Planning an Accessible Holiday with Additional Needs

The thing about kids with additional needs is that they are all different…so sometimes accessible travel can feel…inaccessible

If you have a child with additional needs, your home probably has dozens of changes / adaptations that have evolved over the years to keep your child safe. Off the top of my head: hoists, safe foods, wetrooms, ramps, profiling beds, window locks, plastic plates, cameras, door gates, screen protectors, light switch covers, a lot of wipe clean surfaces, sensory corners, blackout blinds…

Everyone wants and deserves to go on holiday. Everyone deserves a break from the routine. BUT going on holiday shouldn’t be more stressful than staying at home. And how do you make sure that the critical things you do / have at home are there when you go away? 

The good news is that with the right preparation—and the right accommodation—you can enjoy holidays with far less stress. 

Holiday Your Way

Put social media to one side. What is it that you really, really want from the holiday? Someone else to cook and wash up for a week? Space for the kids to run about? A particular activity? Chocolate for breakfast? Once you have that figured out, start researching the simplest way of achieving what you want, and go from there. And be creative – if you don’t want to wash up for a week but a hotel is outside your budget, or the kids need to eat certain foods, buy paper plates and wooden cutlery – I am not here to judge you.

Aim low: Start with a short local break

If you haven’t travelled before, go somewhere maximum an hour away, for maximum a couple of nights. Pick a simple activity for each day. At the end of the break think over what went well, what you’d change / take / do next time.

Where to stay?

The good news is that there’s been a huge increase in accessible accommodation in the last decade as holiday companies have realised that people with additional needs enjoy going away. 

Loads of my customers stay in caravans and there’s a good range of adapted accommodation around the UK. Do your research – and pick something that fits your version of accessible. A wheelchair accessible caravan with a hoist will be very different to a sensory caravan with an extra lock at the top of the door. There is a mountain of information, but here are a few picks to get you started. 

• Spectrum Holidays: are a favourite of mine and go from strength to strength. They are a charity and have caravans, lodges, cottages, and glamping options all over the UK.  You can use Family Fund vouchers and and Inspire vouchers.

• Calvert Trust: There are three Calvert sites, and they offer individuals, families and groups the chance to experience adventure in the Lake District / Kielder / Devon in a safe and supportive way. We’re going for a week in July. 

• Bendrigg Trust (Cumbria): Located in the Lake District, this specialist residential centre provides outdoor adventure courses and inclusive family weekends for disabled and disadvantaged people of any age or ability. 

Aiming higher:

• TUI Neuro-Inclusive Holidays: Offer neuro-inclusive family holidays featuring trained childcare teams, sensory bags, and dedicated sensory rooms at selected TUI BLUE resorts and TUI Kids' Clubs. 

• Beaches Resorts Autism Holidays: Partnered with the National Autistic Society and certified as an Autism-Friendly resort company, providing custom dining, quiet spaces, and trained staff. Find out more via the overview.

• Limitless Travel Autism Holidays: Specializes in fully accessible and supported holidays for autistic adults and families, complete with tailored care packages.

Lazy? Me too.

Let social media do the work for you. Join Facebook groups like:

• Accessible, adapted or disabled holiday lets, places to visit and days out UK 

• Accessible holidays and day trips

• Availability/Special Offers/Requests – Accessible Holiday Escapes

• Holiday more; pay less – SEND families

Post your dates, rough location and adaptations that you need. If you have budget constraints add that in too. Loads of property owners keep an eye on the groups and will respond if they have something that suits your needs. Then it’s just a question of thanking everyone lavishly for saving your time and picking the best fit for you.

Helpful Resources for Accessible Holidays

Planning becomes much easier when you know where to find reliable information. These organisations are excellent starting points:

• Tourism for All – Search accessible hotels, attractions and holiday accommodation across the UK.

• AccessAble – Detailed accessibility guides covering hotels, airports, restaurants, hospitals and public venues.

• Hidden Disabilities Sunflower – Find airports, hotels and attractions participating in the Sunflower Scheme for invisible disabilities.

• Changing Places Toilets – Disabled toilets on steroids. You’ll need a radar key to access them, and there’s an app so you can locate the closest one. Most have hoists, showers, and changing plinths and I love them.

• Euan's Guide – Reviews of accessible venues written by disabled people and their families, helping you make informed decisions before travelling.

• VisitEngland Accessible Travel – Practical information about accessible accommodation, attractions and transport throughout England.

• VisitScotland Accessible Travel – Information on accessible travel, accommodation and attractions throughout Scotland.

• VisitWales Accessible Travel – Information on accessible accommodation, attractions and activities across Wales.

• VisitNorthernIreland Accessible Travel – Information to help plan accessible travel throughout Northern Ireland.

• Enable Holidays – Accessible holiday specialists offering adapted accommodation, transfers and mobility equipment hire.

• Accessible Holiday Escapes – Search independently reviewed accessible holiday properties across the UK and Europe.

• DisabledHolidays.com – Accessible hotels, cottages, cruises and family holidays tailored to individual requirements.

Don’t feel guilty:

Everyone needs a break. Everyone. 

It may well end up that you go away with your disabled child AND you go away without them. 

You. Have. Got. To. Look. After. Yourself. As. Well. As. Everyone. Else.