has anyone been abroard alone with your children?

[needmoremoney]

I feel really low at the moment, and I really shouldn't I've just booked a holiday! I dithered and wondered for months about doing it alone with my 2 children 8 and 5. I was going to use one of those single parent holiday companys but by the time I got around to it the ones I would be interested in were booked up. So I booked with first choice, one of those splash resorts in Ibiza. I now feel sick with worry, I tried to get my money back as I was panicing, but its too late now, so I have to go. I don't really know what I'm worried about, just can't believe I'm not going away as a happy family and have to do these things alone. Is there anyone here that has done it?

Hey swallowedAfly I run a home from home dog boarding business maybe its a good idea to see if there is one near you while you go and also maybe try the In The Doghouse page on here to see if you can find a place :)

Oh ps swallowedAfly my butlins holiday half board in somerset only cost me £360 I looked the other day at abroad and they were nearly £900 way out of my budget

Oh well if you find a good one let me know cos that would be seriously cheap.

Ps my prices are cheaper than that £10 per day for small dogs £15 per day for big dogs :)

I've taken my DD away quite a few times now, find it easier than having to accomodate other people.

We tend to go either all inclusive, or to places I feel more comfortable walking around by ourselves- Spain, Italy, etc.

We went to a little place called Albir in Alicante a couple of months ago, it was absolutely lovely, would recommend it to anyone for a quiet holiday. Just what we needed!

So much of this is about your feelings and not about the reality. There are 3 of you going on holiday rather than 4. The chances are you used to do the majority of the parenting when you were on holiday with your ex anyway, so it's not much different really is it?

The water park in Ibiza is really good fun.

Try not to compare it to past holidays but learn to do things differently. Take some books for the evenings. Make a bit more effort to chat with other guests. You will be fine and I bet you all have a great time.

OP, I took my children away many years ago on my own - when it was not usual for women to travel alone, let alone travel with children. It was my first trip on a plane. We had a great holiday, met kind and pleasant people and even the local greek taverna owner offered to come back and kill the mouse that had invaded our apartment! Go and enjoy yourselves!

I#m a bit late to this thread but I've taken my kids abroad many times. The worst bit is the build up, even when I'd done it loads of times - I always get nervous though have no need to be. I always got last minute deals (the best was a week in menorica, £89 for me £55 each for the kids ). We always had a fabulous time and went many years running because we knew the island. We hired bikes (£7pd) and rode all over the island; found some fabulous beaches that you can only get to on foot or by sea. Though most of our holidays have been lolling on the beach or at the pool because sightseeing is just too much hassle imo, though you get to go out at night to see the sights a bit when it's cooler. You end up being a team really - the kids help out. I also didn't put them to bed early - we all went to bed at the same time and got up at the same time. The only time I bit off more than I could chew was going camping in france with our own tent. That was horribly hard. the kids help out though, even when they were little. If you go eurocamping there are loads of kids clubs and the kids are off a lot of the time, giving you the chance to flop about in the sunshine.

Get the easiest transfers though - that would be my only advice. Get a plane that lands pretty much at your apartment door, or as near as

Go and enjoy yourself - you and the kids will love it. You won't have to worry about what to do in the evenings, as you will be that tired, after having a great day with the kids and watching the shows, you will end up going to bed at the same time as them. I do enjoy a couple of hours on my own in the evening, either on the balcony, reading a good book or having a nice relaxing bath.

My DS is 6 and I have taken him to Spain, France, Germany, Holland, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Mallorca and Dubai on my own. We have a great time and actually founbd it easier to do our own independant travel rather than a package.

Hope you have a fantastic time.

Not read everyones replies, but when I was a LP I took my DS to Florida on my own when he was 2, thought I was nuts on the flight but when we got there it was great. Then took him to Spain when he was 5, and to France to see my friend (so technically I am guessing that doesn't count) on the back of my motorcycle bad mother that I am

hey only a week to go for me, not long for u swallowedafly. Softkitty u may have gone already! Bit more excited now, still nervous and still looking at them flamin reviews!!!!!! I hope noones ill or theres no freak vocano ash or anything....oh I'll cope won't I. Wonder if they'll be any other single mums out there hmmmmmm?

happy hols you lovely lot....you've inspired me to book for next year, absolutely brassic after moving to our lovely new home in the country but scouring the internet for next years deals. I've never been abroad before alone with DD (4) and we really need a hol so next year it is.

My DS is 6, I've taken him to New Zealand 3 times on my own (although staying with family there), TBH the time I went with exH was the hardest trip though, for some reason the cabin crew seem to think you don't need any help when travelling with a man! We've also been to Croatia and Austria as just the two of us and are off to France next week.

Package holidays can be expensive so we usually book cheap flights and do the accommodation separately unless there is a better deal as a package.

Sensible flight locations and times are a key thing for me, no stupid o'clock in the morning departures or airports involving lots of changes to get there if it can be avoided.

I take my knitting or books or ipad to entertain me after DS is asleep and enjoy the opportunity to catch up on sleep with some earlier nights. I like to have accommodation in a central location so we can go out for tea a little later and get back quickly easily if DS gets tired.

I took dd to Egypt on my own. I got chatting on trip advisor forums before going and Got chatting to another single mum who was stopping in the same hotel. So we met up over there, it was definitely good having another adult to talk to.

But you know even if I hadn't met up with her I got chatting to other adults at the pool and then bumped into them in the evenings so it would have been fine. I'm sure you'll have a grat time.

I'm not a lone parent but have taken my children away on my own a few times. Most recently this June I took them on a 3 hour flight. They were 2,4, 6 and 8 at the time. It was fine, preparation is the key

Weird just seen the other pages, I'm sure they weren't there before

well tbh, its gotta be better than last year when I went with my then bf and his 2 teenages, I have to say I didn't really enjoy it that much, he was moody, his teens were moody and bored. I was happier even then on my own with my kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!