ASD & Virgin Holidays

[TallulahToo]

We have always avoided holidays where there is a kids club around purely for the fact that, in the past, they refused to take our DS1 (ASD with good communication) for even just one hour without one parent being there the whole time. No surprise but even then, the activities were not appropriate as they seem to assume that ALL children like ball games.

This year Virgin holidays brochures appear to be promoting them as some sort of 'disabled friendly' for access and excursions. They show hotels with kids clubs but still do not make it clear if they are also viewed as suitable for special needs children. Does anyone know or has anyone found a company that does this?

no idea what their holidys like but we do fly with them and they have been very good letting us board last sitting by divder so ds not spend whole trip kicking hell out someones seat and the stewards are very helpfull will serve his dinner first so not having to wait etc also as he is still in nappies they provide curtins round seats so cn change him in privacy as toilets to small to cramped, plus they even gave some ear defenders when taking of as hesenstive to loud noises( though think rest plane could done with them to * oh they will also provide harness insead of belts as well

oh the other option in uk try haven though they would still expect you to stay

We used Esprit (they are best know for family ski holidays but do summer holidays in the alps) when ds was 3-5. The childrens clubs are quite small. Ds was registered as a child with ld (his autism dx came later) and they mostly coped well but it was very nanny dependent IYSWIM. They do adventurous things with the school age kids (rock climbing/ sledging/fishing/ walks etc) so not your standard kids club. It didn't used to run every day ( 3/7), there was also a nightly free coco club for the awake but fed children whilst adults eat (younger children get high tea earlier). I would probably not try a kids club now (ds is 9) but would still use this company (if finances allowed) as it is small and family friendly and ds is happy in the hills!

Phoenix: Thanks. It's the best I've heard yet for flights - we've had some awful ones early on and reduced to the obligatory drive to france for the usual caravan holidays for the last few years. We tried Italy, which I would highly recommend to any mainstream family - they absolutely loved children.

Haven are possible for a long weekend but we're hoping to go somewhere with more chance of sun this year. (We're all looking very pale and ill after the last few holidays).

DD just wants a hotel & pool (says she doesn't want a caravan this year!) DS is 8 and enthraled by the Madagascar movie so just wants to go to the jungle. (Can't afford much in that way and am told there's a minimum age of 6yrs for safari).

Been thinking along the lines of Morrocco (Agadir) but not sure of how suitable it would be or which operator to use. Travel agents recommend this place over europe this year.

Anyone been there or have any alternative suggestions?

for me it hs to be the states found there very open to learning isues and from moblity point of view it is fantastric everything is disabled friendly

oh and erm guess fact my bf lves out there might be another reson for going

Pheonix - We'd love to go there but still a bit too far for our youngest to fly. Hoping to do that in another couple of years. Any recommendations on where, when and how would be welcome though.

we go to chicargo but best go out of season and advoid the us holidays s well they break up middle of june.but from may is ice as is september, how young is your youngest

Youngest is only just 4 and not been on a plane since 6mths old. Need to build up to longhaul. Is there much to see in chicago?

theres loads to see best for me has to be the aquarium getting to see beluga whales was amazing we go every time,but lots of other things to see nd do all age ranges mine are 14, 12, 5 and 31/2 the youngest havin Gd as wellas query asd but since switching to virgin its doable on flight now