- 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
Q&A with Jackie Longino founder of Aspietravel
First and foremost, Jackie Longino is the mother of a 10-year-old son with Asperger's Syndrome and a neurotypical 5-year-old daughter. She has been a tireless advocate for people on the autism spectrum, particularly Aspies like her son, since his diagnosis five years ago. She has worked in publishing for over 10 years, from business-to-business publications to newsstand publications that celebrate travel, history, arts and culture in North Carolina. "Different, not less" is the cornerstone of her philosophy. Jackie looks forward to her next travel adventure with her family, and to traveling with the growing Aspie Travel community!
AG-Over the years I have come across many parents to autistic kids who have turned their life around and started new ventures to benefit the autistic community.When and why did you decide to start your business?
Charles & I are among a wonderful group of people that have launched businesses in response to an autism diagnosis in the family. I think Aspie Travel was a slow evolution, but when we really decided to do it, it happened quickly. We had been building upon the positive travel experiences that we had with our children. It suddenly occurred to us that this was actually a calling for us to do with our lives. It seemed like a "win-win" to us: enhancing our own children'' lives and then being able to enhance other peoples' lives. We officially launched in December 2010.
AG-There are many travel agencies some even operated by parents to special needs kids so what in your opinion makes your company unique?
We've created a two-fold business that I think sets us apart from other travel agencies focused on special needs. Aspie Travel is a curated travel site, in that we select specific travel packages to feature on our website that we think are suited to people on the autism spectrum and their families. We have a booking engine on Aspie Travel through which people can book air, hotel, and rental cars. Travel that is booked through Aspie Travel benefits from our pledge to donate a portion of our proceeds to autism-related charities. Aspie Travel is our information portal, where we are compiling resources for people to access and we blog there as well. Facilitated Tours is Aspie Travel's group tour division. We have carefully created 3 different types of group tours at Facilitated Tours: tours for families that have a member on the autism spectrum; tours for adults that are high-functioning and tours for students (ages 16-25). Our tours are facilitated by caring staff members that understand the needs of the autism community. Our facilitators are a part of every one of our tours, and they are there in addition to tour guides.
AG-I love the hosted trips.How did you come up with the concept and where are you going this year?
Facilitated Tours was our original idea, based on being in groups on our independent travels that were made more tense because of insensitive neurotypicals. We are about to announce our upcoming trips on www.facilitatedtours.com and we are so excited about it! Some of our upcoming destinations include Williamsburg, VA, Walt Disney World, Las Vegas, San Antonio, Washington, DC and more!
AG- I've always advised my readers to have a plan A and B while traveling ;so how do you deal with the unexpected on these hosted trips?
We agree 100% with you about having to have a plan A and plan B while traveling! Our staff is there to assist in case of the unexpected. Additionally, we carefully plan out every itinerary to allow for what we call an "escape hatch" for our travelers. Sometimes, it's as simple as a quiet room where our travelers can go. We try not to "over program" as well. We build in decompression time so that our travelers don't feel like they've been rushed all day.
AG-What is your vision for your company five years from now?
Our goal is to be embraced by the autism community as a positive, enriching experience. We want to develop a community in which our travelers feel like extended family. In 5 years, we want to be able to offer a family trip, an adult trip and a student trip every week of the year. As a family business, we are also mindful of creating something that our children can be a part of now, and as adults. Our Aspie son and our neurotypical daughter could one day run our business, which would make us very happy!
www.aspietravel.com
Charles & I are among a wonderful group of people that have launched businesses in response to an autism diagnosis in the family. I think Aspie Travel was a slow evolution, but when we really decided to do it, it happened quickly. We had been building upon the positive travel experiences that we had with our children. It suddenly occurred to us that this was actually a calling for us to do with our lives. It seemed like a "win-win" to us: enhancing our own children'' lives and then being able to enhance other peoples' lives. We officially launched in December 2010.
AG-There are many travel agencies some even operated by parents to special needs kids so what in your opinion makes your company unique?
We've created a two-fold business that I think sets us apart from other travel agencies focused on special needs. Aspie Travel is a curated travel site, in that we select specific travel packages to feature on our website that we think are suited to people on the autism spectrum and their families. We have a booking engine on Aspie Travel through which people can book air, hotel, and rental cars. Travel that is booked through Aspie Travel benefits from our pledge to donate a portion of our proceeds to autism-related charities. Aspie Travel is our information portal, where we are compiling resources for people to access and we blog there as well. Facilitated Tours is Aspie Travel's group tour division. We have carefully created 3 different types of group tours at Facilitated Tours: tours for families that have a member on the autism spectrum; tours for adults that are high-functioning and tours for students (ages 16-25). Our tours are facilitated by caring staff members that understand the needs of the autism community. Our facilitators are a part of every one of our tours, and they are there in addition to tour guides.
AG-I love the hosted trips.How did you come up with the concept and where are you going this year?
Facilitated Tours was our original idea, based on being in groups on our independent travels that were made more tense because of insensitive neurotypicals. We are about to announce our upcoming trips on www.facilitatedtours.com and we are so excited about it! Some of our upcoming destinations include Williamsburg, VA, Walt Disney World, Las Vegas, San Antonio, Washington, DC and more!
AG- I've always advised my readers to have a plan A and B while traveling ;so how do you deal with the unexpected on these hosted trips?
We agree 100% with you about having to have a plan A and plan B while traveling! Our staff is there to assist in case of the unexpected. Additionally, we carefully plan out every itinerary to allow for what we call an "escape hatch" for our travelers. Sometimes, it's as simple as a quiet room where our travelers can go. We try not to "over program" as well. We build in decompression time so that our travelers don't feel like they've been rushed all day.
AG-What is your vision for your company five years from now?
Our goal is to be embraced by the autism community as a positive, enriching experience. We want to develop a community in which our travelers feel like extended family. In 5 years, we want to be able to offer a family trip, an adult trip and a student trip every week of the year. As a family business, we are also mindful of creating something that our children can be a part of now, and as adults. Our Aspie son and our neurotypical daughter could one day run our business, which would make us very happy!
www.aspietravel.com