Single Parent Holiday ideas?

[pinkmamma]

Hi there, have recently split with my partner and am in need of a break! I would like to go somewhere abroad, possibly Sardinia with my DS who will turn 3 in June. Any suggestions would be great please. Budget - well the cheaper the better! Thanks

Are we definetely going abroad then? I havn't been on a plane since I was 6 and never on my own with kids. Am starting to panic now!! In fact I've never been on a plane holiday abroad except to morrocco when I was six.

Janna you'll be fine and kids il love it! il hold ur hand!! he he

Janna, you'll be fine. If you really don't want to go abroad then I'm sure we could arrange something in the UK as nobody else seems to have a strong preference.

I've never taken dd abroad yet (or even to the sea side) so where ever we go it will be novelty for her!

If we go fairly early on it won't be too hot; if you're worried about burning don't! both dd and me are very fair skinned so I always just smother her in sun block

I looked at skytours online which is where I got the rough figure of £400 from.

awww bless you both lol. I think I'd be ok if we met some of you at the airport and travelled with you. My nearest airport is Manchester. 400 pounds or thereabouts sounds quite reasonable. going earlier does sound better, less chance of burning and won't get the crowds.
I haven't got a clue on how all this works. I'm so backward lol

Janna if you're really worried about the flight could go to Butlins or Centerparcs, just be nice to get away!

If there were 4 adults and we decided on Centreparcs we could get two villas with 2 adults sharing each.

Would cost about £200-£250 each for a top of the range villa I think (If we were sharing)

I've never been to CentreParcs so wouldn't mind doing that if everyone else wants to - however as I said before if we are going in the UK would prefer when the whether is warmer

Manchester airport is quite far from me but I can get to Birmingham airport if that helps?!?

i just looked at Thomson skytours website.
www.thomsonbeach.co.uk/th/beach/initiateAvailabilitySearch.do

Are we thinking of self catering, full or half board?

centre parcs sounds quite good actually. Like that idea. Don't mind at all whether we go selfcatering full or half board

Shall I try and put together a lilst of 5 or 6 holiday suggestions with a price then we'll have some idea of what we might get for what sort of price.

I think if we went abroad it might be good to go b&b or hb. Depends on value for money I suppose - I'd rather not go sc (unless it's CP) as I want to feel like I've had a holiday

Thats a really good idea. At least if theres a list of choices then everyone will have more an idea of what they want to do. I have to come to a decision I think. I'm not fussed about going abroad so I probably won't come if you do decide to go. But if the rest of you decide to go abroad then thats fine honestly.. there's always next time . But I will definetly come if you stay in this country. Sorry to be awkward

Well I don't mind this country - just would be nice to have a break. We could look into CenterParcs, Haven, Butlins etc I've never been to any of those!!

Although I've just looked on the CenterParcs website and to go there in July for 4 days costs the same as going abroad.

I will try tonight o put together some different ideas and post them. I will just go with majority vote as I just want a little break

Great thanks villageidiot!

Good girl, look forward to seeing them!

Hi girls!

I was looking at the Centerparcs website, looks quite nice, they have activities for the under 5's too which looks fun. They charge by the accommodation rather than person too.

Hi - sorry just a quick visit. I'm real sick, will come back tomorrow if I feel better. Just didn;t want you guys to think that I had done a bunk after offering to look for some stuff.

I looked at Center Parcs yesterday, I think you cn get a real nice appartment with towels etc for about £650 in July. If there were 4 adults you could have 2 adults in each apartment and half the cost. Just a thought. sloping back to my pit now to wallow in self pity

aah you poor thing! hope you feel better soon.

bye for now, get some rest if you can!

Hi Everyone

I am a lone parent and I have been travelling abroad on my own since my dd was 3 months old. We have been to Gran Caneria, Turkey, Fuertaventura, Sardinia, Carcasonne, Majorca twice. It isnt that difficult - honest. When I went to Sardinia I booked flights with Ryanair for £60 each and I went with another lone parent on that occaision and we halfed the cost of the hotel accommodation it cost us about £300 for eight nights for both of us.

I am thinking of going away in June. I have normally booked by now as easyjet flights get more expensive as it nears the date of departure. I have always booked flight and accommodation separately apart from once when I went on a package but it works out more expensive as they base the holiday on two adults sharing so you have to double the adult price - no concesssions for children. Last year I went to Majorca and stayed in a Sol hotel which had childcare (kids club). I paid £152 for flights and about £500 for accommodation half board for two weeks.

My daughter is now 4... I would be interested in going away but I would prefer abroad.

Hi Chloemummy,

Sounds like your daughters been around a bit!!
I'd prefer to take my son abroad too, mite be nice to go for a week at butlins or something too thou depending how much cost is. I was looking at the Thomson Skytours website as it says free child places but when i read it , it said have to be sharing with 2 adults! what a bummer! well i think thats 4 adults interested now, how many children is it, im not too sure?

Hi honeypot

Yes Thomson Skytours say they do deals for lone parents but they dont. When you look into the small print you will find that they only do the deals on the most expensive hotels..... They give you a slight child discount but then they charge you a single room supplement!!! It does not work out cheap it works out expensive. If you go with the major tour operators you will find you will have to pay two adult prices (even for a 2 year old)!!! It is very unfair!!! I have paid as much to go away as two adults and one child to travel with Chloe.... The only way round it I have found it that you book independantly. I am going to surf the net today to find some cheap flights from somewhere as in the past I have found the longer you leave it the more expensive it becomes.

Not sure about Butlins. Have friends that have really enjoyed it but I need to get some sun!!! Unfortunately you cant guarantee the weather. I have to take leave in September as Chloe goes to school so I think I only ahve about one week left.

I see Small Families have been mentioned. I lookeed into this and I think if you are afraid of travelling on your own with kids then it is fine... You pay premium prices though I find their prices expensive..... I suppose my background is that I have been an air hostess and I have travelled to many countries on my own prior to Chloe so nothing much fazes me..

Anyway if you are interested let me know. My email is [email protected]

Hope we get something organised. It would be nice to hook up and go away with another lone parent.

Chloemummy

You say that its cheaper if you book flights and accommodation seperately. dO YOU USUALLY STAY IN VILLA OR HETEL? i'm not driving yet, learning at mo so want somewhere thats pretty easy to get around, not miles away from everything! Going to go travel agents this morning to get some brochures to see what i come up with, not really that good at booking hols, its usually everyone else who organises mine, i just pay and go! theres so many diff companies and small print its mind boggling!

Honeypot

Just been on easyjet.... I was thinking of going 4or 5 June for 9 or ten days. Flights are approx £230 for two.... I usually stay in the Mirlos Tordos which is a half board hotel in Palma Nova. Iget taxi from airport to hotel. Hotel is half board and has holiday club and for those dates the hotel is about 52 euros a night plus 7% tax.... The hotel has a childrens club and hotel entertainment. Usually just go to childrens playgrounds, has a water park nearby and zoo... Chloe loves the beach which is beautiful.... Let me know what you find at travel agent mob is 07980 571405 if you want to send message. Have not got internet at home and only work wed-fri so willnt be able to log in til next wed.

The other place I fancy going to is Barcelona. I have heard it has a nice beach, but also things to go and see. The architecture is very beautiful.... Anyone been there with children... I think there is quite a lot to do and the flights on easyjet seem quite reasonable.

Have you got the brochures. Seen anything you fancy? Travelcitydirect are another cheap package to majorca.... You still have to pay two adult prices though...

chloemummy

Im off out now, il either email you or text you later if find anything. u there till 5?

yes til 5

alright!

i got a few brochures, from what im thinking if you go Butlins or alike for a wk , costs the same if u go abroad. Then all the abroad brochures are based on 2 adults sharing. Not too sure what im looking for, they're all different how they price the free child place etc! Chlowmummy u seem to know what your doing, can u help, im not really good at finding whats best? is it better if you stay in villa or hotel?

Depends, I have stayed in both... You can probably get something cheaper if we all shared an appartment but there again you have never met me... I did that when I went to Sardinia and we booked a two bed appartment. The hotel in Majorca I go to is half board... This means you dont have to worry about finding food etc but there again you cant cook either.. If you are travelling on your own you cant usually get any free child places unless two adults travel... If we went for somehting like that we would all end up sharing a room... dont know if that helps.. perhaps we should arrange to meet.. I am going to book in the next couple of weeks.