“It’s not a vacation, it’s a trip” — that’s a common refrain heard from traveling parents. The shuffle to the airport, the managing of the luggage and the timing of the meals to successfully avoid meltdowns make for a complicated equation, especially if you are doing it alone for your children. “Family travel can be super overwhelming for single parents,” says Krystin Hargrove, founder of CoTripper, a community that organizes trips for that demographic. “It was definitely intimidating when I started.”
From navigating the double-occupancy requirements as a lone adult to booking tickets on airlines that don’t guarantee seats next to one another to untangling the visas and permissions needed for international travel — the logistics can be dizzying. “The travel industry should have more options geared toward single-parent family travel,” says Hargrove, whose own experience led to her business. “We’re a growing consumer segment looking for options that work for our families.”
Whether your crew is looking to see the sights of a big city like New York or Los Angeles, relax on the beach at a resort in the Caribbean or enjoy an everything-in-one-place destination like Great Wolf Lodge, the advice below can help you get there.
Plan in advance — and involve the kids as much as possible.
Schedule just enough while leaving room for spontaneity. Tomika Anderson, founder of Single Parents Who Travel, says she’s found huge value in front-loading the research and booking of activities before heading out on the trip. “The more parents are able to plan things out, the more they’re able to actually relax and enjoy their time with the kids,” she says.
This includes making travel arrangements like flights and train tickets, booking accommodations and handling any necessary paperwork beforehand. “You can fill out customs forms in advance,” Anderson says. “I didn’t know you could do that until recently.” Researching the paperwork you’ll need to travel with is a good idea in any case, as there might be some stipulations when traveling alone with kids. In order for a child in the United States to obtain a passport, for example, both parents have to be present when the child applies, and some countries, like Canada and Mexico, require a written letter of authorization from the parent who is not traveling with the child before they allow kids into the country with just one parent.
In addition to forms and paperwork, if there are any “must-dos” on your list — such as restaurants you’re dying to try — make reservations before your arrival. If your priorities are confirmed in advance, you’ll be able to enjoy the trip from the start.
Get kids involved, Anderson adds, even though you’re the default planner. “I usually present my son with different location options,” she says. “And if, say, we’re going to an amusement park we’ll say, ‘Okay, our priorities for this trip are going on these three rides,’ and then I’ll try to purchase express passes for those rides if I can.” Entrusting kids with a part in the decision-making gives them a sense of empowerment.
Be realistic about your destination.
What vibe do you want for your family getaway? A multi-day, multi-city sightseeing tour, or the type of vacation where you sit by the pool and relax? There’s no wrong answer. “I think all travel is good travel,” Hargrove says. “I feel the messaging around travel makes moms feel it has to be elaborate or extravagant, but that’s not true. It’s about creating experiences with your family, and getting outside the day-to-day to explore the world around you.”
Anderson likes going on cruises and visiting resorts that have kids’ clubs, where young ones can take part in activities tailored to their ages while the parents can have an adult moment to themselves. “The kids are not shortchanged,” she says. “They’re with other kids their age. They’re making friends. It’s just the best win-win scenario.”
Destinations like Great Wolf Lodge make it easy by having all the activities and amenities on-site, so you don’t have to research, book and find your way to each one individually. At their engaging water parks, your pack can float along the lazy river, master the wave pool, climb up the interactive four-story treehouse fort, fly down tons of thrilling slides and play basketball. There are dedicated pools for even the tiniest tots — and hot springs for parents. On dry land, you can bowl, challenge each other to air hockey at the arcade or a round at the mini-golf course, and get a new perspective while traversing the ropes course. Shopping, shows and dance parties can all be all part of your stay — while available dining options ensure chicken nuggets, pancakes, ice cream and pizza (plus coffee and cocktails for you) are always at the ready.
Anticipate the journey.
One of the biggest pain points for traveling with kids — whether solo or with other adults — is physically reaching the destination. Keeping the pros and cons in mind will help you plan accordingly.
For example, road trips are convenient for single parents of young kids because you don’t have to schlep all your gear through an airport or worry about baggage weight limitations or fees. You can also set your departure down to the minute, which makes it easier to plan around naps and mealtimes. Of course, going solo means doing all the driving yourself, so bake time into your itinerary for rests and pit stops.
For plane travelers, “getting to the airport early is super-important when traveling solo with kids,” Hargrove advises. “Buy a cheap compact stroller if you’re traveling with small children; it’s more practical than bringing a fancy one and you don’t have to worry about your nice things getting ruined.”
Once you’re past security, you can check on your seats. “I always go to the counter to request that we’re seated together or select our seats in advance,” Hargrove adds. “I avoid airlines with unassigned seating as much as possible.”
Link up with another family or families.
Vacationing with another solo parent means you’ll each have someone to share the load (and possibly expenses) with, and your kids will have at least one companion for activities.
Anderson experienced the benefits firsthand on a trip to the Middle East. “We split the cost of the hotel and the cost of the car. We both took turns driving from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. One parent would stay with the kids while the other went to get food or a massage. We were able to enjoy ourselves more because we had that trusted friend.”
Hargrove agrees: “When I’m traveling solo with my kids, there’s no substitute for an extra set of hands. There’s ease in knowing you have someone there with you.” At Great Wolf Lodge you can split the cost of a premium suite or villa — so you have multiple beds and bathrooms, depending on the option you choose. Just make sure your families are compatible travel companions. “You’ll want to consider kids’ age, activity level and interests,” Hargrove adds.
Look for packages and deals.
Great Wolf Lodge offers discounts to families who book in advance. You can save up to 40% on single-night stays and up to 50% on stays of two nights or more when you book more than 90 days in advance. To see deals specific to your area, sort by resort. Great Wolf Lodge also offers discounts for first responders and veterans, among others.
Don’t forget the other options available to you, Hargrove says. “Credit-card points are king — if you’re not using points for travel, you’re missing out on a ton of savings. In my case, I use them predominately for flights.”
Adjust on the go.
No matter how well you thought things out or how much you prepared, remember that sometimes things veer off course. “The reality is, there will be moments when things don’t go as planned, like the time my son’s ears popped and he had a meltdown on a flight, or when we were hiking and faced off with wild coyotes,” Hargrove says. “The more you travel together, the more you’ll value your experiences together, and the easier it will become. Travel has brought us closer as a family and every experience teaches us something new.”
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
