There is a growing number of Irish parents travelling alone with their children and looking for holidays that are manageable, affordable, and enjoyable for both the parent and the child/children. So where do you start? Careful planning and research are key, depending on what type of holiday you want – write down what your holiday goals are – adventure, beach, hiking, culture, food, theme parks. And begin there. There are popular budget-friendly sites like www.onthebeach.com, where they have a dedicated section for solo parents. It makes it easier to narrow down exactly the type of package and resort you want. But if you want adventure, cultural, or all-inclusive holidays… read on.

1. Campsites in Europe

For many solo parents, Eurocamp holidays are an easy, affordable option. Self-catering lodges and mobile homes offer flexibility and multiple pools; playgrounds and kids’ activities keep children entertained from morning to night. With pricing per accommodation rather than per person, it’s budget-friendly too. Eurocamp sites include France, Italy and Croatia – including Marina di Venezia, Club Farret and Bi Village. Kids can safely roam around the site, make friends and enjoy a little independence, while solo parents can often end up meeting other like-minded families or enjoy quality kid-free time.

Try it: A three-bed holiday home (sleeps six) at Marino di Venezia, Italy, is approx €2,430 (excluding flights) and has a huge water park with seven waterslides, direct access to a Blue Flag beach and you can hop on the ferry at the nearby port to head to Venice for the day.

Bi-Village in Croatia is close to the crystal-clear Adriatic Sea, where you can do a variety of water sports, visit ancient Pula, Roman amphitheatres and atmospheric old towns, etc. A three-bed holiday home (sleeps 5) is approx. €1500 (excluding flights) See www.eurocamp.ie  

2.Cruising

Royal Caribbean Cruise holiday covers absolutely everything and is suitable for all ages. If you want slides and lots of kids’ activities, check out the ships that cater best for families. There are all sorts of add-on packages to purchase, which will include beverages, Wi-Fi, and additional speciality dining. The shows are as good as Broadway. Excursions can be expensive if buying for a family of three or more, but you can research other operators and book before you go or stay on board the ship when everyone gets off for their daytrips; you may even have the ship all to yourself.

Try it: A seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise on Legend of the Seas in September 2026 starts from €1,323 pp (€3,968 for a family of three). Flights not included.

3.Small group family adventures

If you don’t know where to even begin planning, let someone else do it for you. Companies like www.intrepid.com can organise everything for you, including transport, accommodation, activities, cultural experiences, etc. Intrepid are an adventure travel company that specialises in small-group tours to destinations all over the world. If you don’t want to travel alone with your children, you don’t have to. You will also have a tour leader managing all the details of the trip.

Try it: A 12-day South Africa Family Safari with Teenagers, priced for July 2026 for 1 adult and 2 teens, is €4,387.50 (flights extra), including kayaking, Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park Game drive, visit Kruger National Park and more.

A 14-night grand adventure across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, taking in exciting cities and dense jungle, markets along the Mekong, street food tastings, the temples of ancient Angkor, and the beaches of Cambodia’s islands. Group size 14-20. From €2,197 per person (flights extra). Suitable for age seven upwards, with triple rooms available. See www.exploreworldwide.eu

4.Skiing

Verbier is a picture-perfect Swiss resort and a great winter adventure holiday for solo parent families, with excellent ski schools, sledging, ice skating and a safe atmosphere. Self-catering apartments make it a flexible and stress-free option or opt for the picturesque Hôtel de Verbier. Adventurous families can also try Europe’s highest zipline on Mont Fort. In summer, Verbier offers hiking, wild camping, rock climbing and mountain activities, plus family-friendly attractions including an indoor pool, arcade and alpine cinema.

Try it: A six-day ski pass for Verbier is priced at €442 per adult, €376 per young adult and €221 per child (under 14) www.verbier4vallees.ch/en

Children’s ski school lessons can be booked here- www.eurpoeansnowsport.com

Hôtel de Verbier Winter rates approx.€480 per night in a double room and €750 in a family room, sleeping up to five (room only). Summer rates from €300 per night for a double room and €530 for a family room sleeping up to five (room only). Train tickets in Switzerland start from €46 one-way via Travel Switzerland. Aer Lingus has direct flights from Dublin to Geneva.

5.Tenerife thrills

The Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife is a great option for solo parents, with everything in one place, very much like being on a cruise ship.  Kids are kept entertained with game rooms, pools and activities, while parents can enjoy some downtime at the adult-only pool or rooftop bar. There is also a huge lagoon-style pool where the atmosphere is lively, with bubble parties, music and live shows. If you like to dip in the sea, there is direct access to a private beach. The hotel is in a quieter part of Tenerife. The resort has a calm but fun vibe and is only a short taxi or Uber ride to Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos, if you fancy a change of scenery. For solo parents, it offers that perfect balance of fun for the children and a little breathing space for parents.

They offer half-board packages for families starting from €306.85 per night based on a family of four in a Deluxe Silver Suite, or €572.66 per night for an all-inclusive package in the same suite. Direct flights from Dublin, Cork and Shannon to Tenerife.

6.Outdoor forest resorts

For solo parents looking to escape busy resorts and prefer quieter, nature-focused holidays, Landal GreenParks is a great option. With over 200 nature parks in the Netherlands, Austria, and Germany, the resorts are suitable for children of all ages from seven up.

You have a choice of accommodation beside lakes, forests and they also have indoor pools and cycling rather than the loud entertainment at busier European resorts. You can rent bikes, swim in an indoor pool, try bowling, archery etc. and for the parents, at Palestra Beauty & Wellness, you can enjoy a global wellness journey in one day, from Lappish sauna kotas and a Moroccan berber tent to an Icelandic scrub room and a relaxing Tibetan singing bowl massage.  Solo parenting heaven.

Try it: Seven nights in a three-bed bungalow (sleeps 6) in Stroombroek Holiday Park in the Netherlands is approx. €850, excluding flights. See www.landal.com

7.Florida’s theme parks

Every parent wants to bring their children to experience Disneyland and the Orlando theme parks, but it can be hugely expensive, especially if you have a larger family and are a solo parent. Kissimmee is south of Orlando in central Florida and this location offers families a quieter, more affordable and more spacious alternative to the bustle of International Drive. You can opt out of the heavy traffic queues and busy tourist strip and opt in for a more spacious villa community, self-catering options, gated resorts and quieter neighbourhoods. It is closer to the Walt Disney Resort, Universal and SeaWorld, and there is also a huge range of activities in Kissimmee that kids will love, instead of being stuck in traffic. There are also shuttle buses to the theme parks, or if you prefer, you can hire a car. Find out more at www.experiencekissimmee.com  

Try it: B&B for a family of four with a king bed and sofa bed at Kompose Hotel for seven nights is approx. €831. Flights and park passes are extra. Dublin has direct flights to Orlando, while Kissimmee is 25 minutes from the airport. See www.kompsehotels.com

8.Quieter Benidorm

Don’t believe all you see on TV about Benidorm. There are quieter beaches and it is a waterpark and theme park heaven for children here. After a short direct flight to Alicante from Cork, Shannon, Dublin or Kerry, you are in the sunshine and the lively bustle of Benidorm. You can also stay close to Benidorm’s largest theme park, Terra Mitica, at Four Points by Sheraton Costa Blanca Resort. There is a choice of two waterparks – Aqualandia and Aqua Natura and a visit to the old town is a must. You have to try the local dish ‘Broken eggs and ham’ – the kids will love it.

Family packages with the Sheraton Costa Blanca Resort as a base, approx. €206 per night (€1446 for 7 nights in July). See www.marriott.com

 

Published in the Irish Examiner Weekend magazine 13/6/2026