Traveling as a solo parent may sound daunting – but it doesn’t have to be. Michelle Eyrich and her son are seasoned travel partners. Here’s her advice to empower you to take your first solo parent trip.
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There's a lot of debate about the “right” or “wrong” way to include children in travel. So, it’s no surprise that many parents hesitate to travel alone with kids.
My son, now 12, has been traveling with me since he was 6 months old. We’ve traveled together to over 30 countries across five continents. Through these trips, I’ve identified many tips and best practices to keep us safe and save my sanity. Here's what I've learned.
- Challenges and benefits of traveling as a single parent
- Pre-trip preparation
- On-trip recommendations
- Best places to travel with kids
- Solo parent travel tours
- Maintaining your sanity
Challenges and benefits of traveling as a single parent
Solo parent travel can seem daunting. Managing logistics, safety, and entertainment can feel overwhelming without a second adult sharing the load. You’re the navigator, caregiver, and problem-solver all in one. Plus, balancing your child’s needs with your own desire to explore and unwind isn’t always easy.
But traveling solo with your child also brings incredible rewards. You build a deeper bond through shared memories. Problem-solving together fosters resilience and independence for both of you, even when things go off track.
My son and I have tackled leeches, mosquitoes, broken luggage, and power outages together. They are some of our favorite travel stories. Best of all, navigating a trip on your terms is empowering, while setting an example of strength and accomplishment for your child.
Pre-trip preparation
Impulsive travel is hard when traveling with children, particularly younger kids. This is intensified when you are solo parenting. Ultimately, some preparation will alleviate anxiety and boost your confidence.
Trip planning
- Consider putting together an itinerary.
- Secure accommodation in advance, at least for the first night of your trip, so you can rest upon arrival.
- Using reputable sources, research neighborhoods where you will be comfortable staying.
- If you feel intimidated or concerned about transportation, reach out to your hotel to see about arranging a driver to pick you up. The extra set of hands may prove beneficial!
- Having an international phone plan or SIM ready to go upon landing will provide peace of mind.
- Note down key emergency phone numbers, including the nearest embassy for your home country, and how to dial for help in the location you're visiting. For example, 999 is the emergency line in the UK, 911 in the US, and within the EU, dialing 112 will connect you to emergency services.
Important paperwork
Before departure, print out any pertinent paperwork, such as visas, flight details, and a color copy of your passport photo page. Store this in another part of your bag, away from your passport. In the unlikely event that your passport gets misplaced, this will help with replacement.
Some locations, including South Africa and some EU countries, require legal evidence that a solo parent has permission to cross borders with a child, without the other parent present. A notarized legal consent form, granting permission to travel and make any medical decisions, and a notarized copy of a birth certificate are travel essentials.
Medical and safety considerations
Accidents happen. Bring a travel medical kit with basic medicines and band aids. Keep vaccinations up to date and pack an adequate supply of any prescription medications.
Planning a family trip? Find out how travel insurance can cover adventure activities, lost or stolen baggage, sudden illness and more.
On-trip recommendations
Best practices for staying safe
I recommend bringing a day bag that lets you carry what you need safely and securely, while still having your hands free to hold little ones. This might be a backpack, sling bag, or crossbody. Be sure that it is locked and secured from pickpockets.
For physical safety, the real work begins before your trip. Establish consistent safety rules at home until they become second nature for your child. Then, follow the same safety rules while traveling, such as holding hands when crossing the street, not wandering off alone, staying together in crowds, and not going into the pool without an adult.
You might consider attaching an Air Tag to your child or an ID bracelet, such as Road iD, with parent contact information. Walking harnesses with a leash that can be held or attached to a parent may be controversial, but they can prevent dangerous situations. This is particularly useful for wiggly toddlers or parents handling multiple young children.
Ultimately, being aware, prepared, and attentive is the best safety advice.
Finding kid-friendly spaces
There are several apps on the market to help simplify your trip and provide safe and kid-friendly solo-parent travel suggestions. GoWhee provides crowd-sourced entries for almost 700,000 playgrounds, accommodations, restaurants, and activities worldwide, updated regularly by traveling parents.
Many museums offer child-oriented activities – ask at their check-in desk. Some also have audio guides uniquely tailored to children, such as the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.
If you visit US National Parks, ask about the Junior Ranger program. This is an activity-based program designed to promote engaged learning, conservation, and stewardship. Once the required tasks are completed, children are awarded a park-specific Junior Ranger badge and certificate.
Consider hands-on activities, such as a cooking class or guided nature walk, that allow you to engage in new experiences together. Some of our favorites have been a momo-making class in Nepal and a jade-carving class in Guatemala.
In a pinch, you can create your own scavenger hunt. This is easy to do indoors and out, with many excellent free online resources to provide ideas.
Best places to travel with kids
Consider your comfort level with international travel, the time available for your trip, and what interests you and your children. If this is your first solo parent trip, consider a weekend getaway not far from home, within your own country, as a trial run.
Then, move on to destinations that are easy to navigate, speak the same language as you, and/or offer plenty of kid-friendly activities. Some suggestions would be London, Tokyo, Singapore, Fiji, or Costa Rica.
National parks and beach resorts with family amenities also make great low-stress options for first-time solo parent adventures.
Solo parent travel tours
Pressed for planning and research time? Organized tours take the stress out of planning by handling logistics and providing built-in support. They offer a chance to connect with other parents and give kids a ready-made group of friends to explore with.
Maintaining your sanity
One of the easiest ways to have a good day? Pack plenty of snacks! No one is crankier than a hungry child (or adult!). Local shops and grocery stores are an easy, budget-friendly way to restock during your trip.
Keeping a balance between organized time and unstructured time will also help your travel as a single parent go smoother.
Like any other travel experience, set realistic timelines and expectations, and be flexible. Most important is the quality time you will have one-on-one with your child, and the unique memories you will make together.
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