Traveling with kids always comes with surprises, but when your kid is neurodivergent, those surprises can sometimes feel like high-stakes plot twists. My son, Xan? He’s not always thrilled about new experiences. Change can be tough, and while I love the idea of whisking my kids off to exciting new destinations, I’ve learned that sometimes, the best travel plans involve… not making too many plans.
Take our most recent cruise, for example. I knew that port days—the moments most people look forward to the most—could be a source of stress for Xan. New places, unpredictable schedules, and a whole lot of different all at once? Not exactly his dream scenario. So, this time, we decided as a family: We were staying on the ship on all port days. No rushing off the gangway. No figuring out foreign taxi systems. No last-minute debates about whether we should book an excursion.
Just relaxing. Pool time. Unlimited ice cream. Maybe a movie on deck.
Xan was all in on this plan. No pressure, no surprises, just a familiar, comfortable routine.
And Then… Pokémon Go Changed Everything
Then we docked in Cozumel. Xan opened Pokémon Go and—BOOM. Pokémon Stops everywhere.
It turns out that Cozumel is a jackpot for Pokémon trainers. Who knew? Certainly not me, because I had never once thought, “Let me research Pokémon activity levels when choosing our next family vacation.” But the moment Xan saw all those PokéStops lighting up his screen, something changed.
He wanted to go explore.
Suddenly, my kid—who had been perfectly content to avoid all shore excursions and keep his feet firmly planted on the pool deck—was grabbing his shoes and asking if we could just go for a short walk.
Um, yes? A thousand times yes.
So we slathered on some sunscreen, grabbed some pesos, and set off on the most unexpected adventure of the trip.
Meeting Kids Where They Are
We didn’t go zip-lining through the jungle or snorkeling with stingrays that day. We didn’t do the “bucket list” activities that travel blogs will tell you are must-dos in Cozumel.
We walked. We wandered. We let Pokémon Go lead the way.
And because of that, we stumbled upon a tiny, family-run restaurant tucked into a side street—one I never would have found in a pre-cruise Google search. We sat at a plastic table under a faded awning, and a kind woman brought us fresh, handmade tortillas and a bowl of guacamole that looked like it had been made just minutes before.
Xan, normally hesitant to try unfamiliar foods, gave it a shot. And he hated it. But you know what? It was still a win. He tried it. He stretched just a little outside his comfort zone, and that was more important than whether or not he actually liked the taste. (More guac for me, anyway.)
Because here’s the thing: Traveling with kids—especially neurodivergent kids—isn’t about dragging them into experiences we think they should have. It’s about finding the experiences that light them up and making space for small moments of growth.
The Best Plans Are the Ones You Don’t Plan
I could have spent weeks researching the “perfect” family-friendly excursion in Cozumel, only to end up with a grumpy kid who felt overwhelmed and overstimulated. Instead, we went with what excited him in the moment—and it turned into one of our favorite memories from the trip.
Was it unconventional? Sure.
Was it magical? Also yes.
So here’s to following our kids’ interests, even when it means our day’s itinerary is determined by Pokémon spawns. Because at the end of the day, travel isn’t about checking off must-sees or forcing adventure—it’s about finding joy together, in whatever form that takes.
Even if it’s just a really good plate of guacamole that only some of us enjoyed.
