11 tips on holidaying alone with children as a widowed parent
July 2025
The days of relaxing on a beach are pretty much gone when you have a child, but when you find yourself parenting alone, even a five-minute break can seem like an impossibility. For those of us who are widowed parents, and with no option of travelling with a second adult, holidaying alone can seem like an overwhelming task. Here are some tips from WAY Widowed and Young member Lauren to make your widowed travel go as smoothly as possible.
Pack children’s bags full of activities
Use every different zip and pocket so they have plenty to find on the journey and even at different points in the trip. Of course, you should stash some extras in your bag too in case they’re too quick! Think stickers, colouring, small games like Dobble and a notebook is always handy to keep them amused making lists of things they want to do when you arrive on holiday or for playing classic paper-based games.
Take gifts
Another good way to keep children amused, especially on long journeys, is to take small wrapped gifts so they get something new every hour. They can be things you were going to take anyway so they don’t weigh you down too much.
Take all the snacks!
Snacks are your friends when it comes to queues, tiredness when they can’t sleep or if they don’t like the lunch…! Again, there is no sending another adult to fetch snacks so take as many as you can carry with you, or plan a trip to the local supermarket on arrival. Just make sure you don’t fall foul of any of the rules particularly entering places in the EU that have new guidelines when coming from the UK since Brexit. For example, you can no longer take fresh dairy products or fruit but it’s fine if these are baked into a pre-packaged item like a fruit-based cereal bar or, my child’s favourite, pain au chocolat! Try a multi compartment snack box if you’re going on a long journey then it doubles as an activity of sorts or take it in more traditional Tupperware-style boxes, which always come in handy for storing leftovers while you’re away.
Be prepared with first aid
Good advice for anyone but it’s much harder to go and find medicine for a sick child or for yourself when you’re the only adult and have to take them with you. Also find out as much as you can about how the place you’re going to differs from home before travelling. For example, parents travelling to France are often surprised they can’t buy children’s Paracetamol in a supermarket like we buy Calpol here. They have to go to a pharmacy, which can be more difficult to find (useful tip: Doliprane syrup is the French equivalent to Calpol).
Don’t travel uninsured
It probably goes without saying for people in our situation but be sure to plan adequate travel insurance. Take a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) (apply here https://overseas-healthcare.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/get-healthcare-cover-travelling-abroad/start) and take a list of emergency contacts, just in case things go wrong.
Give your child or children responsibility
Of course, it depends on their age and capabilities but try and find a job for your child or children. If their job is to carry their bag or find the sign of the place you’re staying, they’ll be more likely to focus so they can do their ‘job’ well. Just don’t ask them to look after the passports!
Pack light and then take half of it out
It’s hard to pack light, as we all know kids mess up their clothes at the worst possible times. But chances are you will end up carrying their stuff too and they will want souvenirs. Then you’re going to have to get it all back at the end of the holiday when you don’t have quite the same enthusiasm as at the start. You could try travel accessories like packing cubes, which fit neatly inside suitcases, to make it easier to keep outfits together.
Take proof
If travelling abroad, it’s important to remember you could get questioned about where your child’s other parent is so it’s best to carry a copy of the death certificate, just in case. It’s also a good idea to take proof, such as a birth certificate, if you and your child have different surnames (https://www.gov.uk/permission-take-child-abroad).
Make life easier
If you can afford it, book any extras to make life easier, whether that’s an early check-in at a holiday park or hotel or meet and greet airport parking. I always avoided these unnecessary expenses until I realised how much nicer they can make a trip. It really can be worth taking the hit financially if it simplifies things with kids in tow.
Spend extra time booking
Some hotel providers don’t cater to less traditional family set ups to the point that, if you search for a room for one adult and one or more children, it will automatically charge for two adults plus the children or change to a family room when a twin would suffice. This can also be true for hotels that include theme park tickets in the booking (yes, including that famous one in Paris!). So shop around and check prices against the provider’s official website to make sure you’re not paying for more people than necessary.
Try not to compare or expect too much
It can be tricky travelling after being widowed. Not only does it bring back memories of holidays shared with your partner or spouse but you may find yourself surrounded by families or large groups that seem to still have it ‘all’ – remember, it may not be as it seems and, besides, comparison is the thief of joy. Try to accept there may be hard times on widow holidays as the busyness of day-to-day life isn’t there to distract you but it is, in my opinion, still worth it to have a break. You don’t need every moment to be perfect to still have perfect moments while you’re away.
Wherever you decide to go, remember being able to travel with your children is a great privilege and will inevitably bring you closer. It may be difficult sometimes and things may not always go to plan but it will be worth it for the memories you’ll share.
This article on solo travel as a widowed parent was written by WAY member Lauren, adapted from a blog post that was originally published on the Counting to Ten blog
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