Drumroll please for maybe our most-deserved cheat code yet 🥁 Single parents can get £100* off trips with one child or more, departing between 8th October 2025 and 30th April 2027! Let’s be real, whether you have your kids full-time or are mastering the life of co-parenting, downtime doesn’t really exist when it’s on you to do everything (smashing it btw 👏) – you could use a holiday more than anyone.
Our cheat code series is all about money-saving hacks to help you get the trip you really want with the budget you really have. But they’re also about making life easy, and it’s fair to say, single-parent life definitely isn’t the easiest. So, whether you’re looking to take your family away solo for the first time or just fancy a bit more support with the process, we’ve summarised a few good things to know for your next trip. Let’s go get the holiday you really deserve…
What’s harder when you’re a solo parent travelling with kids?
Let’s not sugarcoat it, flying solo with kids means being equal parts octopus, chef, tour guide and personal cheerleader. You’re literally the entire support staff for the trip – packing, navigating airports or stations, keeping the kids happy, and dealing with the “sh*t, where did I put X?” moments. Sadly, evolution seems to be rather slow when it comes to efficient multitasking, so you don’t have multiple pairs of hands yet…
Hotels can also charge a single supplement, assuming you’re always booking as two adults, which means you can pay more per person just because you’re solo. You might also face extra border checks or questions, so carrying supporting documents (birth certificates, signed consent letters, custody papers) is always a smart move, just in case.
Beyond the logistical load, there’s also the emotional guilt over the spend, pressure to make it ‘perfect,’ and the exhaustion of having no backup. But we promise it’s not all bad! It’s just good to be prepared and then, the rest of the time, you’re living the life with your little bestie/s abroad ❤️ Holidays are meant to be literally the opposite of stressful, so that’s where we come in – and our money-saving cheat code 🤑
Tips on saving money and maximising value
When you’re booking your family holiday solo, use our handy tips to help make sure you’re saving every penny where you can…
- Get £100* off 🥳 – ofc, our cheat code is an easy win for saving money. Just book to get away before 30th April 2027 and spend at least £800 to save – you can pick from selected package holidays for one adult and multiple children up to the age of 16. T&Cs apply.
- Book early – early bird deals are a great way to lower your overall holiday cost, plus planning ahead will give you plenty of time to physically and mentally prep. Sign up to our emails to be the first to hear about new offers.
- Pick All Inclusive – you don’t want to be cooking pesto pasta while you’re on holiday, do you? We get it that kids can be fussy, but cheffing up a storm in a self-catering apartment also means having the time to go to the shops. When you go All Inclusive, life is so much easier – rock up to the buffet and there’s something ready-made for everyone. If one wants Italian and the other wants chicken nuggets and chips, that is usually very doable. And, that time you could have spent grocery shopping can just be spent lounging by the pool.
- Make sure your hotel has a kids’ club – this is your holiday, too, so it’s okay to accept you might want a bit of time to yourself. Hotel kids’ clubs are for exactly that – no judgement! When you stay at a TUI BLUE hotel, the kids’ club is free of charge, so it’s not like you’re having to fork out for childcare. Then, that frees up some time for a trip to the spa.
- Find deals with free child places – free child places are only valid on selected trips with two full-paying adults BUT it’s still worth noting in case you want to bring your parents or a mate along. Kids are notoriously bad for getting a round in, so at least taking one of them away for free can make up for it.
- Travel in off-season – if your little ones are still young enough to travel outside of the school holidays, deffo do it! Peak summer prices are never the cheapest, let alone with a single supplement. So, look into shoulder seasons (March-April and Sept-Oct) or even off-season for some places – the odd, short shower is so worth it for the savings. Our Wonky holidays are all about deals with unusual durations, transfer times or other quirks, so check them out for great-value options.
Where’s good to go as a single-parent family?
If you want big fun without the budget meltdown, these destinations are great picks for family holidays on the cheap.
- Gran Canaria is a long-time fave, full of splash parks, golden sands, dunes in Maspalomas, and child-friendly resorts that make it easier to keep kids busy while you sneak in a moment of rest.
- Crete blends family beaches, archaeological sites, charming villages, and resorts built for children (kids’ clubs and swimming zones are so on). The sea here is also super calm and you can find quieter beaches for more chilled days.
- Cyprus offers consistent sunshine, safe family beaches, and hotels with child-friendly facilities. Like Greece, there’s some solid ancient history to explore, too, so you can top up on your mythology as well as your tan.
- Turkey (especially the Turquoise Coast and Bodrum region) offers great value with a huge range of All Inclusive resorts, plus the local cost of living is pretty cheap – you won’t spend too much on food, local transport or extras, so every pound can stretch further.
- Thailand adds a more exotic option – tropical beaches, buzzing culture and kid-friendly resorts. The food here is amazing if you’re wanting to branch away from your homecooked classics and rumour has it, a Pad Thai can be as cheap as £1… You don’t always have to do it backpacker style here either. Book a hotel with lots of entertainment on offer, stay in one place, and you can always do daytrips via First Choice Experiences where it’s all organised for you, too.
You’ve got this – lock in your next Single parent holiday to get £100* off or browse our best deals.
Looking for more articles? You’ll find them on the Inspire homepage.
Author: Lily Owen (she/her)
Last updated: 20/10/2025
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