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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 as a single parent with a baby

23 replies

Yika · 24/04/2011 21:02

I have no idea what to do with my holidays this year. I have a currently 6.5 month old DD and am on my own.

Has anyone used a holiday company dedicated to single parent families? Can you recommend any or do you have any other good ideas. I'd like to go somewhere sunny and relaxing and my budget is not too tight. I used to like walking holidays or renting a nice country cottage in the olden days before baby.

Thanks!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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vintageteacups · 24/04/2011 22:33

I know it's not a hot destintation but what about Center Parcs?

You could go to one abroad such as in Germany or Belgium if you didn't want to stay in the UK and there's tons to do for you both.

Their creches are second to none and when you're together, there's great swimming and baby pools. You can leave dd in the creche for a bit and pop to have a relaxing massage and some you time in the spa etc.

Lots of lovely restaurants with free, organic baby food and they have won the 'Tommy' baby friendly award year after year.

You can go for loads of lovely forest walks and know you're in a car-free zone.

AllDirections · 25/04/2011 21:48

Try www.singlewithkids.co.uk

They do lots of holidays to suit children of all ages and to suit all budgets.

scaryfairy28 · 26/04/2011 09:13

Neilson do great holidays no single supplements and if you go as a single parent they team you up with other solo travellers for dinner. There childcare is amazing too!

Original poster

Yika · 26/04/2011 22:24

Thanks! Center Parcs is a great idea - means I don't have to fly too - will look into the others too!

OP posts:

gillybean2 · 27/04/2011 19:36

Only try SWK if you're happy to share accomodation. Most of their holidays seem to be campping or shared accomodation.

Imo a 6.5month old would get much out of a lone parent holiday. So unless you're absolutely after company for yourself then I'd say skip those for a year or two yet because while they are great they are more for the children than the adults ime.

Centre parcs is a great suggestion. We often go on our own (though ds is older now). One of the few places you'll get to have a break with a child of that age as you can put them in the creche while you go to the spa and get a babysitter if you want an evening in the pool etc.

Original poster

Yika · 27/04/2011 21:01

Oh gosh no would not like to share. I want a break!!

OP posts:

stardust86 · 30/04/2011 19:03

Gillybean I think you're talking about the wrong company - most of With Kids' hollidays are in private rooms (check out the link) I've been to a fantastic lodge break with them over Easter, all private rooms, indoor and outdoor pools and we even had hot tubs (and really good price too).

They also go to Center Parcs, it's much cheaper and more sociable if you share a lodge but have your own room. The summer trip's full unfortunately but I'm seriously considering their Autumn break.

stardust86 · 30/04/2011 19:05

Oops, I'm not too good at the old link business on here, try this one instead!
Single With Kids' holidays

Is there a way of editing previous posts, I can't seem to find it?

Newbabynewmum · 30/04/2011 21:30

I'd like to hear people's suggestions too. My DD is 7mo, I'm desperate to get away somewhere even for a short while.

Original poster

Yika · 01/05/2011 20:58

Just had a look at SWK - looks great, glad they also have short breaks so I can try it out.

OP posts:

AllDirections · 03/05/2011 20:28

The youngest child I've seen on an SWK trip was only 3 months and Mum seemed to be having a great time, even with a toddler in tow. Not many of the holidays are shared rooms and only a handful are camping.

I hope you take the plunge and book something. I love going on holiday with other single parents, I spend enough time on my own at home!!

FannyNil · 04/05/2011 06:07

I did Center Pks with an 8 year but it wasn't a success - all those family groups, was lonely in the evening. This, however, www.mangokids.co.uk/ was the company we used 4 years running 7 it worked very well - company for us both all day and in the evening - as much or as little as we wanted.

gillybean2 · 06/05/2011 19:04

stardust86 yes it is SWk I am refering too...
We shared our challet in France, sharing the kitchen and bathroom. Yes we had our own bedroom but it was not fun cleaning up after a lazy ass someone else and her kids. Toothpaste all over the sink, dirt dishes left with nothing clean for us to eat with. I don't think she bought a single loo roll the whole time and never emptied the bins and even left juice all over the floor that her child had managed to spill everwhere by putting the carton in the fridge laying down with a loose lid... Needless to say it was pretty tedious.

Most of their holdays do involve sharing accomodation (CP is shared challets) and some even sharing a bedroom. I considered the new year trip and asked if I could pay extra to have a room to ourselves assuming it was 4 sharing. Turns out the bedroom was for 16 sharing. Yes that's 16 adults and kids in together!!

Been on Mango kids before, highly recommend them and have booked to go again (for our third trip with them this summer).

stardust86 · 08/05/2011 13:35

Like Mango all the Single With Kids overseas trips (Majorca, Greece, Dubrovnik, Tenerife) are in hotels with private rooms but they're much cheaper - and have ABTA.

Don't know about you, but I'd hate to be at Center Parcs alone in a lodge while my kids slept. The idea for me is to get company on these events not be home alone! At the resort I went to earlier there were 4 families in a lodge and we had a ball, once the kids were in bed the adults took to the hot tub, some wine and chocolate and we had a great time, so much better than being by myself - I get too much of my own company at home.

I've only shared a room once on a New Year trip (2 families) at Canterbury, but it was really good priced for the time of year.

Horses for courses (and I can't wait for camping!)

gillybean2 · 08/05/2011 14:53

stardust86 - Ds and I love going to CP on our own. Have done it many times. Have also gone with friends (more than once) and while that is fine it is a very different experience. We definitely find it more relaxing being alone though. Am usually so exhausted after an action packed day I am happy to get to bed early. And I don't drink so sitting in the hot tub with wine does not appeal to me.

Like you said horses for courses.

I will admit that I get hacked off with those who come here advertising promoting SWK the second any holiday question comes up on the lone parents thread and rarely mention there are alternatives. Mango offer ATOL protection btw (your post implies that only SWK offers protection)

SWK doesn't suit all, just as I'm sure Mango or any of the others lone parent holiday companies don't. And just because you personally like it doesn't mean others will or that they are talking about the wrong company if they don't like it as much as you. I think you should state clearly that it involves sharing if you promote it here because some people don't want that (hence why I make sure people are aware when I see people promoting it here). Of course tell them about it if you enjoyed it, but make it clear it is your opinion.

And not all their overseas trips are in hotels with private rooms. We went to France and it was sharing (or that not counted as abroad )
I didn't find the price particularly cheap of our trip to France with SWK either -when you consider that it was sharing a challet and we had to get there ourselves. Ds enjoyed it, me not so much. But like you said horses for courses...

justmenow · 10/05/2011 06:26

I was talking to someone who was writing an article on single parents last week and they looked at the holiday aspect. SWK don't appear to have paid the full ABTA/ATOL bond like Mango - they just use Freedom Travel. So you can book a holiday directly with Freedom Travel and get it cheaper. A friend went on a SWK trip last year and loved it and she had also been on several Mango holidays too and they were super - although someone told me the SWK Rhodes trip had cockroaches in the bedrooms and the accommodation was really awful - it was just the company that made the holiday which is probably true which ever company you use.

Cheddaporn · 31/05/2011 15:54

I have a medieval stone hunting lodge 7 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms near Agen France and are thinking of taking in paying guests especially single parents or non drivers. I'm offering airport transfers, private guided tours of historic sights, days out for the children suitable for their age, or anything you would like to do during your stay,a double or family suite with private bathroom, use of pool and other facilities. I can also offer baby sitting services so that parents can have an evening out (chauffered driven)
I would only take one family at a time so that you would feel part of our family (husband, 2 daughters 16 & 17)
Before I register and make a web site I would be grateful for any feed back as regards to the desirability of such a holiday

Snapespeare · 31/05/2011 16:27

cheddaporn, that sounds blissful! :) i have never gone on holiday with my bunch- I absolutely resent the possibilities of single supplements and whne they were younger the possible lonliness in the evenings once they were asleep - i can be lonely and frazzled at home! :) ..we tend towards UK days out instead.

Cheddaporn · 02/06/2011 10:47

Snapespeare, you're definitely the market I'm trying to cater to. The holiday is aimed for the parent to have a stress free experience as possible with meal times being flexible, fussy eaters catered for (so what if they want to eat icecream all week!) and children taken on supervised trips while the parent can unwind with a book, swim(weather permitting) or catch up on much needed sleep! In the evening you can chose to chill out with adults at home or our local bar (children supervised at home)with a glass of wine while watching the sun set!
I wish to start my business from October onwards and thinking of charging 100 euros (all year round, don't believe in being penalized for sunshine that's free!) for the principal person and 20 euros per person each per night, under three go free (to cover food and utility costs) minimum stay three nights. This price will be fully inclusive but without flight costs (can be as little as 10 pence each way!), entry fee to sights(some sights are free) or meals out (packed lunch can be provided FOC) so basically you know exactly how much you will be spending without any other hidden costs.
I hope this 'package' appeals, please do not hesitate to contact me for further information or to make a provisional booking.

sunnuva · 20/06/2012 22:32

cheddaporn, are you now offering this option? do you have a website?

cestlavielife · 21/06/2012 12:17

hi chedda sonds great.
would it be your daughters babysittng?
would they or other local person be able to help with disabled child/young peson (in my case my DS has autism/learning difficulies but is v sociable - but needs supervision )

if you can also support chidlren wtih LDS/SEn by providing extra pair of hands that would be really helpful to families (lone parents or not lone parents)

cestlavielife · 21/06/2012 12:21

not bene but also like the look o f
www.smallfamilies.co.uk/

Astromum25 · 15/07/2014 12:02

With a name like cheddaporn, I hope nobody took this offer up?

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