Stress-Free Travelling with an Autistic

By Aiza dela Cruz

Now that the number of covid-19 cases in Aklan have dwindled to four, this is the best time to travel to once-packed tourist destinations like Boracay Island minus the crowd and the noise.   

Of course, travelling with an autistic child can be stressful but here are some things we did when we travelled to Boracay to ensure a stress-free vacation for us and our son:

Prepare an Itinerary

When we decided to go to Boracay, we had to carefully plan out everything from the date and time which is most convenient and comfortable for our son to the hotel, transportation, and activities that we would do.

We chose a hotel with complete amenities and which we know has a well-trained staff.  In short, a hotel that our son would like, such as having a swimming pool near our room and a bathtub. Making our son happy during our vacation also made us happy parents because we get to enjoy the time as well with no tantrums and meltdowns.  

Having an itinerary made our son look forward to the activities that we would do. Since everything is planned, our son did not complain.

Pack Everything

If budget travelers have the motto “pack light”, for parents of children on the spectrum, it is to “pack everything”. Although tourist destinations mostly have everything you need, it is better to prepare properly and pack what your child needs and wants, especially his food. Bring also his usual stuff such as medicines and toys.

When we went to Boracay, I prepared a small backpack for my son where I placed his snacks, milk, alcohol, wipes, mask, and a change of clothes. This is for when we go stroll at the beach or eat out. I also have my own bag stuffed with his water, a change of clothes, hat, face shield, towel, and a first aid kit. I packed our things based on the itinerary we made.

When packing and preparing for travel, it is always better to be prepared for any eventuality.

Practice

Days before going to Boracay, we had to practice wearing a mask and face shield. We explained to him the reasons for them and constantly reminded him to wear them at all times.

Practicing dos and don’ts days before our travel ensured a smooth process. There was no resistance from my son and he complied with all our instructions.

It also helps to explain and show pictures of your itinerary so he would know what to do beforehand. We also give him time to adjust before moving to another activity, and gave him choices such as where to swim—the beach or the pool.

Ask

We informed the hotel of our son’s condition and asked if we can be assigned a room which is not near any noisy machine like the generator as our son doesn’t like loud noises. In our two-day stay, we also asked that vacuum should not be used when cleaning the room as our son is afraid of the noise. They were quite nice to clean our room when we were out at the beach. For me, it is imperative that I inform the hotel of my son’s condition so they can also be prepared and educate themselves ahead of time, and they would understand my requests and my son. Informing the hotel about my autistic son is also an opportunity to advocate for autism.

My son is quite noisy when swimming so we were given a room near a corner and there were no guests in the room beside ours. No one came to complain about my son’s happy shouting and singing so it was a peaceful vacation.

Don’t be shy to request anything from the hotel or ask for information as they will always do their best to meet your demands.

Enjoy the experience

We kept to ourselves so there was little interaction with other people. The only interaction we had were with the hotel and restaurant staff. We did not mind other people or cared about what they would say.

We swam, laughed, took pictures, and just enjoyed our time together as a family. We only focused on our son and ourselves, which ensured a happy and stress-free vacation for us.

For those who want to travel to Boracay, you can visit the website aklan.gov.ph to learn about the guidelines and safety protocols implemented there.

I enjoin everyone to have more compassion and understanding for all children with different abilities.

I would also like to hear the experiences of other parents who have children on the autism spectrum. You may email me on genevieveaiza.delacruz@gmail.com. I am a member of the Autism Society Philippines (ASP), a national non-profit organization dedicated to the well-being of persons on the autism spectrum disorder. /PN