could also give him some extra holiday spending money to get something he fancies while you’re away?

DS has an August birthday and we were often away on our summer holiday at the time. We always used to book something he'd love like the waterpark and have more than average ice cream and cake.

One year the restaurant we went to for dinner brought out the cake we'd asked for with the waiting staff singing and the whole restaurant watching and applauding. DS was mortified and still brings it up as "You're not going to do that again, are you..?" Some kids might like this and enjoy the fuss, DS (also with ASD) absolutely did not, so be careful with stuff like this. It genuinely didn't occur to us that they'd do this as we didn't ask them to, we should have realised.

We also used to blow up some balloons and a few decorations that were easy to take with us and if it's organised, you can bring cards along with you even if you can't bring presents. Knowing that their presents are at home and something to look forward to is OK if they don't mind waiting.

You could also take him out to a favoured fast food place when you get back, if he'd like that.

We're often abroad for DD's birthday. We try and do something extra fun and go out to a restaurant of her choice. Often we fly home on her birthday and I once got the pilot to wish her happy birthday over the intercom. She was mortified!

Are you in a hotel or a villa? DS had several birthdays abroad, and ice cream for breakfast was always a winner. Let him pick the restaurant for dinner? One year I carried his favourite M&S cake on the plane...