- Welcome Message and select excerpts of our first year blog
- Our New Blog
- Contact us
- Travel Advice
- Guidelines for travel agents
- Flying-all you need to know before you book your next plane ticket>
- Cruising-planning the perfect cruise>
- Car Travel
- Traveling by bus...in style
- Hotels-Creating the ideal autistic friendly hotel room>
- Packing -101>
- Ask away -Autistic Globetrotting Free advice service>
- Tid bits-travel advice from our readers in 100 words or less
- Autistic Travels' Golden Rules
- Guidelines for travel agents
- Autisticals-a personal view of autistic travel
- US 10 best in
- The 10 best of Boston
- The best 10 of Hilton Head,South Carolina
- The 10 best of New York
- The 10 best of Alaska
- The 10 best of Texas-San Antonio and Galveston
- The 10 best of Santa Fe and the surroundings
- The 10 best of Arizone-Grand Canyon
- The 10 best of Colonial Williamsburg,Jamestown and surroundinds
- The 10 best of Washington D.C.
- The 10 best of Las Vegas
- The 10 best of Boston
- International 10 best
- Mini autisticals- the darnest travel stories you'll hear
- The Sleeps-our biased and un biased hotel reviews
- The Eats-Tasty challenges from around the globe
- The Shops-what you can buy next
- Collector's Corner-How did these travel trinkets become a collection
- Recommended products
- Giveaways
- Monthly news roundup
- Interviews
- Q&A with Jackie Longino founder of Aspietravel
- Q&A with Tal managing director of ALUTEVA-autistic hotel in Israel
- Eva Bronstein-Greenwald-special needs travel agent and founder of We Belong
- Q&A with Trip it's
- Q&A with David Intercontinental Tel Aviv
- Keri Bowers- film producer of 'Normal people scare me'
- Jamie Grover-Autism on the seas
- Peter Shears
- Clive-guide dog extraordinaire
- John Brown of 'Devyn and Dad' -an inspirational adventure across the United States
- Rose Niehaus Olsen Morris inventor of the safety sleeper bed
- Annette White,counselor for Camp Autism
- Colin Brennan-Canada's new singing sensation
- Dennis Debbaudt-autism safety expert
- Gisela Sedlmayer- author of 'Talon'
- Q&A with Jackie Longino founder of Aspietravel
- Inspirational travel stories by our guest writers
- Danette Schott's-Revisiting family vacations
- Brian R. King-Meltdown at the airport
- Joy's visit to the Aquarium
- Denise Klipsic-An incredible encounter with Princess Tiana
- Tanya Savko- Hope on a river
- Tiffany Robison-Great Wolf Lodge
- Fiona Westner Ramsay -Making-room-for-autism-in-your-canoe
- Laura Shumacher-Traveling with autism: a true story
- Phyllis Fanzo Lombardi-s -Vacation Time with Joey
- Kristina Chew-18 Miles On the Bikes At the Beach
- Jeff Katz-Chicago
- Margaret Ann Franklin's visit to the Great Northern Carousel in Helena Montana
- Claire Sarcone-Chessington the aspie way
- Elaine Hall-Tips for summer vacation
- Steve LHeureux -Autism "Outings" need to be planned and appropriate
- Kelly Green-The Gardens of Gilroy
- Wolfie Blue-Tips I learnt by traveling with my family
- Gluten free Disney cruise experience
- Danette Schott's-Revisiting family vacations
- North,Central and South America-pictures,videos and AG's tips
- Arizona,The Grand Canyon
- Alaska Cruise-USA and Canada
- Florida,Orlando-Universal Studios-looking for Harry Potter
- Florida,Orlando-Macy's mini parade in Universal Studios
- Florida-Everglades Park ,Miami,Key West
- Hawaii's big island with a glimpse of Pearl Harbor
- Louisiana,New Orleans-French Quarter,Christmas Parade,Nanchez Steamboat
- Louisiana,New Orleans-in the footsteps of Katrina,Garden district
- Massachussetts-Boston ,New England Coastal towns of NH and Maine
- New York-NYC
- New Mexico-Santa Fe and Bandoliers National Park
- Pennsylvania-Philadelphia
- Texas-San Antonio and Galveston
- Canada-Niagara Falls,Montreal,Quebec,Toronto
- Caribbean-Bahamas- the Atlantis resort
- Caribbean-Castaway Cay-Disney's bahamian paradise
- Caribbean-Roatan,Honduras>
- Caribbean-Grand Caymans-Hell,Turtles,Wild Hens and Stingrays>
- Mexico-Cabo San Lucas(Mex Riviera)
- Mexico-Puerta Vallarta (Mex Riviera)
- Mexico-Acapulco and Manzanillo
- Mexico-Mazatlan(Mex Riviera)
- Mexico-Playa del Carmen's Xcaret eco park>
- Mexico-Tulum and XelHa Eco Park
- Yucatan,Mexico- Chichen Itza,Cozumel's Paradise Beach
- Arizona,The Grand Canyon
- Europe,Asia,Australia and New Zealand,Cruise ships-pictures,videos and AG's tips
- Australia-Sydney and Melbourne
- Austria-Salzburg
- Belgium-Antwerp ,Brussels
- Canary Islands-Lazarote
- Croatia-the walled town of Dubrovnik
- Denmark-Copenhagen
- France-Normandy's D day beaches>
- France- Cannes,Nice,Eze
- France-Paris
- Finland,Helsinki
- Germany-Munich,Dachau
- Germany-Romantic Road
- Ireland-Dublin
- Ireland -Cork,Blarney,Kinsale>
- N. Ireland-Belfast>
- N. Ireland's Giant Causeway
- N.Ireland-Carrick -a -Rede-rope bridge>
- Italy-Venice,Pompeii,Rome
- Italy-Florence,Messina and Taoramina
- Israel-Jerusalem>
- Israel-Masada and the Dead Sea>
- Israel-Tel Aviv>
- Morocco-Casablanca
- New Zealand-Rotarua
- New Zealand-Fjord Park,Dunedin,Christchurch
- New Zealand - Auckland and sheep farm
- The Netherlands-Amsterdam,Delft,The Hague,Rotterdam,Madurodam
- Sweden-Stockholm and the Archipelago
- Russia-St Petersburg's Palaces
- Scotland-Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh
- Scotland-Edinburgh>
- Scotland-Inverness>
- Scotland-Loch Lommond,Luss,Sottish sheep show>
- Spain-Barcelona
- Spain-Cadiz and Seville
- Spain-The Alhambra Palace,view of Malaga
- Tasmania-Hobart
- UK-Liverpool and the Beatles>
- UK-London>
- UK-Stonehenge,Bath,Warwick Castle,Stratford on Avon,Oxford
- UK-Guernsey>
- Carnival -Legend
- Aboard the Carnival Legend
- Carnival -Ecstasy
- Carnival- Fascination
- Carnival Spirit
- Celebrity-Century
- Crown Princess>
- Sapphire Princess
- Royal Caribbean-Brilliance of the Seas
- Royal Caribbean-Mariner of the Seas (parades)
- Royal Caribbean- Mariner of the Seas
- Australia-Sydney and Melbourne
- Monthly guest's -Travel videos and pictures
- Web sites and blogs we follow
- Face Book discussions
- Guest Book
Autisticals-the art of a deal or preventing travel meltdowns
![Picture](/uploads/4/4/4/8/4448415/2796189.jpg)
Meltdowns are no fun to handle at any age, but can be downright embarrassing to the parents of older autistic travelers. When they occur in daily life, most parents are taught by professionals not to 'cave in' to the child's demands but what does one do if that happens during travel, do you still hold your ground ?
As an experienced traveler and mother to an autistic son I have tried many solutions, some with more success than others. After changing multiple medications, developing numerous ABA charts and even consulting a voodoo priestess( joking but there times it was tempting) ,it hit me .If indeed this was about power as many assured me mingled with fear of the unknown ,then why not empower my son to make better choices and decisions.
My plan was simple. It involved sitting down with my son ahead of time and the use of a pocket planner or printed calendar pages.
Every travel day should be divided into three sections; Morning, Afternoon and Evening.
Next you answer in writing four questions for each of the sections-
Where are we going
What do we need to bring/buy/save for
How long will this last
What is our plan B
Here are some examples from a recent trips ;
April 17,2010 Los Angeles to Orlando
Morning-
Wake up early, drive 60 minutes to airport ,TSA
Need i-pod recharged,
Save $5 for magazine (allowance),
Bring shoe covers for TSA
Plan B-extra waiting at airport-eat at restaurant (Parent treat) and get an extra magazine (next week's allowance)
By writing all these details down , my son and I have actually negotiated multiple points of contention and eliminated some possible meltdowns over waking up early ,buying unnecessary extras at the airport and even the fact that his i pod needs to be recharged for travel.
Afternoon and Evening
Flight will need
Extra movie rental in case plane movie malfunctions,
Kindle recharged to read school book ,
Extra snack, allowed one Coke only.
After past problems on flights we have learnt to bring our own and never let Jeff have more than one Coke as it makes him very hyperactive.
July 18,2010-Israel
Morning
Wake early, cold breakfast( big issue for Jeff) , tour starts at 7.30 a.m ,hour car trip to Jerusalem
Need-i-pod recharged,
Rent a movie on i tunes for the drive,
Money(20$ from savings) to buy souvenirs-
Package of Doritos and water in case of extreme hunger
Afternoon
Entails walking out side in very warm temperature in the Old City for 2 hours -
Hat recommended(huge point of contention so I make it optional)
T shirt gift as compensation for walking, and an extra $5 souvenir for wearing hat.
(Yes, devious of me, I know)
Evening
Dinner with friends only if we return before 6p.m
Plan B for a later return- quick hotel restaurant meal
Dessert only if there is no nagging, wining about eating dinner later than usual.
So far, we have had great success with this program. Jeff feels that he is in charge of his travel plans and has cooperated, even on issues that are difficult for him like walking outdoors in the heat or waking up early .This method has taught him organizational skills,basic financial planning (how to save up for future expenses) and how to handle disappoinment better by having thought of a plan B ahead of time. He has been able to curtail most meltdowns and hopes as he so eloquently put it' to work out an even better deal 'for our up and coming travel season.
Move over Priceline,a new negotiator is on his way!
Do you have your own 'home made' negotiator,or have devised your plan to prevent travel meltdowns?