I had
previously put some travel tips as a single parent on a Group Facebook page and
it received a LOT of responses so I thought I would write about my experiences
and how I manage to do it on a budget. This may not work for everyone.
I was
apprehensive about travelling with a child on my own so I wanted to start of
small and eventually gain the confidence to take him further away. Dylan was 1
and half years old when we properly started travelling and now he is so used to
it all. Most airlines allow 2 child items on board included in their ticket
price (ie car seat, pram, travel cot etc). I only ever used the push chair
option which they let you continue using up until you board the plane
however you will need to have it tagged beforehand. If you ‘forget’ to do this
then they will often just tag it before you board anyway so saves you waiting
in queues before going through customs.
I recommend
taking a push chair (obviously depending on age). Even if your child does not
normally use one there is a lot of walking about and it’s a good help for
bags and jackets
I always
check in online from home so I know that its done. I use the airline apps on my
mobile so I can just scan through customs rather than worry about carrying
documents. If you have kids you can just skip the individual counters at
customs and get the gate opened by a member of staff to get the family through
at once.
People have
messaged me to say they are worried about their children dealing and ear
popping on the flight. Even though Dylan stopped using a dummy I still gave him
one on the flight to stop this. When he got to the stage where ‘dummies are for
babies’ I gave him a lollipop to suck on. He isn’t allowed lollipops other than
on a plane so it keeps him happy.
As much as
package deals are convenient they are a lot more expensive than if you do it
all individually. They do not suit single parents or anyone on a budget in
general. There is something quite liberating knowing you have not let someone
else plan your children’s memories.
Flights
The best
websites to use in my opinion are Ryan Air and Sky Scanner. A lot of the time
if you put in a return flight it will be more expensive than if you do two
single flights. It takes more work but it is cheaper if you are on a budget. If
you need to change nappies on a flight then the toilets are cramped but you
just sit on the toilet lid and lay you child on your lap or just managed it
with them standing up if they are older.
Ryan Air : www.ryanair.com
Ryan air
staff are always absolutely brilliant in my opinion. They help out a lot with
Dylan, very understanding. I remember they even said to me to press the buzzer
and they will sit with Dylan if I needed the toilet. I wasn’t comfortable with
this but it was lovely for them to offer and may work for some parents who
might have a few children on the flight. Kids are usually tax free so any tax
will be deducted at the checkout so even cheaper!!
This site
allows you use the ‘Fair Finder’ option under 'plan your trip' to accommodate
your travel needs with only Ryan Air flights. Fare Finder allows you to search
flights from the airport you want to leave from and an ‘Anywhere’ option for
your destination. I NEVER go on Ryan Air for a specific destination. I always
type in ‘anywhere’ because it brings up the cheapest flights to choose from and
that way it allows you to find flights within your budget and broadens your
options.
Ryan Air
also allows you to search for the cheapest date within a whole month instead of you having to
type in specific dates. You can literally get the cheapest flight with the
cheapest date. If you cannot be flexible with dates, for example if you’re a
single parent who only gets their kids on certain days then you just search the
cheapest flights with your chosen dates.
Skyscanner: www.skyscanner.net
This is like
a search engine for lots of airlines, not just Ryan Air. It works on the same
principle as above. You are able to search flights for ‘Everywhere’ as your
destination. This will bring the cheapest flights up first. The good thing
about this site is that it is not specific to one airline and has a wider range
of destinations because of this.
I usually
take carry on luggage that can do me for a city break instead of paying more
for a larger suitcase. It saves time getting bags tagged or waiting to collect.
You can hop on and off the plane a lot faster.
People worry
that this part of the planning is going to be the costly part. You don’t get
anything for free but there is definitely ways around paying stupid prices for
essentially just a bed. You just need to know your budget and weigh that up
with what feels right for you and your children.
In my
travels I use Hotels, Hostels and Air BnB
Hotels : www.booking.com
This is the
site I always use for hotels. You have two options where you can either pay a
little less if you pay the full bill on the spot or you can pay a little more
and have the ability to cancel right up until the last minute on top of not
actually paying on arrival. Either way you have a secure place.
With
Booking.com you can also filter the search to your needs ie family friends,
near the city centre, local kid attractions. It also gives you the distance
from requested places such as the airport so you can work out how far you have
to travel when you land.
I normally
use this because I cant afford flights and hotel altogether so I secure my room
and save up until I arrive.
You will get £15 off with my refer a friend link: https://www.booking.com/s/15_8/c8f39fc9
Hostels : www.hostelworld.com
Hostels are
extremely underrated and get a terrible name but they can be pretty great. The
thing about hostels which people don’t realise is that they are not all dorm
rooms where you need to share with strangers. A lot of them have private rooms
with double beds or bunk beds. The downside being the shower is communal and
the toilets (usually) are too. When I say communal, they are still private, but
it just means you will need to wait your turn. There will usually be more than
one toilet on the floor so its never an issue. The hostels are normally clean
and tidy, some offer breakfast. The staff in the hostels are often the best –
very laid back and approachable. Hostels are cheap for a reason, you will need
to bring your own towel or rent one from reception. Sometimes they ask for a
refundable deposit for bedsheets to take up to the room with you and the rooms
are basic ie Just a bed. However, you are paying the third of the price
compared to the hotel which you are only sleeping in anyway. Similar to www.booking.com with this hostel site you
can pay the full amount for less or slightly more and pay on arrival. The
search box on this website allows you to find family friendly hostels.
Air BnB: www.airbnb.co.uk
This site,
in my opinion, is the best one to go for. Especially if you have more than one
child. You can normally get a full house cheaper than 1 hotel room I like Air
BnB because you feel at home. You are literally in someone’s home. The ‘host’
who is renting the place out is basically on call anytime you need. Due to them
wanting high ratings from you they will be very accommodating. I normally
message asking for a later check out to fit around my flights and they are
happy to allow this. They are great if you get lost or need directions, they
often leave recommendations with where is good to go. The only thing with
payment is you normally do need to pay in full. The cancellation policies are
normally great though so if you did need to cancel you get a full refund. If I
have money on my credit card (I usually go for an Air BnB and pay it back bit
by bit). I tend to like this option because the apartments are usually out of
the city centre so you get more of a feel for the country, you have a host to
help you with transport (most speak English, there will be an English flag by
their name to confirm this). Being here allows you to buy in breakfast for the
mornings so no rushing about, bedrooms for the kids and a living room so you
can watch tv without waking them up. Studio apartments are becoming popular too
and they worked out perfect for me travelling with a child. I recently
paid 38 Euros for a studio apartment (kitchen, bathroom, living room and double
bed) in Berlin.
If you do
not have an account then use this link www.airbnb.co.uk/c/gillianl2025
where you will get £25 off your first booking.
contact:
Email : helpustravel@outlook.com
Instagram : _travel_buddiesEmail : helpustravel@outlook.com
Facebook : @travelbuddies86
If you want
to donate anything to help towards my travels with Dylan
Paypal : helpustravel@outlook.com
