can I ask about holidays as a LP

[sittingupstraight]

I'm going through a fairly hideous divorce at the moment but I'm hoping to have things in a better place by early summer, and am thinking of booking a holiday for myself and my DS, age 3.5. I've taken him away on my own before before splitting with Ex-H - so I've stayed with friends abroad, rented a cottage one time, went to Vienna with him when he was tiny. I don't have any worries about travelling, but I was wondering about the holiday itself. What I'd really like to do is have a week somewhere hott-ish, in a resort with pools, maybe a kids club, beach, that sort of thing.

So far so good. But I'm a bit concerned about this type of holiday as a single parent - evening meals in a vast buffet restaurant on my own, everyone else in couples etc, and having nobody to talk to, or just feeling uncomfortable (quite happy on my own reading, not bothered about making friends etc, but just don't want to feel like I'm being stared at!)

Anyone got any advice, tips or experiences to share? I'm looking at hotels with self catering but could really do with not bloody cooking more meals for a week. Am I better off going with a single parent holiday company, with others like me (they all seem expensive) or am I stressing about nothing!?

Thanks

[Teaching123]

I think you'll have a lovely time. Me and my DD have been camping for a week alone amongst lots of other small trips. I genuinely think you'll be fine with the meals etc, and have a great time.... I know why you'd worry though, totally up to you. But I know I'd do the pool all inclusive option if I could afford it, sounds like luxury and your DS will love being away and having all the time with you.

[cestlavielife]

no one will stare - if they do its because you or your son are beautiful and happy...

if you worried, spend a bit more on a single parent organized holiday .
otherwise, go with the flow.

if you go to a resort go to the same family run restaurant each day eg spain, italy greece they will embrace you

[no73]

I've booked a eurocamp holiday in France for £241 with pools, kids club and right on the beach for me and DS 5. Got £50 off price as a single parent too which is brilliant as you normally end up paying more.

Have a look at those, not all of the eurocamps have kids clubs for toddlers so you have to check which ones.

You'll be fine, I'm really looking forward to it and I am not at all bothered about the eating thing but then I never have been. I doubt you'll get stared at anymore than anyone else tbh.

[no73]

Oh and I can't wait to have a spa treatment while DS is in the kids club

[makemineapinot]

I've been going on holiday with my two for 7 years as a line parent and when they were you get I found the campsites abroad were the best option as it meant I still had a social life in the evening when my dc went to bed as all our neighbours in mobile homes used to sit outside too drinking wine and chatting. I too wanted a break from cooking so bbq'd a bit or went out for meals or had takeaways. The campsites I chose were always within walking distance of a town or resort so we had a good choice of restaurants, not just the campsite one. Holiday was very sociable and I was def not the only lone parent. Since they've got older and stay up late we go sc in Greece or Spsin which is great as long as there is a pool and access to restaurants. Prefer sc as dc sleep in and it means we don't miss breakfast! I personally don't like AI as hate the buffet dinners! Choosing a restaurant to go to in the evening is a big part of my holiday and I like a bit of variety! But you'll have a great time and if your dd likes kids clubs you might even get some chill out time too!! I found holidaying as a lone parent is far less stressful than holidaying with my xh!!!

[makemineapinot]

Same thought no73!!

[DebFruit]

has anyone struggled with booking flights? I saw something about how many young children can travel with one adult. under 5s seemed to have to be 1-1, a bit like swimming pools!

[sittingupstraight]

Thank you everyone, some very helpful and warming comments here - I shall definitely look at eurocamp No73, great tip, I love camping and DS too and I hadn't realised that some have kids clubs. I also love the idea of people staring because we are beautiful! Thank you cestlavie - made me laugh, me no way but DS is very gorgeous - if I'm in that vast buffet restaurant and I catch somebody's eye, I shall remember that!!

[passthewineplz]

I'm currently on holiday on my own with my DD who is 4.

It's out of season where we are, so there's not much open and the weather is very hit and miss. If I was to do it again, I'd book somewhere that was guaranteed nice weather, as we've been a bit bored when it's rained so at least we could spend the day at the beach or round the pool instead of the hotel room, or the local shopping centre.... And it's not been much fun trying to occupy a 4 year old when it's raining...

I'd also just do 7 days, as 2 weeks is a bit long on your own as you don't get a break. I think I'd also either go half board or all inclusive, but it depends where you go if you feel safe/ or its a relatively safe place you feel comfortable to have a night away from the hotel as a lone parent.

I've found the locals are child friendly, we've eaten out a few evenings and I've felt relatively safe other than one night I got a bit uncomfortable with being asked why a lovely looking girl like me is single yada yada - so had to leave the bar we was in, and actually think I might feel more uncomfortable if it was busier, so I'd prob do all inclusive next time.

I've also got a bit self conscious of having a 4 year old running round the hotel when it's full of retired people, and haven't relaxed. So it's def a lesson learned to book somewhere warm, relatively busy and for 7-10 days max.

I found the airport ok, airports don't really phase me though as I used to travel with work. And the flight wasn't as bad as I expected, I took snacks, sandwhiches and the iPad. Wine also helped a bit!

I'll report back after the night flight home..... lol!

[passthewineplz]

Oh and I booked with sunmaster - the accommodation was free for my DD.

I've looked at lone parent holidays they seem expensive. One of my friends has joined a holiday day club thing and meets up with other single parents, think it's single with kids. You have to pay a subscription to join. They book accommodation and arrange holidays trips ect, but it sounds pricey and they share rooms ect. It's not my thing, but she enjoys it

[sittingupstraight]

Thanks for posting passthewineplz, i hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday! Fingers crossed for some sun for you. I agree, warm weather helps and at least with HB or AI you don't have to think about cooking. Not sure about lone parent holidays either - they do seem pricey and I'm not keen on sharing a room, I would rather go with a friend and do that if I had to, but the evenings in a group could be fun and if the kids team up and make friends that must be brilliant for them. My DS, being an only, would love this!

[alicemalice]

The single parent holidays thing is great, I found.

But also happy to go away alone now and far less self conscious about what other people think these days. I barely even register it anymore.

[sittingupstraight]

Good for you alicemalice! I'm aiming for that too! Were there any companies you liked for the single parent trips?

[Lovemcgarrett]

Mark Warner were amazing, I went away with my two last year and they couldn't have looked after me more. The kids club is amazing and included and they also have weeks where the majority of people are on their own and they don't charge single supplement. It isn't like a big single thing, more just people who want to go on holiday but all their friends and family are in relationships and they aren't. Will use them again even though I'm not single now, it totally made my holiday. Thomsons holiday village the year before was hell in comparison, I was also the on,y single parent there and so lonely

[sittingupstraight]

Thanks lovemcgarrett, I hadn't thought of mark warner. I know their kids clubs and facilities are supposed to be brilliant. Not sure I can afford it but can I ask how you find out about which weeks are mainly for people on their own? Is it something you can find on their website?

[alicemalice]

Single Parents on holiday, Mango, Single with Kids - I would give one of these a go for your first holiday after splitting up. Was great fun.

[Lovemcgarrett]

I'm not sure as I'm on the iPad but I think they are called club Warner weeks www.markwarner.co.uk/adult-holidays/single-parents
My two went to the childcare in the mornings when I would either chill out and read by the pool or learn new water sports. We would then spend the afternoon together and they would eat at the kids supper, then I would drop them off to watch a DVD whilst I ate out with others. It was amazing!! I haven't had such independence before, let alone on holiday!!!

[Starlightbright1]

I am just back from Canarie islands with my 7 year old...Loved it..At 3 1/2 they would be booked in for activities..MY Ds came and went at he pleased. I read 2 books in a week.Usually takes me about 6 months...There were activities for adults but I wasn't interested.

No one had the slightest interest in us at meal times.. I chatted to people but I was also wanting time on my own and feel relaxed....

[sittingupstraight]

Thanks lovemcgarrett and starlightbright. Good to hear you both had a great time. I will def take a look at mark warner, somebody told me that if you pick a week early on in the season and play around with dates they can be good value. Not so sure about single parent holiday companies - I had a look at a couple, mango I think and single with kids - and it was coming out at around £2k for one week's half board beach holiday for the 2 of us! Not Barbados either, just the good old Costas. This seemed pretty steep to me considering you can get late deals for far far less than that. Plus the flight times were lousy ie arriving back at gatwick at 2 in the morning - hmm, sounds great fun with a 4 yr old .

[KellyElly]

You won't be alone in the restaurant, you'll be with your child. I've been a lone parent for three years and am going to Corfu with DD 5 in June. Can't wait. I'll be having some me time for a couple of hours each day while she's in the kids club, then afternoon nap for both of us and up each night for dinner until around 9.30pm. I'll put her to bed and chill out on the balcony with a glass of wine. I think it will be the best holiday ever! I'm used to doing stuff just us all the time though.

[itwillgetbettersoon]

For the last 2 years I have booked Eurocamp tents in Italy with two kids. We go out for meals or we sit outside the tent and I read with a glass of wine. Have socialised with neighbours too. I find it a very simple and reasonably priced holiday much cheaper than single parent holidays.
This year we are returning to campsite just outside venice with kids club. Bus from the airport. Going August and always up for drinking partners!

[Sidalee7]

I did the all inclusive thing this summer, it was fine and definitely easier than the previous year where we went room only - I found the whole finding a restaurant every night not that fun.Ds loved it, made friends - I just found I got a lot of "oh aren't you brave coming on your own" a bit annoying as it's not that hard to get on a flight with a child alone. Every year I try a different kind of holiday, and tbh I find that the memories are great but at the time it's a tiny bit lonely.

[Storm15]

I'm not actually a LP but due to DH's work and the number of kids we have between us, I often holiday alone with some of them. Usually city breaks for a few days. I took to 3 of them to Paris for 5 nights last week. To be honest I was too busy trying not to lose one of them / stopping them from killing each other to notice if people were staring at me. Do it. You'll have fun and so will your kids :-) Maybe start with a few days somewhere. I find cities good because there's loads to do and it's easy to grab quick meals on the go - I agree drawn-out sit-down dinners on your own with little ones sounds a bit crap. Self-catering always better when there's an option to get pizza delivered / get a Happy Meal ;-)