Welcome to the March 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. A SURPRISE STORY & A SECRET REVEALED
IV. SINGLE PARENT FAMILY FRIENDLY SPECIALS
V. MEETING OTHER SINGLE PARENTS
VI. SUBSCRIBERS SPEAK UP-REQUESTS, INQUIRIES, COMMENTS

I. GLOBALBRENDA'S MESSAGE

Dear Readers,

On Saturday morning March 11, I was a guest on Peter Greenberg's national radio show, Travel Today. At the end of my guest appearance he asked me a surprise question, the answer to which is revealed in my Surprise Story in Section III below.

We are finally getting a taste of spring here in the NYC area. A few fleeting days in the 60's have made us feel good although a small snow storm is predicted for this weekend - graciously sent to us by our friends in Minneapolis. So next month I will write about something that has to do with spring - flowers and gardens and where to take your young ones to enjoy these beautiful things.

Happy Trails! GlobalBrenda

II. SINGLE PARENT TOURS

The Rocking Horse Weekend April 28-30 is rapidly filling up. We have over 20 people signed up so far and hope to include a few more families before the lodge sells out. For reservations and information click on my Web site or call 877-GOGO SPT and ask for Janet or Lynda. http://www.singleparenttravel.net/tours/RockingHorse.htm

Our August 19-26 trips to Beaches Boscobel in Jamaica and Beaches Turks & Caicos are taking in bookings. Rates go up as time goes on. Book now and grab the early bird specials. For reservations and information call 877-GOGo SPT and ask for Janet or Lynda or check out my Web site: Beaches Jamaica http://www.singleparenttravel.net/tours/beaches.htm Beaches Turks & Caicos http://www.singleparenttravel.net/tours/BeachesTC.htm

Sadly, after Club Getaway had come to us asking us to set up a trip for single parents to their property, they got very busy and refused to uphold our agreement. As a result, we will not be hosting a trip. I received emails from a number of people who were considering the trip, so if you are still interested, please contact me directly at Brenda@SingleParentTours.com and I will refer you to the correct person to book your trip.

III. A SURPRISE STORY AND A SECRET REVEALED

Five years ago, I was working for an Internet travel company which liquidated at the time of the Dot-Com boom and bust. Newly unemployed, I had some money saved, and decided to take about a year off to sell my house in the South Jersey suburbs (It was time!), start my Single Parent Web site and newsletter and begin writing my book, "The Single Parent Travel Handbook." My house (and residence for the past 23 years) sold within 24 hours and 6 weeks later I moved in with my neighbors and dear friends as their resident writer. My son had been spending more time with his Dad, since it was close to his job and his college, so he finally moved in totally with his father. With the Web site and newsletter launched, and my book progressing nicely, my daughter and best friend urged me to look for a boyfriend. After years of juggling career and soccer-mom duties, it was time to rejoin the dating game in earnest.

Like any middle-aged single parent mom, I found the prospect daunting. On and off, over the years, I had answered some newspaper and magazine ads but nothing ever progressed beyond the initial coffee or dinner date. With encouragement from my support group, I scanned the latest Internet dating sites and signed up on three of them for a 3 month period. I found that, by paying for membership, you were more likely to find individuals who were seeking a relationship, rather than an Internet chat.

Yes, I went through a lot of frogs. However, after two months, I received an email from someone named Peter, who liked to cycle and travel and seemed to share many of my interests. Like me, he had been divorced a long time and had two children by a former marriage. Peter lived in North Jersey, about 2 hours away from my hometown of Cherry Hill. We emailed for awhile and set up a dinner date a few weeks later. Our first date was a big hit and a very romantic evening. Ten days later we went away together for a long weekend in Cape Cod where he proposed on the second night, under a starry sky. I couldn't say yes that night because we had just met and I thought the whole idea a little crazy that early in our relationship. A week later I said yes and we were married 5 months later on Valentine's Day.

Since we married a few months before I launched my book, I kept my husband "in the closet" for years, not wanting to have my readers think that I was not devoted to the single parent travel cause or that I did not empathize with their single parent situation. Considering that I was a single parent for 18 years and married only a few months, it may have been silly on my part, but that was the way I felt.

Peter sometimes helps me host the single parent family weekends at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort and his presence has always been well received and our story an inspiration to others. We recently celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary and I thought it now appropriate to officially bring Peter "out of the closet."

Now, some of you are thinking, "Well, you were lucky. The Internet can be a scary place to find a partner." Of course, so can a bar, or a place of business or any place that you meet someone who has not been recommended by friends or family members who have known this person for a long time. In this day and age, when people's lives are so busy, the Internet presents an opportunity for people of similar interests to get together. Are you guaranteed to find a match? Of course not. All single parents know full well that nothing in life is guaranteed. But, in my case, I found a loving and exciting partner that I would have never met, had it not been for the Internet. And I have three friends, all about my age, who have done the same.

But the story does not end here. Less than a year ago, we added another service to our Web site - FastCupid Personals. Working with Fast Cupid, we were able to create a filter for single parents to seek out other single parents - either for friendship or romance. The joint venture got off to a bit of a rocky start but eventually we ironed out the kinks and readers are now enjoying the service. My daughter Monique signed up for the service and sent in her profile. Not long after, she met someone she really liked on the site and is now in a serious relationship with that person.

So my advice to my readers is "Get out there and do it." Take that first step to find someone. What better and easier way to start than to click on my Web site www.singleparenttravel.net and then click on "Browse personals." When you find someone, tell me your story. I would love to hear it!

IV. SINGLE PARENT FAMILY FRIENDLY SPECIALS

Special #1 - Woodloch, Hawley, PA M.W. from Staten Island, NY wrote in to let us know about Woodloch in Hawley, Pennsylvania. They are offering a special from May 1-26 for Single Parents, During this time there will be no supplemental fee. They are an all inclusive resort in the Poconos, Their phone number is 1-800-572-6658. I've been there before and its wonderful.

Special #2 - Villa Roma, Callicoon, NY M.W. also wrote in about a special for Villa Roma in Callicoon, NY. It's another all inclusive resort is having a great special for Mothers Day weekend, Mothers are ½ price, $125.00 and children under 10 are $100.00 for 2 nights and 5 meals (Dinner Friday, 3 meals on Saturday and Brunch on Sunday) add in your tax and gratuities, their website is www.villaroma.com and phone number is 1-800-533-6767.

Check out all our single parent travel specials at http://www.singleparenttravel.net/Specials/

* 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/

IV. MEETING OTHER SINGLE PARENTS

Now's your chance to meet and greet other single parents going to the Beaches Turks & Caicos and the Bocobel trips. We've been thinking about the delicate balance between privacy and community and felt the bulletin board was the best way for people to communicate about the trip. Jump in the conversation! http://singleparenttravel.net/forums/index.php?PHPSESSID=f09874b75cbc0c206c1901ff57265c68&topic=11.0

Wow! Have our boards taken off. We have so many single parents trying to connect up with other single parents for travel and fun groups. Here are examples of just some of the destinations: Disney, Australia, Mayan Rivera Boston, Atlanta, mid-Atlantic, SF Bay area, Moab, Rocky Mountains, all sorts of cruising (some specific to African American)..the list goes on and on. Click here to read specifics: http://singleparenttravel.net/forums/index.php?PHPSESSID=f09874b75cbc0c206c1901ff57265c68&board=2.0

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.

VI. SUBSCRIBERS SPEAK UP-REQUESTS, INQUIRIES, COMMENTS

Dana writes: I have been reading your site for years now. I noticed a few months ago there were several posts from African American parents talking about various things. I was looking for a member that was on one of the posts. Keep up the great work!

Global Brenda responds: The posts you are referring to are our old posts. We upgraded our Web site several months ago and can no longer access those posts. I will post your email in a future newsletter and perhaps someone will get back to you. (Readers: You can contact Dana at davisdodds@yahoo.com

Trond from Norway writes: Thank you very much for very nice newsletters (signed in 2003). I have a very good safety tip for people traveling with children that I think your members should know about. When traveling with small children, there is always a chance that you lose sight of them, especially in crowded places. Today most people carry a cell phone, you probably do too! Wouldn't it be smart to have your cell phone number clearly visible on your child? A Norwegian company (Travel Safety) developed the perfect solution for this problem. During several trips to various parts of the world we felt a need to mark our children with contact information in case we got separated. Initially, we wrote the information on our children's hands with a permanent marker. This solution was not always satisfactory. We used ID bracelets that protected the contact information, making the information resistant to sweat, suntan lotion and water. The bracelets come in several high-visibility colors and are not easily removed by children. These bracelets are now available in the USA. Please check their website: www.travelbracelet.com

GlobalBrenda responds: Thank you so much for this wonderful safety tip. I will post the information in my next newsletter. We always enjoy hearing from our friends in Scandinavia. My kids and I traveled to your beautiful country about 15 years ago and I will get back someday. Another helpful safety suggestions is temporary tattoos for children: http://tattooswithapurpose.com/

Mary writes: I first have to say Thank You so much for what you do! I stumbled across your website on accident and couldn't believe that a website like this actually existed! When it comes to traveling it seems like single parents are at the bottom of the feeding chain. I'm so happy you've devoted the time to this endeavor. I got your book a few weeks ago. I haven't had a chance to read the entire book but I've read some sections and glanced at others. It looks like it will be a fabulous resource. I got my first newsletter this week and was excited to read it. I especially liked that you addressed the question about West coast activities as I live in Oregon. Just let it be known that I too hope you plan some trips out this direction again sometime soon. The Rocking Horse Ranch sounds perfectly for me and my daughter but to fly all that way for just a few days just isn't going to work this time. I'm sure if I had found you 6-8 months ago I could have started planning then and making it a longer trip, but I just found out about it last month. Keep up the good work!

GB responds: Thank you for your positive feedback. We run Rocking Horse twice yearly - spring and fall. Last spring we pulled in two families from as far away as Ohio and Toronto (Canada). Both moms extended their trips to include other places such as New York City. Also our annual trip to Beaches, Jamaica draws equally from the west coast and East coast. So perhaps we will see you in the future!

Elin writes: I'm an adoptive single mom. My kids were born in other countries. I have a "certificate of foreign birth" which is a "birth certificate" issued by the State of Vermont. On that certificate, I'm listed as the mother and the section for the father is blank. I understand that all states do some version of this. And for the woman who said there was no information about the father, I would imagine that the birth certificate is blank on the father's side. I don't carry any papers saying that I'm an adoptive parent only the birth certificate showing that I'm the mom and there is no dad.

GB responds: Thanks, Elin. I noticed that on my Single Parent Family tours there are always one or two adoptive parents with their foreign-born children. This would be of interest to them. . I will post your email on a future newsletter and we may also add the info to our documentation section.

Paul writes: Is a notarized letter of permission necessary in advance of actually buying plane tickets to Mexico? GB responds: Rules have changed for Mexico. There was a big brouhaha about this a year ago. Go to my Web site www.singleparenttravel.net and read the section on Documentation and decide for yourself what needs to be done.

Karolina writes: I am a single mom of a 7-year old daughter. She has an ADHD, and I was wondering if there are any vacation spots for families with children with special needs. I have been searching for couple of years without any success. GB responds: Yes, I can recommend Rocking Horse Ranch Resort. I have been running weekend trips there for 3 years and every weekend I see several children (or adults) with special needs or different types of disabilities. It is a wonderful place. Join us for one of our weekends!

A reader from Texas writes: I would like to know if you ever plan single parent travels in the Texas area. I am a single mother by choice of a seven year old daughter. Please e-mail me with any future travels in Texas. GB responds: Our very first Single Parent weekend was to Rocking Horse Ranch Resort in NY state, a huge success. Our second weekend was to San Antonio. We had a terrific weekend planned and no one signed up. Why don't you contact PWP? It is a wonderful organization. Here is their Web site. Check it out to find local happenings in Texas. www.parentswithoutpartners.org

Judy writes: I love Club Med but there are no specific tables or events for single parents there. I went to Sandpiper Fl in Dec and met two other single moms but no one else. It was fabulous! They have tennis and great child care but I think you should work with them to provide a single parents week or weekend. - GB responds: Thank you for your valued feedback. We had dialogue with Club Med about 3 years ago. At that time they were unwilling to give us the discounts we needed to run the trips nor were they willing to eliminate the single supplement. However, that was 3 years ago, so we will keep your suggestion in mind and approach them for summer of 2007. Thanks.

Michele writes: I live in Los Angeles and can't find any trips on this side of the country. I'm sure there are many more like me and I would love to do a cruise to Mexico but want to have other single parents on the trip. Have you ever done a west coast cruise? Would you consider one? GB responds: Thank you for your valued feedback. We tried our first cruise this summer but we did not have enough participation for a group. We will try again for summer of 2007. We will keep your suggestion in mind. However, when we have tried west coast departures, the results have been disappointing. Every year for the past 3 years, we have run trips from the west coast but only one or two families sign up, so we don't repeat them. Our Jamaica and Turks and Caicos trip draws equally from the west coast and east coast. These programs are highly successful each year. Why not consider joining us? On our first trip to Beaches, 4 single parent families from the LAX area became fast friends.

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