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Holidays Abroad for lone parents

19 replies

chloemummy · 13/05/2004 12:59

Does anyone know of any places to go which are affordable. I am sure you all know that if you book a package through a tour operator then they want to charge your toddler adult prices.

I normally book a flight and then try and find accommodation separately as it tends to work out much more affordable.

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Tinker · 13/05/2004 13:13

chloemummy - depends upon your budget really (obviously ) I've booked 3 holidays on my own with my daughter, all pretty successful and cheap. These have been to Italy and France. Italy is cheaper, I found. Public transport and eating out really affordable. Go to somewhere not obviously touristy if you can. I went to Genoa which is lovely, near the coast, near the South of France if you want to go there.

Have you thought about Croatia, Czech Republic etc? All supposed to lovely and cheap

KateandtheGirls · 13/05/2004 13:25

We just got back from Beaches in Jamaica. It was wonderful, and they have months where they don't charge the single person's supplement. Even so, it's kind of pricey though.

Here's the website

nightowl · 14/05/2004 01:07

we had a lovely holiday to the canaries in october a few years ago, it cost just under £300 for me and ds for a week but it was one of those where its the luck of the draw where you get your accommodation. luckily ours was beautiful, clean with a lovely little pool, 5 mins from beach and on the main street. the others with us wernt so lucky though..they got dumped in apartments all the way up the hill ages from anywhere. if youre willing to risk it, it can be a nice holiday.

Fizog · 14/05/2004 10:08

Chloemummy - I'm finding the same problem actually wouldn't it be nice if there was a tour operator that took single parent families into consideration!

Also will be my first trip abroad with DD so would perfer to book a package and not have to worry about anything else!

I find also that the quality of the hotel is really important to me I know I will be spending the evenings alone on my balcony once dd is asleep so nice view is very very important!!

If you find anywhere I'd love to hear about it!!

willow2 · 14/05/2004 11:38

Don't know if it will be any use, but babygoes2.com has a section for single parent holidays.

Sheila · 14/05/2004 15:14

How do you manage on holiday alone with a child? I never have holidays because on my own with DS (4yo) is such hard and lonely work - but have others been successful?

Tinker · 14/05/2004 18:43

Sheila - I first took my daughter for the first time when she was 4 - it was great. Was very anxious about the whole thing but compared to the alternative of no holidays EVER I had to try it out. Arranged all the flights and car hire over the internet and emailed someone I knew who had a house in Frnace and asked if we could rent it. He was there when we went which did make it easier (a bit, also caused a few problems but that's another story). But being on holiday is so much less stressful than being at home alone, it was just a great adventure. Especially since I left the directons and phone number of the cottage at home Had another cottage in France the following year and had 4 nights in Italy in Feb half term. Go on, do it, you'll feel so much more confident when you've done it. If you can do that, you can do anything Plus, you can go where YOU want to go, no compromises

littlemissbossy · 14/05/2004 19:14

no experience myself, but, have you ever seen the babygoes2 website? they have a single parent page with recommendations and links to companies with holidays for single parents HTH

SecondhandRose · 15/05/2004 08:15

I know the Gingerbread group organises things, don't know if it's offers or groups though.

Original poster
chloemummy · 20/05/2004 15:09

Sheila - I agree take the plunge and go away with your DS. There is nothing to be scared of. I first went with my DD when she was 3 months old to Gran Canaria, then at 9 months to Turkey at 12 months to Dublin, at 2 to Carcassone in France, then to Sardinia, last year to Majorca and Fuertaventura and we are going back to Majorica on 1 June. I booked cheap tickets through easyjet for £150 and we went to a fantastic hotel called Los Mirlos/Tordos which is a sol melia hotel which had an offer on for 52 Euros per night plus tax of 7% for dinner bed and breakfast. They have a fantastic childrens club were you can leave your child so you can get a break. My daughter loved it she is now 3 and a half.

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Original poster
chloemummy · 20/05/2004 15:12

fizog - I booked a holiday with a person that I had never met. I spoke to her on the phone as she was a member of the single parent travel club and we shared a room. We got on fine but that was a way of cutting the cost as then we booked a two app and shared it.

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honeypot01 · 08/04/2005 18:17

hi all

Anyone any ideas ror single parent hols or anyone wanmt to arrange a group singleparent hol on here??? any ideas? my son is 3 and a half. hope to have some replies!

Hevva · 16/06/2005 23:20

Take a look at the website for the Single Parent Travel Club at www.sptc.org.uk. It's a club run by single parents for single parent families, and there are day trips, weekends and holidays, from camping in the UK to luxury villas overseas. Costs just £7.50 per year. It's great to go on holidays or days out with others in the same situation, and while the kids play, you have someone to chat to instaed of sitting bored out of your mind with a book!
Cheers,
Hevva

SueW · 16/06/2005 23:25

I tried to book a ski holiday for next Feb with DD since my friend had got a fabulous deal for her and her two sons. However they are travelling with three of her adult friends and have managed to get two free child places. Total cost of holiday for her plus two children : £641. I tried to book for DD and me - total cost of holiday: over £1200. Pig sick. And this was with Crystal Ski who say they have single parent discount. Pah.

But I'm not a 'single parent' - just my husband doesn't usually make it on holiday with us.

Ulysees · 21/06/2005 17:52

just bumping this up as my mate is looking to go abroad with her 2 children and may have to go alone. She does have a friend who suggested they go together with all their kids but that may be a bit stressful (long story)

Has anyone joined the sptc.org? Wondered if this was any good?

chloeb2002 · 11/07/2005 20:26

I travel alot with DD and im a single mum. Mostly to visit relatives and such like. Last week we went to Hamburg in Germany on flights booked on Happag LLyod. Cost £50 return for two of us booked well in advance. I had accomodation but it would have been affordable to stay in a city motel too. Id say any developed city with a major air port would be great with kids on your own because all the normal stuff is availible, zoo's pools beaches maybe..... as well as the sights.

Hevva · 22/10/2005 21:31

Hi all - I'm actually the membership secretary for the Single Parent Travel Club (SPTC) - see the website at sptc.org.uk. We organise day trips, weekend breaks and holidays in this country and abroad with all budgets in mind. We are just a group of single parents who prefer to travel with company rather than on our own, and it's a very sociable organisation. The kids have company, and we actually have some adult company - which is very welcome! Take a look at the website to see if you are interested.

hoolagirl · 22/10/2005 22:32

Does anyone know of anything like this in Scotland?

amylou · 25/10/2005 10:05

hi - is the sptc website address correct? I've just tried and it cant find the server.. or is it just me???

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