How to Navigate Travel as a Single Parent

Traveling with kids is not for the faint of heart. While it's difficult when you're married or in a relationship, it's another ballgame for a single parent. I remember seeing single-parent friends of mine and their day-to-day struggles and I never thought I'd be there.

Well, here I am... a single parent and, while it's a challenge at times and can be utterly exhausting, I love the relationships I've fostered with my kids as a single mom. I also love traveling with them. Whether on a day trip, a weekend getaway, a summer vacation, or an international journey, I've done it all with my kids. Here are some tips I have for single-parent travel:

1. Start with a budget.

Budgeting is, by far, my biggest challenge what with day-to-day living expenses and potential emergencies. That being said, I still manage to find money to save every month for a travel account. On top of that, I set up Google flight alerts to several destinations I am interested in taking the kids and have a subscription to Dollar Flight Club which also helps navigate flight deals. I also have an airline credit card and use points for flights as often as I can.

As a cost-conscious parent, I always have to keep in mind that it's not just the cost of flights but possible baggage fees, hotel or vacation rental reservations, food, local transportation, museum and attraction admissions, souvenirs, etc. to budget for as well. The costs can add up so make sure you have enough saved before making plans.

2. Involve your children in the planning process, and plan out as much as possible ahead of time.

From where to sit on the airplane to places to stay and things to do at our destination, I include the kids as much as possible in trip planning. Most importantly (to me), to stop arguments before they even start, I have my kids select where they want to sit on the plane before we even board. I also let them pick attractions they would like to see and even what hotels to stay at. This gives them some control over their trip and gives me a bit of peace as I travel solo with them.

3. Check the weather at your destination before deciding what to pack, and pack as light as possible.

Going somewhere cold or warm? Will it be raining? Well, it's best to be prepared for the weather. For hot and sunny destinations, make sure you pack sun protection like hats, SPF clothing, and sunscreen, and for winter you'll need boots, hats, scarves, warm coats, and gloves. While some winter items can take up a lot of real estate in your luggage, you can either carry what you can with you on a plane or use compression packing cubes. No matter the destination and depending on if our accommodations have a pool, I will pack swimwear for everyone.

4. Allow extra time whether you're driving or flying someplace.

Travel as a single parent is challenging enough, so why add running late to your stress? Arrive at the airport or train station a bit earlier than you normally would. Leave your hotel or vacation rental with extra time for stops along the way to an attraction. Kids tend to move at their own pace, and if you allow enough time to get where you need to go and explore along the way, it will help alleviate some of the stresses that come with travel.

5. Pack snacks, games, tablets, and other entertainment in a separate bag.

Like all kids, mine get rather snackish whether we travel by car or by plane. Having a selection of snacks to choose from is super important, especially since airports, airplanes, and rest stops on the road don't always have the best or healthiest selections. And then there's the entertainment. Now, a lot of planes don't have seatback TV entertainment as most people have a smartphone or tablet to stream shows and movies. So, I always bring a tablet and headphones for my daughter while my son and I have our smartphones and wireless earbuds. Travel-friendly games and items like coloring books and colored pencils are also great, especially for smaller kids to pass the time.

6. Have a safety plan in place.

Safety is paramount when you're a parent, and it's even more so if you're the only adult traveling with children. I am very safety conscious whether traveling by myself or traveling with kids. Luckily, each of my kids has a mode of communication. While my teenage son is old enough to have a cell phone my eight-year-old daughter has a kid-friendly smartwatch (in the photo below) that she can use to make calls and texts to select family members. I am also able to track her whereabouts on an app. This gives me peace of mind no matter where we are traveling. And when we are at a destination, we select a place to meet if we happen to get separated.

7. Depending on your destination, purchase a CityPASS or similar.

Not only is a CityPASS a budget-friendly option for several large U.S. cities but it gets you into a number of attractions for a lower price than if you were to pay for each attraction admission separately. For international travel, I have purchased a City Card which could get us into dozens of attractions plus public transportation was included. This card saved me so much money!

8. Have patience and plan to have some downtime.

You might not be able to do everything you want when you visit a place because kids get tired and cranky and don't want to walk everywhere. And that's okay! We will plan one or two specific attractions each day and make sure we have time to rest as well. Travel should be fun and as stress-free as possible even for us parents who choose to travel solo with our kids.

If you're a single parent or know someone who is, I hope my tips for single-parent travel help. What other tips do you have? For some family-friendly fun in your travels, try gofindit, an outdoor scavenger hunt card game. It's perfect for just about anywhere you travel! You can also check out more of our helpful travel tips.