Hi,
I'm new here so please bear with me.
Does anyone know a safe place for a single parent (female) to holiday whilst her child is holidaying with the other parent? I need some time away but I don't have a lot of money. I need somewhere soon as child back at end of July.
Thanks for any help.
Bella.
I used to do the odd break via travlodge with their cheap offers. Only for a night or two. I have a good friend in the north-east and even went that way once.
I'd stroll around the shops, garden centre (Shrewsbury), visit local touristy bits (that were free) and try to enjoy the quiet.
That was a few years back now though.
Wow, you are all so helpful. I was looking forward to a holiday in the sun. My child will be coming back after a fortnight in Tenerife and I was hoping to be as refreshed too. However the prices are for two sharing and I just get stung with an underoccupancy charge which boosts the prices up to EVEN more than two people going! My female friends want to take children but as I dont have mine at this time, I wanted a grown up hol. I want a relaxing hol-pool, reading, touristy stuff etc. Oh well, I WILL keep looking.
If you see a woman in a tent in the main park in Hull, then it may be me! lol.
Bella.
Hi Bella
I just googled 'Looking for holiday companion' and there is a company called Companions2Travel, you can join for a trial memebership (which I did!) and there were people looking for others to travel to Italy with. Of course you don't know who these people are, but it could be an adventure! Also I have no idea for prices. Sometimes our local newspaper has adverts for people looking for travelling companions.
I was also thinking that you could look for a cheap flight and accom from your local airport then look up Meetups in that area, when I went to Barcelona recently I looked on that site and there were quite a few womens groups and I considered going to one and meeting some people and seeing if they wanted to hang out, luckily my friend who I was staying with took time off work!
I have just been rooting around the internet at holidays in Italy, (its one of my favourite past times looking for hols!) there is so much out there, but singles holidays (companies) tend to be really expensive.
Have you had any luck yet with your search??
Hi,
I think I will end up using this time to decorate our home. The equipment has been gathering dust since easter!
At least child will be refreshed, plus I'm hoping to take child on bike rides during the school holidays.
I will keep looking for a bargain and perhaps take my child away for couple of days. Just depends on train/coach costs as it all adds up.
Thanks again to everyone for advice given.
Bella.(hull)
Hi Bella. Oohh painting is my pet hate! Good idea though to get it out of the way before your child gets back. Like you say, he/she will be refreshed after the little holiday, and at least you've had a 'sort' of break from the everyday stuff that comes with looking after a child. Bike rides sounds great too, spending time together and having fun is the main thing.
Happy painting 
Take care
Alison
x
Hi Bella
Sounds like you have a plan, I wonder if you could treat yourself to a day out? Create a one-day holiday??
Is there somewhere where you have always wanted to go, but never got around to it?
This can sometimes be just as reviving as a holiday, although maybe without the glorious sun or swimming pool!
Perhaps visit a nice spa locally and have a morning of pampering? A lot cheaper than a trip abroad?!
Although as alisoncam said, sometimes it is just lovely hanging out at home, getting round to all the jobs that have been lingering, eating what you want, when you want! Just don't put too much pressure on yourself to get everything done!
Where would you go cycling? I've always wanted to do Amsterdam amongst the tulips, as it looks very flat and pretty! Would you go abroad or stay in the UK?
Hi,
I did price up train travel to devon to watch my daughter get married but it cost too much. I would have rented a caravan and made a hol from it but the wedding has been moved elsewhere anyway.
I will prob end up taking child away to a village in Leicestershire where I used to live, will see what develops.
Hoping to have a few trips on our bikes via the cycle paths. There are quite a few in the area. Even to the coast, albeit a very quiet one! It will also make us even healthier, which is always a good thing.lol.
x
Hello Helen,
My daughter has decided that she no longer wants to keep any contact with me and has turned, increasingly, to her birth father and his new family.As far as I am aware the wedding is taking place in a village nearer to home but I am not invited.
She has her own life to lead and I must allow her to do this. She knows where I am when the time comes.
I need to concentrate on the other children-one still lives with me. Life has ups and downs and I cannot let it get to me.
Onwards and upwards.
B.
Hi Bella
You're right, you can't let it eat away at you but what a shame that she did not feel able to be in touch with both of you. Have you heard of an organisation called Mothers Apart from their Children? Here's their website, have a look and tell us what you think http://www.matchmothers.org/
Hello,
(I will have a look at the website you suggested tomorrow. I'm just going to treat myself to a soak in the bath!)
I have been through this before as my other child did the same thing but she came back , eventually. This one is very tough and has her partner's entire family on her side too. I am at peace as I know that I only ever did my best for all of them-ask anyone who saw me bring them up.
Anyway, time for that bath.
Thanks B.
Hi Bella
I hope you had a loverly long soak yesterday
It sounds as though you have had some difficult times with your older daughters. Do they both have the same father? Are they friends with one another?
It also sounds as though you have come to a peaceful place about the problems that arose, good for you :)
How old is your child at home?
Hello,
Yes, I cant spell lol! 
(I have Specific Learning Disabilities). The bath was divine though, thanks for asking.
Yes, eldest children are from same parents and they keep a bond up between each other although it is hard as the gap between eldest and me is enlarging.
Im getting used to trying to be easier on myself. I can't make my children like me all the time and its not always my fault.
Youngest child home in about 30 hrs, i cant wait.
Aah it's funny how much we want, need and deserve a break and then are desperate for them to come back. My youngest is 15 now and went to Spain with his friend's family, who have a house over there. I wasn't too bad while he was there but once it was the day he was going back, I had the websites for Alicante and the Uk airport open all day and tracked his flight every ten minutes after it had taken off
Hi Bella, I hope you don't think I was taking the mickey out of your spelling, I wasn't I was trying to express the luverlyness of a long hot soak!
Is your child home now? Did they have a great time, are they exhausted or hyper??
Hello,
Oh no, Anna, I just thought i had spelt it wrong (i often get too carried away and spell things totally wrong so i just apologise ahead. At school i was well known by the teachers for "being stupid" so got used to it. At 30 i was assessed and found to have Spld). Im ko now! (small dig at self).
Wow, son home after delay of a day! They spent the night in Spain in another hotel so at least it was not on the airport floor. He was very very hyper when he returned. He was very clingy an dneeded and ASKED for hugs. I was there whenever he needed. Now he is back to normal, so it's mealtimes and bedtime conflicts. Normality has resumed! ha.
It has been good fo rhim, i think, to see his dad and me working together over a family situation. I would rather get along with his dad and show him a united front.
Well i must go and buy some food in as we have two sleepovers happening!
It is really great to have him here, along with the washing and empty fridge and requests for ice lollies for him and his mates. Life is back on track.
B.x
Glad your son got back safe and sound, Bella. It would indeed be good if you and his dad could have a civilised relationship.
Keep on giving those hugs, boys can think they are too big for hugs but they never are.
You made me chuickle with your "I'm ko now" 
but it's good to get a diagnosis, so many people go through the education system being told they are "stupid" and it can really stick. I hope you realise that you are actually fab?!
Are you going to be able to have a quiet couple of weeks now whilst it is still the school holidays?
Hi,
I have two of my brood stayimg over so the house is not so quiet but I LOVE it!
We are just enjoying the breathing time-im waiting to hear if i have a job interview, son busy trying to fit in as much football-playing he can and daughter spending time with us. It's all great.
I have just finished reading an indepth book "eat, pray, love" before the film version comes out. What a great book to make the mind think differently.
Well, I must go and bake something with the brambles we have grown in the garedn.The pears are also nearlky ready so we will be eating pears with EVERTYTHING soon.lol.
B
Pear crumble I am thinking....
Glad you have got a happy houseful, Bella. Fingers crossed for the job interview!
Best wishes for the interview!
Sounds like you're having a great time.
Hello Bella
First of all, welcome to One Space!
Although you are a single parent, as you are thinking about holidaying without your child this time, you are now a "single"!
What sort of holiday do you fancy? You can go on a special interest type of break, such as painting or walking, or there are conservation holidays where you pay a minimal amount and then help with a project such as building a dry stone wall. I can't recommend anywhere personally but Googling conservation holidays brings up a few possiblities, such as www2.bctv.org.uk/display/holidays
Alternatively you may be in search of the sun and want to go abroad. There are lots of singles holiday clubs, some more raucous than others......you have been warned!
Has anyone got personal experience of any of these holidays?