Mumsnet Talk

Just wondering if anyone can suggest a holiday location for single parents travelling with DCs.
I looked online and found a couple of agencies that specialise in this, but I'm not really into club camp type thing.
I am considering abroad - all inclusive; not too long to travel; plenty to do local to the resort etc.
Or even somewhere in the UK. I have often done short breaks on my own with the DCs before our separation.
Any ideas? Thanks

I would suggest Spain/Majorca/Menorca if going away with children. They seem to be well equipped for kids and have safe beaches. Plus the flights are only about 2.5 hours.

This year me and dc are going to Weymouth in a b&b on the sea front. Not far for me and easy to get to (though I will miss my normal Cornwall holiday) and I could never do butlins or haven because I begrudge paying for the facility's and entertainers I wouldn't use.

Have gone to London a few times to, stayed in a premier inn or travel lodge and done a show and museums and such. Might go up again this year as we haven't done the tower yet!

I live an hour from Weymouth! Portland in the evening is nice - My girls always love the lighthouse when its lit up!

I am going to take my 2 dds to a caravan site in Cornwall that we have been to 3 times now. I know the area, the caravans are always clean and nice and there is a restaurant and play park on site. I figure even if we dont venture off of the site it will be nice to get away. Its very cheap as well £120 for 2 nights for all of us.

Rhodes is great but a bit hot in high summer.

I only live about a hour and a half away to mama but have never been.

Love love love Cornwall but I don't drive so unless I did only one site and never left the town near it I don't think it'd be so good for me and dc this year. Last year was great though I had the dc body boarding down Perrin porth!

Weymouth is lovely in summer. The beach is always full of childrens entertainment, the arcades are good and there are some nice restaurants

I went to Lake Garda with DS when I was still a single parent. We stayed at a campsite but lots of lovely hotels. Gorgeous weather, lots of things to do and see, close to Verona/Venice, and Gardaland theme park

Thank you for your suggestions.

Inneedofbrandy - funnily enough Butlins is one of our favourite weekend breaks. Purely for the swimming and entertainment. Always feel safe on Butlins camp too.

We did Dorset frequently as a family. This year will be my first holiday just me and the kids. Not sure I fancy the 5hr car journey on my own. However it took me that to do Legoland!

If I'm doing a UK beach hol I might look at Norfolk? Feeling ready for a holiday abroad though. Really want a reasonably priced all inclusive with kids activities (not that they'll join in!!)

See I can't do the kids activitys because I feel like a lemon sat there while theyre on the dance floor and everyone else is in big family groups, it's to dark to read as well. But I love me and the dc dressing up and going out for meals that last late into the night because I'm not bored and I love food.

I don't really do kids activitys for the same reasons although day trips and places to go and see and swimming and the beach I love doing just me and them.

Hi, sorry I don't have anything to offer in suggestions but ill be eagerly watching the thread as I'm going to brave taking my 3 yo DS away for the first time this year.

Marking place too.

Has anyone tried the agencies specialising in holidays for single parents? The promotional photos all look so cheesy with the parents chatting and the children being entertained. Not sure I could be part of that.
Don't fancy doing self catering on my own. Too stressful.
I need a stunning location abroad with plenty to do; safe environment; team of hotel staff willing to help.
There must be somewhere?........

In summer hols it might be pricey in hotel but Greece is fabulous and very friendly. We usually camp in France in the summer and there are loads of single parents at each site. French campsites have good kids clubs. Eurocamp/ keycamp/ venue/ canvas are good UK companies to look at. Tents cheaper than mobiles.

Hiya, just marking my place. Last year was my first year taking ds on holiday. We went to Tenerife and Crieff Hydro. DS preferred Crieff Hydro because of the horse riding and activities so we are planning to go back there again this year. Would love to find somewhere similar abroad which is not very expensive.

I went to Majorca last year with 'Singlewithkids'. It was absolutely brilliant and one of the best things I've done as a single parent. Was very relaxed and everyone was lovely. You can take part in things with the group as much or as little as you want.

Thank you brightside, I will look at their website.
The thought of planning a summer holiday as a single parent is quite an emotional time. Another new experience for me

the channel islands is fab for kids ,easy to get to on the ferries decent weather not in the euro so not massively expensive you can do day trips to France and you can get the ferries from weymouth and southampton quiet easily in the summer time
I have taken sister and her kids to the Mayfair hotel in Jersey which is family type of hotel but has a good swimming pool and they do coach trips there from the uk and can pick you up from loads of destinations

Abroad wise when i was a single parent and even when i got married i still took my ds on holiday on my own we went as far as Thailand on our own when he was 9 and he loved it ( still said it was his best holiday ever ) but have also done Egypt and Jamaica with him on my own

Ive taken my niece on a lot of holiday on my own many times as my ds ( 18) now isn't really interested in coming with mum or dad

Ibiza 2010 and she loved it we went to Peurto San Miguel and it was gorgeous, lots of kids lovely beach all inc ect basic hotel but the views from the terraces make up for it 100 percent

Last year i took my niece to Turkey to club sun city in Olu Denize and that was another good holiday for young kids lots of activities in the hotel hotel staff were fab at entertaining the kids, and there was lots of stuff to do outside the hotel plus its outside of the euro so everything was really really cheap

All of us my sister and her kids and my dh went to ibiza 2012 ( seem to be a fav with us in the past ) and stayed at the Miami apartments Es canar all inc right on the beach lovely family area other side of the beach Lots of family entertainment but plenty to do in the area at night and 20 mins from the Hippy Market plus local buses to get around the island Family resort no big groups of teens or parties as its to far away from the main clubbing areas of Ibiza
For 5 of us in 2 rooms we paid £2200 all inc in the May half term for 10 days flying with Ryan air from Bristol

dh and i also went to ibiza last year on our own a last minute holiday didn't know where we were going and ended up in the Presidente hotel in Portinax full of kids and families and was surprisingly nice for a last minute hol

Portinax & Peurto San Miguel are both gorgeous resorts and really family based no night clubs and bars ect and its very quiet in the resorts after 11pm most nights and its far far away from the typical teen and clubs of ibiza they are both the other side of the island in the North and the only noise you get is kids singing and people yelling full house for bingo (lol) and its only a 2hr flight, we did a last minute deal for two week and paid £550 each all inc

Have a fab time wherever you go though you won't regret it one bit i only wish that i had young kids to take away which is why i keep borrowing my ds kids to take on holiday with me

Me and two dcs went to Austria this year and stayed in a hobbit in Scotland which was great. I just make sure we have lots of excursions but my dcs were 7 and 11 so possibly a bit older but they love travelling. Austria is very safe and we did a day trio to lake Garda and one to Germany so three countries in one day. Went with thompsons who really looked after us. Found the single parent holidays too expensive. This year we are going to Turkey and Florida. My ex would never fly too far so making the most of it now.

Apart from very traditional countries, I think places that work for kids travelling with two parents will be fine for kids travelling with one parent.

I guess the point of the groups is that you won't spend the evenings only with kids.

I went to Majorca last year as a single parent with my 2 and it was fab - was not the only single aprent there and we met friends who we socialised with as well as going out on our own. I prefer sc on holiday as part of the fun is choosing whre to eat at night and you can upgrdae to AI on a dily basis in resort if you want to! usually cheaper as well and it's best to see how good th food is before you commit!! We went to Club martha in cala Egos (nr cala d'Or in Majorca) last year and would recommend. Have also been to the campsites in Italy and France which were very easy and sociable for a single parent. Again sc but the cooking was usually bbq and we ate out a lot x

This is my first year as a single parent. Dc are 2 and 5.

I'm still struggling with looking at big family groups and not feeling lonely and out of place. But I need to get over that for the sake of the dc.

I love Weymouth and may book there as I have fantastic memories of staying there as a child.

One thing that does worry me is all the lugging around of the luggage. I have no idea how I will manage that.

I also find the idea of saving up £££'s quite daunting!

I do like the look of the single with kids holidays. I'm thinking of trying one of the cheaper camping trips and see how I get on.