I'm thinking about doing a single parent organised holiday, has anyone tried these? Looking especially for low budget and suitable for a toddler.

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Title probably says most of it! Probably need it to be in the UK at least for this year. All the ones I've come across so far seemed more geared towards older kids and I'd quite like to go when it isn't school holidays as its usually cheaper too. Anyone been on this type of break? Was it ok?

Fairyfly when are you going to Egypt? How old are your boys.

I have travelled many times with my daughter and I have been on my own since pregnant. She is 7 btw. We have been to Majorca twice, Fuerteventura, Gran Caneria, Carcassone in France, Sardinia, Dublin, Spanish Mainland.

Actually shelleylou you could be right about the mango thing, I saw one somewhere too but remember thinking it was a bit pricey for me but I'll have another look at it as I think it was also on a holiday park type thing which is the sort of break I'm after. Gilly gingerbread didn't have a group near me when I asked before but come to think of it that was when I was pregnant so it may well have changed, maybe I should ask the health visitor.

Have just looked on pontins and they have half price sale on. Just put in 1 adult 1 child to stay in a 1 bedroom budget apartment, self catering, £194 total cost. That's 7 nights from 19th July. Not bad eh?? They also include up to 50 free activities in the price I think. Not booked but was looking out of interest. Maybe this is the way forward!! They also do a half board option and they have loads of sites around the country to choose from!

That does sound VERY good GB, I'm not sure I'd want to do this just me and DD to be honest as she's so young and I'd worry that other families would be too busy having family time (as in two parent families)or think I was odd or something!Chloemummy how have holidays with your DD been for you? How old was she the first one you took?

Just looked on the mango site and if I went with DD it'd be about £380 which seems loads to me or am I being naive? Its half board though. Am still quite tempted.

Ps its in Devon.

i've took ds away on my own since he was 6 months old.

have you looked on here

Yes NA I joined that through gingerbread, they are doing 3 months free membership atm. Couldn't see a holiday I thought would be good for me and DD though as I'd like there to be other stuff going on like in a holiday park type thing. The one through Mango for June actually would be £330 and have been thinking maybe that is a good deal as wouldnt need much spending money. Now am panicking about the drive though lol! What sort of things have you and your DS done for holidays? Did you meet people or did you find everyone was involved too much with thier partners etc?

i've been to haven where i just got chatting to other families through taking ds to the paws club. we would meet up for swimming etc or other activities and go to the club on a night together but otherwise did our own thing. also been abroad where we mainly did our own thing but met up with other families by the pool and i went to a really nice villa with a few other single mums and dads that i got chatting to off different parenting sites. we all introduced one another to different people and then got a villa for 10 people so it worked out at about £45 each and we managed to get really cheap flights.

That sounds good, not sure if I'd be brave enough to do it alone but a Haven type place is the sort of thing I want. I've got a friend who has fairly recently become a single parent so I've been thinking of asking her to go to Haven or Pontins now I've seen the prices there!Not sure she'd want to but worth a try. Or theres this one in Devon organised by Mango. Decisions!

i'd go to pontins with you!! me and ds have been for a few breaks there for a cheap and cheerful holiday.

Why don't you all go together? Could rent a Villa and share the cost? May work out cheaper then going individually, sort out the fine details before you go, no one dumps their child/ren on anyone else (could hire a nanny for the week if that's what the parent wants), share cleaning, food etc. Agencies that organise these holidays can be expensive, if you rent a villa for 3000 a week and take ten families then that's 300 each family. There are load of places you can rent villas from. Let me know if anyone thinks this is a good idea. With holiday firms you don't know the people that you go with either.

Aveanap thats a good idea for some but I don't think I'd be comfortable actually sharing accomodation with people I don't know. Thats why I was a bit put off some of the better value single parent ones. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Nappyaddict thats not a bad idea actually, how old is your DS? Someone suggested earlier on the thread(or was it you?)that we got a group of us together to do it. I looked at going in June and could afford a chalet for me and DD it was only about £115! That was maybe just for 4 days but even so. Will look on Haven and Butlins too though.

ds is almost 20 months

we went here

Oh very similar to my DD. She's nearly 17months. Just been on Haven website and it looks good but bit pricier than Pontins. There are ones which are not too far from me though. Where do you live? I'm in Oxford.

Oh that looks gorgeous! Wish I could take DD abroad but it just would not be worth the stress while she is so young as her condition is rare and I've had problems enough with doctors in a and e here not listening to me about emergency treatment so I'd be terrified abroad. When she's older I look forward to doing that though. Also at least when she can talk it'll be more like being on holiday WITH her iyswim. Not that she isn't great company lol

not too far away then - we're in the west midlands. pontins is for 4 nights

what is her condition?

Wow that is a good deal, does it say when the holiday has to be taken? Can't put her condition on here as it'd identify me too much and I get paranoid about her Dad coming on or something and reading what I say about him! But it affects her ability to deal with illness or injury so we have to be in hospital fairly often. I feel safer not being too far from home as I know I could always ring her consultant for advice and get home if needs be etc.

i'm not sure what dates. i presume you'd have to ring and ask what dates are available at the different parks.

I'd definately be interested in something like that anyway it looks very good. Am going to have to go to bed I was exhausted this morning after being on here too late last night. Will be back on tomorrow though and will look at the pontins thing properly.

what is the price etc for that pontins thing, my computer is reufusing to open it.

someone else couldn't open it earlier. it is £60 for 4 nights. some people i know asked if there was any chance there were any club apartments for that and got them!!

damn i like the sound of that!! would have rather go for a week but itll cost 3 times as much as that. Thinking about it i think 4 mights for my first holiday with ds will be plenty. Im just hoping theres a train station near 1 so i can go, or ask my dad very very nicely to take us.