First holiday ideas as a single parent

[cantbeatfreshsheets]

Hey, I'm recently separated (May)
Thinking about my first holiday away in UK with my kids next summer. Boy will be 5 daughter 1.5. Want to keep it simple & fun. Maybe UK. Not sure I want planes/abroad solo at this stage. Not camping just because of hassle maybe a caravan, something fun for the kids but manageable. My ex was a snob so wouldn't have done a caravan but I like idea. Or sociable family friendly idea. My son is sociable so he can play. I want to create some happy memories for us but a bit nervous. :)

I’m in the same boat! I’m doing Center Parcs next April with dd as it’s easy and everything is there so I don’t need to research etc.

Then will probably do an Airbnb for us in Cornwall or the Peak District later on in the year.

Have you had a look at glamping? There’s some beautiful places and it’s much easier than camping and more interesting than caravanning. I stayed in a converted horse box one year by the side of a lake, it had a little rowing boat and a pizza oven outside. It was glorious! Cost less than the local caravan park also.

Depending on where you are in the uk, but Port lympne Wildlife park in Kent looks great. You can stay onsite in various accommodation ie overlooking the giraffes, and see the zoo after hours also. It would be great for a 2 night/3 day break.
You could combine with staying somewhere nearby after another few nights along the south coast ie a caravan site.

Haven holidays are fab. The doniford bay site is lovely. Not too big but got everything you need. Your children will love it.

I always hire a holiday cottage for a week, but i now live back in my home town and we visit were i used to live in the Yorkshie Dales, highly recommend by the way!. My friend whose ex was an utter snob and didnt do caravans takes her dc to Butlins. As she says, its a poor mans center parcs and anyway she cant afford center parcs, but the kids bloody love it!

Have you looked at single parent group holidays like single with kids? The 5 year old will have kids to play with and you'll have company too.

The single parent travel club on Facebook has a massive amount of ideas

What is your budget?

Any one of the holiday camps like Haven are a good bet, you will hate the entertainment but your DC will love it. There is loads to do on site like pools and playparks.

Blackpool is also good, but some of the accommodation can be grim. There is a lot to do there for young kids, the pleasure beach, the proms and beach, the zoo and the tower.

Ah thank you all. Some good ideas there. I was thinking of Whitby or Bamburgh we usually go to Devon/Cornwall. I haven't thought about budget yet. Guess that depends on solicitors fees! I think I'm just a bit concerned with having the baby too. If for example you went to butlins and go swimming with my son and you got the baby too you know? I know it sounds silly 😂 I'll look at glamping too. Im considering butlins. It wouldn't be my cuppa but I know the kids would love it and my ex would never have contemplated it so almost as a screw you. Most importantly to be sociable and let our hair down and make happy memories :) :) :)

I did haven or Butlins at that age . They were perfect for that age

My first few hols when DD was 3/4 we went to cities in uk which had child friendly places and where I had friends. 3 days out of routine with not the usual catalogue of toys used to panic me, but the first year we went to Bristol- first day we travelled there and did the zoo and dinner out, next day we spent entirely with friends and third day we did the science museum, grown up girly lunch and travelled home. It was lovely and no difficult times at all! Stayed in a travelogue which was cheap but clean and practical and I had a grown up holiday with a few glasses of wine when she was asleep

I'd definitely go for a caravan hol - cheap and cheerful. You can socialise as much or as little as you like. Clubhouse/shows etc not my cup of tea, but if the 5 yr old enjoys that kind of thing then great way to keep him occuppied/tire him out.
First year as a lone parent, 2 years ago, I took my 2 camping - but they're older (10& 5 at the time). This year, I got brave and took them to Spain at Easter - and so glad i did, but wouldn't have been confident enough to do that when they were younger.

I’ve been doing single parent holidays since my two were the same age as yours and usually go to Haven caravan parks or sometimes park resorts. Near Bamburgh there’s park resorts Eyemouth or Haven Hagerston castle. I’d recommend a caravan park as they’re set up for kids, with swimming and play area and some have activities you can book which keep them entertained for a bit. Also you can park right outside the caravan so if you want to go off for the day that makes it easier.

I usually do a meal plan and order the food shopping to be delivered to the caravan shortly after we’ve checked in which saves a load of hassle. I’d also advise if it’s in budget to go for a higher grade of caravan as the check in time is earlier and you shouldn’t get caught up in the queues.

I love Whitby and stayed in a holiday apartment with the kids there which had a great central location, but I was slightly misled about the parking situation and didn’t realise I’d have to park a few streets away which was a real pain with two small kids and a load of bags on my own! There is a caravan park there which although not as central would probably be easier.

When my kids were little we did glamping in an African safari tent which had its own loo - this made things so much easier for Me as a single parent.

www.dawnchorusholidays.com/huts-and-lodges/