An Accessible Travel Specialist’s Top Resort Picks for Autism-Friendly Travel

In honor of World Autism Awareness Month, we asked Jordana Izzo, director of accessible travel for Travelmation — and a mother of a child with autism herself — for her favorite autism-friendly resorts.

For clients searching for a more inclusive family trip, these standout properties raise the bar in terms of accessibility and accommodations.

Beaches Turks & Caicos

When it comes to ambiance, service and accommodation, Izzo can’t speak more highly of Beaches, an all-inclusive, family-friendly Caribbean resort brand with two unique properties in Turks & Caicos and Negril, Jamaica. Izzo has personally traveled with her entire family, including her nonverbal autistic child, to both resorts. Beaches’ 100-acre property in Turks & Caicos offers 757 suites and rooms, 10 different swimming pools, a 45,000-square-foot water park and 20 different restaurants, plus the opportunity to participate in a themed parade with Sesame Street characters. 

In addition to incredible staff and gorgeous beaches, both Beaches properties are certified by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), a global body that is considered the gold standard in training and certification for hospitality operators seeking to better accommodate autism and other forms of neurodivergence. In fact, Izzo adds, Beaches was the first resort in the Caribbean to receive IBCCES certification. 

RELATED: Community Voices: How I Plan Travel for My Autistic Son 

Beaches Negril

At Beaches Negril, Izzo was able to utilize the resort’s supplemental Beaches Buddy service for her son, Salvatore.

“This is someone who has extensive knowledge [of autism and neurodivergence] and can provide one-on-one care for your child,” she said. During the family's stay, Salvatore’s buddy was able to accompany him to the beach and other outings.

Since reopening after Hurricane Melissa, Beaches Negril has unveiled newly renovated rooms and villa options. The 20-acre property features 185 rooms and suites, 13 restaurants and a waterpark located on the widest stretch of Jamaica’s famous Seven Mile Beach. Compared to Beaches Turks & Caicos, the property is much easier to navigate.

Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana 

Karisma Hotels & Resorts is Izzo’s other international hotel collection of choice for autism-friendly travel. Over the years, Karisma has partnered with Autism Double-Checked (ADC) to introduce an Autism Concierge across all of its resorts in Mexico and the Dominican Republic, as well as an Autism Passport. All staff members at ADC-certified Karisma properties have undergone the organization’s comprehensive training courses and are trained to be aware of location-specific sensory information that might be helpful for neurodiverse guests.

Among them, Izzo especially recommends Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana, an upbeat, family-friendly property in the Dominican Republic that is popular among families with young children. The abundance of water slides and ability for all-onsite restaurants to provide familiar foods, like a basic chicken nugget dinner, make the Punta Cana location another great autism-friendly option. 

RELATED: An Inside Look at Travelmation’s First Accessibility Group Cruise

Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya

Similar to its sister property in the Dominican Republic, Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya has an Autism Concierge available on the property to answer questions. Easily accessible from Cancun International Airport, the hotel is the first Nickelodeon-branded resort in Mexico.

It also features a six-acre Aqua Nick waterpark and 280 oceanfront swim-up suites. Some of the treasured intellectual properties represented among resort’s restaurants, bars and other attractions include “Spongebob Squarepants,” “The Fairly Oddparents,” “Rugrats,” and “All That.”

Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancun 

In addition to the other Karisma properties, Izzo recommends Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancun, which has also been certified autism-friendly by the ADC. The small, uncrowded property offers 146 suites, four restaurants and six bars, with no building over two stories. The resort is relaxed, great for families and offers that island vibe many clients want from an Caribbean escape.