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Single Parent Travel Guide

How to Travel When You're Out-Numbered

By Kara PiazzaPublished 6 years ago 3 min read
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Single parent families are now prevalent in our society but advice on traveling as a single parent is woefully lacking. I have far too many friends that are too nervous to travel with their kiddos on their own. This makes my heart heavy, because there are so many great memories to be made by traveling. So I'm here to encourage you to be brave and take that trip, even if you're out-numbered.

I, myself, am a single parent of twin boys who are my world. But it also makes life more... interesting when it comes to even simple things like going to the grocery store. So, big things like going on vacation can seem all the more daunting.

But I'm here to tell you, it can be done! And it's totally worth the effort. The memories we have made have been some of the best in my life. And my kids can't stop talking and reminiscing about past trips and dreaming of future ones. All the planning, effort, and resources that go into each trip have a much higher return on the investment and make it more than worthwhile.

I'm not going to lie to you and tell you it's a piece of cake. But with the tips I'm about to pass along to you, you will be able to navigate the seas and have much smoother sailing.

Plan, plan, and plan some more.

Do your research! Know where you're going, how you're getting there, and what you'll be doing once you get there. Knowledge goes a long way in making your trip a success. So take some time up front to do your due diligence. You'll be glad you did. The internet can be a magical place, and has a lot of information to offer, especially when it comes to popular and even lesser known vacation spots. So take advantage and bone up before you go.

Start simple.

Take a short trip, either somewhere close by or to a place you're familiar with. This will not only serve as practice for traveling with your little ones (or not so little ones) but will also help build your confidence to try more daring adventures in the future.

Spend a little extra.

Budgets can be tight, trust me, I get it! But when you're traveling on your own with your kiddos, sometimes your peace of mind or your sanity are worth it. Don't be afraid to, or feel guilty if you have to, spend a little extra. Maybe it's "splurging" on a nonstop flight so you don't have to worry about layovers and lost luggage. Or maybe it's indulging in room service when your youngest is having a bad day. In the end, your mental health is always worth a little "extravagance" now and then.

Phone a friend.

And if you've done all this and you're still feeling uncertain, then plan a trip to somewhere close to friends or family. My best friend lives in Florida so my first, major, solo trip was to Disney. Just knowing she was close by was like having a safety net and was such a confidence boost! And, of course, getting to see her was a bonus. So if you're still feeling a bit uncertain, plan a trip that takes you close to friends or family and you'll get that assurance of them being close and the added bonus of getting to see them too. Win-win!

Those are my tips for traveling when you're a single parent. If you'd like to see more of my writing you can visit my blog or if you have questions you can reach me via email at [email protected].

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About the Creator

Kara Piazza

Kara is an executive coach whose mission is to help people Go Further than they ever thought possible. She is also an avid traveler, published author and president of a small Press. Find more of her writing at www.thewritingpiazza.com/blog

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