Tips for traveling as solo parent
Kenting, Taiwan
It can be tricky traveling solo with a young child. You don’t have the extra two hands to help carry things or two extra eyes to watch over a small creature! This is how I would travel with my one child:
Travel light - you can only carry so many things at once
Bring as little as you can. Depending on the age of the child, there can be a lot of extra items you have to pack. Think ahead of what mode of transportation you will be using and how you will handle all your luggage.
For example, when going on an extended 6 week trip to Hawaii, Taiwan and Thailand with my 3 year old, this was the maximum I could manage:
a larger rolling checked luggage or backpack
a car seat that folded into a carry bag to be checked
an umbrella stroller with reclining seat - reclining for napping kid, that you can control with one hand (very important!), and easy to fold and open up, also preferably one handed.
a rolling carry-on bag that you can control with one hand (because your other hand is pushing the stroller) for all your on board needs, including an extra set of clothing for both parent and child, and any essentials in case you get stuck or delayed somewhere. A roller bag with two larger wheels can be easier to pull after you and maneuver over bumps.
a small backpack for easy reach items stowed under the airplane seat.
OPTIONS
use a larger backpack as carry-on luggage instead of rolling one to free up a hand, if you have a strong back
rent a car seat at your destination instead of lugging your car seat around.
Booster seat age children: use a foldable portable child booster seat like Mifold. It is a great luggage space saver! Just make sure your child won’t fuss sitting on it as it has minimal padding.
Ask for help from other people, flight attendants and airport staff
When you needed to go to the loo on the plane and your child is fine on their own, entertaining themselves with a digital device or book, ask the flight attendants when they are not serving meals to help keep an eye on your child while you run to the tiny restroom.
Many airport staff are quite friendly and can help facilitate a quicker way through the airport.
If you are traveling in Asia, you will find that children are treated very affectionately. In Thailand, I’ve had restaurant wait staff help entertain my 3 year old child while I ate!
Travel earlier during the day
You may have to be awake to keep an eye on the kid so avoiding sleep time travel works better. Also lessens chances of meltdowns later in the day when the child is tired. Red eye flights can go either way where your child refuses to sleep and you are exhausted for the entire flight or they are sleeping angels and you have the night off.
Book an airline seat with bassinet
For long haul international flights, many airlines provide a bassinet in front of select seats for babies to sleep in during cruising altitude. These seats are usually located at the front rows of economy class. Ask the airline when booking. It will save your arms on a long flight.
Bring parental consent forms and other necessary documents
For cross border travel, immigration officials may ask you for a custody letter, birth certificate or official consent form from the other parent for consent of your child to travel with you. They may be more likely to ask to see documents if your child has a different last name or looks different (ie. mixed race). Research your destination requirements. I have encountered Thai, US and Canadian immigration officers asking for such documents. Other times no one asks.
Look for hotels or resorts that do not charge a single supplement fees
Some hotels and resorts will charge you single supplement when their rates are based on double adult occupancy. There are accommodation that do not charge that fee and/or it can be worth it to check with the hotel if they can waive it. Some airlines such as Air Transat or travel agencies offer single parent deals as well.
Rent a short term stay place or do home exchanges
Staying at places such as on VRBO, AirBNB or local apartments for short term stay with convenient kitchens and washing machines are great for families in general. You can make your own familiar foods that the children would eat. Check to make sure the location is family friendly and safe. Rentals in residential neighborhoods may have playgrounds great for entertaining kids.
You can save money if you are able to do a home exchange or house sitting with another family elsewhere. There are several organizations that can be found online.
Consider paying more for reputable transportation
Safety is an issue as a solo parent. Consider researching in advance online to secure a reputable transportation to your accommodation. Spend some time reading reviews on the services. It will be less stressful than trying to figure out things on the fly after arriving at a new location.
Get recommended transportation services
Get your accommodation or hotel to arrange transportation for you. Your homestay hosts may know a reputable taxi driver or service they can either help arrange or recommend for you.
Meet up with other traveling families
It is a lot of work traveling alone with a child. And sometimes it would be nice to have company. There are groups set up for single parent families traveling if you google online. There is also a Facebook group called Worldschoolers where families often inquire about travel information and who is around and available for meeting up at locations all over the world.
Plan to be flexible
It might not always be possible; however if you can plan in extra wiggle room in your travel schedules or be able to change your flights easily, it would save you from stress. If you get sick you will need extra time to recover before going onward with your travel. Have a plan for what you would do if you get sick.
Go to less popular places
Sometimes I find that avoiding the heavy tourist areas work better when traveling with my kid. A crowded site is just a lot more taxing on everybody. You would have to keep track of your belongings and child and navigate an unfamiliar surrounding. Your child probably won’t appreciate certain sights until they are older anyway. For example, in Japan, we avoided crowded Kyoto and went to Takayama instead to enjoy the atmosphere of old Japan. So much more breathing space there.
