Single Parents and holidays!

mamasad

Another plea for help, I've been trying to get a break away from it all for me and my babes, aswell as booking us a nice holiday for next year but Ive hit a few problems.

We don't qualify for a free child place as there has to be a minimum of 3 inthe party and also as I'm on my own holiday companies all insist on an under-occupancy cost of another adult, so where as and 2 parent family with 1 child could have a free child place and just pay for the 2 adults, me, a single mum and daughter have to pay for 2 adults and 1 child!!! Why do they hit the people that can't afford it??

Does anyone know any companies that don't charge these supplements or would allow me to have a free child, anything to get it cheaper. I found one company that advertise that they specialise in Single Parent holidays, but when it was added up it was more expensive than paying for a family of 4!!

Becles

You can pay for one child at adults prices to get the second child free.

Or sometimes it's cheaper to pay for 3 adults, then you don't get hammered on the under occupancy charges.

I've travelled with my children and had them pay the adult fare to save money!

littlejaffa

Where are you going & waht type of holiday / budget are you looking at?

Alot of self catering holidays charge per unit - you could save money that way, anything from wigwams in scotland (GREAT fun with kids) to appartments in Las Vegas depending on budget.

Also hotels that charge per room, not per occupant - travellodge being one.

supermum4

Hi mamasad cosmos do single parent holidays, you get the same child discounts as two adults would, but only at some hotels and apartments. check their brochure these hotels are clearly marked they have a special number to ring for the single parent offer uyou can even get a free child if available. hope this helps

mamasad

thanks everyone mam

diamond57

Also, look at booking hotel and transport separately. I am taking dd to Disneyland Paris by Eurostar for about half the price it would be to book it through a brochure by booking things separately on line. Also, dh and me are going away next weekend - 3 nights AI near Barcelona total under £300, including transfers & flights, a lot of places wanted more than that per person due to booking late (only last week).

Have you any friends with similar aged children? Even if a couple, they may not want to go away with other half and you could share accommodation (say a two or three bedroom place between you).

budgetflyer

These single parent deals are just marketing ploys. They end up extracting roughly the same money out of you give or take a tenner as if you book all adults,unless you book out of season at a hotel they struggle to sell.
And as already mentioned in free BMI flights thread- out of season you can pick up flights for £40 rtn.anyway.
A deal I ve just got
To Murcia Oct school week
Flights £42 TOTAL each= £168
Apt (sleeps up to 4) £110 (Although well probably take 2 for extra comfort)
Car hire £110
So a family of 4 could be away for £388
Now ask your travel agents for a price with their "free Child places"

lancsman_2

I book everything independently and only go for hotes on a pay per room basis not pay per person. Can't stand companies who rip you off with under occupancy when you are paying 2 adult prices because one is not an adult !!

Dave

Ali-OK

Yep, I'm afraid I know this scenario all too well. Get charged adult for DS, then under-occupancy as well.

There are a few sites on the net that are purely for single parent holidays and if you're a member of Gingerbread, there's often a further discount. Always in a large group of other single parents and means other adults around and plenty of kids to meet with and play with. They have activities/day trips for during the holiday too. Downside is choice of dates and places to go.

Try https://www.singleparentsonholiday.co.uk or https://www.smallfamilies.co.uk - there are others around too.

astonsmummy

I'm finding the same problem. its a nighmare!
i want to take spud away next year i have been quoted £450 for a week in majorca for both of us which i think is quite a good price seeing as i have almost a year to pay it off. that was through a travel agent. thomson i think.
i wouldnt have a clue how to book everything seperate, also i want somewhere that is VERY child friendly.
peurto pollensa i think the place is through jmc it has the single parent offer.
if anyone else has any other good suggestions, would love to hear them!

budgetflyer

astonsmummy wrote:

i wouldnt have a clue how to book everything seperate!

Well as its for next year you have plenty time to learn;)

Even if you dont want to do it all yourself, even find cheap flights and one of the travel agents on here will sort out accom,transfers etc and wrap it all up in an ATOL bonding for you.(Personally I dont care much about ATOL or ABTA but some people prefer this reassurance)
That way YOU are totally in control of where you go.