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Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

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Original poster

Holidays for lone parents

93 replies

TheConstantGardener · 02/01/2011 19:26

Hi all

I recently became a lone parent following the death of my wife in November. I think the winter weather has been getting me down so am dreaming of summer! Of course I realise now that holidaying alone with he kids would be hard so wondered what sort of things you guys have done in the past or are considering for this year? I'd love to go abroad but of course realise this will increase the stress levels and the financial side might be tricky. All the same, would love to hear any top tips.
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Original poster

TheConstantGardener · 12/01/2011 16:14

Hi all, just got 2 mins to say thanks for the responses so far, I'll add to it later when I get a bit longer, but thanks.

DobieGirl, apologies if I offend you. Thoughtless, narrow minded people get my goat personally. Being recently bereaved, dealing with grief, 3 and 5 yr old sons, their grief, being a lone parent, death related admin, financial issues and trying to plan a return to work alongside running the household single handedly means that I can't guarantee to prioritise MN. Thanks for you input however.

Everyone else, thanks too, I'll try and add to this thread later. I also agree to the concept of a MN single parent holiday!
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OP posts:

lottysmum · 17/01/2011 20:58

Hello Folks

Just thought I would mention the Single Parent Travel Club which is non profit making and has over 500 members nationwide.

I organise allot of holidays through the club and all you pay is the actual true price of the holiday it is not marked up....last year I ran a trip for 60 to Majorca which was £300 less than the SWK holiday.....

I'm running a trip to Italy in May H/T to Le Marche...and loads of budget trips Easter in Suffolk £25 pp for 3 nights (shared room) or £40 private...lovely old country house....Wales - 1 week for £40 pp own room.....and a weekend in the Peaks for £100 per 1+1 family full board own rooms once again..... plus we are just back from a Skiing New Year break in the Black Forest.....

Worth looking at.... you can advertise your own holiday and someone will probably want to join you....

Wysiwig · 26/01/2011 18:21

Just thought I'd add my experience of LP holiday. Last year myself, my 20 year old daughter and my 13 year old son went to Majorca. It was your average package holiday. I have to admit, I felt like a fish out of water. Everyone was a couple...believe me, I became obsessed with trying to find a lone person let alone a lone parent! People rarely spoke to us..I don't think I've ever felt so isolated before. I consider myself a sociable person (certainly no husband nicker) but it was so hard to make conversation that I gave up.

This isn't a whinge, just a factual account. Possibly the wrong time of year (august) hotel,resort I don't know, but unfortunately it's kinda put me off I have to say. However I admire anyone who goes away as a LP.

gillybean2 · 26/01/2011 20:08

Wysiwig - Am sorry to hear that. Have experienced it myself but accept now that if we go away alone it may well be just me and my book.
I have also met some nice singles and couples while on holiday (usually when we go on active holidays though rather than resort/beach type).
That's why I intermingle going away just us and going away with a group of lone parents. It's nice to have both kinds.

BringOnTheGoat · 26/01/2011 21:10

Sorry to hear about the sad loss of your wife and DC's mum TCG.

I would love to go on a fly and flop holiday - DD will be 21 months in August.

I am interested in the camber sands holiday which id another thread - have you checked that out?

dobiegirl · 26/01/2011 22:01

I'm really sorry Constant, of course that was out of order of me and of course you have much more important things on your mind right now.

Apologies once again.

bliss88 · 26/01/2011 22:23

hello im very sorry for your loss im am recently a lone parent, why dont you just book cavaran in a holiday park, you dont have to worry about the stress of airports, go in aug so its going to be hot,theres so many things for kids espeacially devon cliffs holiday park its fantastic! they woud all love it, how old are they all??

but if you do fancy abroad ryan air are dong very cheap flights for 3.99 so its worth a browse online, i know its going to be ery difficult with out your partener but this is the time to think FUCK IT you know life is to short to worry anymore, just go with your instincts and do it. what have to loose... money??? this is coing from a lady who has very little of it, please do not owrry just do what is right for you as a family. if you dont feel like a holiday book a week off work and go to london or whales or go on days out? the world is your oyster now. im sure you will figure out what to do. my thoughts are with you x

Wysiwig · 26/01/2011 23:05

Gillybean...I think you're absolutely right,an activity holiday is certainly the better idea,there is much room for banter/conversation . If I had thought it through properly it would have made sense...I just didn't realise how lonely that type of holiday can be...however, had I been prepared mentally I'm sure it would have been fine..I just had different expectations...activity holiday next stop...

sharon2609 · 26/01/2011 23:30

Try a company called Small Families....absolutely brilliant

NewPatchesForOld · 27/01/2011 12:22

Hi, I have to add my experience of Single With Kids holidays, so you get a balanced view. I hated it. I went camping with them a couple of times and it was just one big excuse for a huge p**s up. I may have been unlucky in that I pitched our tent at the 'wrong' end of the site, but it was awful. On one side we had about 6 single mums absolutely hammered (to the point they couldn't walk)while their kids ran riot unsupervised. On the other side was a woman who spent the whole time absolutely screaming at her kids.
Don't get me wrong, everyone is entititled to let their hair down, but to me you just don't get wasted when you have the kids with you. And listening to a woman being sick outside your tent in the middle of the night is not nice.

girliefriend · 28/01/2011 10:00

Oh dear NPFO you have just totally freaked me out as I've booked another holiday with SWK for the Easter break, eek! Hope I don't have any similiar experiences, that sounds awful Had a look at the small families website but you would still be looking at a lot of money to go abroad.

NewPatchesForOld · 28/01/2011 18:55

Girliefriend...are you on the forum or did you book it just from the holiday site?

NewPatchesForOld · 28/01/2011 18:57

To give you an idea, one of the mums was so drunk that when she tried to get into her tent she tripped and couldn't get upright again, so she grabbed the top of the tent and pulled the entire thing down on top of her kids who were asleep inside. Classy.

specialgal3 · 28/01/2011 19:00

I have always found club med brilliant on my own with the kids because; whilst it can seem expensive at first absolutely everything is included so you can plan/save in advance.Also the activities for children are brilliant,then in the evening you sit at big tables with lots of other guests so you get to talk to other adults!!

girliefriend · 28/01/2011 19:18

Booked it from the holiday site, am hoping it will be nice. We will be staying in cabins in the new forset. I guess it is a bit of a lottery who you end up sharing with, who else goes etc. The holiday we did last year was good, my dd loved it. Oh well will have to wait and see I guess.

NewPatchesForOld · 29/01/2011 10:53

Girliefriend...is it the New Forest or the National Forest? I had a look on the site but could only see an Easter Break in the National Forest.

gillybean2 · 29/01/2011 11:42

Girliefriend try not to worry. Yes we had some on the trip I went on who were out to get drunk, and one who was completely leggless and out of control. But there were also some who weren't and were more child focused, happy to play cards etc of an evening. Hopefully you'll find someone with similar interests to you and your dc.

Are you sharing a room or have you booked a private room. I would advise to get a private room if you possibly can.

girliefriend · 29/01/2011 20:34

Its the south coast resort one (you just gave me a heart attack!!! But it is the new forest!!!) We have our own room, I wanted en suite but they had all gone. Hopefully it will be o.kay......

cardibach · 29/01/2011 21:14

They aren't cheap, but I've been several times with both the Adventure Company and Explore on their Family Adentures. They have some SIngle Parent departures, but I have never been on those - a large number of their clients are single parents so there have always been some others on 'normal' trips. Couples have always been really sociable too: I still see some of them.

These group holidays make for good relationships - you spend quality time with your offspring, but both you and they have people of the same age to socialise with.

Legogirl · 10/01/2012 20:07

Hi there, I am in a very similar position having lost my husband 4 months ago and am now needing a holiday to focus myself and my two kids minds on. This is my first visit to this site and really pleased I did. Just been looking at Thomson holidays and package style holidays but they look hellish to me. I'm used to camping but think they'll remind us too much of their dad. Oh it's tricky...glad to read everyone's suggestions.

Legogirl · 10/01/2012 20:23

Hi there, don't know if constant Gardner has found that since my partners death the kids are now extra clingy so the chances of them going into a kids club is pretty slim, making the really needed 'holiday' unlikely. Just trying manage my expectations downwards. Sorry for the rather gloomy post!

mrsmcv · 10/01/2012 20:50

Festivals! Took dd aged 5 to Big Chill last year, met loads of lovely kids and adults and families of all shapes and sizes and so didn't feel that horrible sense of loss that can sometimes hit you in the middle of family orientated things. Loads of parents on their own with kids, though I don't know how many of them were technically single. Went just the two of us, came back with loads of mates, things made out of willow and clay and in severe need of a nice hot bath. it was really brilliant. dd showing off for ages about seeing Jessie J. It was great to have a fantastic soundtrack to all those kid activities

JoeRich · 10/01/2012 22:04

Hi this is my first post on MN (been reading for a while!), and I wondered if any of you have been on the holidays organised by Care for the Family? They do subsidised breaks for single parents and I've booked for me and the 3 dcs to go for a week in Wales in August. It's at a outdoor pursuits centre (I think that's what you call it, where you do kayaking, abseiling etc.)
I've never done anything like that before and neither have the dcs but we can't afford a holiday abroad and I did a long weekend with them at a Haven park and by the last night I realised I couldn't manage a week on my own on a holiday. They had a fab time, were off playing all the time and made lots of friends. But I spent a lot of time sitting on my own watching all the happy families So I'm looking forward to being with other single parents who don't think you're wierd for trying to strike up a conversation!

JoeRich · 10/01/2012 22:11

OP, sorry for your loss and Care for the Family which I referred to above offers support to widows/widowers so it might be worth googling their website.

ovenglove · 10/01/2012 22:21

I went on single parent holiday for the first time last summer with singleparentsonholiday.co.uk Can recommend as the ultimate fly/flop holiday. My daughter (9) had a fantastic time and I enjoyed company of other parents.

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