Are single-parent holidays viable?
By Rob Andrews
I’m the father of two teenage girls. They live with their mother and I have weekly contact but I wanted to get away with them for a few days. I’d always been a bit apprehensive of a full blown holiday with them to be honest. For one thing how could I organise getting us together in the same place during the school holidays, for another just how do you keep two teenagers entertained for seven days?
Taking the plunge
I chose to go with Aldi Travel for no other reason than they are my local supermarket and they seemed to have some decent deals available. We hit the internet and checked out their very clear website. I consulted with the girls; one wanted Greece, the other Egypt. So Spain it was! (Hey, I’m the adult here ok?) My one concession was that it would be a nice hotel somewhere fairly swanky. The four-star Melia Marbella Dinamar in Puerto Banus on Spain’s Costa Del Sol seemed to fit the bill.
Booking the trip was a doddle. You simply add a few details: date, hotel, flight, etc and pay a deposit and that’s it. I must admit I was expecting it to be a lengthy process but for me it took only minutes. Maybe this holiday was going to be easier than I thought…
The flight option we took was a cheap and cheerful flight to Malaga with EasyJet. No dramas as such, though with hindsight I wouldn’t have chosen to travel on Saturday afternoon which seems to be peak time at Gatwick at least. All bags arrived intact at our destination – this really was going far too smoothly!
Another option available when booking online was to have a transfer to the hotel waiting for us when we arrived. The hotel was a 45 minute drive and I didn’t need a hire car for the whole week so it seemed a better bet than fighting for a taxi and trying to explain where we wanted to go. A driver complete with sleek Audi was waiting for us at the exit and within minutes we were on our way to the hotel. He also picked us up on the return leg, was early and totally professional. It is more expensive than other options but for peace of mind and ease it was worth every penny.
The Hotel
We arrived at the Melia Marbella Dinamar late on a Saturday night. Check-in was a breeze and they even managed to rustle up a light snack in the bar despite the late hour. The room was very clean and of a decent size. The double beds were comfortable and the room was air-conditioned – a must in the long, dry Spanish summers. Towelling robes in the bathroom were a nice surprise touch, and just when we thought it couldn’t be better we noticed the balcony which overlooked the beach and sea just 100 metres away. Virtually all my worries about taking a holiday with the girls had disappeared.
The next day, bright and early, we arose to what would become a pretty typical day of eating, sunbathing, swimming and reading – oh and more eating!
Again for peace of mind we opted for full board meaning all our meals, though crucially none of our drinks, were included in the price. The first meal of the day was the usual free-for-all with continental, British and Spanish style breakfasts all available. This was followed some hours later by a buffet lunch out by one of the pools with a fantastic display of seafood, pasta dishes, paella (different each day), various meats and fish all grilled to order, vegetable dishes, salads and cakes. All the dishes were very tasty and bountiful. The final meal, dinner, served between 8pm and 10pm served up similar fare to lunch, though there were at least half a dozen new choices. The waiters were all very friendly and helpful and seemingly worked all day, every day! It’s safe to say that we never went to sleep with empty bellies.
Spain is renowned for its sunshine and so for any serious sunbathing is going to require a decent sun-bed or two. Gone are the days when the Brits would try to beat the Germans by getting up at the crack of dawn to reserve the best beds by the pool with a carefully placed towel. Our hotel had loungers to spare and the layout of the main pool meant that there weren’t any ‘best spots’ as such.
The hotel has two main swimming pools, with a third, smaller, heated indoor pool. The main one is laid out like a tropical paradise complete with palm trees, manicured lawns, tropical flowers and waterfalls. Part of the pool is given over to a shallow area which is perfect for toddlers to splash around in, while the main part was large enough to wallow in without being disturbed.
My final big worry with my girls was how to keep them entertained. I needn’t have worried. Never underestimate the effect of bright sunshine and a pool. I quite literally couldn’t pull them away from it. Even the offer of a casual stroll along the beach to the marina, complete with ice cream, was met with howls of protest. It’s just as well because in the evening the hotel is pretty dead in terms of entertainment. They do have some guy come in and murder a few tunes over the piano, but to be honest you are better off staying in your room.
The final reckoning
So was it worth it? The trip was very competitively priced and I went for all the add-ons so it can be done cheaper if that is an issue. As mentioned previously, drinks aren’t included so the combination of four-star prices and a weak pound versus the Euro meant there were some hidden extras. As a guide, a small bottle of Coke in the hotel came in at around £3.50. Couple this to the fact that there are no water fountains and the sun is always shining, you’ll find you run up a tidy bill pretty quickly. One solution would be to stock up at a nearby supermarket and keep it in your minibar.
But of course worth is measured in more ways that just monetary value. Spending 24 hours a day for seven days with my girls meant more to me than they will ever know and I like to think they had a great time too. So if, like me, you want to take the family away just do it. The first step is always the hardest and once done you’ll find there are a world of possibilities out there. It’s got to be better than a wet Sunday at the zoo right?
Prices
Flight & Hotel prices for 2 or 2+1 at Melia Marbella Dinamar – 4* Full Board – Puerto Banus – Costa Del Sol
7 nights for 2 Adults & 1 Child (up to age 11 years):
Accommodation Only = £1174.74
Flight & Hotel = £1328.52
7 nights for 2 Adults:
Flight & Hotel = £1276.97
Accommodation Only = £1174.74
All prices are based on passengers sharing a double or twin room on Full Board Basis.
Flight & Hotel prices are based on easyjet flights departing from London Gatwick 1st October 2009. Other departure airports and dates are available.
