In this issue:

I. GLOBAL BRENDA'S MESSAGE
II. SINGLE PARENT TOURS ­ Feedback from you
III. TRAVELING WITH INFANTS, HEALTH CONCERNS
IV. TRAVELING TO PARIS
VI. MEETING SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES
VII. UNCOVERED ­ SINGLE PARENT TRAVEL SPECIALS
VIII. SUBSCRIBERS SPEAK UP-REQUESTS, INQUIRIES, COMMENTS

I. GLOBAL BRENDA'S MESSAGE

Dear Readers,

Our weekend getaway to Rocking Horse Ranch in Hudson Valley, NY is sold out. We have eleven families attending. It's going to be a lot of fun and I can't wait to go. Since both the Beaches and the NY trip sold out about two weeks in advance, we highly recommend that if you plan on going to Monterey you book by the end of December.

Now that the holidays are fast approaching, consider giving "The Single Parent Travel Handbook" as a gift. You can buy and autographed copy from us at http://www.SingleParentTravel.net or purchase the book from any on-line bookstore such as Amazon or any physical bookstore.

A few people have said that they have found some bookstores that do not carry it. If that is the case send us an e-mail as to which bookstore and we will make sure they stock it!

Happy Travels!

GlobalBrenda

II. SINGLE PARENT TOURS ­ Feedback from our readers

Many of you told us that the dates that we offered the Beaches trip for last year conflicted with your children's school schedule. So here is your chance to offer feedback. Beaches has told us that they will eliminate the single supplement May 1 to May 31 and August 24 to October 31. Please let us know which dates you prefer. If those dates still conflict with your kids' school schedule, not to worry, we will be setting up two summer trips Arizona and Playa del Carmen this year toward the middle of the summer.

Thirty percent of The Single Parent Travel Network's membership is men. So far Single Parent Tours' trips are mostly women. Rest assured that we are doing everything in our power and budget to recruit men on these trips. We are currently contacting single dads' organizations, targeting our advertisements toward men and over the next few weeks we are doing a large press push in men's media. You can do your part, too. Find single dads and reach out to them! Get them to sign up for our newsletter and tell them about Single Parent Tours.

A number of parents of teens have asked about trips that their kids could enjoy. While our trips have kids as young as one and as old as 15, the majority of kids so far are aged 5 through 12. For our Philadelphia getaway weekend and our week long vacation to Playa del Carmen, Mexico, the teens will be happy to know that we will arrange activities that are more their speed. As Single Parent Tours grows, so will our programs.

The results are in from the mid-month e-mail blast about a Rocky Mountain weekend in late spring. Hands down, people voted for Estes Park, CO. Monique is going to Estes Park next week to organize a nice trip for the Rocky Mountain parents. We got a tremendous response, so this should be a great trip! Thank you all for responding.

We also have received quite a number of requests for South Florida and Walt Disney World, Florida, so we intend on adding those locations to our 2004/2005 season.

Numerous e-mails have come in for trips over the holidays. Currently we are not planning to run any trips over the Thanksgiving or Christmas weeks. There are two reasons: 1) Resort hotels sell out during those periods and consequently do not offer group rates, much less elimination of the single supplement. 2) Advance deposit requirements are high and penalties stiff if the group falls short of its predicted number.As our program expands, we will look at spring break trips and certainly will revisit the Thanksgiving and Christmas periods.

For more detail on the trips we are running, visit:

http://www.SingleParentTours.com or call Janet or Renee at 877-GO-GO-SPT

III. TRAVELING WITH INFANTS, HEALTH CONCERNS

The upcoming holiday season is a popular time to fly across country to visit family. In response to several e-mails about traveling by air with infants, I contacted my children's former pediatrician who offered some answers to those questions:

Q: How old does my baby have to be before he/she can travel by plane?

A full term healthy baby can travel electively at a few days of age. As long as the baby is stable and feeding well airplane travel is OK at a week of age.

Q: What about the infant's ears?

Infants and children will experience otalgia (earache) due to changes in air pressure during takeoff and landing. Have the baby bottle or breast feed during takeoff and landing. Even if the infant has an ear infection flying is not detrimental to the baby's ears.

Q: Can I give the infant something to "calm" him or her before the flight?

I would not recommend anything. For older children a small dose of benadryl may make the child drowsy but sometimes it can have a reverse effect and "wire" them.

IV. TRAVELING TO PARIS

A. G. wrote, "I recently purchased your book, The Single Parent Travel Handbook and find it very helpful. I am planning on a trip to France in early December while the rates are still so low and wanted to see if you have any suggestions on places to stay and areas to visit with my two children ages 8 and 11 while we are there."

Read GlobalBrenda's Answer:

I am assuming that you will spend most of your time in Paris, so I will start with that, but first a word on airfares. Normally all the airline carriers drop their fares the second week of January, but right now they seem to be offering some incredible rates. An excellent fare is $350 from NY to Paris. You must buy the ticket as soon as you can after the sales are announced. The good dates fill up immediately. Subscribe to Frommer's daily email blast and the airline's marketing lists. Those are both wonderful ways to get notified of the sales.

Read the rest at:

http://www.SingleParentTravel.net/Writing/Parisemail2.htm

V. MEETING OTHER SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES

SingleDadInNY writes, "Hi, I am a single dad with an 8 year old son. I am in my late 30's and we live in NY. My son is very active, he likes almost all sports. He is also an avid gameboy pokemon player. We like to play basketball and I am trying to get him interested in camping. He would like to try horseback riding and he wants tennis lessons. We vacationed last summer on the shore in South Jersey. I would be interested in meeting up with single parents with similar aged boys (say 6 to 11 or so). I am a very down to earth, professional, quiet simple guy. I would be interested in local trips, Arizona, Florida, any mountain destination, water parks etc. I am flexible. I can be reached directly at Rooskie700@aol.com."

Reply to him at:

http://pub15.ezboard.com/fsingleparenttravelfrm1.showMessage?topicID=39.topic

JMMK31 wrote:

"Hi, I'm soon to be a separated/divorced mom with 2 teenagers 15 yrs. and 13yrs. I'm looking to meet new friends and do some traveling in 2004. I live in CT. Would like to talk to someone who's been through this. Jo

Reply to her at:

http://pub15.ezboard.com/fsingleparenttravelfrm1.showMessageRange?topicID=1.topic&start=41&stop=55

VI. UNCOVERED ­ SINGLE PARENT TRAVEL SPECIALS

Single Parent Special #1 ­ The Garden Bed and Breakfast, Spring City, UT

Phyllis and Bud Snedecor will give single parents with one child the same rates as single adults, $60 per night at their B&B. (Call for rates for more than one child.) The couple runs a B&B in a very rural area in central Utah with local hiking trails, a llama farm, an elk farm, sled rides and lots of wildlife to view. You might even get caught in a sheep herd!

They are two miles from a national forest with non-motorized (horse or foot) traffic only, free for visitors. Not only are there lots of hummingbirds, deer, pocket gophers and Rock Chucks, but Phyllis and Bud have a friendly dog and 4 cats that enjoy company... (The couple also allows dogs and horses).

To book, call 1-435-462-9285 or toll free 1-877-537-2337 for more info, check out http://www.BedsAndRoses.com

Single Parent Travel Special #2 ­ The Gillum House B&B Shinnston, WV

The Gillum House offers an 18th Century Christmas Package for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The package includes two nights lodging (Dec. 24 - 25), a full breakfast each morning, a period Christmas dinner complete with costumed hosts. Families can participate in making the dinner (crank the noodle maker or roll the cookie dough) if they so desire. There is really too much to include about this special in such a small space.

For single parent families with one child or two children under the age of ten the package costs $275. For larger families needing two rooms, the package costs $325. Kathleen was a single parent before she met her current partner through Parents Without Partners, hence her discount for single parent families. Call the Gillum House for more info: 888-592-0177 or 304-592-0177. See http://www.Gillumhouse.com

Single Parent Travel Special #3 ­ Mountain Side Resort, Stowe, Vermont

Mountain Side Resorts rents condos by the week, not by the person. Their condos are located in Stowe, Vermont and include full kitchens. The condo complex includes an indoor pool and hot tub and are located near sledding, sleigh rides, snow shoeing, cross country skiing and ice skating.

This year they are starting a new kids program, Mud City Adventures. One-bedroom condos start at $187 for one night before December 18th or after March 15th. For reservations - call 1-800-458-4893 or visit http://www.mountainsideresort.com

Single Parent Travel Special #4 - Single Parent Tours goes to Monterey, CA

Our weekend trip (January 16 -18) to Monterey, CA is filling up quite nicely. Join other single parent families in one of America's loveliest coastal towns. The weekend includes two nights accommodations at the cozy Bay Park Hotel in Monterey, a welcome reception and get-together Friday evening, hot buffet breakfasts Saturday and Sunday mornings, a family scavenger hunt, lunch on Saturday, admission to the outstanding Monterey Bay Aquarium and plenty of leisure time for, beachcombing, sightseeing and shopping. One adult and one child is $510. Call 877-GOGO-SPT or see http://www.SingleParentTours.com for other pricing.

VII. SUBSCRIBERS SPEAK UP-REQUESTS, INQUIRIES, COMMENTS

D.W. asks: I have a passport for my daughter, but when we went to the Dominican Republic, they didn't care...they still wanted to see the "letter". Grrrr! I thought I was all set for the rest of our vacations, but not so.

We are traveling to Costa Rica for our next trip & I keep seeing on the Internet that "the letter" has to be notarized by a Costa Rican consulate...are they kidding? How can I find out if a passport will work? It's never easy to get "the letter"; it would be nearly impossible to have him go to some Costa Rican consulate...Any suggestions for where I can find a definitive answer? Thank you so much!!

GLOBALBRENDA ANSWER:

As a single parent you may also be asked to provide a notarized letter of permission from the absentee parent to take your child of the country. This is the first I have heard that the letter must be notarized by the Costa Rican consulate. However to find a definitive answer you must contact the Costa Rican consulate directly. Please read our section on documentation for further info:

http://www.singleparenttravel.net/Writing/Documentation/index.htm

K.H. from Eugene, Oregon came up with a great idea. "I am a single parent, different last name, from my 10 year old daughter with sole custody. Because of the different last names, when she was three, I took her to DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) and got her an Oregon ID card with her picture. To do that you need a birth certificate. In today's society, you may not carry a picture identification while on vacation. I figured that with anything happening these days, if was important to carry our identification on us. We have traveled to Hawaii and to the Bahamas, along with several trips to California and to the east coast.

"At all times, when flying, I present both of our identification to the ticket counter. They are amazed that she has an ID but are glad for it. I think I've inspired several people to do that. Because it's a legal document, when traveling to the Bahamas, I took my sole customer papers and birth certificates for both of us and was waived through. No problems. When you go prepared, they couldn't care less!"

" I recommend all children flying have their own identification card through their state. It later serves as their Driver's License, as that number stays with them for life."

" We are gearing up to go to Nicaragua with my daughter's fifth grade class in June. We will be sure to have all our papers in order!"

Q: "Hi, I would like to know if you can help me, I booked a trip to Aruba for my son and I, he is 16 years old. Now someone told me I need a letter from the father I have a restraining order from when my son was two years old, the father was abusive and on drugs and drinking. This restraining order shows he had supervised visitation he never showed up and is a deadbeat father can I use this paper to prove there is no contact with the father? He also has a warrant for not paying child support since my son was two, if the state cannot find him how can I? I called the caseworker for my county and I have to schedule for a court hearing and I don't have that time to go on a docket list for court, I will lose my money I spent on trip. It is not my fault the father is nowhere to be found and I keep getting the run around. If you have any information that can help me please reply." - J/

GLOBALBRENDA ANSWER:

I can't speak specifically about the requirements of Aruba and your specific situation. HOWEVER, I can tell you how to get the answers.Go to: http://www.singleparenttravel.net/Writing/Documentation/

Read the article that says, "Read this first" Then read the exceptions. Once you have followed what the article says to do, then please write us back and tell us what you found out. We will share the experiences on our newsletter and in the readers' comments section. We have several thousand single parents and their contributions about their first hand experience with documentation have helped many others.

It sounds like you shouldn't have to worry too much. I haven't seen many Caribbean countries require the letter and if they do, it sounds like you have excellent documentation for your situation.

Q: "I was wondering if you could give me any ideas on traveling to Northern Italy with a 6-7 yo? I am looking into going maybe next summer- I don't mind staying in hostels or family homes. I am extremely worried about our safety- being two girls " - C.

GLOBALBRENDA ANSWER: How exciting! The two of you will have a wonderful time. My kids were 5 and 12 when I took them for their first trip to Europe. I have 2 suggestions for you:

1) Go to http://www.towd.com and click on the international box and click on Italy. This will give you the contact information for the Italian Tourist Board.

2) I do not recommend staying in hostels. I have done it many times in my youth but, as a parent with small children, you do not have the privacy of a locked room, but rather are sharing it with others. The young people who book these accommodations are usually back packers and carry everything with them at all times. Often these accommodations are at the edge of town and require a long walk, not easy with a small child. Of course in a small town this is not an issue.

Family homes are another matter entirely. Once again, query the Italian tourist board about information on certified family homes and other accommodations. There are many, small family run hotels all throughout Europe that are delightful and will serve your family needs perfectly.

Q: "I am a single mom with a 7 yr old. Would like to visit Lake Champlain in VT summer 04. Any suggestions for places to stay on the Lake?" - M

GLOBALBRENDA ANSWER: I have been to Vermont probably a 100 times but never stayed in the Lake Champlain area so I cannot personally recommend any places. However, I have three suggestions

1) Contact the Vermont tourism bureau. Here is the contact info:

http://www.towd.com/search.cgi?isindex=USA%2FVermont

2) Pick up a copy of my book,"The Single Parent Travel Handbook." It lists about 75 travel agencies across the USA and Canada that specialize in single parent travel and can help you. Here is the order page:

http://www.singleparenttravel.net/book/index.htm

3) See our Single Parent Family Friendly Specials section for potential places in Vermont.

http://www.SingleParentTravel.net/Specials/

Q: "I want to travel with my 3 1/2 year old and 11 year old boys however, I am looking for more exotic vacations with more earthy, cross-cultural focus. (i.e. Japan, Papua New Guinea) None of the family tours I have found allow young children on these kinds of adventures. Do you know of any? What else can you recommend? I'm ready to introduce my older son to the deeper cultural experiences available in the world, but, need my little guy to be included, as well." - W. in Malibu, CA

GLOBALBRENDA'S ANSWER: Exotic tours are not designed for young kids. Not-so-exotic tours are often not designed for young kids as well. If you find any, please let me know. For nearly 20 years I traveled across the globe with my two young children who had exactly the same age spread as yours. If you are committed to exotic travel, consider traveling independently.

Q: "I am trying to plan the possibly last family vacation that I will have with my kids. I am a single mom. My daughter is a senior in high school and my son is 15. Our vacation time allotted is Feb 14th thru Feb 22...my daughters involvement with her senior year at school really limits the time. We have traveled so many places together. We have been to Hawaii, Las Vegas, all of California, Whistler, Utah, Colorado for skiing, London, Paris, Ireland, the Caribbean, and all across America...from Chicago to New Orleans and all points everywhere. I have traveled extensively in my work...the Far East, all over Europe--but I would gladly go anywhere that would make for a fun time. We have not cruised at all, but I am reluctant. Tell me where I'm wrong! And both my kids are so-so different. My 18 year old daughter likes to shop and go to theater...my 15 year old son is open to the world!!!! We love deluxe accommodations. It is my passion--and have stayed at the best hotels in the world. We love that. I was thinking of possibly China, Hong Kong, India, Thailand, Africa---our time is so short but we are good travelers as I have taught them to be...and I spare no expense on connections, etc. A bit of warm weather is mandatory as we live in NY and we are tired of the cold come Feb. If you can give suggestions, thanx in advance!"

GLOBALBRENDA ANSWER: I have some wonderful suggestions for you: Peru and Machu Picchu, Costa Rica, Egypt, The Galapagos Islands ..to name a few. All these destinations are written about in my book. Pick up a copy and start making plans for your next outstanding family vacation.

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