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Lone parents

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Original poster

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

80 replies

used2bthin · 19/02/2008 21:55

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?

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nappyaddict · 20/02/2008 23:25

you could always book 2 lots of 4 night breaks on top of one another iyswim.

shelleylou · 20/02/2008 23:28

ye i could, would have to hope that they would do it at the same price lol. I must sound really cheap, want to treat us but dont want to be scrimping n scraping afterwards.

nappyaddict · 20/02/2008 23:41

don't be daft! you could always ring up separately and use a diff address if you think they might not let you book 2 on top of one another. i've done it with sun holidays without a prob before though.

shelleylou · 20/02/2008 23:46

ye use mums address lol, well its only round the corner so the booking confirmation wouldnt b hard to collect. Mum n dad were gunna send us away wiv my 2 bros but they couldnt get the caravan so it fell through. Really not bothered were we go as long as its somewhere and it doesnt cost a fortune

Creole · 21/02/2008 11:17

Just got back (yesterday) from a holiday to disneyland paris with my boy. It was truely a magical and fantastic time. it was a 2nts and 3 full days at the park, which was just enough, as after 3 days (in my opinion) it gets a bit too much.
I spent roughly £550 for everything, this includes food, trip to the eiffel tower and gifts.
Booked through shortbreaks.

nappyaddict · 21/02/2008 11:21

ah how old is he? i am thinking of taking ds but think he is too young atm.

Creole · 21/02/2008 15:05

He will be 7 at the end of the month.

There were lots of kids a lot younger than my Ds. The thing with disneyland is, there is something for everyone regardless of age - there were a lot of oldies as well as some without kids.

dawnie1979 · 24/02/2008 08:32

Hi All
been reading for a while but not yet posted

I would be up for a pontin break organised days out too.

My kids are 2 Kieran & 1 Aimee

I am in Chelmsford whereabouts is everyone?

I am also a big fan of Eurodisney bought an annual pass which save loads Iget hotels for about £50 a night and use my tesco vouchers for the train

Looking forward to getting to know you all better

Dawn

gillybean2 · 25/02/2008 18:22

This offer is ending tonight at midnight. Pretty good prices for Centre Parcs, and if you can find someone to share with it is a very good deal!

www.centerparcs.co.uk/prices_booking/specialoffers/jan08ef.jsp

Hi Dawn, I work in Chelmsford but I live right out on the coast, very rural spot. My son is a bit older than your children, being 9. I don't know if there is a lone parent group in Chelmsford you could join, but there is one which meets in Maldon which I am a member of. We meet once a month at Madison Heights. We have lots of members with toddler aged children.

Gilly

dawnie1979 · 26/02/2008 21:48

HI Gilly

The only one that I can find has stopped due to lack of help.
Would love to join you how do I go about finding out more

Thanks

Dawn

gillybean2 · 27/02/2008 00:08

Hi Dawn

Well I saw a sign about it at Madison Heights, asked the staff about it, and simply along to their next meeting. Try phoning Madison Heights, ask for the monkey puzzle and they can give you the info of the next meeting. I don't want to post the mobile number of the lady who runs it on here without checking with her first if it would be ok to do so. Is there anyway to contact people individually on here? Sorry not been a mumsnet member for very long and still learning how it works. Only discovered you can set up a profile with pictures and things a couple of days ago!

dawnie1979 · 28/02/2008 21:02

I dont know about messagingthink I have found it on the 29/2

dawn _ simpson @ lineone .net

chickenmama · 28/02/2008 22:11

Thought I'd say hi to Dawn as I'm also in Chelmsford and have a dd who's almost 2... I'd be interested in single parent groups or holidays if any are arranged.

I only managed to get to one of the lone parent meets before it stopped. Where else do you take your little ones? Wouldn't be surprised if we go to the same places!

gillybean2 · 29/02/2008 00:12

Wow, what a small world we live in. Perhaps we should all meet up or something. Next lone parent meeting in Maldon is tomorrow, but it's not going to be a chat one so i'd say wait till the next one. We're also all heading off as a group for a week in Norfolk soon, I think it's Pontins but I didn't organise it and we're not getting the details till tomorrow. Don't know if there's any challets left at the holiday camp, but there will definitely be a whole lot of single parents and children there that week. So if you wanted to go on hol somewhere and hope to meet other single parents that would be a good place to go!

maltesers · 05/03/2008 17:25

have not read this thread but it sounds lke a great idea to me ... i am single and have a 7 yr old ds......(plus 2 older teenagers but they are away and doing their own thing) it would be nice to chat and organise a single mums/dads weekend away or holiday.

dawnie1979 · 07/03/2008 13:43

Hi

Chickenmama whereabouts are you I am on the Tile Kiln estate would be great to meet up especially as the kids are so close in age.

I use my tesco vouchers for days out got an annual tussards pass and get days out vouchers, The place I enjoy the most on an ok day weather wise is Paradise park.

And I bought an Annual pass for Kidspace Romford with there Christmas money.

I moved up to Chelmsford in June last year and still feel abit lost

gillybean2 · 07/03/2008 14:00

Dawn please come to the Lone Parent group in Maldon. Lindsay said she emailed you the details. Don't be afraid to just turn up, i did (was nervous not knowing anyone), but it's been the best thing i did in ages. So many people i can now turn too who know exactly how it is being a single parent, and social things for he children and me to do.

Hope to see you at the next Madison Heights Meeting (last friday of the month) or the Quiz Night on the 15th

Maybe ChickenMama will come along too!?

Gilly

Paddlechick666 · 07/03/2008 15:05

hi, i'm looking for courage inspiration to take dd (2.4) on holiday this year.

i nearly booked something for may in s. france which was uber cheap but i chickened out!

single with kids looks good. i love camping and the destinations are old favourites of mine.

unfortunately i no longer have any camping equipment

have a friend with a static van on a holiday park but am still a bit apprehensive about a week solo!

gillybean2 · 07/03/2008 23:33

Paddlechick go for it. I took my son to New Zealand when he was 3, it wasn't half as bad as i thought, just needed planning and forward thinking and things to keep him entertained. So if i can take a 3yr old half way round the world and back then france is certainly doable for you imo...

It'll be great, just go for it.

Paddlechick666 · 08/03/2008 08:25

hi gilly, wow that's a brave thing to do.

it's not so much the journey tbh but the actualy being away for a week just the two of us!

my best friends emigrated to NZ this week and we are planning to go over end of next year. dd will be 4 then so i'm sure it'll be a bit easier at that age anyway.

i guess it's just doing it the first time, after that it'll be so much easier.

JustJanie · 09/03/2008 22:48

Hi,
I joined the www.singlewithkids.co.uk site after spotting it in Gingerbread and I've already been on one day trip with them and am booked for an Easter break. The day trip was great, the girl that coordinates it is really friendly and everyone got on really well.

I tried a Mango trip last year and although the owners are lovely, it was very expensive for what it was - it cost us nearly 500 for 4 days in what was little more than a hostel . I costed it out myself afterwards and it would have been so much cheaper if we'd done it ourselves. I think singlewithkids are quite a bit cheaper but I'll let you know after my first weekend with them.

Unfortunately there are few other companies that specialise in well priced single parent holidays - although Butlins etc have great deals it's really down to the individuals to get their own group together...

chickenmama · 20/03/2008 20:33

Hi Dawn, sorry for being so slow to reply! I'm Broomfield side of town. Did you go to the Lone Parents meet Gilly mentioned? Would be good to meet up I've been in Chelmsford for a long time now but don't know enough single parents

chickenmama · 20/03/2008 22:34

I just found this day out on the www.singlewithkids.co.uk website

The Gruffalo interactive storytelling Sunday 30 March in Stratford.

I'm thinking of going, thought others might be interested

gillybean2 · 21/03/2008 08:47

Hi ChickenMama,

Dawn did come along to a quiz night to meet a couple of us and I believe she is coming to the next club night at monkey puzzle with her children too. You should join us too!

Gilly

Paddlechick666 · 21/03/2008 10:25

hi chickenmama, are you using same nick on singlewithkids? i am so you should be able to find me fairly easily lol.

i'd like to do the gruffalo thing but i've already got something in the diary for 30th march.

i've signed up for the france trip next year already

am also going to go to the MK meet next saturday.