Solo Travel With Kids: Making It Work

Updated for 2026 — Accurate as of February 2026.

I have solo-traveled with my two kids — now ages 8 and 11 — to 14 countries over five years. I am a single mom, which means there is no partner at home to hand the kids to while I travel, and no partner to share the load when I travel with them. Every trip is planned, executed, and survived by me, alone, with two small humans who have opinions about everything and the stamina of marathon runners followed by the energy crashes of narcoleptic kittens.

Solo parenting and solo travel are similar in a fundamental way: both require you to be the entire support system, the decision-maker, the navigator, the emotional anchor, and the fun coordinator. When you combine them, the stress multiplies — but so does the reward. The look on my daughter’s face when she first saw the ocean in Portugal, my son learning to say “gracias” to a street vendor in Mexico, the three of us sharing a bowl of ramen in Tokyo — these are the best moments of my life, and I created them on my own.

According to a 2025 survey by the Family Travel Association, 42% of family trips in the US are taken by single parents, and that number is rising. We are not the exception anymore. We are a market, a community, and a force.

The Logistics Nobody Talks About

Legal Requirements for Traveling Alone with Kids

If you are traveling internationally with your children without the other parent present, you may need additional documentation. This is the single most important logistical consideration, and failing to prepare can get you denied boarding or stopped at immigration.

Required or strongly recommended documents:

Document	When Required	How to Obtain
Notarized consent letter from other parent	Many countries require or request this	Written letter, notarized, stating the other parent consents to travel
Court order for sole custody	If other parent is absent, deceased, or parental rights terminated	Family court
Death certificate of other parent	If applicable	Vital records office
Child’s passport (in their own name)	All international travel	US State Department
Birth certificate showing parentage	Sometimes requested at immigration	Vital records office

Countries that are particularly strict about single-parent travel documentation:

• Mexico (requires notarized consent letter)
• Brazil (requires notarized consent, specific form from consulate)
• South Africa (requires unabridged birth certificate showing both parents)
• Canada (consent letter strongly recommended)
• Most of Latin America (consent letter strongly recommended)

My advice: Even if not technically required, always carry a notarized consent letter when traveling internationally with your children as a solo parent. It costs $5-15 to notarize and can save you hours of delay at immigration.

Flying Alone with Kids

Flying solo with children is the most anxiety-inducing part of family solo travel, and it gets significantly easier with experience.

Age-based strategies:

Age	Challenges	Strategies
0-2 (lap infant)	Fussy, needs feeding, diaper changes	Book bulkhead for bassinet; bring new small toys; nurse/bottle during takeoff and landing for ear pressure
2-5 (own seat)	Restless, emotional, needs entertainment	Loaded tablet with downloaded shows, snack bag, small activity kit, window seat
5-8	Better attention span but still needs supervision	Books, coloring, tablet time limits, involve them in “navigation”
8-12	Increasingly independent but still your responsibility	Can manage their own entertainment; give them a travel journal
12+	Semi-independent	They can navigate airports, carry their own bag, and be a genuine travel partner

My flight survival kit (per kid):

• Tablet with 4+ hours of downloaded content (headphones required)
• Ziplock bag of varied snacks (protein, carbs, treats)
• Small new toy or activity book (the novelty factor buys 30-60 minutes)
• Water bottle (empty through security, fill after)
• Change of clothes in carry-on (for younger kids — spills happen)
• Blanket or comfort object from home

Seating strategy: Book the window and aisle seats in a row of three. The middle seat often stays empty (nobody chooses it), giving you extra space. If someone does book it, they will almost always swap for your window or aisle rather than sit between you and your child.

Accommodation That Works

Type	Pros for Solo Parent	Cons	Best For
Airbnb/VRBO	Kitchen (saves money on meals), space, laundry access, feels like home	No childcare backup, no concierge	Stays of 3+ nights, budget-conscious families
All-inclusive resort	Kids clubs (free childcare!), no meal planning, entertainment included	Expensive, can feel generic	Beach vacations, when you need a break
Family-friendly hotel	Connecting rooms, concierge help, sometimes babysitting services	More expensive than vacation rentals	Short stays, cities with lots of activities
Camping/glamping	Adventure, outdoor time, affordable	Physically demanding solo with kids	Summer trips, nature-focused families

The number one accommodation feature for solo parents: a kitchen. Cooking 50% of meals saves $30-50/day for a family of three, and it eliminates the logistical challenge of finding kid-friendly restaurants three times a day.

Budget Planning

What Family Solo Travel Actually Costs

Traveling with kids is more expensive than traveling solo, but it is far cheaper than most people assume. The key expenses are accommodation (you need more space) and food (growing children eat constantly). Transport is often discounted or free for children, and many attractions offer family pricing or free entry for kids under a certain age.

My real budget: 10-day trip to Portugal with 2 kids

Category	Total Cost	Per Day
Flights (round trip, 3 people)	$1,200	-
Airbnb (2-bedroom, Lisbon)	$900	$90
Food (mix of cooking and eating out)	$600	$60
Activities and attractions	$250	$25
Local transport	$150	$15
Travel insurance (3 people)	$120	-
Miscellaneous	$200	$20
Total	$3,420	$210/day for 3 people

That is $70 per person per day in Lisbon, including flights. This is achievable because I cooked breakfast and many dinners, chose free activities (beaches, parks, walking tours), and booked accommodation with a kitchen.

Money-Saving Strategies

• Kids fly free or cheap on many European budget airlines (under 2 on lap; 2-11 at reduced fares)
• City passes (like the Lisboa Card) include free public transport and museum entry, often with child discounts
• Free walking tours work with kids over 6 who can walk for 2 hours
• Parks, beaches, and playgrounds are free and often your kids’ favorite activities anyway
• Grocery shopping for breakfasts and snacks saves $15-25/day
• Off-season travel reduces accommodation costs by 30-50%

Best Destinations for Solo Parent Travel

Destinations I Have Tested and Loved

Portugal (Lisbon and Algarve) My top recommendation for solo parent travel. Incredibly family-friendly culture, affordable, safe, beautiful beaches, excellent public transport in Lisbon. The Portuguese genuinely love children — strangers smiled at my kids, servers brought them treats, and I never once felt judged for being alone with them.

Japan (Tokyo and Kyoto) The safest country I have traveled in with kids. Trains run on time. Food is healthy and kid-approved (ramen, rice, tempura). Convenience stores are everywhere. The biggest surprise: Japan is remarkably child-friendly despite its reputation for order and quiet. Parks are excellent, and the culture of kawaii (cuteness) means kids are delighted constantly.

Mexico (Riviera Maya) All-inclusive resorts on the Riviera Maya are a solo parent’s dream: kids clubs provide supervised childcare (included in your rate), meals are handled, the beach is right there, and the cost is often comparable to a self-catered European trip. I dropped my kids at the kids club, lay by the pool with a book, and felt no guilt.

UK (London and Cornwall) English-speaking, excellent museums (many free!), incredible public transport in London, gorgeous beaches in Cornwall. The UK is easy-mode for first-time solo parent international travel.

Costa Rica Safe, nature-focused, and structured for families. Wildlife (sloths, monkeys, toucans) captivates kids, and many eco-lodges cater specifically to families. The adventure activities (zip-lining, kayaking, waterfall hikes) work for ages 5+ with parent supervision.

Destinations That Are Harder Solo with Kids

Destination	Challenge	Workaround
India	Sensory overload, food safety concerns, logistical intensity	Wait until kids are 10+; choose structured tours
Morocco	Intense market culture, heat, aggressive touts	Stay in riads with pools; limit medina time
Southeast Asia (backpacking)	Infrastructure challenges with strollers/car seats	Focus on developed areas: Singapore, Bali, Bangkok
Safari destinations	Long drives, malaria risk, age restrictions	Wait until kids are 6+; choose malaria-free reserves

Age-Specific Travel Strategies

Toddlers (1-3)

The hard truth: Traveling solo with a toddler is the hardest configuration. They are heavy, fast, unpredictable, and have zero interest in cultural experiences. But it is doable, and they will not remember it — you will.

• Bring a lightweight, compact stroller (Babyzen Yoyo is the gold standard for travel)
• Nap time is sacred — schedule your day around it
• Choose accommodation with a separate bedroom so you can function after bedtime
• Lower your expectations radically: one activity per day is plenty
• Playgrounds are your best friend in any city

School Age (5-11)

The sweet spot: Old enough to walk, understand, and remember. Young enough to still think you are cool. This is peak family travel age.

• Give them a camera (a cheap digital camera or an old phone) and let them document the trip
• Involve them in planning: let them pick one activity per day
• Build in physical activity: hikes, beaches, bike rides, playgrounds
• Food can be an adventure: let them try new things without pressure
• They can carry their own small backpack (with a water bottle, snacks, and their camera)

Tweens and Teens (12+)

The independence phase: They want autonomy but still need supervision. The balance is giving them structured independence within safe boundaries.

• In safe cities, let them explore a small area independently (with a phone and a meeting point)
• Let them navigate: give them the map and follow
• Involve them in real decisions: where to eat, what to see, how to get there
• Respect their social needs: consider hostels or accommodations where they can meet other young travelers
• Give them a budget and let them manage it

Self-Care for Solo Parents Who Travel

You Deserve Rest Too

The biggest danger of solo parent travel is treating yourself as the logistics machine and forgetting that you are also on vacation. You need rest, fun, and moments of quiet just as much as your kids need stimulation.

How I build self-care into solo parent trips:

• Kids clubs at resorts: Guilt-free solo time. Your kids are supervised, entertained, and often having more fun than they would with you.
• Bedtime: If your kids are asleep by 8 PM, you have 2-3 hours of solo time. I sit on the balcony with a glass of wine and a book. This is my vacation within the vacation.
• Screen time agreement: I tell my kids: “You get one hour of tablet time after lunch, and that is my quiet hour too.” They get their screens; I get my peace.
• Trade-off activities: We alternate kid-focused activities (playground, beach) with mom-focused activities (cafe, museum). Everyone gets their thing.

The Guilt Question

Solo parent travel guilt takes two forms: guilt about spending money on travel instead of “practical” things, and guilt about the difficulty of traveling alone with kids making you short-tempered or frustrated.

To the first: travel is not a luxury when you are a solo parent. It is maintenance. You need refueling, your kids need exposure to the world, and shared experiences build a family bond that no amount of practical spending can replace.

To the second: you will lose your patience. You will snap at your kids in an airport. You will bribe them with ice cream to sit still in a restaurant. This does not make you a bad parent — it makes you a human doing an incredibly hard thing by yourself. Give yourself the grace you would give any other parent in the same situation.

Emergency Planning

Solo Parent Emergency Protocol

When you are the only adult, emergency planning is critical because there is no one to tag in if you are incapacitated.

Before the trip:

• Emergency contacts laminated and in each child’s bag (not just your phone)
• Children should know: their full name, your full name, your phone number, and the name of where you are staying
• Travel insurance with emergency evacuation for all family members
• Local emergency number saved in your phone for every destination
• Embassy/consulate contact information

If YOU get sick or injured:

• Hotel concierge/reception can help coordinate care and watch your children briefly
• Your emergency contacts can arrange remote support
• Travel insurance assistance lines can coordinate local help
• In true emergencies, embassies can help with child welfare while you receive treatment

Teach your children basic safety phrases in the local language:

• “I need help”
• “Where is my mother?”
• “Please call this number”

This is not meant to scare you — it is meant to prepare you. In five years of solo parent travel, I have needed my emergency plan exactly zero times. But having it let me travel without anxiety about the what-ifs.

You are not just traveling solo with kids. You are showing them that their mother is brave, capable, independent, and endlessly curious about the world. You are teaching them that adventure does not require a perfect family structure — it requires a willingness to show up. And every time you navigate a foreign airport, find a restaurant your kids will eat at, or get you all safely from point A to point B in a country you have never visited, you are teaching them the most important lesson of all: anything is possible when you are willing to try.

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