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Planning Tips for International Travel with Kids as a Single Parent + Minor Consent Form

You love seeing the world, but your spouse is content to stay home and man the home front. Does this sound like you? International travel with children does not have to be daunting as a single parent. You can leave your partner at home and see the world with your children.

Planning International Travel with Children as a Single Parent

International Travel with Children

I traveled with the boys internationally when they were younger. Then two years ago we set out on a cross-country camping trip that started in Colorado and ended in Atlanta Georgia.  It was six awesome weeks on the road with some extended family time in Dauphin Island, Alabama.

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It wasn’t international travel with kids this time, but those six weeks on the road got me itching to get back out. Later this fall, sandwiched between the end of football season and Halloween, the boys and I are off to explore Europe.  We are planning a 3-week hop across the pond to visit a few major cities and a beach or two.

Are you looking to plan international travel with kids as a single parent too? I have 6 tips that will help you plan your next overseas trip and still include your partner who’s staying home.

international map with passport and camera -

 International Travel with Kids

Plan Together

While one spouse may not be able to get time off work or gets hives at the thought of leaving the country, encourage family unity by planning the trip as a whole family. Get out a map and a calendar.   For me, planning is half the fun of traveling.

  • Brainstorm ideas, think of all the crazy places you could go and just dream for a while.
  • Put as many ideas on paper as you can think of, then just muse about them for a while.  Maybe watch a few Youtube videos of families who have traveled there already.
  • Ask the non-traveling parent to play too.  The actual travel part may not be their gig, but planning it together as a family will keep them in the loop.

Safety First! 

Be sure to check with the USA Travel advisory for safety considerations at different international destinations. You may also want to look into international health insurance coverage if you’re planning on traveling abroad. Additionally, understanding the culture and customs of the country you are visiting is essential for having a successful trip!

Leave a map and an itinerary at home. 

This is both a safety precaution and a way to connect with the non-traveling parent.  How cool will it be for the non-traveling parent to ask “How was Dublin today before the kids even utter a word?” Building unity happens even at a distance!

Learn a New Language

If you are traveling to a region with a different language, consider signing up for an online language course and learning together. I bought a lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone for $179 and my family has been practicing the language together throughout our travels. It’s fun to be able to communicate with locals in their native tongue! Not only that, but it’s a great way to build relationships and make your trip even more meaningful.

Related: If you need a few travel ideas, see these:

Single Parent International Travel Documents

I will never forget the horror I felt when the airline agent said my boys needed more than passports to leave the country.  They needed a signed parental consent document from my non-traveling spouse.    No, wait not just a signed document, but a notarized signed document before they could board the plane for an extended family vacation.

Child Travel Consent Form

minor travel consent letter template
Click here for the letter of consent we use.

Note: If your child needs a passport and one or both parents are unavailable to apply for the child’s passport, you will need a notarized DS-3053 form.

As a single parent traveling with child(ren), you may also need the following documents when traveling internationally:

  • Marriage Licence (Especially, if your child’s name and yours are not the same or a stepchild or adopted child is traveling.)
  • Notarized Letter of Consent from the non-traveling parents or legal guardians for the trip and health care provisions.
  • Birth certificate
  • Documentation for special immunizations is also recommended and may be required in some situations.

Make sure to research the requirements of the country you are entering. Detailed instructions on all the forms listed above and foreign country access by United States Citizens can be found on the US State Department International Travel website.  

How to Create a Travel Budget

Start with an overall idea of the cost of the trip.  Create a travel budget for the following general categories:

  • Plane Tickets & Baggage Fees
  • Clothing (Going to London in the fall a great raincoat is a must.)
  • Insurance–travel and health
    • You can get travel insurance for one trip or if you travel more frequently, an annual plan. We have an annual travel insurance plan with Allianz Travel Insurance and it saves us money. Get a free quote.
  • Local Transportation
  • Lodging
  • Food (Take the family on a pre-trip taste adventure with these kid-friendly recipes from different continents.)
  • Entertainment & Attractions
  • Phones
  • Passports & Documents – Be sure you check passports and they have more than six months until expiration, it’s also important to make sure that all visas and other documents are up to date. Even if you think you don’t need a visa for your destination, double-check the requirements as they can change without notice. It’s best to keep copies of passports or save them online in case of an emergency.
  • Tips
  • Misc.

Think of a budget as a way to teach math and narrow the choices.  Large cities like Paris and London offer thousands of choices.  Check out the prices of each attraction, museum, or monument.   Viator has great discounts on shows, tours, and individual attractions. They offer everything from Harry Potter tours in London to Cooking Classes in Florence. If you’d rather get a package deal, save up to 50% off combined prices for admission to must-see attractions with
CityPASS.

Generate An Emergency Plan Together

Months before you leave the house, generate a plan for emergencies.  Think through problems such as:

  • Getting Lost
  • Parent getting injured
  • Child getting injured
  • Contacting the Police
  • Stolen passports, luggage, money
  • A child getting separated from the parent
  • Missing planes or transportation
  • Not speaking the language

Just talking through situations that may arise as a family will give you and your children a context for how to handle an unforeseen situation.  This is where the non-traveling spouse can serve as “home-base”.  The at-home spouse can maintain copies of records, field phone calls and coordinate help during an emergency.  Here again, a map of your location and itinerary comes in handy for the non-traveling spouse.

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tips to Planning International Travel with Children as a Single Parent - Easy ways to plan your next trip aboard when your partner/spouse is staying home.

Plan For Long Flights

When traveling internationally with kids, you can expect long flights. So be sure you prepare your children for these situations as well as what to expect at TSA, customs and border protection, and immigration.

It’s also important to bring to have plenty of snacks on hand and entertainment for the plane ride to help pass the time. Additionally, be sure to pack a few extra items like a change of clothes in case of any unexpected delays or accidents.

Incorporate Downtime

International travel with one parent and children in tow can be exhausting.  Totally worth it because it’s exciting, fun, and the best bonding experience ever! But still exhausting.  Just working in another language in a foreign city requires a lot of brain cells.  Now add arranging food, lodging, and side trips.

If you traveled alone or with friends during your college days, just multiply that experience by 10 times.   My boys travel exceptionally well and we love all our time together, but unlike traveling with other adults I am responsible for everyone.

Taking a morning off from site seeing or eating in a few nights offers a respite.  No one can cover everything in a major city.  Plus leaving a little left for the next time, creates a desire to return.  Who knows, maybe the next time you tour the Greek Isles, your then-adult children will do all the planning and you sit back and relax.

This is also not a good time to give up whatever meditation, centering prayer, or calming practices you may have incorporated into your routine at home.   Just like the proverbial oxygen mask on the airplane, make sure you get a little breathing time at some point in the day.

Let it Happen

Travel intrigues us for the novelty of it.  Many things will not go according to plan.  Planes may arrive late, hotel reservations may be lost, rainy days, crowded restaurants, and confusing customs offer you, as the parent, opportunities to model good behavior in less-than-ideal circumstances.

Travel for me involves loving the differences and exploring new ways of being.  Often when the plan fails the fun really begins.  Just roll with it and your kids will too.

If you are traveling with young children, check out these tips.

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About Nicky Omohundro

Nicky Omohundro is a travel and active family lifestyle blogger and social media influencer based out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She shares stories, destinations, and ideas on food, family, health, and outdoor recreation to help families find their own adventures. Her spirit animal is a caffeinated squirrel fueled by coffee, real food, and the desire to seek new adventures.

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Comments

  1. Ryan Biddulph

    Downtime is SO important Tanya. Even if you travel solo! I often find myself swept up in trips with my wife, or when I did solo travel. Pull back, relax, schedule downtime and chill in here and there. No better way to stay rested, refreshed and recharged. Thanks for the tips!

    Ryan

    Reply

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