Single Parent Travel: Tips for Single Parents Traveling with Kids
If anyone deserves a vacation, it’s a single parent.
Managing your children’s lives by yourself, in addition to supporting the family on one income is a tough job. And, when it comes to taking a vacation, the travel industry needs to come to some realizations about the reality of the single parent traveler and his or her family.
If you’ve been frustrated by package deals geared toward couples or two parent families, you’ll be happy to know that you are not alone. Many single parents feel the same way you do. Fortunately there are solutions to help you travel economically and stress-free in a way that’s fun for all.
Traveling as a single parent starts with planning the right kind of trip. Going on a vacation only to spend the majority of your time doing what the kids want to do is no way to relax. In order to keep balance in the family, make democratic decisions on where to go and what to do.
During your vacation, spend one third of your time doing something that you want to do with kids in tow, one third of the time doing something specifically for the kids and the final third doing something you’ll all enjoy. Before you head out on your trip, type up an itinerary of the places you’ll see. This way there won’t be arguments while you’re on the road about where you’re going and what you’ll do when you get there.
You can save a great deal of money by taking your own food. Stock up on granola bars, energy bars, powdered drink mixes, dried fruits and other non-perishable items so you don’t have to spend a lot of money on meals.
Although it’s nice to enjoy the food of the culture you’re visiting, you have to remember that money spent on food could be spent on sightseeing and other activities. You could aim to eat breakfast and lunch from your bags and then eat dinner out. This way you’ll save money without feeling deprived.
Balance your daily activities so that you and your children don’t end up too tired. Most of the problems with kids on vacation has to do with them getting overtired and cranky. Even though you’re on vacation, don’t push your kids too hard with the activities. Balance a morning at the museum with a relaxing afternoon picnic at a park. If you’re visiting an amusement park, try to spread your visit over two days so you can hit all of the big rides without stressing yourself or your kids out.
The travel industry is starting to change slowly and is recognizing the need for package deals that don’t include two adults. Make sure to ask your travel agent or do some research online to find this kind of packaged vacation. You should be able to save on your vacation without paying for two adult tickets.
Hopefully, these tips have you excited about your next vacation as a single parent. With a little practice and a lot of planning you can have a dream vacation that both you and your kids can enjoy.
Jamie Jefferson writes for Momscape.com, where you’ll find Expedia coupons, as well as discounts and promotions at Beaches Resorts, which sometimes offers packages and discounts for single parent travel.
Celebrate Your Milestone Birthday in Paris
Are you turning 30,35,40,45, 50? Landmark or milestone birthdays are the perfect excuse for the ultimate Paris Friends Getaway. Tom used his wife’s 30th birthday as the catalyst for a chic jaunt to Paris and to make it truly memorable, he invited her entire bridal party and their spouses! Here is a candid account of the magical week that marked Louise’s 30th milestone birthday with her best friends in Paris.
The flight arrived at around 11:30 am at CDG and a driver was waiting for the group with a plaque with the family name. The group headed directly to the Marais where they they were welcomed into a 5 bedroom private house featuring an elevator and pool and best of all included a butler. The butler gave them a brief tour of their Paris home for the next week. Yes Tom, did his homework and found the Bauderlaire apartment on the Paris Luxe Apartments.
To some it may see like an extravagant getaway but when you consider ultra luxury accommodations in the heart of Paris able to cater to 10 guests for only $22,000, it comes out to less than $3,000,00 per person.
After the group settled, they walked approximately a half mile to Arc de Triomphe where they purchased tickets for the 2 day hop-on/hop-off bus tour of the city. The weather was warm and beautiful ideal for cruising on top and was the best way to experience the amazing sites.
The next stop was Notre Dame, as a massive, very impressive structure, but it was a bit dark and it’s hard for amateur photographers to do justice to such a vast, impressive site. After that, the party walked around the Ile St-Louis and enjoyed lunch (croque monsMonday they spent 3.5 hours at the Louvre, which is amazing, but utterly overwhelming. they managed to see all the most famous pieces (Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace, Venus de Milo, etc.) and also visited the old French crown (Louis XIV) and the recreation of Napoleon old house. They had lunch at Cafe Marly and walked around the area a bit and made way back to the Opera House and, naturally, arrived right at the time it was closing (4 PM). It was cocktail hour and they wre pretty tired so, fortunately, as they Harry’s Bar where they popped in for a couple of Bloody Marys.
They went to Cafe de la Paix for dinner and had a very good meal and then they back to the townhouse and popped into the James Joyce pub where they sat at an outside table and were accosted by a total drunk patron.
On Tuesday , they took the metro to the Orsay in the morning and spent 2.5 hours. They raved about the Orsay , the building is amazing and the collection is unforgettable. They took the RER to the Tour Eiffel and walked around and took some photos. They had a long lunch at Jules Verne, which was totally delicious and quite an experience.
They walked from Eiffel Tower to Les Invalides and looked at the WWI and WWII exhibits and then visited Napoleon crypt. From there they walked to Rue de Cler and saw all the fruit and vegetable markets and had a drink at a local bar. They took the metro back to the townhouse and had a light snack at Chez Clement.
On Wednesday, they took the metro to Montmarte to visit Sacre Coeur, which all thought was way more interesting that Notre Dame. They walked over to Place de Tetre and walked around and looked at all the artist stalls. They had lunch at a fun restaurant called La Cremaillerie, which is right on the Square. Montmartre is a really interesting area with fun shops and nice gardens and interesting looking apartments.
They followed a walking tour and walked to Au Lapin Agile (which, disappointingly, is apparently closed during the day) and then continued on to the Moulin Rouge. They did have drinks on Boulevard Blanche (an area full of prostitutes!).
They took the metro to Place de Concorde which is a very impressive spot and then They walked up the Champs-Elysees and had dinner at a restaurant called Cafe Fouquet on the Champs-Elysees which is supposed to be the hot, hip place for locals. They were on the early side so they missed a lot of that but the food and wine was very nice.
On Thursday, they took the metro to St. Germaine, an area everyone loved. They kept saying that if they lived in Paris, this is the neighborhood to live in. They shopped on the main Boulevard and found a great shop, La Fragonard, and bought some beautiful soap and perfumes (both of us) and Louise bought some lovely salad plates.
The lady there was fantastic and gave us tons of free samples of perfumes and lotions and other beauty items. They went to the Swarovski shop and Louise bought a beautiful pendant.
They walked around and visited several other fun shops. They had lunch at Les Deux Magots even though it is famous, the food was average. They made way to the Latin Quarter where they walked around the main Square and also followed some of the guided walk. They walked past the Sorbonne and they to the Pantheon and saw some interesting old graves/crypts.
They walked down to Montparnasse, but many things were closed that day because of Victory in Europe day. They had some drinks at the Coupole de Lila and then took the train to the Trocadero where they took some nice photos of the Tour Eiffel. They walked a bit through the residential area (very posh) and headed for a restaurant called La Fontaine de Mars, a great local place which not touristy, and had a really good dinner.
On Friday, they woke up early to go to Versailles on a guided tour. Versailles is very interesting it has beautiful gardens and the interior of the palace is totally over the top. They got back to townhouse at around 1 PM and changed clothes and headed for the Opera House and took a tour. It is possibly the most magnificent thing they saw on the visit and the photos absolutely do not do it justice. It would be amazing to actually go to an opera there.
After, they all headed to Printemps for shopping and had a late snack at the bistro with the stained glass dome ceiling. They also visited Galleries Lafayette and other shops. They walked to Le Madeleine and visited Fauchon and other shops in that area. They walked down Rue Royale and had cocktails at Maxims and then on to dinner at Le Grand Colbert near Galeries Vivienne which was delicious (especially the smoked salmon on blinis).
They visited Ste. Chappelle, which is absolutely breathtaking and a truly fantastic site. It is another place where photos wil not do it justice, but they actually managed to get a few decent ones. They then headed on to Marais, Les Halles and Bastille and had lunch at Au Pied de Cochon. They walked around (partially following a suggested walk) and also visited Le Cochon, one of the authentic bistros noted in the book that John gave Ali. They walked to Place de Vosges (very impressive) and sat in the square under the trees.
They made their way back to the apartment. They rested and packed and had dinner at a local spot, Chez George, and then hopped over to Tour Eiffel since They wanted to get some nighttime photos. Ali bought George a fun glowy souvenier.
Rita Borges is Managing Director Paris Luxury Vacation Apartment Rental agency in the USA, Paris Luxe Apartments, http://www.parisluxeapt.com
Summer Lack of Hotels in Helsinki
Helsinki is Finland’s capital for business, education, research, culture, and government. It continues to attract both tourists and businessmen. Helsinki has eight universities, six technology parks and the largest technology campus in Scandinavia. Metropolitan area has the best availability of highly skilled employees, good infrastructure, and business ecosystem. Finland’s capital offers visitors many possibilities whether they are on business or would like to spend their vacation or just have a short break there.
The popularity of Helsinki as one of the world’s business destinations over past few years has increased due to various international events that take place in this city. But it’s wrong to say that Helsinki was not in the world’s arena before. In 1952, Helsinki was chosen to hold the Olympic Games. In 1975, the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) took place in the capital of Finland.
Helsinki is one of the fastest growing and the wealthiest metropolitan areas in the European Union. With plenty of business events taking place in Helsinki every year, Finland’s capital can be considered one of Europe’s major business centers. Just imagine - about 70% of foreign companies operating in Finland have their headquarters in Helsinki region. Since the 1950s, the main budget item is service business, although industries such as shipbuilding continue to develop.
Summer, especially June can be reckoned the busiest month for all hotels in Helsinki, because many summit meetings happen in summer. Moreover, in summer Helsinki enjoys long days, eighteen hours at the summer solstice. Summer temperature is around 18-25 Celsius. All this combined with entertainment opportunities, architecture and, of course, nature of Finland and Helsinki in particular attracts hundreds of business tourists and holiday-makers. Though Helsinki itself is relatively small and intimate, it is lively and bustling. The nearby islands are its summer delights. Helsinki is a marine city and called The Daughter of the Baltic, since it is located on the shore of the Baltic Sea and most of its main districts are on the seaside. In the summertime it is ideal to come to Helsinki by ferry, in that way you may see wonderful, delightful seascape, views on the port and beaches. Many of Helsinki’s main attractions are also connected with the sea, e.g. the Suomenlinna naval fortress and the Seutasaari Island with its parks and open-air museum. Many people come to Helsinki with children, because of Linnanmaki amusement park with its roller coasters.
Thus, business events, cruising tourists, and Finnish people willingly visiting the capital in summer make Helsinki an extremely popular destination. Even despite a wide range of various hotels in Helsinki, properties in the central part of the city can be overfull in June. So if one desires to book a well located hotel in the city center at affordable price, it’s better to make a reservation in advance. Most hotels offer special or promotion rates for tourists booking one or two months before the arrival date. Needless to say that prices are always higher by the summer.
However, if you forgot to book a hotel in Helsinki in advance, you can try your luck using one of hotel reservation services. This is the best way to book hotels, as hotel reservation sites allow you to see available rooms left and book them online. Business oriented tourists can choose from a wide variety of hotels in Helsinki - from three-star to five-star hotels. Among the most popular business class hotels there are such properties as Crowne Plaza Helsinki, Holiday Inn Helsinki, Sokos Presidentti Hotel (to name just a few). Most business hotels in Helsinki provide ultimate service, excellent choice of conference and meeting facilities, access to Internet, international calls as well as leisure and banquet facilities.
Helsinki is a modern city with high standards of living, it is a safe city for tourists and a safe place to live in named the second safest city in the world. Helsinki hotels will convince you of this as well. Helsinki is a city with a very special bewitching style. The city where one always gladly comes back.
Originally published on:
Helsinki-Hotels.com
Beautiful Holidays: Spanish Style
Many travelers think of a Spanish holiday as an incredibly luxurious vacation. The beautiful countryside, festive events and fascinating culture and history offer a welcome change from the standard “vacation.” Now there are more reasons than ever to pursue the dream of a Spanish vacation.
Private villas are a hot trend for the avid vacationer. With such endless possibilities, it’s easy to see why the demand is rising. Private villas offer many accommodations and amenities that you won’t find elsewhere.
Villas are constructed to be lived in. Unlike hotel or motel rooms that cater to single or double-night occupancy, villas are there to welcome travelers who want to stay a week or a month. They are also less expensive than many hotels.
Villas are much more open and welcoming. They are expansive in comparison to the majority of hotel or motel rooms. They also have all appliances, furniture, linens and towels. Some travelers may even want to take advantage of the villas that offer staff to cater to your every need.
Spanish villas offer all the modern amenities that travelers are accustomed to. Many have private pools, gyms and entertainment centers. The fact that you are staying in a reserved facility ensures you will have more privacy. Each bedroom can have its own closet and bathroom, if that is what you are seeking.
The greatest benefit from villa living is the ability to go where you wish, when you wish. You don’t have to stay in a remote area that’s miles away. You can stay in the urban area of your choice.
Costa Calida is a beautiful spot for your villa vacation. This Spanish coast is located in the province of Murcia. It has warm weather year-round and offers the largest saltwater lagoon in Europe.
When deciding to rent a villa on this Spanish coast, there are some tips to keep in mind. First, when you locate a suitable property, is the advertisement reliable? It is best to attempt personal contact with any villa owner and speak with a person as opposed to arranging everything via the Internet. The result will be worthwhile. Speaking with the individual ensures you are responding to a legitimate query.
If possible, attempt to get references from previous renters of the property. These should be available online if the owner has an established rental history. Another venue is to find organizations or tourist groups the owner has worked with. This process of verification may save you time and money in the long run.
There currently isn’t a “standard” process of payment; this varies by agent or owner. Many owners will request anywhere from 20% to 50% of the amount when you make the reservation. There may also be an amount requested as a security deposit or insurance against damage to the property. This extra amount should be refundable at the end of your visit.
Once you have responded to an offer on a villa, you should allow up to two days for the person placing the ad to return your query. If no reply is given, check with the organization hosting the ad. They may have alternate methods of communicating with the property owner or representative and can help you maintain communication.
Once your villa is rented, you will need to look into transportation during your stay. The Spanish coast is filled with a variety of rental facilities that meet a variety of budgets and preferences. A rental car gives you the freedom to travel wherever you want, when you want.
A private villa and private transportation will give you the freedom to vacation as you please. You can easily have a tranquil and empowering vacation experience in a new and inviting country.
Michael Lee is the information manager for La Manga Rentals offering luxury Spanish Holidays Spanish Holidays at La Manga Club a Luxury Spanish Resort.
See see La Manga Club in Spain
