Life as a single mom of five is busy and, if I am honest, often overwhelming. Between my nursing degree, clinical placements, and the daily responsibilities of raising my children, my life runs at full speed. During clinics I leave home in the dark, spend long days at the hospital, and often return in the dark. It can feel like chaos from start to finish.
That is why traveling as a single mom has become so important. I make it a priority to take my kids on holiday at least once a year. I believe we deserve it. I deserve it as their mom who works so hard, and they deserve it as kids who are growing up with so much responsibility around them. Traveling as a single mom is not always easy, but it is possible with planning, saving, and determination. For us, travel is our way of pressing pause, stepping outside of the routine, and creating memories together that will last forever.
In the past 12 months, we managed three unforgettable trips: Cape Verde, Tunisia, and a summer road trip across the UK.
Cape Verde – December 2023
For Christmas 2023, I wanted to escape the cold and gray London weather. I booked a week in Cape Verde because it offered sun, safety, and a family-friendly atmosphere without being too far from home.
The trip cost just under £4,000 for flights, transfers, meals, and a five-star hotel. I see holidays as an investment. If I cannot afford the kind of trip that I know we will all enjoy, I would rather save and wait, because the experience matters more than just going anywhere.
This time, I took four of my children. My youngest had just turned 1, my 5 year old, 11 year old, and 13 year old. My oldest son stayed at university.
We made the most of everything:
- Long days at the beach and in the hotel pool
- Excursions to the saltwater lake and seeing sharks in the sea
- Tasting traditional Cape Verdean food outside of the hotel
Cape Verde reminded me that traveling as a single mom does not have to be impossible. With planning and saving, I was able to give my kids a week filled with sunshine, beaches, and adventure.
Tunisia – April 2024
A few months later, I turned 38 and decided I wanted to celebrate my birthday with a quick trip away. Originally, I thought about Turkey, but Tunisia was more affordable. Tunisia has had safety concerns in the past, so I made sure to research carefully, and I found that it is now considered safe for tourists. That gave me the confidence to book.
This was a shorter trip, just four days, and I decided to take only my two youngest kids. At the time they were 2 and 5 years old. My other children stayed home with my oldest son.
It turned out to be such a special trip.
- We went on a donkey ride and horse riding
- We tried Tunisian food and wandered through the local streets
- The children loved every moment, and I loved seeing their joy
The best part? The trip cost less than £1,000. It was proof that you do not need to spend a fortune to create meaningful memories. This trip also reminded me that single mom travel can be affordable, safe, and truly unforgettable.
UK Road Trip – Summer 2024
By the summer holidays, I wanted to do something fun with the kids, I decided on a road trip across the UK with all of the kids.
We set off from London and spent a week driving through different cities:
- Nottingham, where we stayed in a hotel and explored local attractions
- Sheffield, where we stayed with a friend and enjoyed family time together and local attractions
- Leeds, where we spent a day at the park before heading back
- Birmingham, where we spent two days, including a safari drive-through and splash park that the kids absolutely loved
It was a full car, a lot of energy, and plenty of noise. But it was also full of laughter, adventure, and bonding.
Even when we got home, we continued with local activities like the cinema and the park. Sometimes traveling as a single mom does not mean going abroad. Sometimes it is as simple as loading the car, driving to new places, and turning everyday moments into family travel memories.
Why Holidays Matter to Me
In between these holidays, my life is demanding. Nursing school and clinical placements take so much of my time and energy. I often leave home before sunrise and return after sunset, and there are days I feel completely drained.
That is why holidays are non-negotiable for me. They are my way of reminding myself and my children that life is not only about work, school, and responsibility. It is also about joy, connection, and experiences we will never forget.
Growing up, I did not get to experience trips like these. That is part of why I am determined to give my kids something different. Already, they talk about Cape Verde and Tunisia and ask when we can go back. These memories are becoming part of their story, our story.
Being a single mom is not easy, but these holidays are proof that with planning, saving, and determination, traveling as a single mom can be done. Our breaks remind me why all the hard work is worth it.
“And if I can quietly admit one more thing. As much fun as these trips are, I usually come home just as exhausted as when I left. That is the reality of being a single parent. You do not really switch off. But honestly, I would not trade the tiredness for the memories we have made.”
