Welcome to the April 2004 edition of SINGLE PARENT TRAVEL e-zines - a continuing series of monthly newsletters created for the community of single adults who travel alone with kids.

To sign up for our newsletter go to http://www.SingleParentTravel.net. Forward this newsletter to a friend!

In this issue:

I. GLOBAL BRENDA'S MESSAGE
II. SINGLE PARENT TOURS
III. DOCUMENTATION - NEW PASSPORT REGULATIONS FOR MINORS
IV. MEETING SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES
V. UNCOVERED ­ SINGLE PARENT TRAVEL SPECIALS
VI. SUBSCRIBERS SPEAK UP-REQUESTS, INQUIRIES, COMMENTS

I. GLOBAL BRENDA'S MESSAGE

Dear Readers,

Tax time is over! At last I am able to focus on the newsletter. Sorry it is a bit late this month. Our feature article is about the new passport regulations for children. We also have an update on Single Parent Tours along with a cruise survey question.

Looking for a spring outing for you and your child? Live in the greater New York City area? The Tribeca Film Festival will be held the first week of May. Besides featuring prizewinning films from all over the world, there are special rates and menus at local restaurants and special exhibits at local museums in lower Manhattan. Why not take your teen or pre-teen daughter to see a film about life styles for women in Iran or Afghanistan? I am taking my son to see "The Last Train", an award winning Russian film about the misery and hardships of Eastern Front combat in World War II. Individual tickets go on sale April 24. You can book earlier with an American Express card. Here's the Web site:
www.tribecafilmfestival.org. Is there a film festival coming up in your area? Let me know and I will post it in the next newsletter.

Several weeks ago the New York Daily News published its very first Travel Section in their Sunday paper. The theme was niche travel and Single Parent Tours was featured in a two-page spread that included nude travel, gay travel, plus size travel, and single parent travel. (We had interesting company!) Many local newspapers across the country picked up on the article. These articles, along with my radio appearances, and word of mouth referrals from you, my readers, have helped this newsletter readership to grow at an exponential rate. The newsletter readership will soon pass the 4000 mark.

Should any of you read an article about single parent travel, whether or not it mentions my book or my Website, please let me know via email which publication printed the article and the date of the publication. Thanks!

Happy Travels!
GlobalBrenda

II. SINGLE PARENT TOURS

JAMAICA - August 15-22, 2004
SingleParentTours has 18 people under deposit and inquiries are coming in daily. This all-inclusive trip to Beaches Boscobel should sell out earlier than last year. To read all about it, click on: http://www.singleparenttours.com/tours/Beaches.htm

UTAH - August 1-7, 2004
We already have bookings on this recently posted adventure trip to the glorious Red Rock Country. Remember, rafting novices are welcome! For more information on this trip see: http://www.singleparenttours.com/tours/Utah.htm

VERMONT - May 21-23, 2004
We had 5 families interested in this weekend at the cozy and delightful Wildflower Inn. Several parents did not want to be the first to book (even though the deposit is fully refundable if the trip is cancelled due to insufficient participation). Consequently no one booked.

April 21st is our deadline to release the rooms. Regrettably, if we have no bookings by that date, I must cancel the weekend trip. For more details on this all-inclusive weekend, click on: http://www.singleparenttours.com/tours/VT.htm

HAWAII
We will not be offering a Hawaii trip this summer. I had hoped to finalize arrangements by this time but the supplier and I could not come an agreement what was included for the price. Unfortunately, the window of opportunity to market this proposed July trip has passed. Next year we will get the project off to an earlier start.

FALL WEEKENDS
Rocking Horse Ranch Resort, located in the beautiful Hudson Valley area north of New York City, is on the docket for November 19-21, 2004. I should have pricing on the weekend by the end of April. This all-inclusive weekend was a rousing success last year. We had 13 families booked before the hotel sold out and we expect an even bigger response this year. For more information and to check out the endless list of activities, visit: http://www.singleparenttours.com/tours/RockingHorse.htm

In addition we plan to have a "haunted" October weekend in Salem, Massachusetts. The kids will love it! More information will be available in our next newsletter.

CRUISE - Spring or Summer of 2005.
We are beginning negotiations with several cruise lines for a one week cruise to the Caribbean - cruise departure city to be determined. For those of you interested in taking a cruise, we need your response (via email) to the following 3 questions. Your responses will help us determine what is best for you and your family.

1. Would you prefer an early June cruise or a spring break cruise?

2. Will you travel alone or bring your child or children? (We ask this because parents who participate in cruises sponsored by Parents Without Partners often travel without their children).

3. If you plan to bring your child or children, please advise your child's school vacation dates for spring break AND the state in which you reside.

Thanks!

To book or obtain further information on our trips, click on:
http://www.SingleParentTours.com or call 877-GOG-SPT and ask for Janet.

III. DOCUMENTATION

A new law went into effect on February 1 of this year regarding issuance of passports for minors. All children under the age of 14 must now appear in person to get a passport issued. (This rule applies to all types of passports and it applies even if the child had been issued a previous passport and you are renewing). Previously parents were not required to bring the child with them, but could apply on their behalf.

In addition to requiring the child to be present, the state department now requires the parent to submit documentation of parental relationship and consent, along with the standard documentation requirements for passport issuance.

The new requirements are clearly and precisely laid out on this Web site:
http://travel.state.gov/specialreq.html

Both parents must appear with the child for passport issuance. If only one parent appears then you must have with you a letter of consent from the absentee parent. You can download the form for that letter of consent. Here is the page:
http://travel.state.gov/DS-3053.pdf
(This letter of consent is for passport issuance only and, as such, is separate and different from a letter of consent giving permission to take the child out of the country).

If you are unable to obtain a letter of consent for passport issuance from the absentee parent, then alternative measures are discussed on the government Web site mentioned above.

This new information will be included in our Web site under the Documentation Section by May 1st. Here is the Web page for future reference:
http://www.singleparenttravel.net/Writing/Documentation/

If you have questions on documentation, previous or new rules, please read the government Web site first! Section 5 is particularly helpful for single parents. After reading the Web site, if you still have questions and want to email me, please do so.

One final note: While we realize these rules place an undue burden on many single parents, the new rules were put into place for your child's protection. This is part of the U.S. government's effort to prevent international child abduction and trafficking.

IV. MEETING OTHER SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES

Trish writes: "Spring may not be the best but took my two then 10 yr. olds last summer on a Princess Cruise. You always have the single thing but they try to put you at table with others and the girls LOVED the whole thing! Great kids activities and the day ports were great. Getting there from the East coast was the pits...we arrived the night before but with time and delay, it was VERY long day. Next time I'd take a day at each end if possible."

Continue the thread at:
http://pub15.ezboard.com/fsingleparenttravelfrm13.showMessageRange?topicID=3.topic&start=41&stop=53

Atlantis55 writes: "Looking for Afro-American single parents to go on trips related to our culture, etc. i.e. TJMS Family Reunion, cruises. I have 3 year old and 12 year old daughters. I'm from the Atlanta area formerly from the DC area."

Respond to Atlantis55 at:
http://pub15.ezboard.com/fsingleparenttravelfrm1.showMessage? topicID=57.topic

See all the bulletin boards at http://www.singleparenttravel.net/BBoards/index.htm

Please note that this bulletin board service is provided free of charge to our readers. The Single Parent Travel Network does not monitor postings or have any knowledge of the exact nature of the individuals doing the posting. BEFORE communicating with anyone on the bulletin board, please take precautions to protect you and your family. Also, please note that if you post your email address on the bulletin board, there is a likelihood that it will be harvested by spammers. Thank you.

V. UNCOVERED ­ SINGLE PARENT TRAVEL SPECIALS

SP Special #1 - Single Parent Tours goes to Utah August 1-7, 2004
Waaaa Hooooo! Single Parent Tours is pleased to announce a fun- filled, exciting 7 day, 6 night adventure in the glorious Red Rock Country of Southern Utah. Sunday, August 1 to Saturday, August 7

Here's the family-fun outdoor trip that many of you have requested. The trip will include a hummer excursion into the Red Rock country, a 4 day, 3 night Cataract Canyon rafting trip, and ample time to hike, bike, shop, or relax in the hotel pool.

This is a great adventure trip for single parent dads, parents with teens and pre-teens and anyone who loves the outdoors. Rafting novices welcome!
For more details click on:
http://www.singleparenttours.com/tours/Utah.htm
We already have several families booked, to join them call 877-GO-GO- SPT.

SP Special #2 ­ The Franklyn D. Resort and FDR Pebbles, Jamaica

Both these resorts are beachfront all-inclusive Family Properties in Jamaica. Each family is assigned a Vacation Nanny who will care for the kids (feed, bathe, play with them, etc.) from 9:00a.m. - 4:40p.m.daily. Baby-sitting is available after hours for an additional charge. Each property has a children's mini club with supervised activities. >From February 1 - 29, 2004 and May 1-December 15, 2004, both resorts have waived their Single Supplements, so all their promotions apply to Single Parents. For example, the all-inclusive rates at the Franklyn D. Resort range from $1,260-$2,100 per adult, per week for a one or two bedroom suite from now through December 2004. Children under 6 are free and children aged 6-15 range from US$30 per night in the summer to US$50 per night in the winter. Reservations can be made through your local travel agent or by calling 1-800-654-1FD;R. More detail on the properties can be found at http://www.fdrfamily.com.

* Don't have a travel agent? Then find one in "The Single Parent Travel Handbook" which has a listing of over 75 travel agents who specialize in single parent travel. Buy the book from any place books are sold or get an autographed copy from GlobalBrenda, the author, at http://www.SingleParentTravel.net/Book/

VI. SUBSCRIBERS SPEAK UP - REQUESTS, INQUIRIES, COMMENTS

K.K. suggests - "For traveling in the car with small ones - I think that tapes are a great way to go - even if the scenery is fantastic - they get bored. We traveled to Florida, driving from NJ, when my daughter was 5. Interstate 95 is a VERY boring road - even for adults. So...we put tapes in - when my daughter asked when we would be stopping I told her after the tape. Then it was time for some shuteye, another tape and then stopping at a hotel. We tried to stop early to get some swim time in, and work off some of that stored up energy. Since the small ones know their tapes by heart, and I knew how long each tape was, I could time things accordingly. It also works with audiotapes for older kids - listen to 2 CD's and we will stop for a break. Works better than a watch every time.

C.R. asks, "How about [Single Parent Tours organizing] a single parent trip to Orlando/Disney cruise."

GLOBALBRENDA'S ANSWER: We are considering Disney for 2005. The big problem is getting Disney to provide a substantial discount and to offer the child's rate with only one adult in the cabin. We're working on it.

AK responds to readers as well:
* B.A. wrote, "I have a [business] trip the end of March in Disney at the Floridian and I would love to take my girls without hiring someone. I am just not sure if 13 and 9 are too young to leave alone for a whole business day, and hotel sitters would probably be the same age as my thirteen year old! I would be happy to offer my experiences if needed and curious to hear what others have done."

While I didn't go to Disney, I was just on a business trip in Sacramento and brought my 16 month old along. I used a local nanny service that supplied babysitters while I worked (in the hotel). One sitter was over 65, the other two were between 30-50, so no teenagers, very experienced nannies. I was nervous but the experience went so well I would try it again. As for older kids, having an older teen watch them seems like it would be both "cool" and ideal. Just my $.50.

Nancy in New York responds to last month's postings: * Hi B.A. Last summer I took my five-year-old son to Disney (just the two of us) via Amtrak and we stayed right onsite. We did everything together and I think your 9 and 13 yr. olds would be able to either stay in the hotel for the day or possibly use the pool or go short distances in the parks without any trouble while you were at your meeting. We found Disney to be very safe and everyone there very friendly and helpful. We rotated activities throughout the day so that we each got to do something that we each wanted. Have fun!

* Hi L.W. Try calling Florida yourself to look for discounts and check with various travel agencies or travel brochures or booklets.
Have fun!

L.R. asks, "How is the Beaches Resorts for a single parent and a six year old girl? I would be going the third week in August. Which property has the best deal for single parents?"

GLOBALBRENDA'S ANSWER: We have a special single parents week at Beaches the third week of August. Better book right now! Last August we had 41 single parent families. It sold out two to four weeks ahead. This year we expect the week to sell out much, much earlier. Your child is the perfect age for this group. Here are the details and how to book:
http://www.singleparenttours.com/tours/Beaches.htm
or 877-GOGO-SPT

A. asks, "I am a single mom of 2, a 9 year old daughter and 11 year old son. Would love to take them on a cruise in August (6th or 7th), but don't want to be with a bunch of families only. Any tips?"

GLOBALBRENDA'S ANSWER: By "families only" I assume you mean "double parent families only" or perhaps you are looking for a mixture of families and singles for your cruise? In either case, I recommend you contact a travel agency that specializes in single parent travel. They can give you updated information on the typical passenger profile on cruise companies, which varies by season. There are 75 travel agencies specializing in single parent travel listed in my book, "The Single Parent Travel Handbook." Here is how to order: http://www.singleparenttravel.net/book

Also check out our Single Parent Travel Specials on my Web site. There are some cruises mentioned: http://www.singleparenttravel.net/Specials/index.htm

R. asks a unique question, "Could you refer me to a company or Web site that does bookings on dancing lessons hotel package with kids 10- 12 years old? I'm also interested in getting a match for a single parent in the same category.(dancing lessons/hotel package with 2 kids 10-12 years old). I'm planning to start my vacation on the first week of June, 2004 preferably in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. area."

GLOBALBRENDA'S ANSWER: Wow! That's the first time I have had that question posed to me. Let's see, many cruise programs offer dance lessons. We will be offering a single parent family weekend this November at the Rocking Horse Ranch Resort in the Hudson Valley of NY. They offer lessons in line dancing and it is a lot of fun. I hosted our first weekend there last year and learned to line dance in the first session! Do any of our readers have any suggestions?

S.D. asks, "I had idiotically planned a vacation for myself and my two daughters (4 and 11) to Niagara Falls.and then I started reading of this letter I'll need from their father to cross the border. I had imagined I would need a birth certificate, but a letter of permission never occurred to me, especially because the father has not been involved for at least five years, if not more. Is there someplace I can get a definitive answer to my question? I'm finding some sites on the web that say you can get by with that letter, while others say it has to be a letter from the other parent only."

GLOBALBRENDA'S ANWER: Please read the documentation section of my Web site. We created it for people with your questions. Here is the page:
http://www.singleparenttravel.net/Writing/Documentation

K.M. asks, "I am a 26 year single mom of a 2 year old. I was told by a friend that Philadelphia offers some great kid friendly attractions; since I am near NYC, this seems like a feasible getaway for my spring break (as a teacher) for at least a few days. Should I drive or take a train? Any suggestions?"

GLOBALBRENDA'S ANSWER: I spent most of my life living in South Jersey (Cherry Hill) across the river from Philadelphia so I know the area quite well.

First of all, let's talk about getting there. You say you live near NYC. I am not sure if that means you are planning to take transportation from NYC. If so, forget the train and take the bus out of Port Authority. It is half the price, comfortable, dependable, and frequent. I used to commute from South Jersey to NYC twice a week on one of my jobs. Trailways and Greyhound merged so you can call one or the other or check their Web sites for more info.

If you are only going to spend 3 days in Philadelphia, there is plenty to do in the city and you will not need a car. There is ample bus service around the city but the best thing to do is walk. Downtown Philadelphia is very walkable and quite pleasant. Most everything is a walk of about 10, at most 20 minutes each way or you can take the bus. If you go out at night, exercise caution, especially if you leave the tourist areas. Like any big city there is petty theft.

What to do: There are at least a dozen major attractions in the downtown area; all are fun and educational for parent and child alike. I wrote about each of them in my book, "The Single Parent Travel Handbook." I highly recommend you purchase a copy. The book will save you money, has great tips, and is very entertaining. Philadelphia is one of the featured cities in my destination chapter. Here's how to order: http://www.singleparenttravel.net/book
One thing I would add - the new Constitution Center was built after I wrote the book so you should check that out.

There are numerous moderately priced ethnic restaurants throughout the city but a great area to eat is the Olde City. You can get anything from Afghan to Japanese to Brazilian and everything in between. There are also some tiny little places along South Street. If you plan to travel outside the city and visit Sesame Place or the Amish Country you will need a car. Rather than bring your own and be forced to pay for parking for several days, you could rent a car for just one day. Enterprise is very moderately priced and they pick you up. Have fun in the City of Brotherly Love!

P. asks, "I'm planning a trip with my son to Prague in June and I'd love some
restaurant recommendations."

GLOBALBRENDA'S ANSWER: I have 3 suggestions for you.
1) The U Prince Hotel - right adjacent to the famous astronomical clock in the center of town. The U Prince has an outdoor cafe with reasonable prices - one of our favorite hangouts - as well as a delightful indoor restaurant with a more extensive menu.
2) Hotel-Restaurant U Zlate Studny (Golden Well) - Karlova3 Historic building, Gothic cellar, Bohemian specialties, moderate prices. 3) Uctenka or U Cervener - This may be the wrong name, hard to read on the receipt. The restaurant is across from St Agnes Convent, pricier, excellent food, beautiful atmosphere. Of course there are the ubiquitous and marvelous coffee houses for light meals and snacks.

M. from New York sent me this lovely note: I love your website. What an inspiration for single parents who love to travel. I will be traveling with my 5-year-old daughter at the end of the month. We'll be going to Hungary for 2 1/2 weeks to visit family and then do some sightseeing in the capital. Since everyone is dispersed throughout of the country, our trip will consist of heavy travel including just about everything; airplane, bus, train, trolley, etc. I read something in your book that especially sparked my interest. You suggested making a chart of the various modes of travel for younger children. While I thought it was excellent advice, I am not as talented as I wish. Then I realized I can easily compensate with technology. I was able to find all kinds of graphics, not only for the modes of travel, but also the places and sights we're about to see. With a bit of work, I was able to create a day-by- day "spreadsheet" of our trip, plotting most of our anticipated adventures with clip arts, photos and the like. It may not work for every child, but it worked for mine. She loves her little travel chart and has created a few hand-drawn versions of it since. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I enjoyed your book very much. Of all the travel guides I own, it is certainly a favorite.