A single dad’s trip survival guide

By John Frenaye

Travel columnist

If the archetypal 20th century vacation was mom, dad and the kids driving to a national park in the station wagon (complete with a Rockwellesque dog, its tongue wagging in the wind), then the 21st century vacation is … well, a little less nuclear.

After all, half of the marriages end in divorce nowadays. So scratch one parent. The dog? Left at home, preferably with the estranged spouse. And the rules? Let’s just say a glimpse at a modern-day getaway wouldn’t inspire Norman Rockwell to paint. Unless he wanted to be Jackson Pollock.

As the divorced dad of three, I know. Taking a vacation means making some adjustments. But being a single parent does not have to make you a jet-set outcast - not if you follow a few rules I’ve developed from my own experiences as both a single father and a travel expert.

Make sure everyone is involved. As a single parent, it is even more important that the kids are involved in the vacation — that means all of them. Just like cruising with the kids, you need to set the expectations and expect the unexpected. Lay down the rules and break them a little. Find out what your kids want to experience and clue them into what you want to do. When you involve everyone, everyone comes home happy.

Pick the right destination. Certain destinations simply beg for traditional families — Disneyworld and Universal Studios come to mind. Not that these places aren’t fabulous, but for a single parent, they may be just a bit daunting with the crowds and masses. Save those destinations when you can travel with grandma and gramps or some other families as a group. Be sure the destination has something for everyone. While some consider Vegas the world’s playground, it is not the playground for kids. Consider the road less traveled. Typically, single parents are on a budget and a vacation is a true luxury. Take advantage of the destinations where the dollar is strong or maybe one where there is an incentive such as an island recovering from a bad storm.

Buck the system. One of the biggest downfalls of being a single parent and traveling is the dreaded single supplement. Most hotels and all cruise lines base their pricing on double occupancy — even though Junior is not costing nearly as much as an adult — especially in the all-inclusive resort or cruise. This is a huge cash cow for the travel supplier. Lately though, enough single parents have been making noise and some resorts and hotels are beginning to listen. Last month one of my agents found a single-parent special at the all-inclusive Hotel Riu Yucatan on Mexico’s Riviera Maya for $1700 through Apple Vacations. This included airfare from Florida and a week’s stay for mom and her two kids. Beaches resorts also have SPF (Single Parent Friendly) months where the single supplement is waived. However, these deals are not around for peak travel times — think hurricane season for the fun in the sun destinations.