Our Top Tips For:
going on holiday Abroad as a single parent
We are now at the end of June and racing towards the schools breaking up for the long summer. As a result, clients are turning to us for support and guidance in preparing for their first solo holiday abroad with their children. Needless to say, our advice will differ depending on the age of the children, but, generally speaking, and with younger children in mind, our top tips would be as follows:
Communicate with your Ex – planning a holiday with young children can be a minefield, but where possible, our first tip would be to communicate with your Ex. This is with a view to obtaining their agreement to the dates you are proposing to take your children away, and their consent for you to take them out of the country over that period. In addition, you may also need to communicate with your Ex to obtain the children’s passports in good time prior to any trip to avoid any last minute stress.
The above being said, if you are ever in any doubt, or believe your Ex may be unnecessarily obstructive, the earlier you communicate with your lawyers on the matter, the more likely any issue will be resolved, or a suitable compromise agreed.
Pre-empt potential pre-holiday hurdles – if this is the first time that you will have taken the children away post separation there are some additional aspects that you will need to consider. By way of some examples:
o If the children will not be spending time with their other parent during the holiday, you will need to consider any pre-existing contact arrangements (e.g. FaceTime with the other parent) and the impact any time difference may have. Where possible, agree any changes in advance;
o Are the children covered on your insurance? If not, you will need to get the insurance details from your Ex, or arrange additional cover; and
o Do the children have the same surname as you? If the children do not have the same surname as you, any grandparents or anyone else that they may be travelling with, we strongly advise that you/they travel with either a copy of the children’s respective birth certificates, and/or a letter from you and/or your Ex confirming your/their consent to taking the children abroad. The requirements will vary from country to country, but, in our experience, it is always best to be prepared.
Travel and packing essentials – juggling children, documents, and luggage is no mean feat, so to try to make the journey as smooth as possible we suggest:
o Checking in online as soon as possible to reserve seats together (insofar as you haven’t already done so), and when travelling alone with young children it is a good idea to sit close to the toilets on the plane to avoid having to try to squeeze in altogether in one small toilet, and having to leave one child unattended for long;
o Keep in mind airline baggage weight restrictions / the amount of bags you intend on bringing. Check whether you are entitled to combine your baggage allowances or not. Ideally, weigh your bag the night before so you are not stung with ‘heavy’ bag charges and further unexpected inconveniences as a result. If you are travelling alone with children, remember you only have so many hands to carry children, bags and push buggies!;
o Bring a lightweight / easy to manoeuvre pushchair and check that you will be able to take it up to the door of the plane. When it comes to pushchairs, the size and weight is important if you want to be able to collect it at the aircraft door upon arrival. If your pushchair does not meet the strict size requirements, it will not be delivered to the aircraft door and you will need to collect it from the baggage carousel. It is therefore best to check pushchair restrictions before flying to avoid nasty surprises; and
o Arrange transportation to and from your accommodation prior to your flight.
Prepare for the plane journey – one of the hardest things on a flight as a single parent is the lack of someone to “tag in”. It is just you and you may be outnumbered. One travel hack is to pack each child their own hanging toiletry bag of items. This can then hang on the seat in front. The contents do not have to be pricey, but a combination of snacks, small toys, books all individually wrapped can keep the children entertained. Depending on the length of the flight, each child can then open one at various intervals, buying you some peace. There are amazing companies that will make a pack for you such as “Keep Em Quiet”. Additionally, make sure all electrical devices are fully charged, and if you have fussy eaters, then make sure you book the “kids meal” option on the plane in advance.
Research and plan as much as possible – research where you plan to stay and its local amenities thoroughly. For the sake of your own enjoyment and sanity, you will need child friendly accommodation and plenty of child friendly activities. For example, if you have a pushchair – is there a lift to the floor that you are staying on? You will not want to carry the pushchair (not to mention bags and children) up and down stairs. Consider whether you will want to book the children into a Kids Club ahead of time – especially in the summer as the kids clubs often fill up. You may also want to look into nearby restaurants and their opening times and menus to ensure child friendly eating times and options. Remember it is your holiday too, and having a plan will hopefully remove a significant proportion of stress from the experience, and, instead, facilitate happy memories for you and the children.
