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Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

Original poster

Holidays alone

14 replies

OhMyCherriePie · 14/04/2023 13:40

Would love to take my kids on holiday but don’t think I’m brave enough, I have 4 so it will be a lot to supervise and oldest is autistic so wouldn’t be able to help at all with the younger children so I would need to supervise her and 3 younger ones, they want a proper holiday abroad and not a U.K. thing my oldest has been asking to have a proper holiday. Will it just be too much? People have said to me that it’s no different to being in the U.K. but I disagree! Pools, beach (they can’t swim) getting lost not knowing the area/ language etc am I mad to even be thinking about this? Has any single parent taken 3 or more kids away alone (not 1/2 as I could manage that easily) I know dd being autistic will make it harder than NT kids but would still help to hear from anyone that has taken 3 or more small kids away alone?

OP posts:
ACynicalDad · 14/04/2023 14:01

How old are they, if they can't be trusted not to run into the pool then it's a nightmare, if the other three are say above 6 then it might be OK.

NeedSleepNow · 14/04/2023 14:21

How old are your children? I'm a single Mum with 3 aged between 6 and 13, I've only done UK holidays so far. My younger two aren't great swimmers so I'm avoiding beach/pool holidays for now (and I can't afford to take them abroad at the moment). If I were going to take my 3 abroad right now I would avoid beach/holidays and go for a holiday based in the countryside or a large town/city. I've taken them away lots in the UK staying in self catering cottages or caravans and it has be fine. Hard work at times but still fun!

Babdoc · 14/04/2023 14:31

I would ask primary teachers for advice, OP. They take 30 kids at a time away on adventure holidays, (which is my idea of a nightmare!), but they seem to handle it and all come back alive!
A beach/pool holiday isn’t ideal if none of yours swim or can be trusted around unfenced water, but there are lots of alternatives such as theme parks, wilderness adventures, countryside, historic castles etc. My daughter loved Transylvania in Romania - visiting Dracula’s castle, canyon walking in the beautiful Carpathian mountains, visiting the bear sanctuary, riding the cable car up Mount Tampa, playing in wildflower meadows and dancing in the street at the jazz festival at Brazov.

Original poster
OhMyCherriePie · 14/04/2023 14:35

Thanks all. My kids wouldn't want a city break. They are not interested in sightseeing and won't want to do loads of walking. I've never known primary schools to go abroad but maybe that's just our area? My kids school didn't do a residential until year 6 and that was UK. They are 12, 11, 9 and 5.

OP posts:
tiredandbroken · 14/04/2023 14:39

I would look at holidays out of school holidays purely because the sensory overload of airports and also the cost and getting the right room. Mark Warner holidays were fab when I was a single parent. Expensive but worth it. Kids clubs for all ages and can do 1:1 if needed, large family rooms. I took mine once during school holidays and regretted it but late September or May or June, will be cheaper, quieter and more enjoyable

Stressfordays · 14/04/2023 14:41

I'm a lone parent and have taken my 3 (10, 7 and 5) away by myself a few times in the last couple of years. I find all inclusive with kids clubs the easiest to manage. Short flight so Spain is your best bet. If it all seems too much, see if a family member or friend is willing to come the first time? Or go on a joint holiday with another single mum. I've been camping with a group of single mums and it was hands down the funniest weekend I've ever had!

SansaClegane · 14/04/2023 14:59

The first "alone" holiday I did with my 3 (who were 10, 8 and 5 at the time) was all inclusive to Menorca with Jet2.
I chose this as it was a family friendly hotel with pool and splash park, and knowing it was AI I didn't have to worry about going anywhere as we could just stay at the resort.
It worked out really well, I did request special assistance (it's my youngest who has ASD) so airports etc were improved massively, transfers were included, I didn't have to worry about food or drinks and we all had a great time! Even the main pool was quite shallow so we managed absolutely fine even though the younger 2 couldn't properly swim at the time.
Would recommend doing your research and staying AI, if it really goes well you can always try and venture out further, but you'll feel safer knowing that you don't have to worry about dinner or getting them all into a restaurant somewhere.

Igmum · 14/04/2023 15:20

I'm a single parent and when DD was younger we did a lot of single parent group holidays. They are absolutely great. Some for every price point from cheap as chips camping, through youth hostels to overseas. The kids make friends which makes it so much easier and there are various trips organised which you can attend or ignore as you please. Some of the companies that do this are ridiculously expensive. Single with Kids was definitely the best but I can't find the website - this could be because I'm currently on the road (hope it hasn't shut down).

Original poster
OhMyCherriePie · 14/04/2023 20:29

Thanks all it’s good to hear from those that have done it. Definitely no one to come unfortunately I would have to pay for them to come and I don’t have the money to pay for anyone to come along. No single parent friends either so not that’s not an option. I think I might wait till they are a bit older.

OP posts:
ErinAoife · 14/04/2023 20:43

Why not going to Ireland? They won't be a language barrier and ferry is cheap enough.

Verbena17 · 02/05/2023 23:05

The swimming pool ratio would worry me if they’re all non swimmers.
In the UK, the ratio is….

  • Under 5’s - 1 adult to 1 child
  • Ages 5 - 8 years - 1 adult to 2 children
  • Age 8 to 15 years - no adult supervision providing child is a competent swimmer
  • Adult (16 years and over)

I think an abroad holiday sounds tricky & stressful if there’s a language barrier. Also, what if something happened to you whilst abroad - who would care for the kids? At least in the uk, there’d be more practical solutions.

Have you looked at a family PGL holiday? Organised fun activities together with supervision to help you.
Or check out Spectrum Holidays which are organised throughout the uk for autism friendly holidays - they’re recommended by the National Autistic Society.

Home

Autism friendly family breaks

https://spectrum-holidays.com/

Verbena17 · 02/05/2023 23:09

Hmm actually not sure about the spectrum holidays thing - looks quite a lot to it.

Sillymummy295 · 03/05/2023 23:20

Verbena17 · 02/05/2023 23:05

The swimming pool ratio would worry me if they’re all non swimmers.
In the UK, the ratio is….

  • Under 5’s - 1 adult to 1 child
  • Ages 5 - 8 years - 1 adult to 2 children
  • Age 8 to 15 years - no adult supervision providing child is a competent swimmer
  • Adult (16 years and over)

I think an abroad holiday sounds tricky & stressful if there’s a language barrier. Also, what if something happened to you whilst abroad - who would care for the kids? At least in the uk, there’d be more practical solutions.

Have you looked at a family PGL holiday? Organised fun activities together with supervision to help you.
Or check out Spectrum Holidays which are organised throughout the uk for autism friendly holidays - they’re recommended by the National Autistic Society.

My local swimming pool is one adult to 2 under 5s

LDA123 · 28/10/2023 06:09

What did you decide in the end? I’m taking my 4 children to Spain on their first abroad holiday next year as a lone parent, they’ll be 7,9,11 and 13. It’s mainly the swimming I’m worried about!

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