Autism and HOLIDAYS

[JakB]

We haven't been away for nearly five years with the kids. I just can't face the idea of DD in a different country etc etc none of her familiar things/routines, keeping her safe/entertained etc etc.
I may be able to get a free holiday if I write about my experiences for a magazine. They want me to come up with some potential places to go. Any ideas?!!!!
Don't think budget is particularly a problem but finding somewhere we would all be happy probably is!

I think somewhere safe is the main criteria (window locks). I couldn't take ds1 on a plane, if you go on a ferry take one where you can hire a cabin.

I think DD would be OK on a plane if she had one person assigned to her. But a shortish journey. Need somewhere with massive trampolines, a soft room, sensory room, pool with a gate round it and huge villas so she can have her own 'spinny' room and enclosed gardens. Anyone?!!!!

What about renting a villa? We are looking into this for our next abroad holiday as DS cant cope with too many people in a hotel. if you go when the schools have not broken up you can get good rates.

I can recommend a resort for you its Costa Teguise in Lanzarote, its got lovely beaches, nice shops its failry quiet-just families and OAPs, we have been going there for years and DS loves it, also we usually go every jan and its in the 70,s and quite cheap also.

HTH

Please explain this 'holiday' of which you speak .

we have been to lanzarote 5 times, also been to menorca and portugal, we are off to lanzarote again in august, we go with jamess villas, peurta del carmen (sp) is brill, you don't need a car as everything is close by, they have some trampolines near the beach, and a macdonalds too! we only ever do villas now and with three autie kids it is nice to have our own space/pool.
we have been abroad 8 times with the kids and to be honest, they are much easier to manage on holiday, they do accept things being different and will even eat different things on holidays. holidays are the only time me and hubby get to relax, the kids just want to play in the pool all day, the only stress part of the holiday for us is handing the cases over as DD is a bit of a bag lady and spends the whole flight asking where the cases are

only joking - I remember you mentioning james villas before and we are definitely going abroad this year. would really appreciate any recommendations

don't think you can go wrong if you go to del carmen, we don't hire a car, no need to really, and we use holidaytaxis.com who pick you up from airport and take you to your villa and collect you again at the end, we have used them a few times and no problems, the only thing we have to have is a pool that that stair steps as opposed to ladder steps, two reasons,1) we then know there is a shallow endas two of mine can't swim, and 2)they don't do ladder steps very well, cat me if you want anymore ideas.