Solo-parent holidays are on the rise, both among unpartnered parents and among those who either want to travel alone with their offspring or who just plain need to because of timing or other circumstances.
More and more parents are also going on one-on-one holidays with a child – perhaps to celebrate a special occasion or event such as the end of exams, or because another child needs to stay at home for revision or some other reason, or sometimes because they simply need some together-time outside daily family dynamics.
Although it may at times seem daunting to contemplate a Stubborn Mule style holiday on your own with the kids, this is where our support and advice comes in. Our tailor-made itineraries drill down into what floats all of your boats and combines them into the perfect trip, with exactly the level of adventure and support that you are looking for. Many of our team have test-driven our trips as solo parents, so we know exactly how to ensure that your holiday is one you each enjoy.
In short, we take the hassle and challenges out and put the fun in. If you want to enjoy the best adventure holidays for single parents, you’re in good company with Stubborn Mule. Here’s why.
1. Our itineraries are bespoke
Stubborn Mule’s Helene Cooper trying out child-friendly activities on a solo trip to Argentina’s Patagonia with her son
Every Stubborn Mule trip is hand-crafted for your family – based on destinations and accommodation that best suit you and the activities you’ll enjoy the most, and personally experienced by one of our team so that we can vouch that you will have an amazing time.
Whether you want to swim near marine iguanas in the Galapagos or star gaze at a desert camp in Oman, to name just two inspiring options, the Stubborn Mule team and their offspring have tried out many of our holidays as solo parents. Not sure where you want to go? Check out our Destinations portfolio and contact us to discuss the best options.
Says one parent, “Wow, what an amazing holiday to Peru, thank you so much for all your careful planning and valuable advice! The kids and I have lived so many new, exciting adventures, and created many wonderful treasured memories.”
2. You’ll be supported by a local support team on the ground
Our team on the ground will ensure everything goes to plan and they are there to provide advice or help
Whichever destination you pick, one of the key features of a Stubborn Mule holiday is that you’ll have the backup of our in-destination team. This provides you with a comforting safety net, something solo parent travellers will particularly appreciate. You may not need it, but if you do then our team are there, whether you need roadside assistance, a change to your schedule or just a local restaurant recommendation.
They are always on hand to provide support and are just a quick phone call, text message or email away – no query or request is too small.
Says one of our parents who went to Sri Lanka: “The itinerary was perfect in so many ways and just the right balance for the kids (who are five and eight). I also appreciated having the flexibility in the itinerary and could change times suiting the kids’ moods and energy levels, which was an added bonus and I am sure a contributing factor in making the whole experience and holiday such a success. This is the first time I have travelled alone with the kids since my divorce and I also recommend this trip for other single mothers travelling alone with their kids.”
3. You can choose the freedom of a self-drive solo-parent holiday
You are never more than 30 minutes from the coast when self-driving in Greece’s Peloponnese, so stop off for a swim or kayak as the fancy takes
For experienced/adventurous parents who are confident drivers and/or like having an element of control and independence, our self-drive itineraries in Croatia, Costa Rica, Mexico, South Africa, and Canada are ideal. Or try Iceland for its wonderfully straightforward but exciting Ring Road – it’s impossible to get lost there! – or the USA for some of the world’s most iconic road trips.
With the help of satnav-savvy kids on board, navigation is a breeze. Meanwhile, you can choose your own timings, places to stop, and, perhaps most importantly, which tunes to play! All this comes with 24/7 emergency support and a friendly welcome waiting for you at the end of each drive.
4. Or in many destinations, you can opt for an English-speaking driver-guide
Many parents tell us that their guide was a wonderful addition to the holiday, becoming one of the family
A driver-guide can be a game-changer for single parent holidays, giving you the security and confidence to do something truly adventurous. As well as being an extra pair of hands (and eyes) to help with the kids, local experts transport you from hotel to activity and back again, taking you around the sights and giving expert insights and advice along the way.
On a safari holiday, this will be the same person throughout the trip, while in other locations, such as Vietnam, you will have different guides as you move around – but all have been vetted and are inspirational. And all of them intuitively know when to give you some family-only time, such as meals without them or free time on the beach.
Our guides in Asia are some of the very best – they truly make a country come alive for the kids
We know from feedback that kids who might baulk at being told by you that they need to wake up early for an excursion take it on the chin when being told to do so by a guide!
Destinations where we can arrange driver-guides include Sri Lanka, where you might track leopards in national parks or climb iconic Lion Rock, and Kerala with its backwater boat rides, cycle trips and picture-postcard beaches. Tanzania, Turkey, Costa Rica and Oman also come to mind.
Says another of our single parents who recently took her three kids to Sri Lanka: “Please can you pass on the absolute highest praise for the legend that is Bandara. He was an absolute perfect fit for the children and me. His English was fantastic so he was able to share so much with us about his wonderful country. I was so nervous about travelling but if I knew I had Bandara at the other end it would have saved me a lot of worry. He struck the balance perfectly between being right there for us and giving us space.”
5. You can build in as many activities as you like
Stubborn Mule’s Lee Douglas tried out a solo parent holiday with her teenage son in Bali and Lombok where they both loved its laid-back pace
The beauty of our bespoke holidays is that you can be as busy as suits you, factoring in as many or as few activities as you like. With teens, for instance, you might want to make a later start while they (and you!) enjoy a lie-in or a lazy morning. Conversely, you may want to pack your mornings with exciting activities and chill out by the pool in the afternoon.
After all, holidays aren’t all about dashing about – sometimes you just need to sit still and simply absorb your amazing new surroundings.
Trekking with an expert guide in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest is just one of many exciting activities we can build into a solo parent holiday
For action-loving families, our trips to Nepal, Borneo, Costa Rica and Brazil are particularly brilliant, with safety and logistics all taken care of by local guides, leaving you to relax and enjoy to the max your zip-wiring, hiking, kayaking, canyoning and white-water rafting in incredible landscapes.
“We had an absolutely brilliant time in Nepal – thanks so, so much. All the guides were great, drivers safe and reliable, and accommodation was fab. It was just amazing to go through the trip without having to worry about things at all as everyone was so lovely and reliable and all ran so smoothly. The trekking was absolutely brilliant and very easy, whilst Bikram and our porters couldn’t have done more for us.”
6. You can count on solo or single-parent-friendly accommodation
A warm welcome at your hotel or lodge and recommendations on where to eat are especially appreciated on single and solo parent holidays
The accommodation we offer has been cherry-picked for its flexibility, meaning interconnecting and family rooms can often be arranged. Where possible we like to recommend smaller, boutique family-owned hotels and guesthouses where the owner and staff are always delighted to keep a single parent company, chatting at meal times and in between without being intrusive.
Or in certain destinations, we choose accommodation where meals can be enjoyed communally with a group – meaning single parents can socialise and relive their day while the kids chat with others their own age – perhaps after a safari drive in Africa, when staying at a floating eco-lodge in Cambodia or after an afternoon on a ranch in Brazil.
7. You’ll benefit from our experience in creating single-parent holidays
Experiencing holidays with our own kids, often travelling as a solo parents means we can tailor a trip that’s exactly right for your family
Stubborn Mule families come in all shapes and sizes, and we have many years’ experience in putting together itineraries for solo or single parents. Our own children span all ages, and designing solo trips with our own kids has given us countless wonderful opportunities to try out adventurous activities while grabbing some quality time together.
Find out more about solo or single parent holidays abroad
If you’d like to know more about how we can help create a single-parent-friendly itinerary, we’d love to hear from you. Call us on 01728 752 751 or use our website contact form.
Slovenia is another favourite destination for solo parent holidays, with an abundance of outdoor activities
You might also like to see our recommendations for each school holiday:
Around the World in Six School Holidays
February Half Term
Easter Family Holidays
May Half Term
Summer Holidays
October Half Term
Christmas Family Holidays