Welcome to the July 2006 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.NOVA SCOTIA - A BACKROAD ADVENTURE
IV. MEETING OTHER SINGLE PARENTS
V. SUBSCRIBERS SPEAK UP-REQUESTS, INQUIRIES, COMMENTS

I. GLOBALBRENDA'S MESSAGE

Dear Readers,

Our summer Caribbean trips are once again a huge success. We have over 70 people participating in our two August Beaches programs. Over 40 people will attend Beaches Boscobel in Jamaica and over 30 people will attend our Single Parent Tour week at Beaches Turks and Caicos. There are a few rooms left, if you still have open vacation plans. For further details see Section II below on Single Parent Tours.

This month's newsletter features an informative write-up on my recent vacation to Nova Scotia. Remote and uncrowded, Nova Scotia offers a wealth of activities for families. Did you know that Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world combined? And that Nova Scotia has the highest tides in the world?

Speaking of travel to the Caribbean and Canada, be aware that passport regulations will be changing in the near future. Although U.S. citizens currently can enter Canada and certain Caribbean islands with only a valid photo I.D., by 2008 all entries, whether by air, sea, or land, will require a valid passport. Check out these Web sites for more information.
http://www.gadling.com/2006/06/18/cool-or-lame-get-your-passport-for-canada/
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Happy Trails!
GlobalBrenda

II. SINGLE PARENT TOURS

BEACHES BOSCOBEL - JAMAICA - AUGUST 19-26, 2006
http://www.singleparenttravel.net/tours/beaches.htm

BEACHES TURKS AND CAICOS - AUGUST 19-26, 2006
http://www.singleparenttravel.net/tours/BeachesTC.htm

We are pleased to announce that we have over 70 people booked at both resorts. Over 40 are booked for Jamaica and over 30 are booked for Turks and Caicos. Once again our Caribbean program will be a huge success as single parent families gather for fun and companionship and new friendships are made quickly! Early in August I will send out welcome letters to each participating family. Given the large number of participants for the Turks & Caicos program, we are requesting special activities for that group. Information on this will be included in the welcome letter. Beaches Jamaica will offer its regular Single Parent Family program.

There are still a few rooms left. If you have not yet planned your vacation this summer, call 877- GOGO SPT. Ask for Janet or Stephanie. (Lynda has retired from travel and her replacement is Stephanie). Details of the program can also be found on our Web site http://www.singleparenttravel.net

ROCKING HORSE RANCH RESORT - HUDSON VALLEY, NY - NOVEMBER 17-19, 2006

The dates are set! Join us for a rollicking good time at the East Coast's favorite dude ranch. This family oriented weekend is always a favorite with single parent families. Our April weekend had over 50 participants. Between games, hayrides, line dancing, campfires, horseback rides, and dips in the beautiful indoor heated pool, there is never enough time to squeeze in all the activities. As soon as we get the rates we will announce them.. In the meantime, check out our Web site for details on the weekend: http://www.singleparenttravel.net/tours/RockingHorseFALL.htm and set aside the dates! Eeee Haaaa! See you there!

GUATEMALA (one week) AND AN AFRICAN SAFARI - SUMMER 2007 We are still awaiting summer 2007 rates for both these proposed trips. We expect to have them posted by our August newsletter.

III. NOVA SCOTIA - A BACKROAD ADVENTURE

For years I had wanted to vacation in Nova Scotia and do three things: · Ride the tidal bore Stand on the beach at the Bay of Fundy and watch the 40-60 foot tide roll in - the highest tide in the world! · Hike and drive along the captivating Cape Breton Trail. We just got back from a one week driving vacation and we did all three and then some! We visited interesting museums, ate a delicious array of seafood, and enjoyed the company of the friendly Scotians, who often invite you to join them at their community suppers or other activities, and so we did!

Read the rest here: http://www.singleparenttravel.net/Writing/NovaScotia.htm

Special Note from GlobalBrenda: Currently U.S. citizens can still enter Canada with only a valid government issued photo ID, but that will be changing in the near future. By 2008, all entries into Canada will require a valid passport. There is a phase-in period. Check out this government Web site for the latest updates: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

IV. MEETING OTHER SINGLE PARENTS

Akafirefly is doing a great job of getting single parents of little kids to get to know each other. Find out who has replied so far at: http://tinyurl.com/eck8v

VirgoRMT is looking for older single parents. See the replies here: http://tinyurl.com/k48wl

Lolote is looking for other single parents in Paris. Reply here: http://tinyurl.com/e74o4

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. SUBSCRIBERS SPEAK UP-REQUESTS, INQUIRIES, COMMENTS

Janet writes: I am a single parent preparing to launch my first born into the world of college. He has chosen a school on the other side of the country. I live on the east coast. He has decided on California. On our way to LA I was thinking about making a stop along the way with my 2 sons (14 and 17 years old). We have had many a travel adventure together, most of it extemporaneous, yet fun. This will be our "last" real family vacation. I had always dreamed of visiting the Grand Canyon as a family trip. I thought about taking time out from work this August and going with my sons. At first I thought about driving, but now I think that is a little too ambitious. Your article I read at a website for single parent travelers recently suggested reservations 9 months in advance. Outside of pregnancies, I have never been able to plan for anything in that time frame. Your trip sounded amazing. I am looking at 8-10 days of vacationing then 2-3 days on a college campus to get my son situated with a couple of days to get home. Do you recommend I go for it?

GlobalBrenda responds: I have been traveling all my life. I spent 18 years traveling as a single parent with my 2 kids. Because we often traveled to national parks in the peak summer season, I would reserve hotels in the park 9 to 12 months in advance. Only once did I have to cancel such reservations and I received full refund of my deposit. The hotels in the national parks usually refund your one night deposit in full because they will sell every room, all the time, in peak season. There are always walk ups asking for rooms. If you are considering the Grand Canyon, yes you should book the hotels on the rim at least 9 months in advance. A year ahead is even better. Have you considered Yellowstone? You can fly into Jackson, Wyoming and from there it is only a 2 hour easy drive into Yellowstone. Grand Canyon is wonderful too. I would stop in Sedona along the way which is also incredible.

I strongly recommend you purchase my book, "The Single Parent Travel Handbook." It was written for people just like you. It will tell you how to plan for an exciting trip at reasonable cost and the book is entertaining as well. It is on special sale right now for $5.00. You can order thru my Web site http://www.singleparenttravel.net/book. You owe it to yourself and your kids to plan the best trip possible for your family!

Chris writes: Dear Brenda, I would like to plan a nature trip with my daughter for next April 2007). She loves turtles. Unfortunately, my former spouse will not allow her to renew her passport. That limits the places we can visit. Is there anywhere that fits the bill that DOES NOT require a passport? Please help!

GB responds: You did not say what country you are from or what state. Assuming you are a U.S. resident or citizen, there are many places to visit where your daughter can see turtles galore in their natural state. For example you can go canoeing in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey or along the waterways of the Adirondacks of New York State. In fact, my book, "The Single Parent Travel Handbook, features an informative story on the Adirondacks. Also, one of my previous newsletters featured an article on the Adirondacks as well. Without knowing where you want to go and how far you want to travel, it is an impossible task to recommend to you all the possible places to see nature and turtles that you can visit without a passport.

Keep in mind you can still travel to some countries such as Canada and the Caribbean islands without a passport. The rules regarding passports will begin to change the end of 2006. I wrote about the new passport rules in a previous newsletter. I suggest you check my Web site and the archived newsletters, or better yet, purchase a copy of my book which discusses many of the national parks, which are wonderful places to see wildlife. If you can be more specific in your request, I will be able to be more specific in my answers.

Vanessa in the UK asks: I live in the United Kingdom, can I still subscribe? GB responds: Most definitely. About 5% of my 9,000 readers are from the UK. Our readers, myself included, always enjoy their input.

Shirley from Texas writes: I came across the single parent travel websites. I have been making small trips with my girls because things were too expensive for me, especially since I saw the 2 adult requirement on many specials. I have 4 girls, ages 14, 12, 10, & 8 years old. They love traveling & visiting places. Our trips have usually been to visit out-of-state relatives. I look for an indoor pool & free breakfast at the hotel along the way. Going swimming after a day car-ride is really fun for my girls. I've held off a Disney promise for as long as I could until the girls were all tall enough to ride the rides. :-)

Since I discovered the websites for the single parent travels, I believe that I may be too late to take advantage of current specials or upcoming tours. Is there a way to obtain a listing or publishing of single parent travels for the entire year? I live in a surrounding area of Houston, TX, named Sugar Land. Dates I am specifically looking at are: Aug 5-12 Sept 29,30-Oct.1 Nov 3,4,5 Nov 22,23,24,25,26 Mar 10-18. Could you give some suggestions or direction?

GB responds: I am glad to hear you are expanding your horizons and continue to enjoy your travels with your 4 daughters. Here is what you need to do regarding the SP Specials information:

* Go to my web site www.singleparenttravel.net

* Click on "Tips" and then "Specials" and read thru that. (http://www.singleparenttravel.net/Specials/

* If you do not see the dates you want or need in those 2 places, try calling or emailing a few places. Tell him you read about their property or their attraction on http://www.SingleParentTravel.net and ask for the discount you want. You might be able to negotiate a better rate or have them extend their special rates to a time period that is beneficial for you. (Don't count on any specials during Christmas unless you are going to a place that is in low season during Christmas).

Faye from Faye International Travel writes: Hi, I have a number of single male parents, however all the responses listed seem to be from gals. Do you ever have trips for single males and their young sons?

GB responds: If you read my newsletter on a regular basis, you will see that 20% of reader responses come from single parent dads and we all enjoy their input. When we run our Single Parent trips, the ratio seems to hold steady at 10 SP moms to 1 SP dad. For example, our annual trip to Beaches in Jamaica usually gets about 50 participants (or 20 families). Most families are headed by single parent moms with about 2 or 3 single parent dads. Our weekend trip to Rocking Horse usually has about 1 single parent dad to every 10 SP moms. Some families are not single parent families, but are simple non-traditional families, such as blended families or a parent with older grown up kids coming with a grandparent.

Regarding your request to have a trip devoted to SP males and their young sons, I think it is a terrific idea! Two years ago, at the request of many SP dads, we offered a rafting trip out west, expecting to get many SP dads. There were over a dozen inquiries, one from an SP dad, the rest from SP moms. We had 3 families sign up, 2 moms and 1 dad, and 2 of the families had to cancel on short notice.

Given the above information, we are currently not inclined to run trips geared toward single parent dads and their sons. We would like to, but the response is not there. We have interviewed many SP dads on this topic and have determined that part of the reason is that SP dads often do not have custody so sometimes that is a "planning" issue. Other times we get feedback saying that they do not like organized activities, or can only sign up last minute, depending on their schedules. Other travelers tell me that men are more inclined to bring a girlfriend when they travel with their children and therefore are not interested in doing group things.

GB asks: If any of my readers who are single parent dads, have input on this question, let me know. We would love to hear from you!

Tonya writes: I have a friend that is leaving the county going to the South of France. Her minor daughter is 12. She has been divorced for many years. The original birth certificate was lost and it did not have the fathers name on it. But she went to get a new one and her child's birth certificate has fathers name but beside that it has "amended by the court". Do you have a letter stating such verbiage or tell me what can she write in the letter?

GB responds: I am not an attorney so I cannot give you legal advice. I recommend you go to my Web site http://www.singleparenttravel.net and go to the FAQ section and click on documentation. Your answer will be found there or at least some sources where you can obtain the information you need.

Caryn writes: Thanks so much for your website that I just discovered! I am planning my first road trip with my 11 year old son based on many of your suggestions. At the end of July, we will be traveling from Chicago to Niagara Falls, Ontario for two days. From there we are going to Montreal. I tried to get into the B&B you recommended but it was booked. However, I did find a great second option Petite Auberge Les Bons Matins B&B. I'm still in the process of planning our return home and I'm thinking of Cooperstown and then the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Ohio. A couple of questions: 1) Do you have any suggestions for interesting places to see between Chicago & Niagara? 2) Do you have any suggestions on where to stay in Niagara? 3) Do you have any other suggestions for our route home on things to see or places to stay? I would appreciate any of your recommendations, and I look forward to taking advantage of some of your future trips. Thanks again for this much needed service you're providing.

GB responds: Thank you for your kind words. I am always happy to learn that my Web site has helped someone in planning a fun and interesting vacation. You may want to consider purchasing a copy of my book, "The Single Parent Travel Handbook." It has lots of ideas for saving money and planning an exciting vacation. One of the tips in my book refers to the Web site: www.towd.com. This Web site lists all the local tourist boards that will send you information for your trip. That will help you as you travel from Chicago to Niagara Falls. The book also lists about 90 travel agencies across the USA and Canada that specialize in single parent travel. I personally do not know the route from Chicago to Niagara Falls. The other area we found interesting in NY State was the Finger Lakes - lots of hiking and boating. The book goes into more depth than my web site regarding this area.

Betsy Tinkham asks: Every year my kids go with my xhusband to celebrate Christmas with his family in Michigan. I'm Jewish and single and don't know exactly what to do with that week. Part of the problem is that I wait until the fall to start thinking about it and by then it's too late. I think the Sierra club had outdoor adventure trips. Do you know of any other organizations that do this sort of thing? GB asks: Readers, do you have any suggestions? I would like to post your responses in my next newsletter.

GB Final Note: Lastly, one of my readers pointed out that, in a recent newsletter, I forgot the "dot" in http://www.beyondboundariestravel.com so my link did not work. My apologies. I hope all my readers were able to figure it out.

Change Subscription: http://ezinedirector.com/subscriber/member_profile/?skid=41949994

Cancel Subscription: http://sub.ezinedirector.net/?fa=r&id=41949994&c=964710478