Why read this article? (3 minute read)

If you’re a single parent seeking an active family holiday, eager to connect with other like-minded mums and dads, and wanting to see your children break free from the chains of social media, this article is for you.

On Zoom

Last summer, three single parents—Rob James, Rebecca Lawson, and Leah Gimson—participated in our family adventure holidays in Croatia.

Upon their return home, Head Tour Leader Jelena connected with them via Zoom to hear about their experiences.

So, firstly how did you come to find Green World Holidays?

Rob:  For me it was the classic Google search. My son Toby was finishing his A-levels and my daughter Hannah was finishing her GCSE’s so I was researching a trip that could reward and motivate their hard work. I must have searched something on the lines of joining a family activity holiday in Europe. Croatia was a country I’ve always wanted to go.
 
Rebecca: Like Rob, I started with Google. I found your team and explained I was keen to age match my 15-year-old son. I was also very interested to know if there were any other single parents booked on. One week in particular had other single parents booked on and there were lots of teens matching Max’s age. So it was all a good fit.
 
Leah: My friend had travelled with Green World Holidays last year to Brac island. I ended up booking the Omis Adventure Week and similarly to Rebecca I was a bit nervous about travelling as a solo parent and one of the weeks was particularly single parent friendly. Although, not exclusive to single parent holidays. For the week we joined, over half the group were solo mums and dads. 
 
Rob:  As a single parent buddying up your teenagers is a must. Hanging out just with Mum and Dad sadly doesn’t cut the mustard. 

Rebecca: Even though we’re planning and paying for it. 

Did the adventure aspect of the trip meet your expectations?

Rebecca: Max and I did the Croatia, Rivers & Canyons week. Hosted by Maria & Sara, who were both incredibly kind and amazing with the kids. There was no pressure or sense of competition. I felt that really helped bond the group.

Rob:  We did the Brac island week, which exceeded our expectations. Included activities were SUP boarding, mountain biking, climbing and sea kayaking. We were one of six families, which was a perfectly sized group. Neither too large to be impersonal, but large enough to meet lots of fun personalities. The blend of both water and land activities is like Miro says, ‘the perfect Croatian cocktail’.

Leah: My sixteen-year-old Sophie confided in me on the way home when her guard was down, it had been her best holiday ever. 

Rebecca: You can’t ask for better feedback than that.

Any particular highlights spring to mind?

Leah: Tubing was our favourite activity. Barisa our tour leader is a wonderful personality. Extremely knowledgeable and great fun. The hotel Plaza Omis is right on the beach. The kids would buddy up together and be in the sea. Parents would be at the beach bars, adjacent to the volleyball courts. Just a superb place to hang out. Surprisingly, this active holiday has been my most relaxed!

Rob: I’m not really a bike guy. But surprisingly, cycling was a highlight for me. The route was cleverly designed to loop back to our accommodation. The kids were straight in the pool and an impromptu party proceeded. 

Rebecca: Max loved the canyoning, that was his highlight. He’s an adrenaline junkie. I’m the opposite, so I was very pleasantly surprised to find out that there are no mandatory high jumps during the canyoning tour. Do it, if you feel like it. My highlight was the river tubing.

What makes the week work for single parents?

Rebecca: A big deal for us was having accommodation, where all the families are located together. Our Villa had 6 apartments, so all the Green World Holidays families were together. We’ve been on similar trips, and have been separated. We’d never do it this way again! It’s essential to all be together, to connect and be social. It was also extremely safe. The kids would often hang out together and play in the pool.

Rob: It’s challenging meeting your teenager’s needs.  Sometimes they don’t even know what they are after. So having so many other teenaged children in the same boat, was a positive catalyst. Knowing the ages and genders really helped make that right decision. The itinerary itself was flawless. No thinking to do. Tour Leaders led the way!

Leah: I think the biggest success to these holidays is the tour leaders. They make parents lives so much easier. On previous holidays when I have tried to organise stuff myself it always ends up a battle of wills and if something doesn’t go to plan of course you get the blame. Our guides Barisa and Iva simply told us where to be, at what time and what we needed to bring. It was great.

Was Croatia the right destination for you?

Rob:  Brac island is ideal for adventure holidays for families with teenagers. Our coastal village was idyllic but not sleepy. A picturesque place with a Mediterranean vibe. Gorgeous local restaurants on the harbour front and only a minute walk back to the private apartment building. I felt very comfortable to see my son exploring the village with his newly made friends.

Rebecca: Croatia is so consistently warm. It also has the cleanest seawater in Europe. So nothing like the UK. Our activities were water based which was ideal during the heat of the day. In the evenings we tended to relax by the pool or walk down to the beach which was only 5 minutes away.

Leah: You can understand why Croatia family adventure holidays are so appealing. The lovely weather, organic food, quick flights, stunning scenery. We loved our time with you at Hotel Plaza in Omis. To be with all the other families in the same accommodation was truly brilliant. I think Omis is the perfect coastal town to host such a trip. It’s a magical spot, with an impressive sandy beach. Perfect for teenager activity holidays.

Rob: Can I add the local people we met were delightful?! The Croatian people couldn’t be nicer. It feels so safe. The country has a youthful energy, but has lost none of its tradition an authenticity. 

Any tips for other single parents looking at booking a family active holiday in Croatia?

Rob: Plan your holiday in advance. I left my booking a bit late and was very lucky to get on the Brac Island adventure week. Bring reusable drinking bottle. Croatian drinking water is perfect.

Rebecca: Bring UV T-shirts or water tops. They are ideal for the sea kayaking and white water rafting tours. Most of the beaches are pebble. So I’d recommend purchasing some water shoes.

Rob: Croatia is Euros. Bring cash for extra tours and some restaurants are cash only. We had a great time in Split before the start of the week with you. Would recommend that for others!

Leah: My advice is to go for it. Don’t let any anxieties hold you back. We all have them and we’re meant to lead the way for our teenagers to follow. The social side of the week is really easy going.  No one is ever centre stage. You all pitch in together. 

Rob: Both my children said they loved the connectivity in the group. Parents agreed over dinner it was a magical experience. One that most likely we won’t ever be able replicate.

Rebecca: We did an additional boat tour. That was organised locally by our tour leader in Omis. If there’s an opportunity to do this, I would say go for it. Oh, and pack light. You don’t need to bring much for this kind of trip. What to pack for a family adventure holiday in Croatia, is really just a good attitude.

Rob: Couldn’t agree more. It was so relaxing, as everyone came with an open mind and supported each other. Ironic that an adventure holiday was one of my most relaxed weeks I’ve had with the kids.

Leah: If you have any dietary requirements, you’ll be able to communicate this prior to travel. There’s a really useful booking form sent after booking. We also loved Split and recommend a pre or post stay.

Rob:  Like Rebecca mentioned. We also hire a boat and captain for the day. This was arranged by your local guides, during our stay on Brac island. Highly recommended.