Planning a trip as a single parent? It’s a bit like trying to pack a family-sized tent into a weekend bag, isn’t it? You’re juggling everything alone, from figuring out where to go to making sure your little ones don’t get bored within the first hour. Without another adult to tag-team with, every decision falls squarely on your shoulders.
But here’s the thing. Those solo adventures with your kids? They’re actually gold mines of uninterrupted quality time. No competing schedules, no compromises on activities—just you and your children creating memories at your own pace. The secret? It’s all in how you approach it. If you have already read our best travel tips for single parents, you will enjoy our article on how to make travel as a single parent even easier:
Book a Holiday Designed for Single Parents
Let’s be honest—a holiday should feel like an actual break, not just parenting in a different postcode. Yet sometimes, planning every detail of your holiday feels as relaxing as doing the school run during rush hour.
Know what? It’s perfectly fine to let someone else handle the details! There are brilliant companies out there that specialise in holidays for people just like you. They offer holidays for widows and widowers, divorced parents, single foster carers, and solo parents who have gone it alone from day one. These companies will sort everything—from where you sleep to what you eat and do each day. You just show up and watch your kids make new friends while you get to finish a cup of tea while it’s still hot. Now that’s travel as a single parent made easy.
Pick a Hassle-Free Holiday Destination
Travel as a single parent becomes infinitely easier when you choose places that don’t create additional headaches, such as visas, blank pages in your passports, and other unnecessary paperwork.
Short flights are your friend. Trust me, three hours feels like plenty when you’re the only one handling snack requests, toilet trips, and entertainment. European spots, such as Spain—where the sun actually delivers on its promises—or Italy with its pizza bribes, make perfect sense. Some destinations naturally smooth out the bumps in the road with their family-friendly setups, such as these perfect places in the Mediterranean for a holiday with kids.
Look for places with playgrounds around every corner and museums where “please touch” signs outnumber the “don’t touch” ones. And honestly? Hotels with kids’ clubs deserve some kind of parenting medal. Nothing beats knowing your children are having the time of their lives while you finally get to read more than two pages of that book you’ve been carrying around since last summer.
Make Travel Days as Smooth as Possible
The journey itself—that’s where the real challenge begins, doesn’t it? When you’re juggling passports, boarding passes, and making sure your five-year-old doesn’t decide to make friends with random strangers three gates away, simplicity becomes your superpower. This is why you should take one suitcase on the plane. A single, easy-rolling case paired with a cross-body bag for essentials means you’ll still have a hand free for holding onto your child—or, more likely, carrying their suddenly “too heavy” backpack.
Pre-booking airport transfers feels like an unnecessary luxury until you’re standing in an unfamiliar airport at 11pm with an overtired child and no idea how to find a taxi. That pre-arranged driver holding your name on a sign? Worth every penny.
Never underestimate the power of new toys revealed at strategic moments during long waits. A small sticker book unveiled during a delay can seem almost magical in its ability to buy peace. But there are also many simple games you can play to keep the kids entertained that don’t cost a thing. Downloading movies and audiobooks on a fully charged device? Now, that’s just smart parenting.
Some airports now offer fast-track security for families—use it! Those extra few minutes saved could be the difference between a smooth start and a meltdown before you’ve even left the country.
Choose Accommodation That Works for You
Where you stay can make or break your holiday when you travel as a single parent. The right place becomes your sanctuary; the wrong one is another thing to manage. Choosing the right holiday accommodation is essential when you are travelling alone with kids.
Apartments or aparthotels give you breathing space and kitchen facilities—perfect for those evenings when going out for dinner feels like climbing Everest. Making simple meals or even just having somewhere to store snacks can save both money and sanity.
Additionally, places with communal dining, such as holiday villages, can be surprisingly liberating—your children get distracted by new friends while you actually finish a meal at a reasonable temperature.
Find Inspiration and Stay Motivated
On those days when everything feels harder because you’re doing it alone, remember why you’re making the effort. The confidence your children gain from these experiences is immeasurable, and the bonds you create will last a lifetime.
When you need a little boost, remember you’re not alone in this journey. Reading mum quotes from others who’ve walked this path can provide just the encouragement you need. These mum quotes often capture perfectly the mix of challenge and joy that comes with single parent adventures.
Make Time for Yourself
Even when you travel as a single parent, it’s possible to find small pockets of time for yourself. No one expects you to entertain the children all day and all night. Take advantage of kids clubs and babysitters. Recharging your batteries is not selfish but a necessity, especially when you are a single parent.
Joining group trips designed for single parents creates natural opportunities for shared childcare. While the kids play together, adults can take turns supervising, giving each other valuable breaks.
Enjoy the Journey
Yes, travelling as the only adult in your party means you shoulder all the responsibility. But it also means freedom to follow your own family’s rhythm. No negotiating bedtimes or activities with another adult. No compromising on what you most want to see or do when you travel as a single parent. The world is waiting, and you’re more than capable of exploring it, one family adventure at a time.
