All-Inclusive Hotels vs. Self-Catering: What’s Best for Families with Neurodiverse Children?

Introduction: Traveling with a Neurodiverse Child

Traveling with a neurodiverse child can be challenging but also definitely worthwhile if things go to plan. Deciding on where to go on holiday is complex and needs careful consideration. Is it too far to travel? Is it an easy journey? What kind of accommodation would best suit our needs?

The Pros and Cons of All-Inclusive Holidays

The aim of this blog is to discuss the pros and cons of self-catering and all-inclusive options. Trip Advisor is always a good place to start your research. Even without traveling with neurodiverse children, I find making this decision difficult! All-inclusive is an easy holiday; there’s no need to worry about where to buy food or what’s available locally. Plus, there is no cooking or washing up because, let’s be honest, we might as well be at home!

As family holidays go, there is usually plenty to do for the kids: pools, activities, clubs, entertainment, and excursions. There is less planning involved on a day-to-day basis.

However, there are some cons to consider. All-inclusive options often provide a large variety of food, but they are not always able to accommodate very fussy eaters. This can vary drastically between resorts.

Again, there may not be a lot of flexibility for mealtimes, which may be problematic depending on your child’s needs. This is coupled with the fact that all-inclusive resorts rarely have food-making facilities in the rooms apart from a kettle.

All-inclusive resorts do tend to be busy and can be noisy, particularly when there are activities or events happening. This may cause overstimulation for some children. Fortunately, there are usually areas of the resorts that are not affected, so it should be possible to find a quiet area.

If all-inclusive resorts are not for you, self-catering could be a good alternative. It is often a much cheaper option, mainly because you are preparing your own food. Since self-catering usually includes cooking facilities, this gives you flexibility in the type of food you can prepare, depending on what’s available locally and the times you can prepare meals. This may not seem important to some families, but for some children, eating at set times is very important. This, coupled with the potential variation in meal times, can be daunting.

Self-Catering Holidays: A Flexible Alternative

Self-catering accommodations are generally quieter, although this obviously depends on the individual property. This means a calmer environment, which can help reduce overstimulation. Avoiding busy dining rooms and communal eating areas is definitely a positive, and it may give you the chance to immerse yourselves in the local culture.

Although there are definite benefits to self-catering, it does come with some drawbacks. First of all, there is the additional planning; you’ll have to research your resort, hotel, travel times, etc., and on top of this, you will need to consider local amenities such as shops, as well as what types of food are available.

This type of holiday also requires you to maintain your own environment, meaning you’re going to have to clean up after yourself and your family. Now, I know some people love cleaning, but I can definitely do without this on holiday!

It’s also not a social holiday, as there are often no organized activities or events, but obviously, any holiday is what you make of it.

Conclusion: All-Inclusive or Self-Catering? Finding What Works for You

So, there are definite pros and cons to all-inclusive vs. self-catering options. All-inclusive is an easy option due to less planning and more facilities on-site; however, it can be overstimulating for some children. Self-catering does require planning but enables you to have more flexibility. Ultimately, it comes down to your own personal preferences and circumstances.

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