Single Parent Vacation Travel With Kids
When you’re a single parent traveling with kids on vacation, being around other adults helps a lot. Whether you travel with family or friends, or stay in a resort or condo where there are other families, the built-in connections to other people can’t be beat.
My kids and I have vacationed in summer rental houses with my brothers and their families, and we always have a great time. I can hang out with my brother and his wife drinking cocktails, having adult conversation. My kids can play with their cousins. Plus, when there’s an activity for adults and kids to do together – hitting the beach, horseback riding, water skiing, whatever – as a single parent I don’t have to be totally “on”. My brother and his wife can pick up the slack.
It’s a great vacation for the other adults, too. They can relax and I pick up the slack for them. For instance, when we get a beach house together, my brother and I do most of the cooking, and his wife can read and nap. Then his wife will take the kids to the park, and I can read and nap. It’s great!
When my kids and I vacationed in Hawaii, we stayed in a resort, a condo, and a National Park lodge. Very different experiences.
At the resort, it was very hard to interact with other families. Typically, the dads would go golfing on some exclusive course (I rarely golf), and the moms would hit the spa. Their kids would be dumped off in the resort’s Kids Club. Some children were happy enough with that, but others truly didn’t want to be there. (They’re your kids – spend time with them! Remember, parenting is a contact sport.)
I signed my kids up for one of these Kids Club at a resort in Hawaii, thinking they’d have fun while I relaxed. By mid-morning, they were begging me to take them out of it! (I did, and the three of us hung out together for the rest of the trip – and we had a blast.)
We had better results at a Family-oriented Club Med where the programs are much better run, and the activities are more fun. My children enjoyed that experience.
As for meeting other adults in resorts – I never had much luck outside of Club Med. Most women resort have a husband. Even at the beach, most singles who hit the tropics want to party, not hang out with a single dad and his kids.
Staying in condos was great for us. We could cook dinners at night if we wanted to, which was a huge money saver. It was fun, too. The kids played shuffle board while I cooked, and the condo was right on the beach. We made our own fun, and totally preferred it to a resort.
Our National Park experience was awesome, mainly because we saw lava flowing at Kilauea volcano.
Single parent vacations with kids are fun, especially when your travel allows you to conenct with other adults and families.
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Comment by Me Thinks
| July 9th, 2009
I haven’t really done any vacations with my kids and I need to start. They just turned 6 and 8 so I feel like they are finally old enough that I can do things with them alone but damn, it’s hard when its just you and them!
I wish I had family to vacation with but my sister’s son is 24 and they live too far and my brother has twins around my kids age but we are not close at all (he and wifey have an agreement to stay married when they pretty much hate each other. TOXIC). So I’m thinking I’ll save up for a trip to someplace family friendly where I can rent a condo. If The Man is still in my life, he can come, otherwise just us.
Its hard when it costs so much $$$ too. This year I wanted to take a long weekend but I think I’ll save my money for something bigger since the price difference between 3 days and 5-7 really isn’t that much. I read your Kilauea post, it’s lovely I’m sure but that it the price of several mortgage payments for me.
Comment by Paula
| July 9th, 2009
Wow, maybe you should bag the writing thing. I can’t afford a weekend at the beach with what I make!
Sounds like a blast though. And yes, parenting IS a contact sport. Most people really don’t want to bother with their kids.
Comment by Cathouse Teri
| July 9th, 2009
I can’t even imagine being able to afford trips like the ones you have been on with your family.
Comment by debra
| July 9th, 2009
I struggle each year with vacation decisions. For one, I live so far from family, most vacations end up being obligations to go home to visit. But outside of that, my son and I have a fantastic time together, but vacationing alone with him is exausting. While I love riding bikes, swimming, playing tennis and playing in the sand with him, my attention span for Pokemon and imaginary Star Wars battles wears thin! Vacationing with my brother and his kids, in the past, has been a blast. Need to figure out a way to coordinate that again for next summer.
Comment by Eathan
| July 9th, 2009
Sounds like fun. My oldest is suggesting he and I spend the weekend at the beach. Now i’m just trying to schedule it. We’ve gone with a large group.. but I think it would be fun.
Eathan´s last blog ..Should I Have Good Sheets or Cheap Sheets?
Comment by MindyMom
| July 9th, 2009
You’re killin me with all your vacation posts this week. I SOooo need one.
MindyMom´s last blog ..Just a Little Rant
Comment by Barry
| July 9th, 2009
Once again I live my travel dreams through David. Envy you dude!
Gotta go now and make a payment on my third kid in braces! You would think at least ONE would not need them! I should be able to afford vacations like this when the braces are off. Wait, will have three in college.
Better keep reading this blog to get vacation pics.
Barry´s last blog ..Allowing Your Kids to Drink is Not Cool
Comment by The Exception
| July 9th, 2009
I am starting to truly enjoy traveling with my daughter. She is at an age where she loves to learn as well as experience and explore. Every location has its beauty and fun… and yes, having adults to chat with is nice!
The Exception´s last blog ..Through the window
Comment by Canadian Bald Guy
| July 9th, 2009
I’m with Cathouse Teri…I just can’t imagine being able to afford the vacations you take.
Well…I suppose I could IMAGINE…it’s just not a reality at the moment.
Great to see somebody enjoying the finer things in life.
Canadian Bald Guy´s last blog ..Chocolate vs. Sex: Which is better?
Comment by notasoccermom
| July 9th, 2009
Some of us single parents are barely able to make ends meet let alone spend a pricey amount on a trip. However the road trips we have taken have been as memorable i am sure..
I live vicariously through your trips
Comment by Tommy's Travel Report
| July 21st, 2009
Sounds like your having a blast with many of the trips you have been on! It’s great that you enjoy spending time with your kids on those vacations and aren’t just dumping them off at the local daycare! Vacation should be fun for everyone and should bring families and friends together!
Tommy’s Travel Report´s last blog ..Travel to Abaco Bahamas
Comment by stella @ arkansas
| December 25th, 2009
Thanks for sharing. I’m not a single parent but i have kid sisters whom i’d like to take on vacation. Your posts have been very helpful.
Comment by Therese
| January 9th, 2010
Should I continue working well, I would really bring my kids on a vacation. Think of nothing. Do nothing but relax.