Travelling with a Special Needs Child: Practical and Financial Tips

Planning a holiday or even a day out can feel daunting when you have a disabled child. Between medical needs, sensory sensitivities, and unfamiliar environments, there's a lot to think through. With the right preparation, though, family trips can be relaxed, enjoyable, and genuinely restorative.

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Start With Research, Not Bookings

Before booking anything, contact venues, hotels, or attractions directly to ask about accessibility. Many places offer quiet hours, sensory rooms, or accessible changing facilities that aren't always advertised online. Airports and train stations often provide assistance services too: it's best to request these in advance rather than on the day.

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💡 Start researching accessible hotels in London

💡 Start researching accessible hotels in Birmingham

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Pre-book airport special assistance

UK airports and airlines are legally required to provide free Special Assistance or Assisted Travel to disabled passengers, with no proof of disability needed. It's best to notify the airport of your child's needs at least 48 hours before travel, though assistance can still be requested on the day if plans change last minute. 

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This can include help at check-in and security, access to fast-track lanes, use of quiet areas near departure gates for children with sensory sensitivities, and support with boarding. Wearing a recognisable National Disability Card lanyard can also help staff quickly understand that your child may need extra patience or support - particularly useful if there's a meltdown or communication difficulty during the journey.

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💡 Read more about disabled travel through the airport.

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Build in Downtime

Overpacked itineraries rarely work well for children who need routine or rest. Choose one or two activities per day and leave space for breaks. Many attractions offer disabled access passes that let you skip queues, which reduces waiting-related stress considerably.

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Ticket concessions on days out (see below) can also alleviate the pressure to get the most out of an attraction you’ve paid dearly for, when breaks or rest time are needed.

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Use an Accessible Travel Specialist

Some travel agents specialise in accessible holidays and can arrange adapted accommodation for disabled families, hoists, or accessible transport. This can take much of the planning burden off parents.

National Disability Card holders benefit from an exclusive 10% off when booking with accessible travel specialists Enable Holidays. Login to see how to get this discount.

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Financial Help for disabled families

Cost is often the biggest barrier, but several forms of support exist:

• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or PIP can help cover everyday extra costs, including travel.
• The Family Fund offers grants to low-income families raising disabled or seriously ill children, which can go towards holidays or days out.
• VAT relief applies to some disability equipment needed for travel.
• Local authority short breaks funding may cover respite trips or activities if you're looking for holiday grants for disabled families.

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Look out for travel discounts

As a National Disability Card holder, you’re eligible for hundreds of savings, including on travel. Here are some of the brands we partner with to make holidaying with your disabled child that bit more affordable:

• Enable Holidays - the accessible holiday specialist - exclusive 10% off bookings
• Breakfree Holidays - 10% off your next break
• Laterooms.com - up to £100 cashback on your booking
• Applewood Countryside Parks - exclusive 15% off your stay
• Shorefield Holidays - 5% off self-catering holidays
• Wood Leisure - exclusive 10% off holidays
• Airparks - up to 25% off airport parking
• abilityX - discount on lifetime access to the app that helps you find accessible toilets all over Europe
• Mobility Hire - get 10% off if you need to hire mobility equipment for a trip.

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💡 Learn more about becoming a card holder and start taking advantage of these amazing travel discounts, and many more.

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More affordable days out for disabled families

Many attractions across Europe offer either free or discounted entry to disabled visitors, and sometimes a family carer too. In practice this can make a huge difference to the cost of holidays for families with a disabled child. We’d always recommend checking the venue’s website for how to book, and to check what proof of eligilbility, if any, is required.

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National Disability Card holders have successfully used their cards at various attractions abroad, including Disneyland Paris, Europa Park, Parc Asterix, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and many more.

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💡 See all venues that accept the National Disability Card for disability concession tickets.

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About the National Disability & Carers Card Scheme‍

The National Disability & Carers Card scheme was set up in 2019 by carers to make everyday life and access easier for people with disabilities and those who care for them. The scheme supports 300,000 card holders and provides easy-to-carry visual identification that helps users avoid repeatedly explaining their disability or caring role. The National Disability Card is accepted as proof of disability at 600+ venues across the UK and abroad. If you're looking for ways to communicate your access needs at 600+ locations, including at Royal Collection Trust venues, consider applying for your card today.