Single parent holidays abroad with kids.

[middleoftheroadlife]

We're off on holiday next week (Wales) and we haven't been for a couple of years. My children are 13,11 and 9.
Before I had children and got married, I worked abroad a lot (SE Asia, Europe) and was always travelling by myself.
Since then, I've lost a lot of confidence and we've only ever been abroad once with the children but that was when I was still married so their father was there too.
I know the kids would love to go abroad again and so would I but I just don't know how to do it by myself.
I don't enjoy long car journeys alone with them and am nervouse about going somewhere where I don't speak the language or could have help on hand.

I'm wondering if someone has done this with similar aged children and where did you go?

I've been going away alone with DS since he was he was 3. I first went to Spain to try it out and I made sure the hotel had a water park and a kids club it was a Splash world... holiday villages are highly talked about also.

I've done DLP... to long haul flights since. I love travelling and I wouldn't want DS to miss out just because I don't have a partner.

As you have an older one at 13 I think it may be easier for you.

There's many mums on holiday with their kids for different reasons husbands are working away and so on. People may ask... but it's not a crime I think people are admiring most of the time.

I’ve just got back from Majorca with my 3dc. They are 15,9 and 9. It was my first holiday abroad with them on my own.

It was full on but we all had a great time! We chatted lots beforehand about expectations and rules, eg, no wandering off alone (ds has adhd), pitching in to help out (especially with oldest dc). I chose somewhere with beaches that had shallow, calm water. I hoped they’d use the kids club a bit to give me a break but they were happy entertaining themselves. We went all inclusive which made it simpler and they were able to get themselves drinks and snacks by themselves. I booked through jet2 as I wanted a reputable company with 24 hour support should I need it. Jet2 and tui give a discount to single adults travelling with children.

Im so pleased I did it and feel weirdly proud of myself!

@ChittyChittyBoomBoom you should feel proud! I second AL hotel also.

I think the airport is the most daunting and not having anyone to check your getting on the right plane.

Thank you both. I'm wondering with all inclusive though how do you get from the airport to the hotel? Are the hotels usually close to the airport?

I'm so glad you had a lovely time, its given me a bit more 'can do'. 😁
Also, are they still wanting Covid vaccinations in most places?
I'm double jabbed as is my eldest but the other two aren't.

Ive taken my two abroad a few times. I can’t afford to do it every year but we’ve had nice villa holidays. I liked having the freedom to cook what we like, own pool etc. Less chance of one getting waylaid in our own place!

I booked a package holiday so the transfers between the hotel and airport were included!

Jet2 staff were waiting after baggage reclaim and once they’d checked your accommodation details (I printed mine out but all the information for our flights, transfers, accommodation and insurance were on the jet2 app) they told us which coach to get onto to take us to our hotel. There were PLENTY of jet2 staff at the airport so I just asked someone if I was unsure. They were very friendly and helpful 😊.

Transfer times vary depending on where your resort is in relation to the airport. On the jet2 and tui websites, it always tells you the transfer time to the resort. Our transfer time was about an hour which was fine.

Covid restriction for Spain were still in place when we went (I know France have just dropped theirs). Me and the 15yo had to show our covid passes in the app but I think it’s under 12s aren’t required to so the 9yos didn’t need to show anything. If you’re not fully vaccinated, you could show a negative test instead.

Me and my son just come back from an apartment in Spain for the week.
we swam all day , got cheap pizza and lollies ate and played cards every night on the balcony.
go do it x

Your children are at the perfect age where they're independent enough but also able to help out if needed.

Flying is easy - everything is very well signposted and you can involve the kids in watching some Youtube vlogs before the trip so you all get familiar with the process.

From airport to hotel - depends on what holiday you book. If you buy a package, transfers will often be provided. If you book it all yourself separately, you can either take public transport or a taxi, if the hotel is close enough, or book a private transfer yourself online.

Think that you have one year to plan your first holiday abroad - just research step by step. I'm sure you'll be fine OP!

For your first time I would recommend a big-ish city that has easy links to the airport, plenty to entertain children your age, and where everyone will understand English should you need help when out and about.

I am solo travelling with my 8yo at the moment, in a mini version of interrailing from city to city. We each have a wheeled cabin sized bag and a small rucksack. It is working brilliantly so far.

Get the children to pick a European city each and work out how to get between them by train

Why don't you look into inter railing. Next year your youngest is 10, all carry/drag their own case. Stick to northern parts eg france, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany booking 4 bed youth hostel rooms. Adventure but safer than further afield and no need to do the airport

If you book a package transfers with companies ike TUI are included or you can book a private transfer like a taxi for more money.

That's a good point before booking your holiday read the reviews online, obviously you can't read the thousands and hundreds of each hotel but you can look at the overall rating. It will state on the holiday website how far your location is from the hotel/transfer time.

Oh, thank you so much everyone. I do feel inspired now and I think I Could do it. I've never done a package holiday but it definately looks like the simplest option. Now I'll just have to safe up ( or remortgage 😅).

You can definitely do it! Enjoy planning 😊.