Holidaying with DS1 - any advice on where to go?

[hanbee]

Hi

This is loads in advance but DH and I really would like a short holiday abroad next year (June) to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary. We need plenty of time to save up for it so want to get planning early. So I wondered if any of you would have advice got us, we've not taken our DC abroad before. DS1 will be 4.5 when we go but has GDD, his motor skills are currently approximate to a 12-18 month old, he is an unsteady walker and only just starting to climb. He has few words but has about 40 signs. He finds it difficult to initiate contact with other children and resorts to hair pulling to get their attention if I font intervene quickly enough. He's also a v v messy eater.

I'm wondering though, is this idea at all do-able? Would he cope with plane noise, would it end up being so stressful managing his behaviour that we wish we hadn't gone?

I'm sure that lots of you have been on holiday and managed it so would be so grateful for any tips on how to make it a success.

Thanks x

Hi we've holidayed abroad a lot with dd1 ADHD far and wide. We took dd2 to France on a plane in Feb first time and she was ok on plane she loved watching the propellors! We are going to Tunisia in july all inclusive. We researched thoroughly for a resort with a big private beach so loads of space for both girls to run around, big pool areas etc.

All inclusive is good if you have fussy eaters and worry about wasteage, or go self catering in a resort like Spain if you worry he won't eat with lots of people around him.

Ring the airline beforehand and get priority boarding book your seats for front of plane so you can get off quickly and get in queue for customs. If its a long transfer the other end to resort consider getting a taxi rather than the coach if he will get distressed.

My friend goes abroad every year, she has a boy with gdd who is 5, and a boy with no sight who is 3 and an NT dd and they manage so it is do able :) enjoy and relax!

We have done Dom rep, Cape Verde (beautiful would def recommend), turkey, Tunisia, lanzarote, venezuala, France, Africa, Majorca

Oh forgot to say start setting up an inflight goody bag full of junk like McDonalds toys, small tubs of playdough etc. Cheap toys that obviously you don't show him before hand so its a nice suprise! We also take a cd player with headphones and this year we taking iPod touch and portable dvd player - and the kitchen sink ;)

I took DS to Disneyland last year. It was a bit of a risk for vasrious easons related to his ASD and behaviour but we both LOVED it. We are off to Tunisia in August to a big all inclusive resort, beachfront location, several pools and waterslides.

I do a LOT of preparation with DS when we are going anywhere (we do a lot of going away in the UK), pictures, videos on you tube, toys related to holiday, a number of sleeps countdown, that sort of thing. I also go in with low expectations rather than put too much pressure on him, then anything else is a bonus and so far DS has done me proud.

I agree either self catering (where you can suit yourself) or an all inclusive resort with plenty of food choice are good as both take the strain off in different ways.

Chundle have you been to Tunisia before? I am taking DS this year who has ASD, just the 2 of us.

Bored your Tunisia holiday sounds very much like where I'm going in tunisia this year!!!
Yes I've been twice before once when I was carefree and single and once when in only had dd1. We are going to Sahara beach resort this time in Skanes went to Kanta Hotel in Port El Kantoui before

Ooh that's where we are going too! You will have to let me know how it is - unless it's rubbish in which case let me live in ignorant bliss.

Haha thought it was by the sounds of it!! Well send me a message on here after the 18th july to remind me and ill let you know what its like! There is occasionally jellyfish out there so take some sting repellant.
Apologies hanbee for the thread hijack!

No probs, thanks for the excellent advice. I feel reassured enough to go for it now! Btw DH went to Sahara beach resort about 20 years ago (!), he had a fantastic time, he went in June says it was about 40 degrees but comfortable as there's no humidity, he managed to get sunburnt feet though!

Zzzz, hmm yes that's definitely what things are like with my family too!

BC (before children) we liked holidays outside Europe, with sun, beach, snorkelling and some cultural bits! We always tended to do a day of activity, followed by day chilling/beach. We went to Mexico twice (loved it the first time, second time it had got a bit too touristy), we went to Mauritius for our honeymoon. We like nature, wild places, walks and swimming.

Budget is tight, we're going to have to seriously save (DH says "save what?"), probably only for a week, ten days max. It would just be me and DH, DS1 and DS2 who will be 2.5.

I think I just become unable to make a choice in case I make the wrong one!

Tunisia flight is 3hr15mins and good value for money.

Lol to the patting yourself on the back when things go smoothly and blaming someone else when things go badly zzzzz.

We could never do another 10 hr flight now we have dd2 not at the mo anyway. We desperatley wanted to go back to Roy Funana in Cape Verde as the beach beat the carribean anyday and the weather was amazing but don't think dd2 could go 6 hrs. Like bored we chose Tunisia as its only 3hrs has good weather is cheap and has culture.

Ooh Han nice to know your hubby liked Sahara beach :) I would try and go for a large resort as although there will be more people it means there will be more space for the kids to roam and less chance of boredom

Menorca is fabulous for families with younger children who just want a relaxed, beach orientated holiday. It's very family orientated as lots of young families go there and eat out in the restaurants. The beaches are lovely and generally safe with gorgeous blue sea. Food is generally very good, and there is a wide variety of accommodation from small villas to big ones and guest houses to big hotels. The island is interesting and quite pretty, and the two main towns are very Spanish and beautiful and make for a good afternoon out. Flying time is short too, and the weather is generally hot but not roasting in the summer.

(I don't work for the Menorca tourist board, honest... )

God, I love the sound of Dubai but not sure about a 7 hour flight with what would amount to 2 two year olds.... Could send me straight to the mini bar on arrival.

Thanks for all the advice will check out all your suggestions but def am going to bed dreaming of 5* in Dubai (only in my dreams will I get there sadly!)

Zzzz, ha! I'm
Dubious mine would sleep though. We live in Cornwall but often travel to the other side of the country to visit family. We've tried leaving a bedtime but DS1 stays awake for the entire 4 hour journey and DS2 will sleep for an hour and then scream the rest of the way as he wants to run around. Honestly it's a surprise I haven't yet crashed on the M5!

Hanbee my dd1 has ADHD yet she always always sleeps on a plane!dd2 is horrific sleeper but she fell asleep as plane was taxi-ing down runway

Hmmm, maybe they put something in the air supply?!

I'm going to spend this evening doing some serious research online as I'm really excited now. Woo hoo!