ideas for first holiday as a single mum

[Bronte]

Have 2 DD's, 9 and 15. Neither will be ecstatic about just us 3 spending time together so may invite friend for older one,
I fancy an activity holiday. Never done one before.

I always suggest a cruise.

Firstly because you all get to have a bit of the holiday you want. You can choose different things and let the children off safely. There are kids clubs for all ages. Whether lying around sunbathing, doing activities, watching films or making some friends you can pick and choose whatever,whenever.
Secondly you can do something new together when you visit the ports.It's great to tick off 4 or 5 sights without having to pay for a whole holiday in each place. It's also handy for future holidays to see where you'd like to go back to (and where you wouldn't!) .
Thirdly it's a good cost wise with hungry/thirsty older children.Mostly AI with drinks packages etc you can budget for.

My ex took our kids to a festival and I took them camping in France. There are a few festivals aimed at families such as; camp Bestibal, secret garden, and latitude. (not sure which part of UK you are based.

They loved both hols they are similar ages to you oldest. Might try cruise next year.

Let us know what you decide. Good luck

We have been to campsites in Europe which were great as they (and me!) met friends around our moniker home and socialising was easier in the evening as kids eventually went to bed and we all sat outside caravan! Very laid back! Now my dc are older (11 and 10) we have just booked family package holidays as they came out cheaper - dc still make friends round the pool and at evening entertainment - and I've made friends through them, although lady year I spotted another single mum at the bar and approached her - we had a fab holiday!!!

If you do not meet and click with other parents you could be very lonely on a cruise when your children are doing their activities! I would suggest you look at Family Adventure Holidays or similar. They take several families at a time and you and your children will be included as part of the group. There is a wide choice but there is something different every day and you will not be stuck for someone to talk to. We did a trip to Peru and it was first class in terms of organisation and activities. Best of luck and have a great time wherever you go.

Never thought of that MMM. It is true that you would have to make a bit of effort if making friends was important to you. I can't say I felt lonely though as things like more communal activites - eating or seeing evening shows or whatever- were all done with my DS. You do end up seeing the same people as well as everyone finds a routine.

What put me off the group holiday thing was seeing a group tour with children being hustled quite quickly round the sights. They were doing quite a lot activities for one morning I quite like doing my own thing and just pottering.

It's useful to hear other peoples pro's and con's!

We have done several cruises but we are not a lone parent. We met people easily on the Alaska cruise, but elsewhere found the trips ashore too short and expensive. We had a far better time with the Family Adventure holiday and it was well paced with plenty of relaxation time, especially in the rainforest lodge. It is a very personal holiday for a small group of families and at no time did we feel hustled. We actually went to Machu Picchu twice. The only problems could be that the other families know each other and are not interested in making new friends or you cannot stand some of the other badly behaved children. However, these are rare problems! On the cruises we hardly saw our children on board! They were so busy with new friends, but a single Mum could be a bit lonely! Have a look at the family adventure website, Nothefirst, you might find something you like the look of, although the accommodation is not luxurious. Other families we met highly recommended the tours of Vietnam, Brazil, Tanzania and Egypt (not sure about safety now).

I'm a newly single mum and took my two (8 and. 10) to Pisa, Florence and Rome by train (flew to Pisa). Then we had a ready tent on a campsite on the coast for two weeks with Canvas. Had lovely time lots of fsmy activities with canvas - they had extra family activities on this site. Did meet one other single mum with her kids. We had fun and are doing it again this year but to Venice.