Single-parent vacation travel tips from a mom: 10 things to do
Single-parent vacations can be challenging, but with some planning, they can be full of joy and adventure — Photo courtesy of Image Source / DigitalVision Via Getty Images
As a single mom of three who has always traveled with kids — my firstborn required a passport at 4 weeks old — I’ve learned a lot about how to get the most out of family travel. Traveling solo with children isn’t always fun for parents. At times, it can seem grueling. But it’s always worthwhile in my experience (my kids are now 8, 11, and 17).
Here are my 10 best tips for making single-parent vacations a success.
Book a trip with built-in childcare
For rookie solo travelers with kids, booking yourself at a resort brimming with family-friendly activities and kids’ clubs offering supervised activities is the easiest option. At the end of the day, you can hang out with your kids over dinner and maybe catch a show.
Beaches resorts in the Caribbean are perfect for single-parent vacations, thanks to Sesame Street characters hanging at the kids’ clubs (and cool teen clubs, too), waterparks, and kid-friendly and gourmet dining. Laying by the pool with a good book, sipping on a cocktail, and knowing that your children are having the best time ever makes a blissful trip for all of you. Also, it’s good to note that all Beaches resorts are autism-certified and have staff trained to care for autistic children on-site.
Involve your kids in the planning
Kids should be a part of the planning (my Sasquatch-obsessed son and Bigfoot Discovery Museum founder Michael Rugg) — Photo courtesy of Lola Augustine Brown
When your kids get a say in the destination and help choose the activities they’re interested in, your itineraries can take exciting twists with unexpectedly awesome payouts. Last year, on a road trip through Northern California in a Mercedes Sprinter camper van, my 11-year-old son saw on Google Maps that a slight diversion would take us to the Bigfoot Discovery Museum in Felton.
My kid has been bigfoot-obsessed for years, and this quirky little museum was a real highlight of our trip. My son quizzed the museum owner about his bigfoot sightings. Indulging your kids’ unique interests makes family travel all the more memorable.
Keep your itinerary light
As a veteran traveler, I still make mistakes, like trying to cram too much into each day we are away. A recent trip to Toronto started with an early morning flight into the city, followed by a visit to the fantastic Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, lunch at a sci-fi-themed bar, running around the town shopping with my teen, and a visit to Medieval Times, which blew my sons’ minds.
That sounds great, right? But it was a scorching hot day, with many tears and complaints from my fellow travelers. I usually build downtime into each day, such as hanging at a playground or chilling at our hotel watching cable for a few hours so everyone can recharge and relax.
Always book a place with a pool
The pirate ship-themed splash park in the Florida Keys keeps the kids busy — Photo courtesy of Hawks Cay Resort
If you have high-energy kids, a hotel pool can be a sanity-saver (and bonus points if it’s a pool with a waterslide or, even better, an on-site water park) on single-parent vacations. I’ve been on trips with my kids where the hotel pool was the highlight of the entire holiday.
When my daughter was 4, they loved the pirate-themed waterpark at Hawks Cay Resort at Duck Key so much they never wanted to do anything else we had planned in the glorious Florida Keys. After a long, tiring day of single-parent travel, letting your kids wear themselves out at the hotel pool before bed is just the ticket for an easier bedtime.
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Ditch the theme parks and do a kid-centric cruise
The long lines and constant demands to buy stuff at theme parks are hard enough for two-parent families to handle, let alone single parents. However, a self-contained cruise ship where you pay for most of your costs upfront and they have onboard childcare is a fantastic alternative.
Disney Cruise Line (a regular USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards winner for Best Cruise Line for Families) offers amazing single-parent vacations. You’ll find character interactions, Broadway-quality shows, kids’ clubs, fireworks at sea, pools with waterslides, and all the Disney magic of the parks.
Tips: Cruise packing list for a stress-free family cruise: 10 essential tips, tricks, and hacks
Invest in a few travel accessories to make life easier
Kid-sized headphones are a must for plane rides — nobody wants to listen to your kid playing Minecraft or watching “Paw Patrol” — and for when you’re having downtime or driving somewhere.
Also, I found Trunki ride-on suitcases invaluable when transiting through airports with little kids.
Another tip: Buy a few extra rechargeable battery packs than you think you’ll need to avoid meltdowns when tech devices go kaput. And don’t rely on planes having entertainment systems these days. Download a ton of kids’ shows on your tablet or phone to tide everyone over.
Vote Now: Best Free Attraction (10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2024)
Have realistic behavior expectations
Lots of breaks and moments of levity preserve everyone’s sanity on single-parent vacations — Photo courtesy of Lola Augustine Brown
Just because you’ve spent thousands of dollars taking your kids on the trip of a lifetime (or even a fun weekend away) doesn’t mean they will suddenly behave like angels. They’re going to squabble in the back of the car (or campervan around California), decide they won’t eat the restaurant meal because “it tastes funny,” and be just as annoying as they are at home.
Single-parent vacations can make it harder to stay positive when this is happening because there’s nobody to trade off with, but you’ll manage just fine, and it will all be worth it!
Plan for delays
As any frequent flyer knows, delays and cancellations are just part of flying these days. Prepare for this by always having plenty of snacks packed, having your kids take a change of clothes in their backpacks or hand luggage, and coloring and activity books to break the boredom of being stuck at a gate.
Consider splurging on a lounge pass or looking into credit card perks; some passes allow you to bring dependents in for free. It may work out more cost-effective (and civilized) to spend a long delay eating and drinking in an airport lounge rather than congregating at the gate with other frustrated travelers.
Give yourself space
Always opt for accommodations that give you a separate sleeping space from your kid, whether a suite at a hotel or an apartment where you can spread out. Being able to close the door on your children and say goodnight so that you can have a few hours to yourself before waking up and starting all over again will mean that you have a much better trip. Sure, a room with two doubles will be cheaper, but you will pay for it in other ways. Believe me!
Vote Now: Best Budget-Friendly Hotel Brand (10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2024)
Go easy on yourself
Single-parent travel results in making memories of a lifetime — Photo courtesy of Lola Augustine Brown
Parenting solo is challenging, and it can be incredibly frustrating when you’re trying to show your kids a fantastic time and they are ungrateful. Forgive yourself for being snappy or yelling to keep your kids in line, and don’t feel like you can’t bail on an excursion if your kids are fussy. (That could be a sign that they are overstimulated and need a break anyway.)
Some of the trips I’ve taken with my kids that I thought went horribly because they complained so much are the ones they rave over the most! You’re giving your children amazing opportunities when you travel with them, so focus on the bright moments and take lots of gorgeous pictures with you in the shot.
