Planning a holiday with the family should be exciting, not overwhelming. But for families with children (or adults) who are neurodivergent or have sensory processing challenges, travel can feel like navigating an unpredictable maze.
The good news? With a bit of planning and the right destinations, sensory-friendly travel is absolutely possible—and it can be a deeply rewarding experience for the whole family. Check out our guide to planning your neurodiverse-friendly holidays this summer.
Travelling With Neurodiversities
Planning Ahead For Your Sensory Friendly Holiday
For individuals with neurodiverse conditions, thorough planning is one of the key elements to achieving a low-stress travel experience. Researching destinations, transport options, accessibility, and more helps reduce uncertainty and anxiety.
Creating visual itineraries or social stories can provide a sense of predictability and comfort, especially for those who find change overwhelming. Booking accommodations and services that cater to specific needs can help to ensure a smoother journey from start to finish.
An additional tool to take with you when travelling is a Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, which is a lanyard that allows you to voluntarily share that you have a disability or condition that may not be apparent and that you may need a helping hand, understanding, or more time in shops, at work, on transport, or in public spaces.
Establishing a Routine (preparing for the unexpected)
Maintaining a familiar routine while travelling can provide a crucial sense of stability. This might include sticking to regular meal times, sleep schedules, or sensory-friendly holiday activities.
However, as we all know, travel often comes with unexpected changes. Therefore preparing for disruptions, like delayed flights or long queues, is equally important. Bringing comfort items, sensory toys or calming tools can help individuals manage changes and help aid sensory regulation during distressing moments.
Assisted Travel
Assisted travel services are invaluable for those who may need extra support while navigating busy transport services or unfamiliar environments. With accessibility and inclusion becoming an increasing need within public settings, there are a selection of airports, train stations, and travel companies that offer assistance such as early boarding, quiet areas, or help with luggage and check-in.
If you are able to register for these services in advance, this can help ensure that you are able to receive the adaptations you require to travel with comfort and ease.
Travel companies such as Jet2 and TUI have a selection of resources available via web, online or phone for you to seek any help you require prior to and at the time of travelling.
Sensory Rooms at Airports
Sensory rooms at airports are part of a growing effort to make air travel more inclusive. For families with neurodiverse travel companions, they can provide a quiet place to decompress, manage stress & anxiety and regulate sensory input. During long waits or delays, having this safe, and relaxing space can help travellers
To help travellers requiring assistance in their planning stages of their sensory friendly holiday, Altogether Travel has created a list & review of airport sensory rooms across the UK.
Sensory Friendly Holiday Destinations
When choosing your holiday destinations, there are several holiday providers, locations and organisations that can help you find the right sensory friendly holiday destination. Here’s a few we found:
TUI
Did you know that TUI UK&I has trained over 2,500 travel staff on a neuro-inclusive approach to travel, with training provided by Perfectly Autistic? This incentive was driven by the growing need to better support neurodivergent customers.
Currently childcare staff at resorts in Ibiza and Cyprus have received Bespoke SEN Childcare Training, with TUI stating that 6 Childcare and Neurodiversity Regional Champions have been fully trained and will be supporting their teams this summer, all of which now have in-depth SEN experience and can be called upon for advice in times of need.
Additionally, a three year contract has also been signed by TUI with a SEN Agency for ongoing training and support, which is an exciting and promising glimpse at what they will be offering in terms of Neurodiverse Friendly Holidays.
Kirklees Local Offer
Kirkless Local Offer is a fantastic resource that offers lots of information, guidance and links to sensory friendly holiday resorts for children with SEND across the UK, Europe and Worldwide. These include destinations, travel companies and travel guides that can help your holiday be as sensory-friendly, inclusive and stress-free as possible.
The Thomas Centre
The Thomas Centre is a holiday park based in Lincolnshire, for those with autism, epilepsy and other special needs.
After their own holiday experiences with their son, they decided to build the centre which focuses on providing a five star holiday facility, in a safe and non-judgemental environment. With the goal in mind to encourage the whole family / the whole group to relax, and to recharge batteries, there are lots of facilities both onsite and offsite. The centre also provides a planning aid which includes locations, distances and descriptions to make your activity planning as easy as possible.
Centre Parcs
Centre Parcs has locations across the UK that have a selection of inclusive, neurodiverse and sensory friendly resources – including an interactive sensor floor system installed by ourselves!
Across their range of activities, they provide a breakdown of what to expect prior to booking and if this is suitable for those with additional needs. In addition, there is an accessibility form available to fill out prior to your trip, in order for them to help provide the best assistance possible.
Social Stories are also available via their website for a selection of activities & experiences on offer, including images and descriptions to help prepare prior to arriving.
The various sites have several accessible lodges for guests with disability and accessibility needs, as well as an Enhanced Accessible Lodge which has its very own sensory room!
To promote further guest inclusion and comfortability, Centre Parc is also partnered with Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, offering free sunflower lanyards or pins at their guest services for guests who may need help, adjustments with activities or additional requirements throughout their stay.
Holiday Funding Assistance
Holiday funding assistance for those with neurodiverse children and adults can make achieving desired holiday goals much more achievable and affordable for families and carers.
Various charities, grants, and local support programs offer financial help to cover costs such as accommodation, travel, and specialist equipment. This support can open the door to meaningful breaks and much-needed rest, helping ensure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy a holiday!
Here are a few resources we found that may be helpful:
Travelling with neurodiversities may come with unique challenges, but with the right support, preparation, and understanding, it can also be a deeply rewarding experience. With growing awareness and better accommodations and resources, more individuals and families can explore the world with confidence, comfort, and a sense of adventure that should rightly be accessible for all.
