By eight o’clock on a family holiday, the children may have spent six hours in the pool, eaten an alarming amount of ice cream, and announced that they’re not tired. Ten minutes after getting back to the room, one is asleep with a book still open. The other wants water, the wrong pillow, and a final account of tomorrow’s plans. Then, at last, the suitcase is shut and the evening becomes quiet.
For parents travelling alone, what happens next can often depend on the accommodation and the type of holiday booked. A hotel room shared with two small children leaves limited space once the lights are off. A group holiday offers company for single parents and children after dinner without the need to immediately return to the room. An apartment with a separate living area offers somewhere to sit, read or have supper without disturbing anyone. All these arrangements can work, although it’s worth thinking about those hours before booking the holiday.
Think About Bedtime When You Book
Family-friendly hotels advertise pools, children’s clubs, and beach access, but the layout of the room deserves just as much attention. Check whether your accommodation has a fridge or minibar, a separate sleeping space for the children, where the bathroom is and whether there’s somewhere to sit once the children are in bed. A balcony or terrace can be perfectly sufficient to enjoy your book and a drink after the kids have gone to bed but make sure to request a quiet room if you don’t want to be disturbed by noise carried from the entertainment area. Photographs don’t show such details, but guest reviews can be helpful.
Self-catering apartments have their own advantages. A fridge keeps breakfast food and cold drinks handy, and a kitchen makes it possible to eat earlier with the children and have something later yourself. In Cyprus, for example, an apartment supper could mean fresh bread, tomatoes, Halloumi, and olives picked up on the way back from the beach. If you fancy a drink or have reason to celebrate during your trip, you can order from Punin Wine’s champagne collection, a local merchant selling different styles and standard and half-bottle sizes perfect for one.
The Dinner Question After a Long Day
Dinner out with tired children can last twenty minutes or an exhausting two hours. On single parent beach holidays, eating early is often easier, especially after a light lunch or lunch on the go. Many families settle into a pattern of an early meal, a walk home from the restaurant, and back in the room for showers and bedtime.
A nearby supermarket helps enormously on apartment holidays. Cheese, fruit, bread, and something ready to heat are sufficient for a late supper. In Greece, that might mean salad and warm pita; in Italy, mozzarella, tomatoes, and Focaccia. Everything can be prepared quickly and easily before the children’s bedtime.
Hotels offer other options. Dinner at the hotel restaurant means no preparation or washing up, and no long walk home from the restaurant. Some hotels have evening entertainment for children and families, so parents and children can enjoy a leisurely evening together before heading back to the room.
Keep the Evening Within Reach
Parents travelling solo with kids need to plan around where their children are sleeping. Leaving young children alone in a hotel room to go for drinks, dinner or a swim is unsafe, even if the bar is close by or a baby monitor seems to have a reliable signal. The UK government’s guidance on leaving children alone explains that babies, toddlers, and very young children should never be left unsupervised, and that a child must not be left alone, where doing so puts them at risk.
A patio or terrace attached directly to the accommodation can provide a change of scenery while allowing a parent to remain present and attentive, provided the layout is genuinely safe. Separate buildings, distant pool bars, and shared gardens out of sight are a different matter. If an evening out is part of the holiday plans, ask the hotel in advance about available babysitting services and the ages accepted by its childcare service.
A Few Things Worth Packing for Quiet Evenings
After several busy days, the prospect of another evening activity can seem exhausting after a long day out or on the beach. Download a few movies, audiobooks, or podcast episodes before travelling to avoid unreliable hotel Wi-Fi. Headphones are also very useful in a shared room when you can’t agree on the same movie or audiobook. Here is what to pack for stress free single parent holidays to ensure quiet evenings:
- headphones for every family member
- a small reading light or Kindle that won’t illuminate the children’s beds
- a deck of cards or compact travel game for older children before bedtime
- a refillable water bottle and a few snacks for late arrivals
- a notebook to prepare next day’s plans
Your children’s age will determine what works best for you. Toddlers may want a familiar bedtime book, while teenagers might prefer to read or message friends. Their usual night-light can help younger children settle in an unfamiliar room.
Holiday evenings are also a good time to sort through the photographs taken during the day while you still remember where everyone was.
Hotels, Apartments and Group Holidays
Different kinds of accommodation offer very different evenings for parents travelling alone. Hotels make meals and cleaning straightforward but sometimes leave little privacy after bedtime. Apartments allow more control over food and sleeping arrangements, although shopping and washing up become part of the trip and often leaves single parents as exhausted as they would be at home. A hosted group holiday may include scheduled dinners and evening activities, with opportunities to speak to other parents while the children are keeping each other entertained.
| Where you’re staying | Useful evening feature | What to check before booking |
| Standard hotel room | Meals available on site | Noise, sleeping layout, kids club and babysitting hours |
| Family suite | Separate sleeping and sitting space | Whether the rooms have an internal connection |
| Self-catering apartment | Kitchen and living area | Childproofing, terrace safety, nearby shops |
| Hosted family group holiday | Shared meals and activities | Dinner arrangements, activities available, and ages of the other children |
Group holidays can be sociable when children make friends during the day, and parents can chat over and after dinner. There is also the added benefit that parents can watch each other’s little ones for brief periods.
When There’s a Chance for an Adult Evening Out
An evening out without kids is only possible with dependable childcare. Some resorts offer babysitting for a charge, and group holidays will facilitate adult time together whilst keeping an eye on the kids. Check policies, emergency procedures, and contact arrangements in advance. Parents should be able to return promptly if needed.
If a sitter is unavailable, evenings will take place at the accommodation. There’s time for a shower, supper, reading or a call to a friend. Anyone having alcohol while solely responsible for children must remain able to handle nighttime illness or an emergency.
Wrapping Things Up
Some nights the children settle early. Other nights they’re searching for a lost toy or complaining about mosquito bites. A flexible morning schedule helps after a broken night’s sleep. Most children don’t take long to adjust to a new routine, but familiarity helps. So, don’t forget those travel essentials that will make your kids feel at home, such as their favourite cuddly toys, blankets, or bedtime stories to ensure quiet and relaxed holiday evenings.
