single parent hols help

scoobydo_2

Hi I have become a single parent now thanks to a divorce and i wana take my kids on holiday .The problems are I don't drive and my kids are 14 and 12 and I seem to just get charged full price . I would like some help in finding a reasonably priced holiday I don't mind if its not in the school hols .I am worried about being on my own like a billy no mates but the truth is I don't have friends i could go away with .

Scarlett1

have you thought about the sun £9.50 holidays ?? :j

I think you might have missed it this time round as the last token to collect was today, but it might be worth a thought for the future :beer: Im sure you can get a discount for national express aswell which is good if you dont drive :T

ritac1

Dont worry, it could be worse. You could be like me and be a single parent with 4 kids.

ages 18, 17 and twins 11 years.

I have to pay for 3 adults and 2 kids and try getting a holiday for 5 rather than the apparently 'normal' family of 4 !!! It's a nightmare which costs a fortune.

No mates? With 2 young kids who has time to entertain friends as well? I am sure you will have a great time whatever you do. Just remember it is your holiday as well as the kids. Put your feet up and learn to say no when you need to.

Have Fun

loopy_lass

im a billy as well... just one 15 yr old daughter who looks around 18... chest especially! so i worry about going anywhere with her as she attracts a lot of er ... unwanted attention.. (JEALOUS I AM ;-))

Although im not a lover of holidaying in UK due to silly prices and crap weather. Its certainly an option. It irritates me that for a cabin at centre parcs etx you could have a basic week in spain...


will be watchin this thread with interest.

Suggs

loopy_lass wrote:

(JEALOUS I AM ;-))

mmm....A jedi are you? :rotfl: :rotfl:


Seriously, I have three children and was divorced nearly three years ago. Though there spend weekends with me. I have taken them to....

Majorca - Big all inclusive hotel in Alcudia, very nice, lots to do, but too big and bust.

Turkey - Small apartments in Iclemer, much better, nice people, good company

Salou - Small hotel, went for Port Adventura and loved it.

Canada - Toronto, wanted something different. CNtower, Niagara Falls

Big plus was having time with the children, getting to know them more and deciding as a group what to do.

I always worry about other people and been a 'Billy no mates' and sometimes it does hit home, I have even had the "your so brave" comment!! But in the main we went to have fun.

Dont let the lack of car be a deciding factor, car parking at some airports are so bad and dear that is can be as cheap to get a train or taxi.

With the Easyjets and Ryanairs of this world around going to Spain and Europe is as cheap as staying in the UK, and you get good weather as well :T

Hope this helps.

Jaxt

A few years ago some friends and I went to the Haven site of Primrose Valley through an organisation called Help which is for single parents.HELP Holidays - Holiday Endeavour for Lone Parents. 57 Owston Road Carcroft Doncaster South Yorkshire DN6 8DA Tel: 01302 728 791 You will be among other people the in same situation as yourself and there is lots to do at this site.I think there may be other sites to holiday in also.

black-saturn

Hi from another single parent.

Butlins do a weekend which is just for lone parents. It's the same price as all their other holidays but you can be confident you wont be the only one there who's not part of a happy couple.

I've been on lots of UK holidays with my children aged 11 and 8 and always had a wonderful time. We go on days out and go to the clubroom in the evening until about 10.30pm. When the children are in bed I get out a bottle of something and relax watching TV.

MOLLYBRUSH

I am also a single Mum but while they were at their Dad's for the week-end I met up with a load of people off this site for a mad week-end away in the Yorkshire Dales. It was really great and so glad I went, so if anyone fancies getting together some time with kids, then I would be happy to do so. My kids bit younger though, 5 and 8.

lancsman_2

I'm a single parent to one daughter. So far we have done Florida, Barcelona Butlins ( Hated that !!) and Eurodisney.

I tend to book everything independently rather than package holidays. The holiday companies really sting you if your'e not careful. You have to pay two adult prices then a single supplement on top for under-adult occupancy.

Also a good idea to join the various single parent forums, sometimes they have various people who share holidays, days out etc.

D

discodiva_2

scoobydo wrote:

Hi I have become a single parent now thanks to a divorce and i wana take my kids on holiday .The problems are I don't drive and my kids are 14 and 12 and I seem to just get charged full price . I would like some help in finding a reasonably priced holiday I don't mind if its not in the school hols .I am worried about being on my own like a billy no mates but the truth is I don't have friends i could go away with .

I'm also a single parent with a 7 year old daughter.We often go on holiday alone , if my friend and her son can't make it,and have been doing so since she was a few months old.I have never found a cheap way to do this and if it is just the two of us then I have always paid full adult price for her. Although I think that in your case having 2 children I think that you should qualify for 1 free child the other child will pay adult.On the bright side I have been looking the past few days for our summer holiday and I have found at the moment Going Places are coming in by far the cheapest it does pay to shop around.
There's no need to feel like a billy no mates as you will be surprised by how many women holiday just with their children.For the same reason as ourselves or because their husbands are working.
I love travelling and spent the best part of my single days working on cruise ships,so I'm not gonna let anything stop me.
My daughter and I have a great time whether we are on our own or with family/friends.Have loads of quality time together.
Once you are there you will wonder what you were worried about.
So book one and have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Prudent

I am a single parent and just love going away - but have to do it on a budget.

My first break as a single parent was on the Travelodge offers. At that time it was £5, rather than the £10 one, per room per night. We went to a local city. We used a cinema token I had one, visited free attractions and bought food from Tescos mainly using coupons. The whole three day break cost us around £20 including petrol! We had a lot of fun and it was an achievement for me.

Gradually as finances improved our breaks got better. We rented a lovely caravan on a site in Southern Scotland. This cost £160 per week in school holidays (just phoned about going back and now nearer £200).

We have been lucky enough to go to Cyprus once a year as my parents live there. It is a safe holiday with quiet driving and lots to do for a teenager. If I couldn't afford air fares, my parents helped.

This year I have moved to work in a school with unusual holidays and joy of joy can go in the off peak season. I have looked at a holiday (sc) in Majorca in May for just £355 for us both on a single parent deal. Read the independent reviews on the complex and they look good. This could be cheaper for other single parents - I live in Scotland and flights cost more. Off to book....