Life is challenging enough as a single parent when I'm not on vacation. I don't need more obstacles when going on vacation - some stranger on the phone at a hotel telling me, "look, I'm sorry but we're going to charge you for the ex you split up with years ago ". And that, my friends, is the dreaded *single parent supplement*.
But all is not lost. There are ways around the single supplement.
(SOME) RESORTS DROP SINGLE SUPPLEMENTThis isn't rocket science, but if you google "single parent travel" a host of travel products will pop up that may be interesting to you. It seems resorts are slowly getting around to recognizing and saluting what is the *fastest growing family type worldwide* - single parents. Most of the travel destinations that will pop up are mainstream, but there are a few surprises as well.
TAKE YOUR CHILD ON A REAL ADVENTURE
Take your child to a non-commercial but beautiful, amazing location that wants your business badly enough they'll make a deal for you.
For example, in the Bahamas I found magical islands like
Cat Island (
Greenwood Resort) and
Long Island (
Stella Maris) where the proprietors were happy to create a package to fit my budget. And let me tell you, these are not compromised properties. They're immaculate and have a natural breathtaking beauty you will never find in Nassau or other well-known islands.
Granted, you need to be self-sufficient in places like these, but personally, there is something to be said for showing your children a world without highways and marketing. Check out islands in the tropics and ranches in the middle of nowhere. Why not?
There's nothing that stays with you as a wonderful life-long memory than renting a cottage by the lake with your family! There's no single supplement, and the $2,500-$5,000 you're going to shell out for the month buys you a week at most commercial resorts. So if you're on a budget, this is definitely the way to go.
If you do your research online or find
those country cottage newsprint publications in the bookstore come spring, you should have no problem finding a great cottage by the lake. Usually there's a bunch of children nearby for your brood to play with, and new friendships for you with your cottage neighbours are usually quick to come.
Why not invite other single parent friends to rent nearby or share the house with you? Try to find a place away from the hustle and bustle, but close enough so if you have to go into town to pick up supplies, it's not too far of a schlepp.
One piece of advice and you can take it or leave it. Make it a rule not to allow cell phones, i-Pods, computers, portable television sets and so on. Instead, use the time to allow your child(ren) to be aware of the nature around them, the sound of the loon and the sky full of stars and planets they cant see in the city. Why not take some wildlife books along with you, or a book about the night sky by Terrance McNally, and create a warm and fulfilling learning experience.
Why not grab another yummy mummy or delicious daddy and take all the kids camping?
There are amazing places to camp if you take the time to research. Camping is a wonderful way to bond with your child. For me, the number one lesson in life is how to build a fire and you can only do that camping. Then there's the magic of cooking your food on the fire, or catching a fish and eating it within in the hour, covered in butter and lemon. It teaches your child self-sufficiency while giving them that special and necessary respect for mother-nature.
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