Making memories with a solo parent vacation

A wonderful tradition in some families is for one parent to take each child on a vacation alone for exclusive bonding time.

A solo parent vacation creates memories that last a lifetime for you and your child. You can celebrate a birthday or milestone, or simply go for fun.

In my family, I take each child on a special trip to celebrate the successful completion of the first year of middle school. This is an age when it's important to keep relationships strong as pre-teens exercise their independence and may spend more time with friends than with parents. Getting out of town with just the two of you is a great way to reconnect and find things you enjoy together. I took a trip to Northern California with my oldest son, Seattle with my middle son and Los Angeles with my youngest.

We are lucky to have lots of low-cost airlines flying out of Eugene Airport that make it affordable to take a quick solo parent vacation. When planning your trip, some of the important issues include logistics,

safety and costs.

Logistics

If your travel plans will take you outside of the United States, every person is required to carry a passport. To obtain a passport for a child, both parents must apply in-person along with the child. This is one of the measures taken to try and prevent disputing parents from taking a child out of the country unlawfully. If you are traveling with a child out of the U.S. and both parents are not present, you should bring a notarized letter from the non-present parent(s) giving you permission, including dates of travel and contact information for all parties.

When you are the only adult you should travel as light as possible with luggage you can manage by yourself. Take the most efficient route to and from your destination, and have your transportation arranged ahead of time.

A great option for travel to places you are not familiar with is an escorted family tour. These specially designed tours are perfect for a solo parent, as all the details are taken care of and you are traveling with other families. It’s an ideal way to experience international destinations as well as visit historic areas of the U.S. such as the Deep South, New England or National Parks. Transportation, hotels and sightseeing have been planned to maximize your time and money while enjoying the local

attractions that will appeal to kids and adults. A family tour allows you to focus on enjoying an adventure with your children while the tour guide takes care of all the important details.

Safety

As a parent, you are always concerned with your child’s safety. Make sure children have your cell phone number at all times in case you get separated. For young children, remind them that if they lose you to look for a mom with a stroller and ask her to call you. You can also point out what employees and police officers look like wherever you happen to be. Do this at each point during your travels — at the airport, the hotel, the amusement park, etc.

Personal safety is especially important for single moms. An all-inclusive family resort such as Club Med, Dreams or Beaches offer a great vacation in a protected environment. These resorts have high security and non-guests are not allowed on the grounds. Cruises are also a fun way for mom (or grandma) and the kids to have a vacation together. Staying in an on-site hotel when visiting Disneyland or Walt Disney World will make you feel more secure and make transportation easy.

Costs

Single parents are often concerned with keeping costs down when they travel. Many family resorts offer special single parent rates during their less busy times. Look at the school calendar for no-school days. A good travel agent can advise you of the best options and make your travel hassle-free.

Consider making special “mom and son,” or “dad and daughter” trips a tradition in your family. It can be as simple as an overnight at the coast or an once-in-a-lifetime trip to Costa Rica. If your child is learning a foreign language, a visit to another country where they can practice their skill is a great in-

centive for them to study. Think about doing something that is connected to their interests such as a visit to a special museum, a cultural festival or a sporting event. If you have never taken your kids on a solo parent vacation, now is the time to make it happen. The experiences you share will be priceless.

Great destinations for solo parent vacations

• Hawaii

• Disneyland or Walt Disney World

• All-Inclusive family resorts in the Caribbean or Mexico

• Escorted family tours all over the world

• Cruises

Important websites

Passport info: travel.state.gov/passport

Eugene Airport: flyeug.com

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Meet Vacation MOM

Vacation MOM is brought to you in partnership with Eugene Airport

Donnita Bassinger is a mom to three, and she lives in Eugene with her husband where she is active in Scouting and many community groups. She has been a travel agent for four decades and has enjoyed many vacations with her entire family and also as a solo parent. Donnita is the owner of VIP Vacations, Inc., and she is happy to chat with you about your travel goals.

Contact Donnita at 541-913-5272 or on facebook@VacationMOM