Holidays alone with children. Who has done it?

[funinthesun19]

Just looking for some advice and pointers really. In a year or two, I want to take my children on holiday on my own. By that point they will be about 12, 10, 8 and 4.

Is this even doable?!

I’m just looking for people’s experience of doing this (especially with so many children)
The cost, where you went, how did you do the hotel room/s, was the holiday enjoyable?

My older children will be obviously be older by then and more mature, so really it will just be the youngest who might be a handful. She’s 2 now but by 4 she should hopefully be way past the toddler tantrums.
I wouldn’t dream of taking them all abroad just yet.

Your kids are very similar in age to mine! I have a 9 8 6 and 3 atm. We’ve never been away but we did have a holiday booked till Covid hit, I wouldn’t have been able to do it alone though as my oldest has autism, so was going with my sister. What I would say is pick somewhere with a kids club and all inclusive as for the cost I got an absolute bargain so I’m sad we didn’t get to go, tui offer loads of discounts/ free child places / single parent discount etc

I've o lot for the two. Their dad worked away when we were together so even when they were smaller we did short breaks away just us. Echo pp. kids club and entertainment. My two love haven holidays. But if you thinking abroad it is do able. Everyone carry own day bag. Snacks and drink. And pull along suit cases.

I didn’t take my two boys abroad alone until they could swim well enough that I didn’t have to worry so much by the pool (so I think they were 13 & 8). I did do haven type holidays alone when I had toddlers, but I’ll be honest it was pretty stressful alone. But you know your dc, and your own capacity, best.

Thank you for the replies! Very helpful I will have a good look at what I can find.
Which resorts are good for families?

It’s something I really really want to do because none of my children have ever been away on holiday abroad.
I worry that they won’t want to go if they reach a certain age. Teenagers do still like going on holiday with their parents... don’t they?

I want to do a Haven holiday on my own this year if things open up again. We’ve always gone away with their dad when we’ve been, so this one will be the first on my own with them.

We was going to go to lanzarote, the place looked amazing and really child friendly. I know why you want to do it soon as sadly my nephew is 16 and he never wants to go away with my sister now, can’t speak for all teens though!

I took my 3 to Morocco to an all inclusive. We had a lovely time, swimming, walking to the beach and going for ice creams, trips to local market etc but they were a bit older than yours at that point. We had two hotel rooms next door to each other, with me and DD in one, the two older boys in the other one. A studio type apartment would work better for you I imagine.

I didn’t want self catering as I knew I’d end up resenting having to clean up and cook every day, but it might be handy for you to have a bit more space with an apartment rather than just bedrooms.

Not a lone parent but the last 2 years I've taken my 3 on holiday on my own, they were 1,4 and 13 the first year and we just got a private hire caravan in Wales for 5 days. Last year I went again and did a parkdean caravan holiday so we got entertainment passes included but the only thing we could use was the pool due to covid. I was absolutely fine taking them away alone not sure I'd be brave enough to go abroad! To be honest it was more about me been determined to take them on my own and prove to myself I could and didn't have to rely on my husband to come! He would of but couldn't get time off work, to be honest it was quite nice just me and the kids, one less person to keep happy and consider, I could just decide what we were going to do each day and just get on with it!

I’ve only got two, but we usually have a couple of uk holidays each year (since the youngest was 2). I usually just go to haven type places as they’re well set up for kids.

If you’re self catering then you can get Tesco’s to deliver direct to the caravan on the first night to save having to go shopping.

Perhaps for the first time see if there’s anywhere nice that’s just a couple of hours away as the drive can be the hardest bit if they’re bored or arguing.

I take mine most years. We prefer self catering but often go to an aparthotel type place which has basic kitchen and restaurants/ kids clubs etc. When they were little, they had trunkis for the plane and I managed all the hold luggage. Somewhere where other English families go is probably a good idea and the older ones can make friends with other kids. If you can persuade the younger ones to go to kids clubs, you might even get a few hours reading by the pool!

There are single parent holiday companies too. We've been on a couple of those.

I took my 3 to Gran Canaria this year on my own- 9, 13 and 14. No problem going alone for me, mine are a little older though. Did have to deal with the grumpiest 13 year old ever though, it was like as soon as we landed she turned into a different person!!

I recommend booking all inclusive then you never have to worry about the costs of getting drinks, ice creams etc. And kids can pick what they want from the buffet (9 year old lived on chips ). Do whatever makes life as easy as possible for you! We booked private transfers so quick journeys from airport to hotel. We were in a bungalow, one bedroom, older two slept ok the living room. Would have been better if they had their own room though.

Agree about all inclusive.. even if you don’t use it for every meal, it’s still worth it for drinks / snacks / ice creams. I’d definitely recommend Majorca, we preferred the smaller resorts like Cala D’or over the bigger ones like Alcudia. May or October are good times to go, because it’s lovely and warm, without being too hot.

I wouldn’t go anywhere without all inclusive not with kids, the way my sister said it to me was you just don’t want to worry about food, snacks and drinks are there constantly whenever the kids want them.

Not a lone parent, but have frequently taken my 2 away on my own.
First was a baptism of fire with a 4&6 yr old. France in a caravan, plus flights. DHs new job meant he couldnt join us. It wasnt really a break for me, but the kids enjoyed it.
Since then I've flown them back to the UK each summer alone, and done various things with them. Personally, make sure you have enough space- so we always have 2 bedrooms and a livingroom between the 3 of us. A kitchen makes early breakfasts and endless snacks easier. So haven or similar- lots to do, lots of food available, but our own space works well for us.
I'd say they are enjoyable, so long as you have the mindset that you are going to have fun with the kids, and dont want to be drinking cocktails on the beach and partying til dawn! Personally, they are also knackering, and I need some slow time afterwards to catch up.
Enjoy!

Every year for past 6 years (well not past one obviously 🤣) but I only have 1 child!

Maybe look at villa or hotel with plenty of kids activities and/or a kids club.

I'd look AI because they can eat drink all day without it costing you a fortune or you having to facilitate it!

Look at places with flat beaches and shallow waters and also perhaps somewhere where there's small coves so they are contained!

I have. The kids were 11 and 8 at the time. They reckon it was the best holiday ever!
We flew from Gatwick to Malaga. Paid for private transfers all the way. We had the most kid friendly hotel I have visited and the beach was on its doorstep. We went half board. It was a one bedroom studio. It was the best I could afford. We spent most time on the beach or by the pool.We couldn't manage 3 meals. So late breakfast and late dinner and Burger King for lunch. I was very proud of myself and the kids. They were epic troopers!

Yes I have. Self catering in the UK.
Was planning abroad last year then covid happened.
Mt eldest has ASD so it's a bit easier now he's a teenager but still tricky to choose the right place. Has to be nice and quiet. But now they are both older, they like their space anyway.

When I first became a single parent 7 years ago, I found the thought of going away on my own upsetting (no family to help)
But in 7 years it's got easier and now I really like it the 3 of us.

I took my 2 abroad on my own for the first time at 5 and 9. I chose an all inclusive resort with kids clubs to suit both age groups so i could read my book in peace once or twice.
Old enough was able to serve himself at all the buffets but i could help youngest.
Journey and managing the luggage on your own is the hardest bit. I found fellow holiday makers a little curious ha but very chatty and friendly and helpful-swapping loungers and watching bags during mad loo dash etc. Four is a different ball game. But if you cope day to day you will cope abroad. Youngest knew that if i wasn't in the water with her (i was sat on the edge etc) she HAD to have the swimvest on even though she was a swimmer. So they knew the rules to keep them safe when i had one pair of hands.

I encouraged a single friend to go to the same resort just after i went. And she enjoyed it with her two also.

Been a single parent since I was pregnant with my youngest, he's 6 now.
I have taken them away alone every year for the past 5 years, abroad and here. We've done long haul (caribbean) twice and Europe plus caravan and chalet breaks here.
New people I've met are shocked that I do it but I don't see why my children should miss out because their dad doesn't live with us.
Long haul flights alone are awful so I can't see us doing that again soon but package holidays closer to home are perfect, I look for short transfer times the other end as it makes it easier.
Caravan holidays are also brilliant, I think mine prefer them to going abroad.

I took mine to Menorca by myself. We had a lovely time. I agree with going all inclusive. They love the autonomy, and you aren't sticking your hand in your pocket every 5 minutes.
The food has been wonderful every all inclusive I've been on. Plenty of Spanish food on offer not just crap snacks (which I also enjoyed).

Eurocamp type holidays here - to Italy. Travelled all over the country on the trains.

I took my DS away on my own abroad a couple of times. It was fine as long as we both made friends. We went to Cala D'or in Mallorca which was a very easy holiday, beaches, marina and stuff literally on our doorstep and can easily drive or get a cab to other beaches. But you could easily just stay at the AI hotel or walk to the local beach, easier with a four kids.

Writing his seems weird as holidays seem so distant! 😢

I was widowed when the DC were both still in nappies. Took them away by myself a couple of times a year from when they were 4 and 5. It was always fine. They are 30 and 31 now, and still like to go on holidays with me, although obviously they also have other holidays with their partners.
When they were primary age and liked beach holidays, we went to a different Greek island each year, but once they were older they enjoyed everything from Transylvanian bear sanctuaries to Austrian mountains, gondolas in Venice to city breaks in Istanbul and Marrakech, opera in Verona, Baltic cruises to St Petersburg - the only place they hated was Tunisia, due to the creepy men hitting on them (at age 12!). I certainly would advise against Tunisia, unless you have a male companion to fend off trouble. But everywhere else we found the locals really helpful, even in Albania, where a waiter ran a mile down the seafront to return DD’s bag and passport she’d left behind, and wouldn’t even accept a reward!

A Parkdean resort on the Isle of Wight is a good option if you have a car - I've done that. You get the excitement of the ferry without the potential stress of an airport. You can come and go as you please in your caravan/chalet, and I found there was a good choice of food in the restaurant. It'd be more cost effective too, with 4 kids. There are loads of great places to visit on the IoW too, which suit kids of all ages.

I took DS2 on a Real Family Holiday while DH and DS2 were away doing something else.

We had a fantastic time. Excellent value and a perfect balance between organised group activities and time to ourselves. My only regret was that we hadn't discovered them when DC were younger.

A lot of the other customers were either single parents or mums entertaining DC during the holidays, while their partners worked. It was way cheaper than keeping them entertained at home!