Is there any travel that's enjoyable solo with a toddler?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HI OP. I am also a single mom and I traveled with a toddler.

Gotta say, the Paris mom is giving poor advice. I would never want to be alone with a toddler overseas. Remember that a single parent must be ever-vigilant and does not get a moment's rest - possibly while little one is sleeping but be sure little one cannot wander off. And flying across an ocean twice with a toddler just for fun? No thank you.

When I had a toddler, we tended to visit family and close friends, driving or flying, partly so I had extra hands and partly to introduce DC to the village. It sounds like you are really looking for ideas for just the two of you, so I will echo Philly (by train would be fast and fun) and a Club Med with a kids group.

In a year or two or three, so many more options will appeal, be manageable and fun for both of you!

“Paris mom” here... I travel a ton with my kids solo. Just because it wasn’t for you doesn’t mean it isn’t for everyone. A 7-8 hour flight really is nbd especially the overnight if you have a kid who can sleep, which I did.

Dp here. I hope to do a solo trip to Paris with my young daughter. I think she would do fine on a long flight, especially if I am sitting next to her well equipped with snacks and new toys plus iPad movies and games.

[Anonymous]

Op, I would go where you want to go.

[Anonymous]

I've heard good things about Tradewinds in St Pete FL. Haven't been. You could stay there and go to the Pier in St Pete, the Zoo Tampa (not a long drive), Great Explorations kids museum in St Pete, and of course, the beach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I've heard good things about Tradewinds in St Pete FL. Haven't been. You could stay there and go to the Pier in St Pete, the Zoo Tampa (not a long drive), Great Explorations kids museum in St Pete, and of course, the beach.

NP here. We are planning a trip to Tampa area and never heard of St Pete Pier. Looks absolutely beautiful. Can't wait to go there with my kids. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Single mom with a now-teenager. Before she entered PK, we had been on our own to: Mexico (Guanajuato and Oaxaca), London, NYC, Paris. We had also visited her grandparents and friends on the west coast. Biggest trick is just adjusting your expectations. Museums work if you are fine with kids museums, or someplace like the UK that will have "kids tours" -- for example, at the National Gallery you can ask for a self-guided tour on kings and queens, and they will give you a handset and a map that takes you to maybe a dozen amazing paintings that, in some way, depict royalty, with an audio tour that is perfect for kids. Or science museums, transport museums, etc. Our itineraries also featured playgrounds, urban farms, river boat rides, kids theater experiences, etc. We had a couple of hair-raising flights but mostly she was a trooper.

[Anonymous]

OP - the best advice actually is to figure out what went wrong last time and try to fix.

You don't like cooking - stay at hotels, you like kid to nap, make sure you have a second room, or whatever.

I travel a lot with my kids alone and we do the things that work for us (even if they wouldn't work for others).

My kids like space for downtime, they like to sleep late, they like good food, etc. We often rent homes because they like to have their own rooms and that makes the vacation enjoyable, even if I have to cook. But that's what works for my family. Do what works for yours.

[Anonymous]

Yes the travel done with a nanny. You get the happy breakfast time, the morning play, then after the afternoon nap, and then bedtime. The nanny deals with the rest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Club Med. Find one with a kids club. It's the only way with toddlers.

this. There is no shame in this game. It's part of their business model. Let your toddler go to the kids club for a few hours everyday so you can relax, do sports, go to spa, whatever. Toddler has fun and makes friends, and you get a break. Then you two do your own thing the rest of the day. Everyone wins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love visiting my parents! They have a winter home with a pool and right next to the beach. My dad puts my toddler in a stroller and they will disappear for two hours into town and I can veg out.

How does this help OP? Your post is triggering. She’s already said there’s emotional baggage involved with her family.

PP you are cruel.

[Anonymous]

OP the replies on this thread are more balanced than I expected but I find DCUM tends to skew towards- traveling with small kids is terrible and not worth it.

I have loved vacationing with my kids as babies, toddlers and now early elementary. It’s very different from travel pre-kids but it’s still very fun just different.

I have three kids with very different personalities, so it definitely depends on the kid. One of mine is very like me and even as a toddler has been pretty sedate. It was easy to travel solo with her. The other two are a bit more rambunctious and I didn’t travel solo with them until they were 3 or older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, I would go where you want to go.

This. I find it odd how so many people on DCUMs cannot possibly be alone with kids. I didn't have the money to travel but we did a lot of day trips when my DS was younger. If I had the money back then, I would've stayed in a nice hotel or Airbnb. We went to Dutch Wonderland, Sesame Place, Baltimore Zoo.

[Anonymous]

OP I traveled alone with two toddlers constantly.

Although married DH was gone Monday morning to at least Friday night first 15 years we were married.

In those days companies, at least his did pay for my plane ticket to visit him. Our costs were minimal. He had apartments or hotel rooms for us to share.

Anyway, we went to a ton of places, mostly on planes. Fun adventures. Except for the Barbie museum, my second daughter age 4 was not a fan LOL....

Best advice someone gave me. Give your child their own rolling backpack. Teach them how to go to any restaurant. Then have fun fun fun!

[Anonymous]

I don't even like taking both my kids to the grocery store, so find it hard to imagine taking both on a solo trip. That said when I had 1 kid I had no problem doing solo travel and even went to South Africa with my infant alone. It was an awesome trip even though the flight was a little exhausting.