Holidays as a single working mum

Mandy Oldknow on 04 September 2013
Planning a holiday with a child can seem a little daunting when you’re a single parent. I understand this as I am a single working mum to Connor who’s 12. I plan and book all our escapes but also offer lots of insights and advice to other parents in a similar position to me. It’s a case of getting creative and after many years in the travel industry I have loads of ideas and little tips which can make all the difference.

As a working mum, the summer school holidays can seem a little scary, as you have six long weeks to fill it may feel like a difficult task. For us, it works best if we do a number of short breaks over the holidays which helps to break it up, rather than one big holiday. It can be far more affordable than you might imagine, and many of my customers don’t realise that I can get some great rates on UK stays. Activities in the UK don’t have to be expensive, it’s about pre-booking and being aware of any offers that may be around. We tend to save up and have our annual holiday in February.

This year our first summer jaunt was a two day trip to Chester on the first Sunday of the holidays. As it is quite close, it was a great choice because we got there in no time and were able to make the most of our first day by exploring the city. I had planned ahead and bought the open top bus tour tickets. I did worry that it might rain, but we were lucky. I don’t know about you, but when we do these tours we always do the complete loop before getting off – Connor loves it.

The next day was what Connor had been waiting for, Chester Zoo, he’d been talking about it for weeks. He wasn’t disappointed, well who could be, it’s a great place for all ages. I’d booked our tickets before hand so it wasn’t as expensive as you may imagine.

Then I was back to work. Due to the nature of my work, I’m easily able to plan my day so I don’t neglect Connor but give my business and customers all the attention needed. I have fantastic support from head office which allows me to juggle everything easily. The business development team are always on-hand to give me any adivce I need. Connor loves my office as the walls are covered with framed pictures of our travel adventures which have spanned my 13 years as a Travel Counsellor.

Our annual trip to London was next. I have to say I am a big fan of the theatre and can’t resist the West End. However, don’t assume that it will be too expensive. A top tip is 'Kids Week' which runs every year in London and is a great way to take kids to the theatre without breaking the bank. They run special activities in the theatres and it’s so much fun. As a Travel Counsellor we have a fantastic relationship with a brilliant attraction company so I always pre-book things as it can save a few pennies. It helps with planning so you don’t waste time deciding what to do next. Last year we did the duck tour on the Thames which was a real laugh. Next year I’m putting my foot down and we are going to visit the Shard and the Tower of London. This year we did get quite a bit of culture in as we stopped by the Natural History Museum and enjoyed a ride on the open top bus which was a big success, as ever!

Back to work for me again, but with lots of little trips to the cinema or bowling, Connor was happy enough. I couldn’t wait for our next trip.

Skegness or Skegvegas as it’s affectionately known around here was the location of our next little escape. This is our closest seaside and also home to Butlins. The indoor pool has just undergone a massive refurbishment and it’s not to be missed. It makes a brilliant base for a few days and we had an awesome time. I lost count of how many times Connor went down the blue slide that takes you outside and back in. It was lovely to see him having such a good time.

Again it was back to work and I’ve discovered Connor is a dab hand at filing brochures, well in between looking at the Disney brochure and asking me why we aren’t going on the Disney cruise ship!

Then it was time for the Travel Counsellors Family Day at Alton Towers. Connor was particularly excited about this little trip! It was good to meet the kids and partners of the Travel Counsellors I’ve met over the last 13 years. Wow, how time passes when you love your job.

York was the last of our trips this summer and a place we have visited a few times for the day, but never to stay. Our hotel was just across the road from the city walls, so that’s how we started our visit, walking and walking the walls to see where we ended up. I think it was my lucky day because not long after reaching the end of the wall we found a wonderful chocolate shop. We had gorgeous drinks, cakes and Connor even made his own lollipop. York is a great city to just wander around;, we saw the Shambles, York Minster, and Cliffords Tower. I refused to climb the steps as it was very windy. Oh and guess what, yep, I had pre-booked yet another open top bus tour. They have become a must on our trips now, especially as they are affordable when booked in advance and kids generally find the experience interesting.

Now it’s only 3 days until Connor goes back to school and I’ve just asked him if he has enjoyed his time off. He looked up from the holiday brochure he was studying and said ‘Yes, but we didn’t go to Warwick Castle’. At least I know where we’ll be off to next year!