Traveling internationally with two autistic kids is both exciting and unpredictable. The best moments are when I get to watch my kids’ eyes widen with curiosity in a new place, surrounded by new people, cultures, and traditions. Other days feel more like survival, navigating overstimulating airports, coping with meltdowns, or handling the constant “what ifs” that sit in the back of my mind.
As a parent, especially one raising two autistic kids while living with my own hidden disabilities, traveling abroad can feel overwhelming. As much as I value family vacations, I’ve absolutely stressed over questions like: What happens if someone gets sick in another country? What if one of us faces a medical emergency? With the turmoil across the globe, what if we are in a situation where our safety feels threatened?
These aren’t just fears from an anxious mom, they’re the realities of what could happen while traveling, especially when families are preparing for a big trip.
That’s why preparation is everything. And for our family, preparation isn’t just about snacks and strollers, it’s also about knowing who to turn to in an emergency…knowing who you can call for help. When families travel, it’s so important to feel prepared in every possible sense, and this is why I’m sharing how Medjet has become part of our plan.
No Medjet is not travel insurance; it’s a membership program that ensures if something goes wrong while you’re traveling, if the worst results in a family member being admitted to a hospital, you and your family aren’t stuck abroad. Medjet gets hospitalized members moved to a hospital at home (makes all the arrangements and pays for everything involved). If there’s a security threat you can have 24/7 experts to call for help.
No one wants the reality of a hospitalization interrupting their most valued time away, but the unexpected can happen at any time. There would be nothing worse than traveling with kids who have additional needs and being stuck in a foreign hospital. Wouldn’t we all be thinking, “Get me home!”? I know I would.
Here’s how we prepare for international travel with autistic kids, and why enrolling in Medjet has become part of our non-negotiable travel plan.
Preparing for International Travel With Autistic Kids
When you’re raising autistic children, every trip begins long before you board the plane. Preparation is the key to reducing stress and making travel manageable for everyone. Here are some of the steps we take:
- Packing safe foods and comfort items. My kids have specific sensory preferences, so I always travel with a carry-on filled with their safe foods, favorite snacks, and comfort objects. These small items can lessen meltdowns in unfamiliar environments, creating familiarity in an unknown destination.
- Noise-canceling headphones and sensory tools. Airports and airplanes are full of overwhelming sounds and crowds. Headphones have been a lifesaver for our family, I would never travel without them. We also bring sensory toys and a weighted blanket to help ease transitions.
- Visual schedules and social stories. Preparing kids for what’s coming next helps reduce anxiety. We use simple visuals and practice transitions like pretending to go through airport security at home. Even making a fun “practice outing” to the airport before travel day, bringing a favorite snack and letting them ride an escalator or elevator, can build positive associations.
- Strategic flight planning. We book flights that align with our kids’ natural rhythms (for us, morning flights between 8:00–11:00 a.m. work best) and allow for breaks and downtime.
But here’s the thing: even with all the preparation in the world, unexpected challenges happen. Kids get sick. Parents get injured. If you have an autistic child who tends to elope (hello, runners), the risk for accidents and injury is higher. And sometimes the unexpected happens, like political unrest, natural disasters, or situations that suddenly make a destination feel unsafe.
Take it from me, I know how fast things can shift on a getaway. Before we had kids, my husband and I went on a cruise, only to be stranded out at sea due to Hurricane Irma. Our 7-day trip turned into 10 days because it was unsafe for the ship to return to port. So trust me when I say: peace of mind matters most.
Why Peace of Mind Matters for Autism Families Abroad
Parents of autistic kids already live with a heightened awareness of potential challenges at home. Add international travel into the mix, and the concerns multiply:
- What if my child gets sick in another country?
- What if one of us faces a medical emergency far from home?
- What if something happens that makes us feel unsafe or we need to leave quickly?
These are questions many parents think but don’t always say out loud. The truth is, traveling without a plan for emergencies can make it hard to relax and enjoy the journey.
That’s where Medjet changes everything. It transforms “what if” into “we’ve got this.” As one member put it: “I hope we never need it…but I’ll never travel without it again.”
What Medjet Offers Families Like Mine
Medjet is different from traditional insurance you may already have. It’s a private membership program designed to bring you home if the unexpected happens. This is not something insurance companies provide. Here’s how Medjet works for families:
- MedjetAssist: If you or your child is hospitalized 150 miles or more from home, Medjet will transport you to the hospital of your choice back home. No one wants to be stuck in a foreign hospital far from family and familiar doctors. Medjet ensures you don’t have to be.
- MedjetHorizon: Beyond medical issues, this membership includes security and crisis response. That means support if there’s political unrest, a natural disaster, a terrorism event, or even the unthinkable, like a missing child. Knowing someone is ready to act in those situations is priceless for parents.
What sets Medjet apart is the human factor. Members aren’t treated like claim numbers. When you call, you get a real person, with compassion, ready to help. It’s why celebrities, pro sports teams like the NFL, financial institutions like Morgan Stanley, and thousands of families choose Medjet.
For parents like me, it’s not just about what Medjet offers, it’s about what it means: the confidence to travel knowing we have backup if life takes a turn.
How Medjet Fits Into Our Travel Prep
A few years ago, we took our first international trip as a family of four. I hadn’t heard of Medjet at the time, but I do remember being on one of the Greek islands when my two-year-old daughter became extremely ill. Thankfully she didn’t end up in the hospital, but what followed was me solo with the kids in Greece, with a vehicle I couldn’t drive, while my husband was unable to get out of bed.
Try navigating a new place, unable to drive a manual car, while keeping two autistic kids regulated and safe, completely on your own. My daughter was an eloper at the time, and I remember being terrified for my husband’s health. Every potential fear started to creep up, and I realized: we had no support, no “back-up plan” if things escalated.
This year, I learned about Medjet, the services and support they provide, and I am so happy to be a member. I cannot imagine traveling internationally again without our family enrolled in Medjet.
Why? Because I know firsthand how quickly plans can change. In the past, one or both of my kids have gotten sick during trips. The thought of being hospitalized abroad without the ability to get home safely is terrifying.
With Medjet, I don’t have to carry that fear alone. It’s not insurance that takes care of missing luggage or a dent in a rental car. It’s proactive membership support that guarantees someone will get us home if needed. It gives me the freedom to focus on building memories, not worrying about worst-case scenarios.
Traveling with autistic kids requires resilience and flexibility. Medjet adds a safety net that lets us say yes to travel opportunities without second-guessing what could go wrong.
Tips for Parents Preparing for International Travel (And Why Medjet Belongs on the List)
Over time, I’ve learned a few practical strategies that make international trips smoother:
- Pack a comfort kit. Include headphones, fidgets, snacks, and familiar items that help your child regulate.
- Research accommodations ahead. Look for hotels or rentals with quiet spaces, kitchens for food prep, or sensory-friendly amenities.
- Prepare your child visually. Use schedules, pictures, or practice runs to walk them through what to expect at the airport.
- Schedule downtime. Plan rest days between sightseeing to avoid sensory overload.
- Enroll in Medjet. Just like you pack snacks and headphones, make peace of mind part of your checklist. Medjet membership ensures that if the worst happens, you can focus on your child’s needs while professionals handle getting you safely home.
Final Thoughts
International travel with autistic kids is not without its challenges, but it’s absolutely worth it! With preparation, flexibility, and the right support systems, families can explore the world with confidence.
For us, Medjet has become part of that support system. It’s the plan we hope we never need, but the one we’re grateful to have in place. Because the truth is, travel isn’t just about where we go, it’s about making memories that last a lifetime, and knowing that should the unexpected happen, we can get back home safely.
Because the journey is always worth the destination, especially when you know someone has your back.
👉 Ready to travel with more confidence? Learn more about Medjet memberships here.
With gratitude,
Kayla Squier
@dreamjartravels – Inspiring you to turn your travel dreams into reality
