Holidays for single parents: accommodation and travel offers

As a single parent, you have a lot of responsibility and many challenges to master every day so that your child lacks nothing. Often there is little time for yourself. It is important for your health that you allow yourself regular rest so that you can really shake off the stress and tension of everyday life. A relaxed and happy mother ultimately benefits your child.

Single parents: vacation with or without a child?

For many, vacation is the best time of the year and for you as a single parent it is definitely the best way to recharge your batteries. Before you start planning your vacation, as a single parent you should always clarify whether you would rather spend the vacation alone or with your child. Many single parents have pangs of conscience at the thought of going on vacation without their child. This is understandable, but completely unfounded. If you have good childcare options, for example with grandparents or friends, there is nothing wrong with going on vacation without your child. Your child will certainly welcome this change and enjoy the time to the fullest.

Holidays for single parents – what are the options?

If you, as a single parent, decide to take a holiday with your child, it makes sense to consider in advance what kind of holiday is basically suitable for you. Would you rather be alone or is it important to make new contacts? Would you like to be able to spend time without your child and still know that they are well looked after? We have taken a close look at the following options, which in terms of price and organization are particularly suitable for traveling alone with a child:

Traveling alone with a child: package tours

There are now numerous providers who have specialized in vacations for single parents. Such offers are often organized as group trips, for example in the form of a skiing holiday. Particular attention is paid to childcare and a varied program of activities for children and adults. This makes it easy for you to make new contacts with other children and single parents and to spend time away from each other. The price for such a holiday for single parents depends on the destination and the travel time. If your child is not yet of school age, it is advisable to plan your vacation in the off-season. This is usually considerably cheaper than traveling during the school holidays.

Family hotels and club holidays

Many large tour operators offer attractive all-inclusive holidays in hotels and holiday clubs especially for families. Your food is already included and you don’t have to worry about childcare either. This leaves you plenty of room to relax and for other activities, such as sightseeing. However, many single parents see a disadvantage of this form of vacation in the fact that they are mostly surrounded by “intact” families. That often doesn’t make it easy to make contacts or gives many single parents the feeling of being the third wheel on holiday. You should be aware of this when booking such a trip.

Travel offers with price advantages

If, as a single parent, a holiday in a family environment is not right for you and your child, all other travel offers worldwide are of course an alternative for you. This is also a good idea if your child is older and can take care of its activity program on its own . Many tour operators also accommodate single parents here, for example by not charging a single supplement if you are traveling alone or by charging a fixed price for your child.

youth hostels

Youth hostels are much more than just sleeping accommodation for school trips these days. They have developed into a meeting place and offer cheap accommodation, especially for families. Some youth hostels also have special offers for holidays for single parents, which include supervised leisure activities in addition to accommodation.

family vacation spots

The 120 non-profit family vacation centers of the “Federal Working Group for Family Recreation” (BAG FE) offer another inexpensive vacation option for single parents in Germany. Here, too, the focus is on encounters with others. There are numerous offers for children and adults, which are intended to promote not only relaxation but also exchange with each other. Nine federal states grant grants to single parents for a holiday in a family holiday resort under certain conditions. You can find out whether you are eligible for a subsidy on the BAG FE website .

Apartment and holiday village

Of course, a holiday apartment offers great flexibility for your daily routine, since you are not tied to fixed meal times, for example. However, childcare is not necessarily provided for when booking a holiday apartment. If this is important for you as a single parent on holiday, it is advisable to rent an apartment or cottage in a holiday village. Holiday villages are usually well designed to meet the needs of single parents and offer a wide range of care options and activities for children.

Another great holiday option is to rent a holiday home or apartment together with friends. This not only makes the stay cheaper, but also allows you, as a single parent, to retire on vacation if you take turns with your friends in looking after your child. If your friends also have children, that’s even better. So your child has playmates and you can relax carefree in the company of nice friends. The German Recreational Agency, for example, offers favorable offers for holiday homes .

Get out into nature

Holidays in nature are a highlight for many children, and a good mood is often pre-programmed. If you, as a single parent, are also enthusiastic about a holiday in nature, a camping holiday may be the right thing for you. Various providers have adapted to the needs of families and single parents and offer a variety of activities for children and adults throughout Europe. Holidays on one of the numerous children’s farms in Germany or Austria are a good alternative for a holiday for single parents and are very popular with most children. The little ones are usually difficult to get away from the animals, which in turn gives you time to relax.

As you can see, there are many ways for a single parent to have an affordable and relaxing vacation. Whether and which option is best for you naturally depends on your personal needs.