Free child places - single parent

aaroncaz

zagfles wrote: »

In my experience free child places on packages are never actually free, because you get stung by underoccupancy changes which you can't avoid. Try sorting out your flights and hotel separately - you might get a better deal.

I agree, am going abroad on my 3rd hol soon with son and have had to pay adult price for him.

laurel7172

The travel companies haven't had a penny of my money since one of them wanted to charge me adult price for a five year old, and also *full adult price plus single supplement* for a two year old.

Learn to love low cost airlines, and shop around for hotels. Simon Calder was on TV this week getting enthusiastic about the possibility of a family of four going one star for a week somewhere touristy for under £1000. My reaction was *how much?* If you want your son to see the world and experience other cultures, it's a lot easier to achieve with independent travel than with Thomas Cook et al. Good luck

balletshoes

If you are a lone parent traveller, I think it definitely pays to put your own package together. Source your own flights and hotel separately.

missminx

There is definitely money to be saved by booking the flights etc separately. BUT, do remember that you need to check exactly how it affects your insurance - flight delays can affect transfers / accommodation etc. There are advantages and disadvantages, and make absolutely sure you check the terms and conditions for each part you book. HTH

zagfles

missminx wrote: »

There is definitely money to be saved by booking the flights etc separately. BUT, do remember that you need to check exactly how it affects your insurance - flight delays can affect transfers / accommodation etc. There are advantages and disadvantages, and make absolutely sure you check the terms and conditions for each part you book. HTH

Quite often hotel bookings are cancellable at short notice, sometimes even on the day. I've just booked a small hotel in Germany for a night - at a very good price - no deposit, no CC required, and it's cancellable up till 1800 on the night booked!

miamoo

I have just recenently come across the cruise company PULLMANTUR, they are a spanish cruise line which offer very reduced rates for children upto 17, the cruise rates are cheap anyway approx £250 for a 5 night all inclusive mini cruise around the med, a child would travel for approx £140 and sometimes less. They also do longer cruises where the adult price goes up slightly but the child price remains at £140. The offer is for a single parent, aswell as a family.
I decided against the cruise myself as I thought it might be too spanish for us, and I might not have anyone to talk to. I would consider it in the future if there was a group of us going though. I know you didnt ask about cruises, but I thought it was worth considering