single father and 8 year old daughter

Papillion · 06-23-2008, 07:04 AM

This year i have my daughter for a week in august and i need to book a holiday. But this will be the first time its ever been just me and my daughter. In previous years its always been with my son as well, and my g/f at the time or prior to that with her mother (before we split).

I'm really looking forward to it, and i will use the time to get super bonded with my little princess, but i'm worried in case we go somewhere and she gets bored. At 8 years old her attention span isnt exactly long. And of course i dont want to spend a week feeling bored either, or like a gooseberry.

I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. Are there travel companies who specialise in single parent family holidays? I'd like my daughter to be able to make a friend, and if that child is with a single parent like me, then i would have someone to talk with whilst the kiddies play. Does anything like that exist?

d24 · 06-23-2008, 08:59 AM

i've always found that (and dont cringe at the thought) Haven holidays or Butlins was fantastic for 5-15 year olds. They get to do activities all day long with their friends at the camp and they come home excited and happy, and you get to take them to the cabaret in the evenings, or out for a meal, or to bingo (kids like it generally), or to dance at the night performances, enter competitions, or to go swimming.

Really, it's a great time for any family, complete or not. And better than that, there's usually golf courses, horse riding, pubs, beaches, arcades, zoos, aquariums, etc... all within a stones throw of the camp - should you get bored and want to occupy yourself (and or her) during the day.

And if your budget is a bit bigger... you can't do much better than Disney.

Day After Today · 06-23-2008, 09:05 AM

Hey Tux you’re probably right there...most holiday places like that are structured towards children with groups and events to keep them occupied, so there is a good chance you're daughter will meet someone her own age....

Papillion · 06-23-2008, 09:34 AM

Thanks guys!

I hadnt thought of the butlins / haven type holiday, but yeah it could be a winner.

I was kinda thinking somewhere abroad, preferably somewhere hot.

southerngirl · 06-23-2008, 10:20 AM

You are in the uk, so I am sorry that I'm not much help being in the usa.

I know that she's going to want to spend time with you. She's going to be happy to see you so don't stress to much.

Somewhere like was suggested above that is family friendly would be great.

Papillion · 06-23-2008, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southerngirl

You are in the uk, so I am sorry that I'm not much help being in the usa.

I know that she's going to want to spend time with you. She's going to be happy to see you so don't stress to much.

Somewhere like was suggested above that is family friendly would be great.

Thanks for posting SG.

Its nice to think she'll be happy just being with me. She's a beautiful wee girl and has gone thru way too much in her 8 short years. Breaks my heart when i think of the things she's seen and heard when i split with her mother, and subsequent to that.

I'm thinking i may take her to the USA actually. I want her to have a lovely holiday.

I know what you mean about family-friendly places, but i was just wondering about the single-parent thing, cos i dont really want to go somewhere where its all families and i'm the only single person left sitting there on my own like a lemon

girl friend · 06-27-2008, 02:58 PM

Just remember how long the flights are... they can be tough on a kid.
How about Lanzorotte or Tenerif or something?
Sun, beach, sand, and you can always book external activities such as bike riding or horse riding when ur there...

Papillion · 06-28-2008, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by girl friend

Just remember how long the flights are... they can be tough on a kid.
How about Lanzorotte or Tenerif or something?
Sun, beach, sand, and you can always book external activities such as bike riding or horse riding when ur there...

Hi, thanks for that. Yes i've been thinking of maybe one of the greek islands or something like that. The US is perhaps a bit far to go, altho i did take her to NY last year and she was fine with the flight time. But i do fancy somewhere really sunny with a beach this year.

Thanks again for posting

06-23-2008, 07:04 AM	#1
Papillion Offline Gold Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London, UK Gender: Male Age: 41 Posts: 844	single father and 8 year old daughter This year i have my daughter for a week in august and i need to book a holiday. But this will be the first time its ever been just me and my daughter. In previous years its always been with my son as well, and my g/f at the time or prior to that with her mother (before we split). I'm really looking forward to it, and i will use the time to get super bonded with my little princess, but i'm worried in case we go somewhere and she gets bored. At 8 years old her attention span isnt exactly long. And of course i dont want to spend a week feeling bored either, or like a gooseberry. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. Are there travel companies who specialise in single parent family holidays? I'd like my daughter to be able to make a friend, and if that child is with a single parent like me, then i would have someone to talk with whilst the kiddies play. Does anything like that exist? __________________ - Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths, Enwrought with golden and silver light, The blue and the dim and the dark cloths of night and light and the half light, I would spread the cloths under your feet: But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

06-23-2008, 08:59 AM	#2
d24 Offline Platinum Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: UK Gender: Male Age: 25 Posts: 1,064	i've always found that (and dont cringe at the thought) Haven holidays or Butlins was fantastic for 5-15 year olds. They get to do activities all day long with their friends at the camp and they come home excited and happy, and you get to take them to the cabaret in the evenings, or out for a meal, or to bingo (kids like it generally), or to dance at the night performances, enter competitions, or to go swimming. Really, it's a great time for any family, complete or not. And better than that, there's usually golf courses, horse riding, pubs, beaches, arcades, zoos, aquariums, etc... all within a stones throw of the camp - should you get bored and want to occupy yourself (and or her) during the day. And if your budget is a bit bigger... you can't do much better than Disney. __________________ "You act as though you haven't seen trees bow to an unborn child before?"

06-23-2008, 09:05 AM	#3
Day After Today Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kawkab El Ard Gender: Male Posts: 136	Hey Tux you’re probably right there...most holiday places like that are structured towards children with groups and events to keep them occupied, so there is a good chance you're daughter will meet someone her own age.... __________________ "ıu ɐ nuıʌǝɹsǝ snppǝuןʎ pıʌǝsʇǝp oɟ ıןןnsıou ɐup ןıƃɥʇs' ɯɐu ɟǝǝןs ɐu ɐןıǝu' ɐ sʇɹɐuƃǝɹ˙ ɥıs ǝxıןǝ ıs ʍıʇɥonʇ ɹǝɯǝpʎ sıuɔǝ ɥǝ ıs pǝdɹıʌǝp oɟ ʇɥǝ ɯǝɯoɹʎ oɟ ɐ ןosʇ ɥoɯǝ oɹ ʇɥǝ ɥodǝ oɟ ɐ dɹoɯısǝp ןɐup˙" ɐןqǝɹʇ ɔɐɯns 126144001 sǝɔoups 16/07/2009 مفقود 失った

06-23-2008, 09:34 AM	#4
Papillion Offline Gold Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London, UK Gender: Male Age: 41 Posts: 844	Thanks guys! I hadnt thought of the butlins / haven type holiday, but yeah it could be a winner. I was kinda thinking somewhere abroad, preferably somewhere hot. __________________ - Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths, Enwrought with golden and silver light, The blue and the dim and the dark cloths of night and light and the half light, I would spread the cloths under your feet: But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

06-23-2008, 10:20 AM	#5
southerngirl Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NW Georgia Gender: Female Posts: 3,032	You are in the uk, so I am sorry that I'm not much help being in the usa. I know that she's going to want to spend time with you. She's going to be happy to see you so don't stress to much. Somewhere like was suggested above that is family friendly would be great. __________________ A wise man learns by the mistakes of others, a fool by his own. Latin Proverb

06-27-2008, 02:58 PM	#7
girl friend Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: England, North Gender: Female Age: 22 Posts: 1,656	Just remember how long the flights are... they can be tough on a kid. How about Lanzorotte or Tenerif or something? Sun, beach, sand, and you can always book external activities such as bike riding or horse riding when ur there... __________________ "I always find it uncanny when I can't understand someone in terms of myself." Sigmund Freud 'Did you know that every species of mammal has found some way to temporarily drug, inebriate or anaesthetise itself; even if its just banging its head against a rock. Its seems we all have some natural urge to just get away from ourselves for a while. I've had it for as long as i can remember.'