Our Top 10 Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday

1. 0333 370 3701 info@singleparentsonholiday.co.uk Our Top 10 Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday

2. 0333 370 3701 info@singleparentsonholiday.co.uk Taking the kids on holiday can be challenging at the best of times but doing it solo, no doubt, adds another layer of stress. At Single Parents on Holiday, we know exactly how you feel which is why we are offer fully- organised single parent holidays, so that you can relax, spend quality time with the kids, and have a hassle-free trip. To make sure you don’t need a holiday before you even arrived at your destination, we have come up with 10 tips to prepare to ensure you arrive rested and can enjoy a stress-free holiday. 1. 1. Get the kids involved Get the kids involved Encouraging your children to actively participate in the holiday planning process can maximize the fun for everyone and avoid any stressful debates later. Engage in an open discussion and invite your children to express their interests and ideas regarding their travel plans. Are there any sights they would like to see or activities they would like to try? Do you have teens who will only be happy if there are others the same age? Brainstorm with your family and find a holiday that offers something for everyone. 2. Decide where to stay 2. Decide where to stay Travelling with kids can be made a little easier when you stay somewhere that is designed with children in mind. Rather than staying in a hotel room, with its relatively cramped quarters, choose somewhere that has a plethora of amenities that allow your children to expend their energy in a safe and fun environment. Resorts with dedicated kids’ clubs where children can take part in supervised activities, play games, and make new friends work well for single parents as it can give them a much-needed break. Other features to look for include activity centres or water play areas with child-only zones where your kids can play to their heart’s content allowing you some well-earned downtime by the pool.

3. 0333 370 3701 info@singleparentsonholiday.co.uk 3. Choose your time of travel 3. Choose your time of travel Before you book, make sure, you checked the weather average at the time you wish to travel. Some countries may not be ideal in the middle of summer – too hot, too mild, too unpredictable, etc. Do take into consideration how active you want to be on holiday. Some destinations are better suited for spring or autumn as they can get very hot which is not ideal for fair skinned people, sightseeing, or any active pursuits. 4. Book early 4. Book early Whether it’s flights or accommodation, you are likely going to get not only a better deal, but also a much better choice if you book early: Flight prices have rocketed in 2023, not least because of the rising cost of fuel. If you want to save on flights, you can try to beat the system and find out the best time to book flights. Prices for accommodation have also increased, although not as drastically as flight prices. 5. Check your passports 5. Check your passports Once you have booked your flights and accommodation, you can relax a little – but not before checking everyone’s passport expiry dates! Make sure, you don’t get caught out by the new travel rules post Brexit: For travel to the EU, British passports now have to be valid for at least 6 months (sometimes 3 depending on the country) on the day you travel. In addition, your passports must be less than 10 years old. If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, chances are that extra months were added to its expiry date, so check that your passports fulfil both requirements.

4. 0333 370 3701 info@singleparentsonholiday.co.uk 6. Permission from the other parent 6. Permission from the other parent Whether you are married, divorced, or widowed, if you are travelling abroad solo with your child/ren, you need to ensure you can prove that you are allowed to do so. This is a sensible and necessary measure to protect children from being taken from their parent/s against their will. Both airlines and border control can ask you to produce a document to prove that you have permission to take your child abroad. This may be a birth certificate to show you are the parent and/or the consent of anyone else with parental responsibility. If the other parent is no longer around, a death certificate or a court order made is usually accepted as a replacement. 7. Get travel insurance 7. Get travel insurance We regularly see parents leaving this to the last minute. This is fine only as long as no unforeseen circumstances arise that might result in having to cancel or change your holiday booking. Our advice is to arrange travel cover as soon as you have made a commitment, i.e., booked your flight or put your deposit for your holiday down. Chances are that you or another family member fall sick putting your travel plans in jeopardy. 8. Relax 8. Relax Now, you have booked your flights and accommodation and made sure your travel documents are sorted, it’s time to sit back and start looking forward to a stress-free holiday. Use the time to read up on your destination, buy a travel guide, and find out what there is to do locally, but don’t stress – you have plenty of time until your holiday! Enjoy the excitement and anticipation of your children as you read and talk about all the adventures you are going to have.

5. 0333 370 3701 info@singleparentsonholiday.co.uk 9. Make a Holiday Packing list 9. Make a Holiday Packing list Everyone is different, but for me personally a list is what keeps my stress levels down. When you travel with children, there is always the worry that you will forget something important. That could be armbands, their favourite cuddly toy, or the night light without which your little ones won’t sleep. Not every item can be easily purchased and replaced when you arrive at your destination, and who wants to go shopping with their kids in tow on day 1 of their holiday? The key is to start your list early and add to it as you think of things. Try one of the many free holiday packing list apps on the market as you are bound to lose any paper lists throughout the year. This also means you can use the list for future holidays, so you only have to update it next time. You can also consult a packing list for single parents to get you started. The key is not to leave it to the last minute, so that you can buy any items you don’t have, including clothes or footwear your kids have grown out of. If you want to make things easy for yourself, when it’s time to pack, make two lists: one with all the items you need to carry in your hand luggage and one with items that must go in your suitcase. 10. Enjoy the journey 10. Enjoy the journey Most parents dread the car journey or flight to their destination. What if your little ones get bored, cry, are hungry, or need the toilet at an inopportune time? Don’t worry, there is a travel solution for everything, and it doesn’t have to cost money. The key is to pack everyone’s hand luggage wisely, not forgetting your own comfort! If your neck or back get uncomfortable, try wearing a travel pillow, or if you have trouble sleeping, purchase a sleep mask or headphones.

6. 0333 370 3701 info@singleparentsonholiday.co.uk When you are travelling with kids of all ages, it is always important to pack plenty of drinks, snacks, and travel toys that will keep the kids occupied. If you don’t want to spend money on new toys, you could make up your own travel activity sets, including crayons, colouring sheets, Lego, and other little surprises. There are some great DIY ideas on Pinterest for this. Don’t forget your own comfort. Depending on the ages of your children, it is also wise to include a travel potty, wet wipes, sick bags, and/or plastic bags (for any wet or soiled clothes), as well as a couple of sets of spare clothes. Did you know that there are quite effective over the counter travel sickness tablets for kids on the market? If your children suffer from motion sickness, we strongly recommend bringing medication for the journey, whether you are travelling by plane, car or both. Last but not least… Last but not least… Whether you are organised by nature or the spontaneous type, once you have kids, a little planning ahead is necessary and goes a long way to ensuring a relaxing and successful holiday. There is still plenty of room to be spontaneous once you are on holiday. Hopefully our top 10 tips to have a stress-free holiday will help you embrace the challenge of booking a solo holiday with kids. So, keep calm and travel on !

7. Contact Us 3 Hayes Court, 116 West Common Road Bromley BR2 7EG Email Id:-info@singleparentsonholiday.co.uk Contact Number:-0333 370 3701 Website:-https://www.singleparentsonholiday.co.uk/

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