Single parent holiday ideas with 2 teens

[Threecrookedhearts]

Hi I have a 12.5 yo DD and 15 yo DS. My stbxh walked out on us 2 months ago and up until now we've always had lovely holidays. Whether staying with his family as they live in Cornwall or camping holidays in Europe. We tried to do budget holidays but always took out bikes and have built up a big lot of camping gear so always headed somewhere nice in Spain or France. I do drive but stbxh has taken the family car and moved in with ow 100 miles away. I'm still processing it all but need to book something nice for us to do over the summer. I don't mind staying in UK or going somewhere in Europe but I can't spend loads. Not even sure what my budget would be. £1K? Any ideas. I have a lovely but lazy and grumpy DS who will turn 15 soon. Even my DD who used to be happy with anything is getting moody and of course their dad moving out so suddenly with no warning has worsened this. Any ideas? Anything that you've done in a similar situation that the kids have enjoyed? Even a city break? Thanks. We've done butlins as a family and so don't want to go back there at the moment. I don't have a car now and all the camping equipment is with his mum in her garage.

What a shitty thing your ex has done, sorry you find yourself in this situation. I've also recently separated (abusive ex) and single mum to two, it's tough but I think we'll be happier in the long run.

If it's during school holidays £1K will be tricky I think. I have in the past booked a little holiday home in the Netherlands for around that much and had a wonderful time. Because the Netherlands is so small we were close to nature, city, kids activities so managed to find things everyone enjoyed.

I love your username btw - fellow PJ fan? Love them

How about Denmark? Danish children go back to school on the second week of August so the last 3 weeks are 'off peak'! Flights to Billund can be quite cheap and you can either hire a car there or use their excellent public transport.

Billund itself has Legoland and Lalandia which is like Center Parcs, both are walking distance from the airport, and there are plenty of holiday villages and amazing beaches all over Yutland.

In Denmark you usually have to pay for electricity and sometimes water usage on top of the rental cost, but if you stay at a place with a communal pool, just wash there! Heating shouldn't be needed in the summer.

Also, if you want a REALLY cheap trip, Denmark has plenty of FREE camping sites! You can either bring your own tent or use the sleeping shelters provided. eng.naturstyrelsen.dk/experience-nature/sleeping-outside-in-nature/

Lalandia.dk/en
dancenter.eu
danland.dk (We've stayed at Lemvig, Agger and Romo all are near a beach and have indoor pools)

Should also add, airbnb also have some great properties in Denmark. I found a 3 bedroom cabin on a little island in Denmark this summer for £325 for the last 2 weeks of August. No pool but we'll have a lovely private garden with a firepit and barbecue area. The beach is just a short walk away. There's a full kitchen, a washing machine, 2 log burners if it gets cold in the evening, wifi, TV....

Thanks Orbital. Great ideas there. I was a big traveller in my 20s and backpacked around Asia/Australia and the US by myself so I need to find the old me again. The 50 yo me just feels a bit pathetic at the moment!

@yummygummy ha yes big PJ fan. We both are so listening to them is really hard now. I keep thinking I should change my username as I think it'll be really obvious who I am. Yes he's being a complete shit. OW has a 4 yr old so he's out every weekend doing family stuff with them and I'm just stuck here in hell with teens that don't want to do anything and worried about spending any money.

Is this the time to do something completely different - like a city break as you say - so none of you will be comparing it to what you used to do with your stbxh? There are interesting hostels (a lot more swish than they used to be) in many cities in the UK and Europe, maybe a family room or possibly DS is old enough (and grumpy enough ) to sleep in a men's room whilst you and DD are together in the women's space.

We're in a similar situation and how men can switch off from their kids like they do astounds me...but we're getting happier by the day and I now realise just how much he dragged us down with his misery and his temper. I hope the three of you find similar peace and happiness

Youth hostels are a great idea. Maybe a bit of interrailing!

yay...an adventure!! I had a quick look - because it made me think about doing something similar - at Barcelona and there are loads of reviews for family-friendly hostels...so it could be very different and a lot of fun...and yes getting back your no-doubt mis-spent youth interrailing

Hire a camper van and head out on the open road. Head north to a Scotland. X