Welcome to the October 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. DID YOU MISS THE SALE? "THE SINGLE PARENT TRAVEL HANDBOOK"
III. WHAT TO DO IN DELAWARE
IV. SINGLE PARENT FAMILY FRIENDLY SPECIALS
V. MEETING OTHER SINGLE PARENTS
VI. SUBSCRIBERS SPEAK UP-REQUESTS, INQUIRIES, COMMENTS

I. GLOBALBRENDA'S MESSAGE

Dear Readers,

Our Single Parent Tours weekend at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort, November 19-21, is now sold out! Inquiries are still coming in so we have started a waiting list. Depending on interest and the size of the waiting list, we may consider adding another weekend at Rocking Horse in spring 2005.

I recently received many emails inquiring about next year's program for Single Parent Tours. We will announce the 2005 program at the end of this year. In the meantime, you can look at my last newsletter for a summary of the projected 2005 program. Click on the page below and go to Part II - Single Parent Tours: http://www.singleparenttravel.net/Newsletter/Sep04.htm

Our feature article this month is a wonderful write-up of what to do in Delaware submitted by one of our readers. In keeping with our autumn theme, it includes some great ideas of things to do for fall weekends.

Our newsletter subscribers now number nearly 6000 across the English-speaking world - the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australia. The subscriber base includes a broad base of single parents from all walks of life. We are culturally, geographically and economically diverse. Our newsletter will continue to address the needs of this diverse readership.

How do we know what our readership is like? In 2001 and 2003 Single Parent Travel conducted national surveys on the travel habits of single parent families. The results of those surveys are posted on my Web site. The first page is 2003 general findings with comments from single parent families: http://www.singleparenttravel.net/Survey/Results03_1.htm The second page has 2003 statistical information: http://www.singleparenttravel.net/Survey/Results03_2.htm

As with the 2001 survey, the 2003 survey dispelled a misconception that single parents do not have enough disposable income to travel. The reality is that single parents exist at all income levels. Armed with these statistics and comments, we have written to PR companies, hotels, and tour operators to seek out travel bargains specifically that benefit the single parent. Changes are coming about, such as our Single Parent program at Beaches Boscobel, Jamaica. We will continue in our quest.

There is a way that you, the reader, can help. Starting today, I ask that each of you, once a month, when you receive the newsletter, go to my Web site and click on one or more of those little boxed Google ads that are posted on my Web site: http://www.singleparenttravel.net/

You don't even have to read the ad, just click on it and close it down. If everyone did that, that would be 6000 hits a month, and that is SINGLE PARENT POWER! It produces statistics we can take to the suppliers and provides us with some additional income to support this site and the newsletter. So click away.

Happy Trails! GlobalBrenda

II. DID YOU MISS THE SALE? "THE SINGLE PARENT TRAVEL HANDBOOK"

A few people asked us about buying books more cheaply than we sell them on our Web site. You can order a copy of "The Single Parent Travel Handbook" from a number of on-line discounters or you can get an autographed copy directly from the author at http://www.SingleParentTravel.net/book

Amazon.com -- $12.57 if you buy $50 or more, you can qualify for free shipping. http://tinyurl.com/4g67h

Powells.com -- $12.95 + shipping http://tinyurl.com/68hwj

Albirs.com -- $15.43 + shipping http://tinyurl.com/5qvz2

WalMart.com -- $11.31 + shipping http://tinyurl.com/6n4e3

Overstock.com -- $10.69 + $1.40 shipping http://tinyurl.com/5jlra

For new subscribers not familiar with the book, here is a description: Hailed by such noted organizations as Parents Without Partners, "The Single Parent Travel Handbook" is the first and only book dedicated to traveling single parent families. The book, both informative and entertaining, tells you how to plan a trip for you and your kids that is fun and exciting and stays within your budget. It includes:

* Critical advice on the travel documentation needed for minors traveling abroad

* Information on over a dozen single parent worthy destinations hand-picked by Ms. Elwell

*A chapter on adventurous heartwarming stories from single parent dads

*An appendix of travel agents that specialize in single parent families-the only listing of its kind

III. WHAT TO DO IN DELAWARE

In response to my request about local family outings in the fall, Lisa from Delaware sent me an excellent and extensive run-down of what to do in her home state. It is so informative I decided to use it as the feature article in my October newsletter. By year's end we will post it permanently to my Web site under the Destination Section. Thank you Lisa!

"Delaware is a small state and we have lots to do near us. Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D. C. are all within a few hours and offer tons of museums, aquariums, historical sites, musical concerts, etc. I am not really a "city" person, though we travel there occasionally. I prefer more natural outings and there are plenty of options for that, here in Delaware and close by in Maryland.

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

IV. SINGLE PARENT FAMILY FRIENDLY SPECIALS

Special #1 - Mango is a holiday travel group for single parents in the UK. They currently have four trips organized: Mallorca, Pembrokeshire, Brecon Beacons and North Devon. Find out more about their tours at http://www.mangokids.co.uk or Tel 0044 1902 373410 Cellphone 0044 7779 008990.

Special #2 - Cruise Alaska from July 10 to July 17, 2005 with Parents Without Partners. Prices begin at $2,248 for one adult and one child. Call Helen Lutz at Doneson Travel at 800-772-5811 http://www.parentswithoutpartners.com/CruiseAlaska.jpg

Special #3 - One Parent Family Holiday were founded in 1975 and has been offering holidays for UK single parents for thirty years. They offer holidays in Europe to Disneyland Paris from £199.00 (£299.00) adult and £89.00 ($149.00) child as well as Australia, Florida and uniquely a World Tour. See http://www.opfh.org.uk

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

Neptune's Friend writes, "I live in NorCal, too! Hi. I lam a single mom and I live just south of San Francisco with my almost six year old son. I would love to find another single parent for local travel. I would love to take my son to Yosemite and Lake Tahoe, but would much prefer to go with another family. I am also open to camping, and any other NorCal location, such as Monterey, Big Sur, etc. Money is tight, and my son hates long car rides, so I am focusing on places not too far from the Bay Area.."
Read the rest here: http://tinyurl.com/472ar

Edalacar writes: "Single mom w 12 y/o girl going to Nome, Alaska in March of 2005 to watch end of Iditarod. Will also try for a balloon ride to see polar bears. Seeking even keeled and flexible/ anything goes kind of travel buddies with similarly aged child (the kind that doesnt whine anymore, and isnt too cool yet to have fun with parent, and doesnt require constant supervision). check out Cabelas.com > trips-tags-properties > cabelas adventures > alaska > scroll down to iditarod winners trek Nome."
Reply here: http://tinyurl.com/3t486

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

Jacquelyn J writes:
"Hi Brenda, I am looking for a single parent cruise for myself and a friend (no kids) to Alaska for next year? Any plans available for something like that? I want to be able to go off the cruise to fish and explore the land. Thanks."

GlobalBrenda's response:
Dear Jackie,
Alaska is one of the featured destinations in my book, "The Single Parent Travel Handbook." My kids and I traveled extensively overland for 16 days throughout much of the state. It was exciting! We will be running a cruise in June but not to Alaska, it is not within the budget of most single parent families. The season is short, the cruises fill up and thus the prices run high and are not usually discounted substantially. I suggest contacting a travel agent that specializes in single parent travel to help you with your cruise selection. There are 75 listed in my book. Happy trails! GB

Alaska was a popular request this month. Catherine F writes:
" My family and I really want to go to Alaska, any info or ideas about affordable trips would be great. Also I have 3 children and was noticing in just the few things I read your trips mentioned one or two children, is this more the usual family size that travels with your groups?"

GB's response:
Alaska, how exciting! To answer both your questions:

1) Suggestions on Alaska
My book, "The Single Parent Travel Handbook," includes Alaska as one of its featured destinations. I strongly recommend you purchase a copy. You will save money and learn how to plan exciting excursions for you and your kids. . My kids and I had a wonderful time in Alaska. Here is how to order my book: http://www.singleparenttravel.net/book/

2) Number of children per family on Single Parent Tours
The families who join my tours vary in size from 1 to 3 children on the average, with most families having 1or 2 children. For further information check out: http://www.SingleParentTours.com

Karen M writes:
"There is a great Web site that covers vacation rentals all over the world. Some are big enough for 15 people. That may cut down on the cost of trips for some singles. The site is www.vrbo.com."

GB: A reader, MM, writes a response to the email sent by "Poor in Delaware" that was posted in a recent newsletter. As stated in my opening message, we are a diverse readership and Single Parent Travel will continue to address the needs of the entire spectrum.

MM writes: "In response to the message from a reader/member [Poor in Delaware]
recently... NO, you are not crazy to think you will get a vacation around the 100/night range. I look for those also because that is all I can afford (as a result of saving my "ends" for 12-14 months). If I can get to and from a boat for a couple of hundred dollars, I have been able to take several 3-5 day/weekend cruises that keep us in our $$ per night range because the food, lodging, and [certain] entertainment is included in the cost.

Just want you to know that every reader/member does not have the financial resources to participate at the level that most of the group members do. Also, we really enjoy doing more camping trips during the year. Camping can significantly reduce lodging fees that can be diverted to other expenses (or savings) during the time together.
Feeling Ya' (Georgia)"

GB: I had an email exchange with Kristen, mother of a 4-year-old boy:
Kristen: "Do you have any sort of list of the single parents that have joined you on your trips? I guess I am curious if any are from my area. I think it would be great to know other single parents from all over, but even better if they lived near by."
GB: My tour participants come from all over the USA and Canada. Those attending the Rocking Horse weekend come from NJ/NY/CT/PA. My database is confidential. I have found that when tour participants get together they exchange emails and phone numbers. We usually have a get together early in the trip when participants get to meet one another. Where do you live?
Kristen: "I live in Atlanta and would love to meet other single parents. Any websites you know of would be helpful."
GB: I referred Kristen to the Parents Without Partners Web site. If any readers know of other single parent groups in the Atlanta area, please let me know and I will post the information in the next newsletter.

Carmen C writes:
"Your page has some really good advice and articles on single parent travel. Thank you for all the hard work you do in gathering this information to help the parents with ideas and places they would have never thought of. I noticed a lot of single parents who would like to travel but live on a tight budget, and would like something close to home and fairly economical. My small family (my son, who is four, and myself) went to the Grand Canyon by steam train. We arrived in Williams, AZ and took the train to the South Rim, stayed the night there and took the train back the next afternoon. We drove to AZ from KS for some sight seeing along the way, but the whole trip was very reasonable (less than $800 for two people for a week). I hope this idea helps those in need of a nice vacation close to home. I found the trip at www.thetrain.com, which also has links to other nice spots in AZ and within driving distance.
Thank you again, and I am looking forward to finding my next bargain, hopefully to the East Coast." (GB: Thank you Carmen!)

Luann O writes:
"I haven't actually attended anything from Single Parent Travel yet. Can you tell me, of the 30 people that are currently registered (for Rocking Horse Ranch Resort), how many are men? About what % were men last year?"
GB's response:
We generally have anywhere from 1 to 3 single parent dads on our trips. The vast majority of adult parents are women. As of 2 days ago, the Rocking Horse weekend has one male booked. Luann responded:
"Kudos to you for an honest response. I can't tell you how many times I have gotten the run around with this question. I'm hugely interested in the company of women, too. I just want to know what I'm getting into. Thanks for your honesty."
Final note from GB: The last booking we took in for Rocking Horse Ranch Resort, before the hotel sold out, was from a single parent dad so we now have 2 single parent dads in our group, twice that of last year!

Meryl S writes:
"We, myself and my 2 teenage children are planning the adventure of a lifetime for next summer. We will be traveling to Cape Town, safari in the Serengeti, the Seychelles and Amsterdam on the way back. I am currently considering 2 different tour groups for the safari part of the trip: International Expeditions and Abercrombie & Kent. These are both upscale outfits. It would be great to see if there is any interest in the membership to join in. How do I go about posting this question?
GB's response: You can post your question on our bulletin board and I will also post it in our October newsletter. Readers, if anyone wants to join Meryl, you may email her directly at: mssheetz@msn.com