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for the Traveling Single Parent
Brenda “GlobalBrenda”
Elwell of Single Parent Travel Network and author
of The Single Parent Travel Handbook answers
common questions about single parent travel
 1.
How is single parent travel different from family
travel?
Single
parents, by necessity, are working parents. As such,
when they vacation with their child or children,
they want to spend quality time and fun time with
them, not escape from them. Single parents are not
part of a couple nor are they "swinging singles."
They are looking for family activities that both
parent and child can enjoy doing together.
2. What are the biggest complaints that
single parents have when traveling?
Two things:
..... > The dreaded
“single supplement” and the fact that
tour operators and hotels often insist on two adults
in a room before the children's rates apply.
..... > Activities
are geared toward traditional two parent families.
The kids have fun but the single parent often is
the "odd man out," not having a partner
for golf or tennis or not being part of a romantic
couple for the "hot tub" events.
3. What destinations do you recommend for
single parents?
In my book, The
Single Parent Travel Handbook, I devoted a chapter
to a dozen single-parent-family- friendly destinations
ranging from USA driving trips to Niagara Falls
or a national park to exotic overseas destinations
such as Egypt. One of my favorite places for single
parent families is the Riviera Maya, about 50 miles
south of Cancun and anchored by the delightful,
rapidly growing town of Playa del Carmen. Rates
are reasonable, the area is safe, there is something
for everyone from tots to teens to adults and the
clientele is very mixed - singles, couples, all
types of families.
4. I have heard there are a number of problems
leaving the country with minors and only one parent.
What sort of things can parents do ahead of time
to avoid any hassle?
When a parent travels overseas with the children
and without the other parent (whether or not the
parents are married), additional documentation is
required. My website, SingleParentTravel.net
has a documentation section that is updated on a
regular basis. Each country has different requirements
but often one of the requirements, in addition to
valid passports, is a letter from the non-traveling
parent granting permission to take his or her child
out of the country. There are cases where that letter
is difficult or impossible to obtain. This is discussed
on my website as well or readers can email me directly.
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