Discover Montenegro with your kids and teens.

Are you looking for a new beach holiday destination to explore with your kids? Maybe you fancy something more off the beaten track than Greece and the Canaries, yet still safe and child-friendly? If you don’t want to compromise on quality accommodation and stunning sights, then look no further than single parent holidays in Montenegro, which offer all that and more.

Montenegro (the “Black Mountain”) boasts a stunning, mountainous landscape on the Balkan Peninsula in south-eastern Europe. Bordering Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia, this small Adriatic country is gradually evolving from an insider tip into a sought-after summer destination – and not without good reason: The Montenegrin coastline is amongst the most spectacular in Europe, the sea here is crystal clear, and the whole country is bathed in the scent of wild herbs and Mediterranean flowers throughout the summer months.

We think Montenegro is the perfect single parent holiday destination – and here are a few reasons why:

Montenegro’s stunning beaches and breath-taking countryside

Located on the Adriatic Sea, Montenegro has stunningly varied countryside, including 72 km of great beaches, ruggedly majestic mountains further inland, well-kept national parks and impressive rivers and canyons. The country has an enviable mix of pebbly and sandy beaches along the coast, while the Adriatic Sea is beautifully clear and never drops below a bathtub-like temperature of 25 degrees over the summer. Montenegro also offers a vast array of different options when it comes to family activities, ranging from swimming in rivers to kayaking, hiking and water sports. If you are planning a holiday with teenagers, they will be spoilt for choice in Montenegro!

Montenegro’s medieval coastal towns

Montenegro’s coastline is famous not just for its lovely beaches but also for its wonderful medieval towns. Kotor, Budva and Ulcinj are regularly listed amongst the top places to visit in Montenegro and he:

Kotor, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, located at the end of the Bay of Boka Kotorska, is one of the oldest towns in Montenegro and famous for its impressive 5 km long city walls leading to the 16th-century fortress of San Giovanni on the top of a rocky hill. The old town boasts a mixture of Venetian palaces, museums, churches and narrow cobble stoned streets and squares with a great choice of restaurants and cafés, where you can treat your kids to some of the best ice cream in the world – or so we heard.

Budva is one of the most visited places in Montenegro and for a reason. The old town is situated on a picturesque peninsula surrounded by medieval walls with a fortress, towers and gates. It looks like a film set and with its many red-roofed buildings, stone walls and hidden squares is a highlight of any family holiday in Montenegro.

The old town of Ulcinj is located on a peninsula and has countless ancient ruins, most famously a 2,500 years old citadel-fortress (“Kalaja”), which some say resembles a stranded ship. The town was a pirate haven for 400 years, starting in the 15th century with plundering of raided ships and later capturing of Italians and Dalmatian slaves who were only released against a ransom from their families. Little visitors will be fascinated by this part of Montenegro’s history.

Child-friendly Montenegro

Montenegro is an exceedingly safe country with a low crime rate, making it the perfect destination for single parent families with kids. Like their Italian neighbours, Montenegrins love children, and you can expect to enjoy respectful curiosity and offers of help from staff and strangers alike when you visit Montenegro. Restaurants and hotels here always pay special attention to children and cannot do enough to make their smallest guests feel happy on holiday. We found the “extra mile” elsewhere simply to be the standard here. The cuisine in Montenegro is fresh and healthy, while all-time kids’ favourites such as pizza and pasta are also easy to find wherever you go.

Montenegro’s national parks

Tiny Montenegro has not one but five world-renowned national parks: Lovcen, Durmitor, Biogradska gora, Lake Skadar and Prokletije. If you visit Montenegro and want to see its wild beauty, exploring one of Montenegro’s national parks is a must. With the Tara River Canyon cutting through it, Durmitor is probably the most popular of Montenegro’s national parks. Its breathtaking canyon is the deepest of its kind in Europe, and the park is worth a visit for that reason alone. There are white-water rafting tours on offer on the Tara River – a highlight for adrenaline junkies of all ages – as well as kayaking on the beautiful Lake Piva, jeep safaris, and hiking, walking or biking excursions through those amazing canyons.

Other things to do with kids in Montenegro

No holiday in Montenegro would ever be truly complete without going on a kayak tour or climbing one of the many brooding Balkan peaks:

Go on a family hike

Montenegro is not short of impressive mountains to climb. Although most children may not jump with joy when initially confronted with the idea of a hiking tour, they will love it once they get going. There are well-marked hiking routes everywhere you go, the peaks here are easy to climb, and the views often so spectacular that your kids will be happy they joined you on this family adventure. We recommend you take a local guide along. He can show you the best family routes taking in the region’s finest waterfalls and pools, which your kids will love jumping in and out of to freshen up from all that healthy exercise. And finally, don’t forget to grab a great lunch at one of the many mountain villages offering local specialities.

Get the kids kayaking or rafting

Montenegro offers kayaking and rafting options without equal. Sea kayaking here is the perfect way of exploring the country’s stunning coastline, with the Bay of Kotor one of the country’s top kayaking spots. The Bay is tidal, and actually resembles a fjord spreading inland from the Adriatic, opening up over 100 km of sheltered shoreline.

Imagine the kids’ delight when they spot fish under their kayak – or the occasional sea turtle or dolphins swimming alongside if you’re very lucky! With a wide range of kayaking tours available across the country, ranging from a single afternoon out at sea with a local kayak guide to tours lasting several days, no family holiday in Montenegro would be complete without it, and kids of all ages will absolutely love it.

With its amazing mix of Alpine and Adriatic backdrops, super-friendly locals, “affordable Italy” business model and wonderful climate, Montenegro is undoubtedly one of the best single parent family holiday destinations in Europe. There is something here for everyone – from beautiful beaches to majestic mountains, from adventure sports to leisurely strolls through pretty, historic towns. Just make sure to visit Montenegro whilst it’s still one of those off the beaten track destinations!

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About Single Parents on Holiday:

To find out more about our fully-organised single parent holidays in Montenegro and other destinations, check out Single Parents on Holiday’s summer programme.

And if you liked our post about Montenegro, here are a few others that you might enjoy:

• Single parent holiday ideas: visit Mykonos
• Single parent holiday ideas: family fun in Tenerife
• Holiday ideas for single parents: a UK road trip
• How to book cheap flights 

Last but not least, if don’t want to miss future posts, please subscribe to our Single Parent Travel Blog !

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Taking the kids away on your own is stressful but it can be done.

When you are a single parent, it can be somewhat of a challenge to find the money and also the time to organise a holiday with your children. This is especially the case if you have been used to taking those two weeks away with a partner and your children, and you are suddenly on your own. Yet, this is what some two million one parent families in the UK have to deal with.

For some single parent families a holiday abroad will be out of the question, purely from a financial point of view. There is also the fact that we are living with Covid-19 and nobody is going anywhere at all for a while. However, when the coronavirus crisis has passed, most parents will be in need of a well-deserved holiday later on in the year. So, here is how to best go about making your single parent holiday happen:

Start planning your single parent holiday now

For some single mums and dads a nice holiday may well be affordable, but there is a lot to consider when going it alone, as it were. If you have been suffering emotionally during the COVID-19 lockdown, or if you are simply exhausted from juggling the kids whilst working from home, a week’s break overseas may be exactly what you need. Yes, a holiday needs planning, and you won’t be able to go just yet, but preparing your trip and looking forward to it is as great an opportunity to bond with your children as going on your actual holiday is. So, start planning your solo family trip now and give yourself and the kids something wonderful to look forward to – even if the date of your family trips may still be up in the air.

Consider your holiday budget

Then there is the cost of taking a holiday as a single parent. Most lone parents understand why hotels and tour operators charge extra for single occupancy, but nonetheless it can make a number of hotels and villas simply unaffordable. Gingerbread, the charity that helps lone parents, state that single parent families face a disproportionate risk of poverty compared to two-parent families. Single parent statistics also show that single parent families earn, in fact, 27% less than other families, so budget is a factor to consider. Nevertheless, there are many ways of making it happen – from saving for your holiday to paying in instalments, from choosing a camping resort in the UK to treating yourself to a 5-star resort abroad. All you need to do is choose a realistic option for your current situation.

Be organised to pre-empt stress

Another factor to consider if you choose to go on holiday abroad, is stress: Being in another country with your children and keeping an eye on them all by yourself at all times, is exhausting. You have to be very organised if you want to go on holiday as a single parent and not come back worn out:

Spend time considering what to pack for your single parent holiday and start preparing early !  If you travel alone with children, you have to take out sufficient travel insurance, ensure that you carry the correct paperwork and haven’t forgotten any essentials or favourite toys that cannot be purchased upon arrival. If you fly solo with kids, you also need to take plenty of activities to keep them entertained during the flight, at the beach, in your accommodation and also during mealtimes if you are staying at a hotel. Consider accommodation that includes childcare, such as a hotel with kids club to ensure you get some well-earned rest yourself.

Consider a group holiday

If you have the budget and want to keep your stress levels to a minimum, why not book a group holiday with other single parent families? Single Parents on Holiday offer fully organised single parent holidays where every aspect of your trip has been planned and prepared in advance. A tour guide organises airport transfers and stays with the group throughout their holiday to ensure that parents have a hassle-free holiday, can relax and enjoy the company of the other single mums and dads. Everything runs smoothly, so that at the end of the week you can return home feeling refreshed, and with happy children by your side. You can choose between activity holidays, beach breaks, ski holidays, and farm stays.

Single parent holidays might be a challenge, but that is not to say, they are a challenge that cannot be mastered. With sufficient planning and a price that suits your budget, stress levels can be kept at bay and you and the kids can have a well-deserved solo family holiday.

About Single Parents on Holiday:

To find out more about Single Parents on Holiday, go to Single Parent Holidays Abroad or read our About Us page.

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Other popular posts from our Single Parent Blog:

• COVID-19: Practical Tips for Single Parents during Lockdown
• Top Tips on How to Survive Christmas as a Single Parent
• How to Book Cheap Flights
• Tips for Travelling with Kids Using Hand Luggage Only

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