I had already holiday-ed solo with the children before my divorce. It taught me an important lesson: make sure you, the parent, have some kind of adult support available. It’s not just the security of knowing that someone is on hand to help in a crisis.

An available adult will prevent you getting lonely when the children are asleep or, if your kids are older teens, when they are out without you.

There are three main ways of getting round the support/loneliness problem. First, book with one of the specialist solo parent holiday firms that arranges group travel where everyone plays and eats together.

Specialist company Small Families makes the process ever more user-friendly by having get-togethers in the UK where interested parties can meet before they commit to a holiday together. Secondly, go on holiday with another family, solo or otherwise.

Mother's day in the Caribbean

Joanna Pitman finds a resort in the Dominican Republic that can keep a single mum and her brood smiling

BACKGROUND

• Half-term bargains for families

• Can holidays and exam revision mix?

• A great big group holiday in Devon

BACKGROUND

• Your Top 10 solo traveller questions

• Avalanche training for teens

• Planning summer hols with teens

• Mums go surfing in Cornwall

Related Internet Links

• Read 570 more articles in our Family Travel section

• Family Holiday Offers from Times+

Related Links

• Your Top 10 solo traveller questions

Thirdly, book any holiday and then get out there on the first day and make friends with other families. This is a high-risk strategy, but as I discovered on a ski holiday, it can be great fun if it works.

So, decide which strategy to adopt, and then choose carefully. An increasing number of companies specialise in single parent travel, but they don’t necessarily arrange group activities.

On the other hand, some mainstream companies offer holidays with enough in the way of kids’ clubs and family entertainment, so you might be able to get all the company and support you need.

Then there’s the money problem. Specialist solo parent companies vary from those offering rock bottom charges to a few that charge a lot. They range from budget self-catering accommodation with coin-metered electricity to a degree of luxury.

The holidays I’ve picked, below, reflect this price range with one outrageously expensive holiday that we can all dream about. Most are aimed at this February’s half term.

For the ultimate budget-crunch holiday, Hoseasons has a bungalow for six overlooking the sea at Widemouth Bay. Cornwall in the winter can be sensational, by the way – sometimes sunny and always beautiful. The coastal footpath is there for the taking and so are the beaches and coves.

The bungalow is part of a holiday park with a tennis court, animal area, play area, kids club and an indoor pool. Cottages from £255 for 7 days in half term. There’s a coin meter for the electricity. This bungalow has three rooms which means that two (close) single families could share and take the cost still lower.

Mango is run by two single parents. All their holidays are escorted and have group activities every day. Their ski holiday in Romania includes a trip to Dracula’s Castle plus flights, ski school, full board and ski hire for £765 per adult and £695 per child. That’s great value.

Times recommends

• 'New York has lost its edge'
• The UK and Ireland's 25 best Christmas events
• Chalet Chef 2010: the winners