Tips and Advice for Autistic Individuals When Staying at Hotels

Hotel stays as an autistic person can be challenging, but I’ve learned a few tricks. I always book the same kind of hotel to keep things routine, travel with a friend who understands, and bring my own comfort items like pillowcases and teddies. Bringing my own snacks and making a packing list also helps reduce stress. It’s all about making the unfamiliar feel a little more like home. 😊

How to Accommodate Myself in Hotel Stays 🏨

Hello, welcome back or welcome if you’re new. I’m Zara and I have a couple of things that I raise awareness for, one of them being the fact that I’m autistic. I also have Tourette’s. I wanted to make a little video about my experience staying in a hotel room while dealing with my neurological condition called FND and chronic fatigue. I hope to provide some tips for fellow neurodivergent individuals and those struggling with chronic illness when staying in a hotel.

Tips and Accommodations for Autistic Individuals and Those with Chronic Illness

• Book accommodations that are familiar and routine
• Travel with a trusted and understanding friend
• Bring comfort items from home
• Pack your own snacks and safe foods
• Make a thorough packing list beforehand

Why Familiarity Matters in Hotel Stays 🛌

The first thing I always do is I book quite in advance if I can. I try to book something that I know, like staying in a Travel Lodge right now, which isn’t the fanciest hotel but offers a routine layout in every room. This familiarity helps cope with the challenge of change, especially for individuals on the autism spectrum.

The Importance of Traveling with a Trusted Friend 🚶‍♀️

Another crucial aspect of my hotel stays is ensuring I am traveling or meeting a friend that I’m comfortable with, like my friend Ruby. Ruby and I are both neurodivergent individuals, and being with someone who understands my challenges makes the experience a lot easier.

Ruby and I are so comfortable with each other, finding friends with a common understanding of a condition or experience makes it much easier to bond and accommodate each other’s needs.

Bringing Comfort Items from Home 🧸

I also bring my own comfort items from home to help with sensory issues and OCD struggles. Items such as my own cutlery, a plastic bowl, and my own pillowcase help create a comforting and familiar environment in an unknown space.

Packing Your Own Foods and Snacks 🍇

Bringing your own snacks or safe foods is crucial if you struggle with unpredictability or food-related challenges. Having familiar options available, such as cup noodles, crisps, and tea bags, can help ease the stress of eating in an unfamiliar environment.

Bringing your own safe foods and snacks can provide a sense of comfort and reduce anxiety around meal times.

Making a Thorough Packing List 📝

To ensure a stress-free stay, I always make sure to have a list of things to pack beforehand. This helps in avoiding the anxiety of forgetting essential items and accommodations, making the entire experience much smoother.

Conclusion

I hope the tips and insights shared in this video can provide you with some ideas and a better understanding of the struggles that people with neurodivergent conditions and chronic illness may face when staying in hotel rooms. By implementing these accommodations, I have been able to navigate hotel stays more comfortably and proudly continue my journey of exploring new places while managing my conditions.

Key Takeaways

• Booking familiar accommodations offers a routine layout and consistent amenities
• Traveling with a trusted friend who understands your challenges can greatly ease the experience
• Bringing comfort items from home helps create a comforting and familiar environment
• Packing your own foods and snacks provides a sense of comfort and reduces anxiety
• Making a thorough packing list is essential in ensuring a smooth and stress-free stay

I hope you found this article helpful and insightful. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like to share your own experiences. Thank you for reading, and I hope you have a lovely day!