There was a time when a vacation for single-parent families meant a couple of weeks with the grandparents. Not anymore. The world of travel is waking up to the number of single parents wanting a much richer experience. There may be a way to go before arranging a trip is as easy as for a two-parent family, but the opportunities are growing all the time, even for destinations as far afield as South Africa.
The Problem
Traveling with kids is never easy, but for a single parent, it is more than twice as hard. There are reasons for this:
- The chances are that you do not have a lot of money to spare
- The attention demanded by your kids is even more relentless than when you are at home
- Too many leisure facilities and hotels are geared up for couples and two-parent families
Travel
Try to reduce the stress by doing everything that you can in advance. Check-in and print out your boarding passes in advance. Make sure you have the correct documentation—some countries expect authorization from both parents before allowing children to travel overseas.
Look out for priority security line for families. If you have to use the mainline, refuse to be flustered by officials trying to move you along. Make use of priority boarding on flights, and if possible wait till everyone else is off before you disembark. For a smooth-sailing trip, do not forget to pre-book services like www.jettly.com, in advanced.