Holiday as a single parent

[OMS17]

I’m looking for some advice please, I really would love to take my 6 and 4 year old daughters on a proper holiday abroad next year I’m a single mother so I will be doing this by myself, I suffer really bad with anxiety and have not been abroad in 10 years myself, I’m really petrified of doing this but it’s something that I need to do for my girls sake, has anyone ever gone through this?

That's fantastic!

To be honest, you are shepherded through to passport control and then baggage claims in such a way that you can't go wrong.

Then, you either look for someone you saw on the flight or check the tv screens for which belt your bags will arrive on.

Once you have your bags, you again follow the others and once through the doors there will be at least one person holding up a sign wirh the company logo on so you walk straight to them, give them your name and they will tell you exactly what to do next.

Well done. Enjoy.

Book a package eg TUI with TUI flights and TUI hotel, reduces the amount of things that can go wrong. AI means you can budget easily, choose a hotel with easy access to a beach eg the siranus country club in Ibiza we stayed at and was a sandy beach literally next door and water park included in the price.

I really think Majorca is perfect, I did it on my own with my kids this year. I joined the hotel Facebook group and got loads of tips. It's really easy to get taxis if you want a day out etc lovely beaches. We stayed at the Fergus Palmanova Park x

Can you invite another adult along? Xx

Well done OP. Been travelling as lone parent with my now DD15 since she was little. You definitely made the right decision.

I’ve done this the last 2 years and has been completely fine, gone for a package and good pools, short transfer times etc. If you pick a child friendly place you won’t be the only solo adult there with kids. I’m happy doing this every year.

Full disclosure though I am not actually a single parent, I have chosen to take DC away on my own so my mentality may differ. My DC are also well travelled, but that may actually be worse as they are over-confident at times because of it!

Well done op! You'll have a great time.
Have you not travelled on planes much before?
If not the two points are - on the way there (before plane) keep checking the tv screens that are all over the airport to see which gate to go to. You'll need to be there at least 30-45 misn before your flight, about an hour before your flight your gate should be shown - follow signs (which are all over airport) to go there straight away as some are a 15 min walk away. Just ask someone if you're lost.

The other end, everyone will follow each other towards immigration/passport control first. Go through here. (Take the girls birth certificates with you if you have different surnames JUST in case they think you're child trafficking- it's very rare but could be an issue so just as a back up) then you follow signs to luggage. There will be lots of moving belts that suitcase are coming out on- again, you should look for the big tv screens to work out which belt to head for. Then you follow signs to the exit and once you're out you should look for a sign with your name or the holiday company name on.

If in doubt please just tell another passenger or the cabin crew staff that you're a new flyer and they will love to help you. When I've travelled alone with a big baby (hard work!) people loved helping me x

If you have any other single mum friends or friends whose partners don't get much annual leave then you could also share details and invite them along but tbh you've got this!! You don't need anyone! Xxxx

I have been plenty of times before but I’ve not been in 10 years and I’ve always been with family or friends but my daughters first time, they both have my surname and dads name is not on the birth certificates, This is so helpful thank you so much 😊 x

Unfortunately all my friends are mostly married and have already booked for next year and some have moved away so I’m stuck at the point where it’s now or never as I was well travelled as a child and want my girls to have the same 😊 x

I’m a single parent & took my 8 year old a few weeks ago to Majorca. We did 5 nights.

We were meeting friends there (another single mum friend & a couple) but did travelling on our own & it was totally fine.

Yay well done booking! You’ll all have a fabulous time.

my favourite 2 weeks a year is when I take mine away and we aren’t tied to the daily routine and can go to the beach/pool all day, eat ice creams etc, it’s heaven!

it may have been answered but when you get off the plane you are filtered to passport control, then luggage reclaim. There will be an electronic sign stating your flight number, where you flew from Birmingham for example and then a belt number. Go to that belt number for your luggage.

always split suncreams, clothes etc between bags so if one does go missing everyone has some clothes and suncream whilst it’s located.

at that age I found it easier, they were past the baby stage and could express what they wanted/needed. They loved eating out and the 1:1 time together.

have a wonderful time

I'm going with my 3 solo to majorca I am anxious but I think if we solo parents genuinely do it in England alone and managing all that yes we don't have the comfort of home etc but it's just going to be the same in a way just hotter and a bit more of a break we're doing self catering but in a nice apartment as my kids are fussy so they won't eat strange foods fruit etc and there's an aldis next door and plenty of cheap restaurants I just am worried about getting of the plane and finding the coach x

@OMS17 A slightly different suggestion: you might like Familes Workdwide. We’ve used them a couple of times and our DC liked mixing with other DC. We could talk to other parents and this might be a huge advantage for you. Even if you don’t do this type of holiday immediately, I’d bear it in mind for the future.