Questions about AI holidays with kids with SEN

[Merryoldgoat]

I have two boys with ASD. We’re currently on holiday in the UK and having a great time. They have adjusted well and so long as we give them time to adjust to whatever we’re doing they’re coping really well plus we have calm afternoons for them to decompress.

I’m emboldened and am considering a family type resort next summer somewhere warm but not too far - Balearics/Spain/Italy etc.

If you go to a family AI resort do you all just stay there all week and stay by the pool? What kind of excursions are there? Are there other activities?

Finally, can anyone recommend somewhere particularly suitable for autistic children?

TIA!

Obviously it depends where you go.

The excursions available from an AI in Tenerife are going to be different from your options in Crete or Majorca.

It's really entirely up to you. You can spend your entire week or fortnight in the hotel if that's what you want to do. You can leave the hotel whenever you want - they don't lock you in - and walk into the local village, or get a taxi into town or hire a car and explore further afield.

Most AI places we have been have a kids club, evening entertainment and stuff going on around the pool during the day for kids and adults. Last one we were on pre-pandemic had daily yoga around the pool, archery, aerobics, there was a 5 a side football pitch, basketball, all sorts of stuff.

You just need to do your homework and look for the hotel which best suits your family needs.

Could you do an air b n b? If you pick the right one there are toys etc and you can spend a week by the pool without needing too much socialising.

You might want to look at Menorca. It's quieter than Mallorca so there's less chance of the plane being full of 'the rowdies' as it's probably too quiet and boring for them.

Maybe look at a package provider like Jet2holidays and you can search for deals/by dates and other requirements. Look at family friendly/family luxe for more on site activities.

We're going for the first time soon and I did notice that there's a small waterpark in the area where we're staying (Punta Prima). That, and the beach (lots of small cove like beaches so safe for DC) is the sort of things we do outside the hotel, plus maybe go on the bus to the main town on the island for a wander round - you can often find play parks for DC.

Do they eat well? AI wouldn't have worked for us as we had every dinner at McDonald's 🤦🏻‍♀️

@BarbaraofSeville we are going AI in Punta Prima in a few weeks too. Sounds like the same hotel. Will give you the secret MN wink.

One does one doesn’t.

Im resigned to him having chips for dinner and lunch every day if he can’t bear anything else. The 4 year old is a good eater.

Thanks everyone for the input.

I don’t think they’d do kids club but that’s ok. I’ll do some research but it sounds like it might be nice.

Im hoping to toilet train the younger one this summer which would make it all much easier.

@BarbaraofSeville

What you have described sounds perfect. Thank you for the information.

AI can really vary. My kids are NT but won't entertain kids club. They just want to play in the pool / on the beach. We resign ourselves to the fact that they will chose what they want from the buffet and it's not worth arguing over! I just let them get on with it as long as they are not wasting food for the sake of it.

I am autistic. They can be pretty overwhelming places, loud, busy, bright but I find after a couple of days I know where we can go to get a bit of quiet time or space. The last time we did it pre-Covid we went as part of a bigger family group and only left the resort once in two weeks which isn't how I usually like to do things.

We are going to Ibiza this year if Tui don't fuck it up short flight, 20 minute transfer, water park on site and on the beach. We will be taking excursions this time, I want to see some of the island but will wait until we get there to book as there are usually cheaper local operators.

Just a word of caution, whilst ai type places will allow those with sn to join childrens activities, they need to be able to access them on the same terms as non sen kids thus they cannot provide a higher ratio staff nor would they let me tag along to supervise dd. Luckily she didn't actually want to do the activities preferring to go sightseeing, we left her sister in the child care

The TUI place I went to in the winter might work, not as full on family as some, so a bit quieter, lots of sports you can do yourselves, 7 pools and 4 different restaurants including a buffet with chips always on the menu. Bus (public) to the zoo stopped outside.

Maybe an aparthotel or self catering with AI option would be an option? Then you have your own space for a quiet meal in if needed?

@motogirl

its ok, I’m not looking for kids activities that others supervise - they wouldn’t cope with that. It’s more that we need lots to occupy them with us as well.

Older boy could possibly cope but he’s not at all keen and would rather be with us which is fine. Younger one no way as he’s non-verbal.

I’m stunned how well they’re coping being away though - all happily sleeping and going out which isn’t what we expected really.

That’s a really good idea!