Planning a holiday should feel exciting, but when your child relies on routine or can become overwhelmed by noise, crowds, food or unfamiliar surroundings, there can be much more to think about.

I often hear the "fear that a generic itinerary will break my child's routine and trigger a meltdown"

This sensory holiday planning checklist starts somewhere different- with your child. Their routines, sensory needs, familiar foods, quiet spaces and the things that help them feel safe.

Start With Their Routine  — Not The Destination.

Before I start looking at hotels or destinations, I want to understand what an ordinary, settled day looks like for your child.

Think about wake-up and bedtime routines, meal and snack times, downtime, familiar foods, comfort items and the situations that usually cause distress.

The aim isn't to recreate home perfectly while your away. it's to identify the parts of your child's routine that provide predictability and reassurance- because those are the things worth protecting when we start planning the holiday.

Think About Sensory Triggers Before You Book

Every child is different. What feels exciting to one child can be completely overwhelming for another.

Think about the things that may cause difficulties: busy airports, queues, loud entertainment, crowded restaurants, unfamiliar smells, bright lights, certain food textures or even the feel of sand.

It also helps to think what calms your child. Headphones, a favourite snack, a familiar tablet or toy, somewhere quiet to retreat to, simply knowing what is going to happen next can make a real difference.

You don't need a long list of medical terms. You know your child. Tell me what works, what doesn't and what you're worried about.

Plan The Journey — Not Just The Resort

For some families, getting there can be the hardest part of the holiday.

I think about the whole journey from leaving home to arriving at your accommodation. Airports, security, queues, transfers and waiting around can all add uncertainty before the holiday has even begun.

Where possible, look at airport assistance, quieter areas, priority options and anything that could reduce unnecessary waiting. It can also help to show your child pictures or videos of the airport, aircraft and accommodation beforehand.

Think about your luggage allowance too. If you’re taking extra clothes, familiar foods, comfort items or anything else your child relies on, check the baggage allowance before you travel.

 If you think you’ll need more, it may be worth paying for a larger allowance in advance rather than dealing with excess baggage charges or having to rearrange bags at the airport. The less stress we can create on travel day, the better.

And don’t assume flying is the only option. For some families, travelling by car or train, or taking a cruise from the UK, may feel much more manageable.
The best journey isn’t necessarily the quickest one. It’s the one your family can cope with most comfortably.

 


Food Can Make Or Break a Holiday

Food can be a huge part of feeling safe and settled, especially when your child relies on familiar foods, brands, textures or routines.

Before booking, think about what they actually eat at home. Don’t assume a large buffet means there will automatically be something suitable.

If certain foods are essential, tell me. I can ask suppliers or accommodation providers what may be available, whether there is a fridge or cooking facilities in the room, and whether bringing familiar food with you could be an option.

And if your child wants the same meal every night? That’s fine. A family holiday isn’t the time to win a battle over trying something new.
Quiet Space Isn't a Luxury

A busy hotel can be great fun, but sometimes a child needs somewhere calm to get away from the noise, crowds and activity.

When I’m looking at accommodation, I think about where those quieter spaces might be. That could be a balcony, a quieter part of the pool area, or somewhere away from the main entertainment.

It’s also worth thinking about the room itself. Location can matter just as much as size. A room close to lifts, evening entertainment or a busy walkway may look perfect online but could be difficult for a child who is sensitive to noise.

See our guide to preparing a hotel room for an autistic child.

This is exactly the sort of detail I want families to tell me about. If noise, crowds or needing somewhere to retreat could affect your holiday, tell me before we start looking.

Sometimes the little details make the biggest difference.
 

Don't Pack The Holiday Too Tightly

It can be tempting to plan something for every day, especially when you’ve spent a lot of money on a holiday and want to make the most of it.

But a packed itinerary can quickly become overwhelming.

I would rather build in breathing space. A quiet morning, an afternoon by the pool or even a completely unplanned day can give everyone time to reset.

If your child has had a difficult journey, a late night, or has simply taken in more than they can comfortably process, changing the plan isn’t a failure.

You don’t have to visit every attraction or join every activity. Sometimes the best holiday memories come from the days when you didn’t really do very much at all.

The holiday should work around you — not the other way round.

Prepare for the Unexpected

Even with the best planning in the world, holidays don’t always go exactly to plan.
A flight may be delayed, a restaurant might be busier than expected, or an activity you planned could suddenly change.

For a child who relies on routine and knowing what happens next, those changes can be difficult.

Where possible, I like to think about a Plan B before it’s needed. That might mean having a familiar snack with you, knowing where a quieter space is, keeping headphones or comfort items close by, or having an alternative activity in mind.

We can’t remove every unexpected change from a holiday, but sometimes knowing what you’ll do if something changes can make it feel much more manageable.

The aim isn’t a perfect holiday. It’s a holiday your family feels prepared for.

What to Pack in You're Child's Hand Luggage

What goes in the bag you keep with you can make a huge difference on travel day.

Think about the things your child reaches for when they need reassurance or something familiar. That might be headphones, a tablet and charger, a favourite toy, comfort item, familiar snacks or a change of clothes.

If there is something your child would really struggle without, I wouldn’t put it in the checked suitcase if it can safely and legally travel in your hand luggage.

It’s also worth downloading favourite programmes, games or music before leaving home. Airport Wi-Fi and internet access aren’t things I’d want to rely on when they’re needed most.

Keep essential medication with you too, following the airline, airport and destination rules for carrying medicines.

Pack for the moments that might be difficult — not just for the destination.

The Right Hotel Isn't Always the
Best-Rated Hotel

A five-star hotel with fantastic reviews might be perfect for one family and completely wrong for another.

When I’m looking at accommodation, I’m not just interested in the star rating. I want to know what the hotel is actually like.

Is it very busy? Is the entertainment loud? Are there quieter areas? How far is the room from the restaurant or pool? Are there lifts, queues or crowded spaces that could become difficult?

Sometimes a smaller hotel, apartment or self-catering property may suit your family far better than the resort everyone else is recommending.

Reviews can be useful, but remember that another family’s idea of a brilliant holiday might be very different from yours.

This is why I want families to tell me about the things that could cause difficulties, even if they seem like tiny details. They can completely change which accommodation I would suggest.
The best hotel isn’t the one with the most stars. It’s the one that works best for your family.

Ask Before You Book — Not After You Arrive

Before I recommend a holiday, there are some questions I would much rather ask before you book than discover the answers to when you arrive.

If your child needs a quieter room, certain foods, a fridge for familiar items, easy access to the pool, somewhere to escape from the busy areas, or anything else that could make the holiday easier, tell me.

I can’t promise that every request will be possible, but I can ask the supplier or accommodation provider before you make a decision.

Sometimes the answer may even mean I suggest a different hotel or holiday. I would rather tell you that beforehand than sell you something that I don’t think is suitable.

There is no such thing as a silly question when it could make a difference to your family’s holiday.

Don't Be Afraid to Tell Me
What Went Wrong Before

If you’ve had a difficult holiday before, I want to know about it.

Maybe the airport was overwhelming, the transfer was too long, the hotel was noisier than expected, or mealtimes became stressful. Perhaps something that looked perfect when you booked simply didn’t work once you got there.

That information can be incredibly useful.

I’m not asking so we can dwell on what went wrong. I’m asking because it can help us make different choices next time.

Sometimes knowing what your family doesn’t want tells me just as much as knowing what they do want.

A previous difficult holiday isn’t a failure. It can help us plan the next one better.

Think About The First 24 Hours

The first day of the holiday can sometimes be the hardest.

Everything is new — the airport, the journey, the accommodation, different smells and sounds, a new bed and a completely different routine. Even when everyone is excited, that can be a lot to take in.

I wouldn’t plan too much for the first day. Give your family time to arrive, have something familiar to eat, explore the accommodation and work out where everything is.

If your child likes to know what is happening next, talk through that first day before you travel. Even simple things like knowing where you’ll eat, where they’ll sleep and what you’ll do the following morning can help.

And don’t worry if the first few hours don’t go perfectly. Sometimes everyone simply needs time to settle.

The holiday doesn’t have to start the moment you arrive. Give yourselves time to arrive properly.

Sleep Can Change Everything

A tired child can experience a holiday very differently.

New surroundings, unfamiliar noises, different beds, late nights and changes to the normal bedtime routine can all affect sleep.

Before booking, tell me if sleep is something we need to think about. It might affect the type of room I look for, its location within the hotel, whether separate sleeping areas would help, or whether self-catering accommodation might suit your family better.

Think about what helps at home too. A favourite blanket, pillowcase, night light, familiar bedtime programme, or keeping the usual bedtime routine where possible can make a strange room feel a little more familiar.

And don’t feel that because you’re on holiday everyone has to stay up late. If your child has had enough at 8pm, they’ve had enough.

Build in Recovery Time

A holiday doesn’t have to be busy to be a good holiday.

Sometimes, after a busy morning, an excursion or even just a noisy breakfast, your child may need time away from everything.

That might mean going back to the room, sitting somewhere quiet, spending an hour with their tablet, or simply doing absolutely nothing for a while.

I would build that time into the holiday rather than waiting until everyone is overwhelmed. You don’t need to fill every hour just because you’ve paid to be there.

And if plans need to change because your child has reached their limit, change them. Missing an activity isn’t ruining the holiday.

Sometimes the best thing you can put in the itinerary is nothing at all.

Don't Forget The 
journey Home

The journey home deserves just as much thought as the journey there.

By the end of a holiday, everyone can be tired. Routines have changed, there may have been late nights, and your child may already be dealing with the fact that the holiday is ending.

Try not to leave packing until the last minute. If possible, get most things organised beforehand so the final morning isn’t a rush of suitcases, missing toys and stressed adults.

Keep the important things accessible for the journey home too — headphones, familiar snacks, chargers, comfort items, medication and a change of clothes if needed.

It can also help to explain what will happen when you get home. Who will be there? Are you going straight home from the airport? What will happen the following morning?

And if everyone needs a quiet day after returning home, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

The holiday isn’t quite finished until your family is home, settled and comfortable again.

Your  Holiday Doesn't Have
To Look Like Anyone Else's

There isn’t one right way to have a family holiday.
Some families love busy resorts, entertainment every night and days packed with activities. Others are happiest in a quiet apartment with their own space and absolutely nothing planned.

Neither is better.

If your child spends half the afternoon in the room watching their favourite programme, that’s okay. If you leave the restaurant early, skip an excursion or decide that today is simply a pool day, that’s okay too.

Try not to measure your holiday against the family beside you, the photographs on social media, or what somebody else thinks you should be doing.
Success isn’t how much you managed to fit into seven days.

For me, a successful holiday is one where your family has been able to enjoy being away together in a way that works for them.

And sometimes the smallest moments become the ones you remember most.

One Last Thing From Me

If you’ve made it this far, there’s one thing I’d really like you to take away from this guide.

You know your child better than anybody else.

You know the little things that help, the things that can cause difficulties, and the signs that tell you when they’ve simply had enough.

Please never think those details are too small to mention when planning a holiday. Sometimes the smallest detail can completely change whether a hotel, flight or destination is suitable.

I can’t promise any family a perfect holiday. Nobody honestly can.

What I can promise is that I’ll listen, I’ll ask questions, I’ll speak to suppliers where I can, and if I don’t think something is suitable, I’ll tell you.

Because for me, this isn’t about finding the most expensive hotel or squeezing as much as possible into seven or fourteen days.

It’s about helping your family find a holiday that works for your family.
And if this guide has helped make planning your next holiday feel even a little less daunting, then it has done exactly what I hoped it would.

Before You Book, Think About...

Routine

What parts of your child's usual day help them feel settled and secure?

Sensory Triggers

Think about noise, crowds, queues, smells, lighting, food textures and unfamiliar surroundings.

The Journey

Consider airport assistance, quieter areas, waiting times, transfers and the easiest way for your family to travel.

Baggage

Check allowances in advance, if you may need extra clothes, familiar foods, comfort items or other essentials.

Familiar Food

Think about what your child actually eats at home and whether suitable options will be available.

Quiet space

Look for somewhere they can retreat from noise, crowds or busy entertainment.

Room Location

A room near lifts, entertainment or busy walkways may look convenient but could be difficult for someone sensitive to noise.

Downtime

Leave space in the holiday for rest, quiet mornings and completely unplanned time. 

You don't need to have every answer before you book. the aim is simply to think about the things that could make the holiday feel easier for your family.

 

Ready To Start Planning?

If you're thinking about your next family holiday and would like some help finding somewhere that suits your family's individual needs, I'd be happy to listen.
Tell me as much as you can — including the little things. They're often the things that matter most.

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Personal support . Honest advise .

Holidays planned around your family