A while ago I found a really good deal for an Easter weekend at a holiday park and shared it on social media. A friend I’ve known since I was younger, who’s also a single mum, saw it and said, “Do you know what? I’m going to book the same deal.”
We both went with our own children and did our own thing. But a couple of times we met up, the kids played in the pool for hours and we sat at the side having a natter. We’re both busy and lead quite different lives, so it was lovely to get that bit of time together without trying to organise a whole holiday as a group.
I’ve done quite a few UK breaks on my own with Arlo now. We’ve stayed in caravans, camped at festivals and even slept in a room that used to be a prison. Booking for one adult and one child can be frustrating when so many deals are priced for a family of four. Over time I’ve worked out what I’ll pay extra for, what I can bring from home and how far I actually want to drive on a Friday after school.
Price it up for the people who are actually going
I’ve seen newspaper holiday offers that look like a bargain until I realise I’d have to pay for four people as a minimum. The advertised price per person can look great. The total for me and Arlo is the number I care about.
Sometimes a caravan still works out well because the accommodation price is reasonable even with two of us in it. I’ve found good deals with both Haven and Park Holidays. If it’s one adult and one or two children and you can all fit in one hotel room, a budget hotel can also work out cheaper. I put in the actual ages and number of guests, then add the things I know we’ll spend money on, like parking, meals and any activities we want to do.
A Friday straight from school can feel like a proper holiday
I’m a teacher, so I’m working around school dates too. Some of our best breaks have been ordinary weekends during term time. I’ve picked Arlo up at three on a Friday, driven two or three hours and still made it to the coast in time to see the sunset.
I’m also realistic about the driving. When it’s just me, there’s nobody to swap with when I’m tired. I’ll either book somewhere closer to Birmingham or make a stop part of the trip. We’ve done Chester Zoo with an overnight stay, which made the whole thing feel less rushed. And I’ll happily go away in March if there’s something we want to do. A blustery walk and a bike ride can be enough to make a weekend feel like a break.
Holiday parks where I can leave the car parked
Haven Devon Cliffs is one we’ve gone back to repeatedly. Once we’ve got there and unpacked, there’s plenty to do on site. There are activities at the park, you can walk down to Sandy Bay from your caravan, and World of Country Life is a separate farm attraction right by the park entrance. I love that we can walk to it and make a day of it without having to load the car up again. Depending on where we’re staying, I’ll sometimes drive down to the beach car park if Arlo’s tired or we’ve got half the caravan’s contents coming with us. I’ve written more about the beach, the park and the farm in my Devon Cliffs Haven review.
We’ve stayed at a Haven park in Wales with a splash pad too, and Butlin’s Minehead is another place we’ve been back to loads. I like exploring somewhere new, but there are weekends when I want us both to know how everything works. Once we’ve arrived, Arlo already knows what he’s looking forward to and I can spend less time working out where we’re going next.
Budget hotels, a castle hostel and camping at festivals
For a city break, I’m quite happy with a Premier Inn or Travelodge. I know roughly what I’m getting and I feel comfortable turning up with Arlo. We’ve done a couple of nights in London in one budget hotel room and spent our time out exploring. I look for local blogs when I’m planning that sort of trip. I write about family days out on a budget in Birmingham, and there’ll be someone doing the same in the city I’m visiting.
When we went to Symonds Yat and the Wye Valley, I needed to be there that weekend for a blog collaboration, so I booked a budget stay at YHA St Briavels Castle. The room we stayed in had been used as a prison. There were funny bunk beds and strange inscriptions on the walls. The host was lovely, there was a shared common room and a kitchen we could use, and we could walk to the pub. It was basic, but sleeping in an old castle was a whole experience in itself.
I also take Arlo to festivals on my own. We started with community festivals when he was young, and now he shares my love of music. He’s even in a band at school. He loves the campsite as much as the festival sometimes. He can put up a tent pretty well, he likes cooking our meals when we’re camping, and he loves the freedom of being away from home for a night or two. I agree the ground rules with him before we go so he knows to check in with me before heading anywhere. I’m more alert when I’m there with him than I would be with friends, and I still get to spend a weekend listening to music with someone who loves it as much as I do.
What I pay extra for and what I bring from home
I’ll pay for convenience when it makes the break easier. There’s nobody to pop to the shop while I stay with Arlo, so for a self-catering break I’ve taken a HelloFresh or Gousto box with us. I know what I’m cooking and I’ve already got the ingredients. I’m happy to pay for a meal out too. There are only two of us, and I’m on holiday as well.
Breakfast is where I save. I bring porridge pots, wrapped croissants or brioche buns and plenty of fruit. I tend to stick to soft drinks when I’m away on my own with Arlo, and I’ll pack Aldi’s version of Fruit Shoots for him. I also agree his pocket money before we go so he can decide what he actually wants to spend it on.
And if you’ve ever been to evening entertainment at a holiday park, you’ll know exactly what happens when someone comes round selling light-up toys. We’ve got a lightsaber I bought years ago that still comes with us. I bring bubbles, the bucket and spade, and the beach gear we already own. I’m happy to spend a bit more on a wetsuit he’ll use again and again. It’s familiar to him and I’m only buying it once.
Smaller bags make unloading much easier
I usually drive because I can put the camping chairs, plenty of snacks and enough clothes for the whole trip in the boot. For a long drive I’ll pack Arlo’s tablet and a pillow so he can get comfortable. I also keep a little first-aid kit with plasters and our usual children’s medicine. It saves me having to find a pharmacy with a tired or poorly child if we need something I could have brought from home.
One thing I learnt the hard way is that a few smaller bags are easier to manage than one big suitcase. Arlo has his own bag now, which he carries and looks after. I keep the swimming stuff together in a separate bag so we can grab it when we want it. And if I forget something, we can usually pop to a supermarket. I’ve done it enough times now that a forgotten item feels like a quick stop and then we’re back to enjoying ourselves.
The bit I found awkward at first
Evening entertainment used to make me feel a bit awkward. I’d see one adult holding a table while the other went to the bar or came back later with the children. Then I’d be sitting there thinking, Can I even get up and order a drink without losing our seats? If there’s an app that lets you order to the table, I’ll happily use it.
When Arlo was younger, I sometimes felt a bit isolated at first. Then I thought, I’ve got every right to be here as anyone else. I can laugh at the show and enjoy it with him. Some of the best bits are the little conversations we have when it’s just the two of us.
I felt nervous about flying alone with him too, so the first flight I booked was Birmingham to Edinburgh. We watched videos beforehand and talked through what would happen, from reading the departures board to finding our gate. It was much easier than I’d expected. On his first trip on the London Underground, we avoided peak times and gave ourselves time to go at his pace. People were really kind.
If you’re nervous about a first trip, I’d choose somewhere you can get to without a long day of travel and book one thing you’re both looking forward to. And if a friend fancies the same deal, you can book your own breaks and meet up for a swim. Our Easter weekend gave the kids hours of fun in the pool and gave us a chance to catch up. I’d happily do it again.
Last Updated on Thursday, November 12, 2026 by Lavania Oluban