Single parents think twice on travel with kids

MATRIMONIAL bust-ups are not enough to stop single parents from still going on holidays with their children, new findings have shown.

But for anyone who is experiencing a divorce or separation, it can be not only heartbreaking, but problematic, when it comes to booking an adventure with the kids.

New research from comparetravelinsurance.com.au revealed nearly 60 per cent of parents say they would still continue to travel with their children after experiencing a break-up with their partner.

But experts, including the site’s director Natalie Ball, said there are many things to consider before booking a getaway with your child, and it can end up costing you more.

“Single-parent families are almost forgotten in the travel industry, you see a lot of packages designed for a traditional family holiday where you have two married parents and their children included,’’ she said.

“In addition to worrying about how to fund the holiday and the extended time away from work, separated parents have to consider the other parent’s plans and seek consent when taking the children interstate or overseas.”

About one in three marriages end in divorce and latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data found in 2015 that about 47.5 per cent of all divorces involved children.

Ms Ball urges any single parents looking to take their child interstate or overseas to always obtain the other parent’s approval prior to travel and have the passports and consent planned well in advance.

Travel insurance is also critical in case something does go wrong while away, which can result in issues of who foots the bill, particularly if disaster happens when the child is away with only one parent.

But insurers are taking a new approach to families where there’s been a break-up, including new Australianowned insurer Zoom.

Instead of focusing on family travel insurance, they identify travellers as adults and dependant children, so young ones are covered regardless of which parent is with them.

Insurance Council of Australia’s spokesman Campbell Fuller said regardless of who is going on the holiday, it’s important everyone is correctly included in the policy.

“Most travel insurers offer policies that cover families (including single parent families) and couples,’’ he said.

“All travelling members of the family must be listed on the Certificate of Insurance.

“Most insurers will insure a spouse or de facto partner, children and even grandchildren.”