holiday urself with dc have you done it before?

[savy57]

i went on holidaY last year for the first time with ds who is 4 but went with a friend as well this year she cant go and its just me and ds he really wanted to go so ive booked 2 weeks in the sun
have any of use did it yourself did you enjoy it, im dreading it i think maybe more scared of being in another country myself not knowing anybody ect wish i had only booked the one week now but its a bit late for that

All my holidays have been just me & the kids. I'm sure you'll have a great time.

Sorry to be a downer but I found beach holidays with just me and DS rather boring. Especially when he was younger because, once he was in bed at 8pm, that was me stuck in a hotel room for the night all by myself, twiddling my thumbs. Does the place you're going to have a babysitting service?

my Mum used to do it with us two on her own and she reckons she loved it. She likes time on her own though, I think she was quite happy to pootle around reading and watching TV and chilling once we'd gone to bed.

Maybe it's just me, but when I go on holiday with the kids when they go to bed I'm usually totally mashed and have a glazed 1000 yard stare, don't get me wrong it's good fun but I'm totally knackered. then again I'm just as much a kid as my children it must be all the sand castle building that tires me out!!

im the same last year even all though i went with a friend we always headed back to the hotel room about 8 - 9 oclock and crashed out i think beause we were out all day walking playing at the beach ect so we were all shattard so im not bothered about night time i think im just panikin about all the what ifs and not knowing where anything is but im sure we will have a ball
thanks :)

I too find beach holidays with just me and dd boring. But tbh would probably find them boring even if with another adult. I go on city breaks. Exhaust us both out during the day, and then crash at night ready for an early start next day.

pilgrim do you usual go your self with dc?

I have been lots of places with my 3ds' on my own. Its fun but I honestly feel exhausted when I get back. I need a holiday from my holiday :}

I went for a long weekend with just my two DSs a few weeks ago for the first time, I enjoyed it. Not as much as I would have if I'd of had a friend/DP with me but ho hum, it was for the kids. They enjoyed it and that's why I did, and I feel like some quality time with them has done us all good.

Also I kept them up till about 10 (they usually go to bed 8ish) and I dragged them to the disco in the hotel/b&b we were staying in and had a sly half pint while they had a dance :D

I don't know OP, maybe I'd find 2 weeks a lot for a first holliday, but my mum does it every year! The only advice I could give you is to remember to take some books for yourself/games for her so you can relax a bit. yes I forgot this and was a bit bored when DC where asleep I'm sure you'll have a lovely time. And don't worry so much about not knowing anyone, coping by yourself etc, you manage at home, I'm sure you'll be fine.

Savy, yes I usually go on citybreaks with just me and dd. I do it on the cheap, cheap flights, basic accommodation. We both get involved in the planning and schedules for sightseeing. I have never had a bad experience, and find people very kind and accommodating when we are on our travels.

Have been all over the world just me and my boys. Last yr in New York and on a cruise ship. The year before that in San Francisco and skiing on the west coast.

Over all it has been great. but my holiday low point has to be the year I split from ex walking up through a village in france at the end of the day with 2 tired small children and carrying a pair of skis over each shoulder and one strapped to my backpack, thinking WTF have I let myself in for. But they are that much older now and all carry their own gear

I now have a new DP and I am hoping it will be as much fun with the two of us and all our children!

Damn, just typed out a long reply, pressed to post it and lost my net connection .

Anyway, the long and short of it is you'll be fine. I've taken DS abroad twice and I found it great. We went to Lanzarote this year and it was amazing, in fact I wish I'd booked for longer (only went for a week). I know you've already booked, but I always look for a hotel/complex geared up for kids (kids pools, playgroud, kids club etc) so they've got lots to do. I also go for somewhere close to the beach and within walking distance of the nearest town/resort, so you can get out and about. In the evenings DS stayed up later than normal and we walked into town or went to the hotel show, then went back to the room for a snack while watching TV, then off to bed at the same time around 10pm. Take a couple of books in case you get chance to read, and go on a few excursions/take the local bus to places of interest - it'll make it far more interesting for both of you and the time will fly by.

Where are you going, btw?

I took my dc all over the world after my divorce.It was abig part of my healing process and made me feel very independent.
I went to spain first with ds#12 and dd#2 and when we got there they were so tired they had a nap and wouldnt wake up.I remember sitting on the balcony with my glass of wine and my beef monster munch and a book,feeling really relieved that exh wasnt there to insist we woke them and went to dinner. We met people far easier cos people chatted to me as i was alone.

I then took them to Ibiza and met friends we will always have and had a great time.

The following year i rented a house in India and we had 4 weeks on the beach.

You will love it,and its lovely to have such a long time to concentrate on your child with no distractions.

thank you all for your replies made me feel much more at ease now :) ive booked the 2 weeks in zante alykes i got a fab deal for may so just took it then when i paid for it started to worry but feel better about it now reading all your posts
and im going with thomas cook so they always have day trip you can go on just not sure what they will be but just doing my own research ive found a few different things you can go do so will be sure to book them as i no ds will love them, also we are right on the beach so im sure we will be spending loads of time their building sand castles

Hi all

I have taken my boys away for weekends and that works fine. I have been on hols with friends and that can also work, although under 'normal' circumstances not what you'd choose i guess. I am taking the boys away at xmas to an all inclusive break and am hoping that works out Ok. Of course none of this replaces a bit of adult company, chat and down time, but it can work.
x

i do city breaks in europe. this summer we went to prague last year austria ( not really a city break though) it is always me & dd except the year my dad died and mum came with us

my first freedom holiday 3 years ago was to venice with the dc - we stayed ina campsite just outside and it was amazing to go to Venice and please ourselves!! It can get stressful at some times - but I found even those moments were still much less stressful than holidays with my ex!! Campsites abroad are excellent for single parents - bit more social than hotels/apartments as once the dc are inbed everyone sits outside their mobile hoems drinking the local wine and chatting. Next year is our first aprtment holiday as a single arent family - but my dc are a bit older so we'll no doubt have to do the evening 'entertainment'!

My little tip - take a little travel DVD player, and splash out for a box set of a tv series you never got round to. That way once everyone is tucked up in bed, you can have a nice 'grown up' treat with a glass or two of wine.
2 weeks in France - La Femme Nikita
Skiing in Austria - True Blood
3 weeks in France - The WIRE
Thinking about skiing in Easter, havent decided on the resort yet, but already know I'll be treating myself to the Vampire Diaries!!

Wow ledkr - renting a house in India sounds soooo brave and amazing. How did you find the house and what was that holiday like? I have been to Morocco twice with DS but gone with a v good friend...haven't been brave enough to go on our own yet. But he is only 4. Maybe when he's older. Even with a friend to help out I find holidaying with him exhausting!

I went in August with my 2 children to Ibiza, I was soooo worried, over thinking things etc. But it was the best thing I ever did, it gave meconfidence in myself, I had chance to relax and re evaluate my life, I would do it again for sure! Ialso met another single mum there too, so there are others that do it too!! Go for it.

I'm planning on booking a holiday for just me and my dd (5) after xmas. And I can't wait. We do lots of things just the 2 of us, dinners out, trips on the train and we always have such fun. I'm debating whether to go all inclusive or not. It would be easier then you're in a resort, they'll be kids stuff for her and the same groups we'd get to know. Or do we just go off our own backs?? Either way, it'll be great. :)

The first holiday we took, was to centre parks, the second was a beach holiday, then two cruises. I always found adults to chat to, and the kids always found holiday friends too. The cruise holiday are the best for Lone parents with no other adult travelling with them imho. I hadn't realised that it was a brave thing to do until people would comment on it being so, I had taken a few holidays with friends in the past once I became a parent and found it fun, but not relaxing at all dealing with their kids issues as well as your own kids. I also find that holidays without the exh are far more relaxing, as he was often grumpy about accomodation or something the dc would annoy him, and not mentally present at times. The best holidays I have been with the dc and me alone, first time a holiday had been what I wanted for me and the dc, it was lovely to be selfish!

im definitely more confident about it now after reading all your messages i think i was just thinking to much about it still wish i had only booked one week but two weeks in the sun is not to be knocked will just try take loads of spending money with me so we dont get bored

singlevillagemum - that is a fab idea will defo be doing this didnt even think about it :o

a couple of weeks ago me and dd (5) went to disney paris for 4 days, all on our own. I was nervous about being the only adult abroad but it was fab, we really had some good mummy/daughter bonding time and when bedtime came I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer than she could! I think I would have struggled with DD2 as well, she stayed at home as she is 1 and too young to appreciate it. When they are bigger we will do it all again!