Single parents need fair deal on holidays

ONE in four families in the UK is headed by a single parent – but the travel industry hasn’t quite caught up with this fact.

Family deals and packages are typically for a uniform two adults and two children.

Surely all families whatever their shape, size and make-up should have access to the same opportunities?

Many single parents have been hit hard by the welfare cuts and are already struggling to keep up with day-today living costs. So being slapped with even higher costs for holidays is a hard pill to swallow.

A recent survey by currency exchange firm FairFX revealed many single parents are paying more for holidays than if they were travelling as a couple, with costs for a package deal as much as £500 higher.

Many holiday companies have deals where children travel free with two adults. In contrast, single parents are forced to pay adult prices for their young children – child prices are only available when youngsters are sharing with two paying adults.

Faye Goldman, head of membership at Gingerbread, the charity that helps and supports single parents, says: “It’s just plain wrong that single-parent families are excluded from holiday deals because of their family make-up. Holiday companies need to recognise that families come in all shapes and sizes.

“Until their pricing and deals reflect that, everyone loses out – the single parents and their kids are hit by unfair prices, and the holiday providers miss out on sales to many of the two million single-parent households in the UK.”

There are a small number of firms such as campsites or caravan parks in the UK offering holidays tailored to single parents. These include Camp Mates, Acorn Family Holidays, Mango and Single With Kids. And others, such as Virgin Holidays, have developed a number of single-parent pricing offers, which ensure they aren’t paying more for travelling solo with children.

But more companies need to wake up to the reality of today’s family life and update their pricing to make holidays accessible and affordable to all.

It’s just plain wrong that single-parent families are excluded from holiday deals due to their family make-up