Preparing to go on holiday when you’re autistic

Going on holiday can be fun, and a welcome break away from my usual environment. It’s a great chance to experience new things and learn more about the world. It’s also a break from my usual routine, and as an autistic person, this can be quite stressful.

For me, holidays in hot places can be more stressful because I tend to get more sensory issues and I feel uncomfortable being in the heat or the sun. I also don’t like holidays with a packed or disorganised itinerary – where I wouldn’t have time for breaks. City breaks are always my holiday preference.  

I’ve written out some things that I do to help enjoy my holidays and make the most of them.

1. Writing down what I am going to do each day (‘My routine: holiday edition’)

This includes wake-up times and outfits. I either ask my family or I plan this out myself if I have more control over the holiday planning.

Making sure I have key phone numbers for the people I am travelling with, my hotel and local emergency services also helps to calm any nerves about ‘what if the worst happens’.

2. Planning downtime  

A lot of my friends want to make the most of their holidays by cramming as much as is humanly possible into each day and night, but I’ve realised that this can make me feel a lot worse during a holiday. Instead, I plan at least one morning or afternoon of chill time into each holiday. My mum also does this, so I was lucky growing up that this was part of family holidays.

I do the same after the holiday is over, and this really helps me get back into my normal routine more quickly. Coming home in the middle of the school holidays, or adding a day of annual leave from work, means that I have dedicated time to rest and unpack.

3. Researching the places I will visit

I will use Google to find pictures of the specific area I’ll be visiting, as well as look up accessibility information for any museums. And of course, researching places to eat and menus. If any information isn’t in a language I understand, Google Translate usually works well enough for me to understand.

This also works for airports and transport – all UK airports and some in other countries use the Sunflower Lanyard scheme to assist disabled people. If you don’t already have a lanyard, you can pick one up for free at a UK airport. Airports are pretty much guaranteed to give me a meltdown, so having a ‘plan of action’ in advance can really help. That way, on the actual day I need to do as little thinking as possible.

4. Packing options

I hate carrying heavy bags, but I will make sure to pack different options of clothes and safe foods for snacks, just so that I know I have them with me if I need them. And if my wash routine is likely to change because I’m packing fewer toiletries, I make sure to list out everything I will pack in advance so that I have time to get used to the idea before it happens.

Advice for autistic travellers

If I could give one piece of advice to other autistic young people on preparing for holidays, it would be:  

You know yourself best, so pay attention to what you really need and try to incorporate that into your holidays! Even if this means your holidays look different to other people’s, that’s perfectly okay.

For me, I need alone time to rest even in my daily life. The same goes for when I am on holiday - changing my routine doesn’t mean I stop looking after myself, and as long as I look after my needs, I know I’ll have a great time!

About the author

Eleanor is 23 years old who works as a Data Consultant in London. She has been a member of the Ambitious Youth Network since 2022 and her favourite holiday was a trip to Ostia, which is a seaside town in Italy.