- 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
Unraveling the secrets of a well packed handbag
As a young traveler ,I thought that lugging that incredibly heavy and expensive designer half open bag around the airport made me look sexy ,until I got pick pocketed ,that is. Then came that period in my life when I somehow developed extra limps to carry the overloaded diaper bag ,baby one ,toddler two and stroller ,as well as what resembled the tower of Babel as my personal handbag through airports. Luckily, those were pre -9/11 days when everyone was sympathetic and no one really cared what your bags held. Fast forward a decade, and I find myself still carrying my family's stuff around ,the only difference being, I try to implement a few noteworthy tips I picked up over the years.
Size matters
Find out what the flight company allows and go out the sturdiest and non structured bag you can possibly find .Don't worry you will fill it to the brim especially when traveling with those autistic globetrotters that have a need to pack and carry most of their belongings.
Zippers and pockets
Make sure that the bag closes on top with a double zipper ,in case one fails, and that it zips from one end to the other .That will protect you tri fold from pickpockets ,things falling out from the open sides and bed bugs.
Extra zippered outside pockets are an advantage to throw in last minute items like boarding passes ,headphones or last minute receipts, as well as to store items you'll frequently be using on the trip like hand wipes.
Fabric
The best travel bag by far is the one you can actually throw in your washer when you return from the trip (think bed bug zapping),and lighter the fabric the better, in today's fee infested travel world ,especially since there are some airlines and airports that put an actual cap on handbag weight.True ,that does limit the field to a few companies and might make you look less glamorous at the counter but the benefits do outweigh the drawbacks
.Colorful holders for your 'stuff'
Carefully organized and packed items can make your life a lot easier ,especially when you are trying to find an item fast before ,after or during that tantrum, in a semi darkened airplane cabin .For even easier access ,buy a differently colored bag for each of the following;
Electronics- cameras ,videos, e-readers ,i-pods , chargers ,cards ,duct tape ,personal headphones
Medicines-first aid mini kit ,friction block stick (against chafing),piece of moleskin ,personal medicines ,usual heart burn ,headaches ,benedryl, visine ,collapsible cup
Cosmetics- cologne/perfume, brush, makeup, lip balm, single use tooth brushes (wisp), dental floss, deodorant
General aids- mini Lysol spray for funky looking toilet seats, mini hand cream, contact lenses and or glasses.
The differently colored bags are also high advantageous if you need to find them on the dark [plane floor and will attract your attention when you clear your seat before you actually deplane. Writing your family name on each bag can be helpful if the bag were to get misplaced or lost during the flight.
.
Duct tape and a flash light
The quintessential items in the travel repertoire are necessary in every woman's bag. Duct tape to patch anything torn/broken while the flashlight is necessary to look for lost items under seats. Anyone who has ever traveled with an autistic globetrotter has his/her own stories of broken toys, headphones or even glasses could have been easily fixed with duck tape ,and just as many can share stories of searching under seats for tiny items in the dark. Your e reader mini lamp can be a useful substitute ,and if you don't have either your mobile phone can be used with lesser success.
Beach Coverall
Made of thin rayon it can creatively serve multiple purposes during travel ,including clean flight blanket ,seat cover ,kid bib or even an emergency diaper ,in addition to its original use.
Fan
In today's travel world sooner or later you're bound to get stuck on a plane with poor or no ventilation .Now imagine being stuck with a temperature intolerant autistic globetrotter !A mini battery operated fan can easily and efficiently solve the problem.
Extra pair of glasses
This topic never ceases to amaze me, every time I stumble upon the number of people owning a single pair of vision glasses. Get an extra pair, pronto!
There's nothing more annoying than looking for a place to fix your glasses in a strange city when you are pressed for time and trying to cram in as much sightseeing time as you can. If your autistic globetrotter is as skilled as mine in sleeping on his glasses and even stepping on them first thing in the morning after they fall off the night stand, you might need several extra pairs!
Smile
Use your tooth whitening kit for at least a week prior to your trip and then flash those pearly whites as much as possible. As a parent or care giver to an autistic globetrotter you should always look on the bright side of life.
Size matters
Find out what the flight company allows and go out the sturdiest and non structured bag you can possibly find .Don't worry you will fill it to the brim especially when traveling with those autistic globetrotters that have a need to pack and carry most of their belongings.
Zippers and pockets
Make sure that the bag closes on top with a double zipper ,in case one fails, and that it zips from one end to the other .That will protect you tri fold from pickpockets ,things falling out from the open sides and bed bugs.
Extra zippered outside pockets are an advantage to throw in last minute items like boarding passes ,headphones or last minute receipts, as well as to store items you'll frequently be using on the trip like hand wipes.
Fabric
The best travel bag by far is the one you can actually throw in your washer when you return from the trip (think bed bug zapping),and lighter the fabric the better, in today's fee infested travel world ,especially since there are some airlines and airports that put an actual cap on handbag weight.True ,that does limit the field to a few companies and might make you look less glamorous at the counter but the benefits do outweigh the drawbacks
.Colorful holders for your 'stuff'
Carefully organized and packed items can make your life a lot easier ,especially when you are trying to find an item fast before ,after or during that tantrum, in a semi darkened airplane cabin .For even easier access ,buy a differently colored bag for each of the following;
Electronics- cameras ,videos, e-readers ,i-pods , chargers ,cards ,duct tape ,personal headphones
Medicines-first aid mini kit ,friction block stick (against chafing),piece of moleskin ,personal medicines ,usual heart burn ,headaches ,benedryl, visine ,collapsible cup
Cosmetics- cologne/perfume, brush, makeup, lip balm, single use tooth brushes (wisp), dental floss, deodorant
General aids- mini Lysol spray for funky looking toilet seats, mini hand cream, contact lenses and or glasses.
The differently colored bags are also high advantageous if you need to find them on the dark [plane floor and will attract your attention when you clear your seat before you actually deplane. Writing your family name on each bag can be helpful if the bag were to get misplaced or lost during the flight.
.
Duct tape and a flash light
The quintessential items in the travel repertoire are necessary in every woman's bag. Duct tape to patch anything torn/broken while the flashlight is necessary to look for lost items under seats. Anyone who has ever traveled with an autistic globetrotter has his/her own stories of broken toys, headphones or even glasses could have been easily fixed with duck tape ,and just as many can share stories of searching under seats for tiny items in the dark. Your e reader mini lamp can be a useful substitute ,and if you don't have either your mobile phone can be used with lesser success.
Beach Coverall
Made of thin rayon it can creatively serve multiple purposes during travel ,including clean flight blanket ,seat cover ,kid bib or even an emergency diaper ,in addition to its original use.
Fan
In today's travel world sooner or later you're bound to get stuck on a plane with poor or no ventilation .Now imagine being stuck with a temperature intolerant autistic globetrotter !A mini battery operated fan can easily and efficiently solve the problem.
Extra pair of glasses
This topic never ceases to amaze me, every time I stumble upon the number of people owning a single pair of vision glasses. Get an extra pair, pronto!
There's nothing more annoying than looking for a place to fix your glasses in a strange city when you are pressed for time and trying to cram in as much sightseeing time as you can. If your autistic globetrotter is as skilled as mine in sleeping on his glasses and even stepping on them first thing in the morning after they fall off the night stand, you might need several extra pairs!
Smile
Use your tooth whitening kit for at least a week prior to your trip and then flash those pearly whites as much as possible. As a parent or care giver to an autistic globetrotter you should always look on the bright side of life.