Hi! I love traveling! Before I had my daughter (who is now 17 months old), I had the opportunity to travel the world! I've been all over Europe with a college buddy, studied abroad in Israel and have visited relatives in Japan, the Philippines, and Austria.

I'd like to continue seeing the world. Just because I am a mom, does it mean I have to stop traveling?

Hopefully there is some good news out there!

If you are a single parent and have traveled w/ or w/o your child(ren), please let me know of some tips/advice and PLACES it would be conducive for some high class learning and exposure to culture.

Thanks!

I've been on the Europe forum for some months now, but this is my first visit to this forum!

Of course you don't have to stop travelling because you are a mum! I have been a single parent for 8 years now - I have four children now aged 16, 14 (girls) and 12yo twin boys.

Our first trip abroad (just us, no dad) was when the boys were 6. I booked a villa in Spain, cheap flights, rented a car, and that was it. Very easy, and we had a lot of fun. Since then we have been to Brittany (rented a log cabin by a lake on a campsite - drove over from the UK), Venice for a week (rented an apartment), Paris and Normandy (self-drive and hotels). Plus in other years we go to the North Cornwall coast because the children love to surf. Have also been to Paris and Barcelona with just the girls and have a trip planned to Dublin with my 14 year old.

Your daughter being so young still, you have so much more flexibility, and she is happy to just be with you wherever you go. She will have great memories later on, although she probably won't remember much under 4 or 5 years.

As my lot have got older they have their own ideas as to what and where they want to go, see, do, etc which does make things difficult now. It was lovely when they were younger and didn't argue! Then they went along with what I planned. Now the 16 year old will not travel with us as a family, but she will if it is a girlie trip. To be honest, while I miss her, I don't miss the way she can wind everyone else up and causes trouble and strife where there is no need!

Travelling with such a small child probably means you can't do or see quite as much as you would like because she will tire - but not seeing everything will apply whatever age she is, because as she gets older more than one museum or church a day will often be too much! You have to balance the trip with fun things for the child too.

The thing I now look forward to most is travelling alone again, so I can see and do what I want. I have been to Paris 4 times now and still haven't managed to see the Louvre or St Chappelle because it wasn't worth the anguish of the kids whingeing and moaning and spoiling my own enjoyment. So I am saving those for another trip ALONE when I can enjoy them in peace!

But please do keep travelling with your daughter. You have many years before she reaches her teens and by then you may be such good travelling companions that it will all still be perfect!

Good luck.

ttt

Testing because the post I added earlier doesn't seem to have made it here...

Having been on safari in East Africa, I would strongly advise you NOT to take such a young child - wait until she is at least 8 or 9. Our daughter was 9 when we took her to Kenya for the first time, but there were other families around with younger children, and they were NOT having a good time.

I have been traveling with my son as a single parent since he was about 14 months old and he has caught my bug of traveling. He has been all over the United States and when he was 5 we went to England and Germany. He is 7 now and he is coming to Chile with me for six months while I am doing a study abroad. I don't think I could have a better travel companion. I think as long as you have fun things planned for your daugther to do throughout the day she will be willing to do the things you like to do. You will also find that the locals always like children and are very accomodating to you.