Hi everyone, newbie here. I have just booked a late deal today leaving Bank Holiday Monday with my 7 year old daughter, I've been thinking about it for about a month and just couldn't afford it til now, so last minute finger click and suddenly I found myself booked on a flight to Turkey, Olu Deniz, Turquoise Hotel....it's a first for me to go as a single parent abroad, I have to say that I had a major panic attack after making the booking - the 'no going back' feeling really freaked me out and I'm afraid to say I lost it big time. The whole doing it on my own and being the 'responsible adult' thing (i.e. no drinks to get me through flight) suddenly hit home and I wondered what on earth I'd done....

So please, any words of encouragement - and also words telling me how silly I'm being are gratefully appreciated - I have a week to get my head round the whole thing

Many thanks x

Well I'm not a single parent, so cant quite appreciate whats involved. But I do think that you have picked a good resort for your needs. Its very friendly without being too in your face, its also nice and compact so you should be able to find your way around really easily. It seemed very safe although like anywhere I suppose you wouldn't leave your purse lying around on a sunbed unattended. My duaghter was 13 when we spent a fornight there, and we were quite happy for her to pop from the hotel into the little main street to buy bottles of water etc or anything we needed from the corner shops without feeling we had to go with her.

Hope this puts your mind at rest. I am sure you will have a great time. It's also a really pretty place surrounded by greenery and mountains.

It's understandable Yummy as I did the same thing years ago when my husband couldn't get time off from work. I booked a cheapy with my young son to Spain. I soon got friendly with other people, around the pool and also of an evening as children soon make friends and you get talking to their parents.

I suppose the thing is with long flights/then transfers is to ensure your daughter is comfortable and entertained as it's the travel that can be boring for some children. Couped up in the aircraft seat is one (I get bored myself ) My son would go to the toilet countless times just to nose about I think. :roll

Maybe download one of her favourite films onto a Nano or something may help colouring books/puzzles and maybe her favourite soft toy. Pop some of these into her own little backpac and she'll have something to occupy herself with. Once there she'll be fine - and so will you.

Yummy

I am sure you will enjoy Olu Deniz and the hotel you have chosen, we have stayed at the Turquoise a few times and its excellent. Very pretty gardens with a lovely pool, We have often met women on their own in Turkey, so don't feel conspicuous, just enjoy the sun and the rest. There is a lovely beach for children the other side of the lagoon. The restaurant owners will pick you up and taken you back to your hotel if you want to go. Its called Sugar Beach and has plenty of shade and play areas for children. Very nice chilled out bar and restaurant. The hotel reception will phone them for you.

This is the website
http://www.thesugarbeachclub.com/beachclub_gallery.html

I'd go on a couple of day trips, there is a water park at Calis (about 45 minutes), The boat trips are fun and the Trip that goes to Turtle beach and the mud baths would be a good one for you. You go on a river boat (Like in the African Queen) past the rock tombs (Not too long) then you get out at Turtle beach is a lovely natural beach, stayed there an hour or so, then get taken to the mud baths, you can smother yourself in mud or just watch and have a drink at the very pleasant bar area they have there. As you tend to stay in a group we did get talking to all the people in our party over the course of the afternoon.

Hope you enjoy it. Let us know how you get on!

Wendy

ooh thank you so much for some lovely replies! I'm starting to look forward to it now and not be so apprehensive - after getting loads of encouragement from people at work today I'm starting to feel much more positive and the great ideas and suggestions you have made for things to do are also very much appreciated.

Thank you for taking the time to reply, I'll keep you all posted how things progress and of course how it went when we get back!

Thanks again

Hi
I've been to Turkey with my 14 year old daughter for the last two years and we are going twice this summer. It is no problem at all, I like it because no one ever tries to take advantage by giving you the rubbish table in the restaurant etc just because there's no man around. We are treated with respect and have a great time - go for it

Hi i just wanted to say thankyou to everyone you all been great help. I have decided not to go this year as still quite sore from break up and i dont want to leave my baby and know i couldnt manage just yet with her, but i am going to take your advice and go next year, hopefully i may meet some friends in the same boat to travel with us, thanks again

Well, what can I say.... got back Monday night, my daughter cried on the flight back as she didn't want to leave, I felt the same, what a fabulous place and super, super people. Can't beleive the difference in cultures about going out for meals with children, waiters even going to the shop next door to buy my daughter a chocolate bar after we'd eaten, and I managed a few free drinks, such lovely people!!

The Hotel we stayed in, Turquoise (Olu Deniz) was pretty near perfect. I initially did feel a little 'left out' - it was quite amusing to see that the entertainments guy was going round the pool drumming up sales for the Turkish baths but completely missed me out on both circuits of the pool - I figured speaking to a woman on her own without a husband was a bit of a taboo for him yet found it very funny the next time he went round when he was talking to a couple where she was sat there topless with her boobs right in front of his face - seemed to have a slight irony to it but then maybe thats just me

Anyway, I did feel like a bit of a spare part some times at the hotel (they kept sitting us at a table for 2) as my daughter went off dancing and playing with friends she'd made so I ended up left at the table on my own - a bit awkward for me but toward the end of the week people realised i was on my own and it got easier to chat with other people.

All in all, a fantastic time, trying to book again already and can't recommend Turkey and especially Olu Deniz to people enough. I look back and laugh at how worried I was about it all!

Hiya Yummy, so glad you had a great time, the 1st time i travelled by myself taking my youngest daughter, i too was so scared.... but after that i really caught the travel bug, and have been away every year since with my kids.... in fact every time im away, i sit there planning out my finances to figure out how long it will be befor i can get away again.... MARMARIS every time for me!

hi alibab,

i am a single parent of two girls, 7 and 11. I am going to ovicek in august. I have been away as a single parent before and although it is alittle daunting at first, after two days, the kids have made friends, the parents are takingto you and encouraging you to join them and by the fifth night you are in full swing!!
I would make the most those few days of not knowing anyone as after that you may just crave a night of your own company but may not get it!
The last holiday I went on was full of Geordies who would grab me out of my room every evening and would not let me leave till they did!! I came back needinga holiday!! But it was all good fun!! I have chosen the yell hotel as it is up in the mountains an cooler in the evenings which will be a welcome relief.
Hope this has helped and given you some encouragement to go for it!
You dont need to be part of a couple to b a whole person and you dont need to be in a relationship to have a damn good holiday!
Let me know how you go on.
Sharron

Hi Alibab

I see from the thread that someone has already bumped up a couple of my posts from last year, but I wanted to respond
I am booked to go to Olu again this year, going july 29th to august 12th, flying out of cardiff, but staying at the Karbel hotel (again!), last year was our first visit to turkey, although Ive been travelling as a single parent since my son was 2 and he will be 8 in September. I had many worries about going to turkey as a single mum, however, it was the most wonderful holiday, in fact, pretty much close to the best we've had by far.

I have never felt as comfortable and as safe as we did while in Turkey, Ive never felt so welcome ANYWHERE as what I did there. Olu is perfect for us, still able to go off to places, but not so rowdy that it can be choas, but I never felt that I "stood out" which can be the case in so many places. The people were lovely, and my son received SO much attention it would take us an hour or more to get down the street in the evenings cos all of the people working in the shops would come out and play football with him LOL, but it was just lovely, the place was ideal, especially having the main beach but also the lagoon, we ventured off on a couple of trips and a boat trip. This will be the first time Ive ever gone back to the same place, altho this year we have gone DIY. I normally of course have to pay adult prices for him, but we've got these 2 weeks including everything for under £500 inc hotel, transfers, flights etc, which in school hols is wonderful.

I cannot recommend olu highly enough, its ideal, and there was certainly no "hassling" and, well, it was not far off being perfect. I do find that sometimes I miss having adult company when Im away, and it can be quite hard. So, if you do decide Olu and are out there at any of the same time, am more than happy to meet up, and my son who is a similar age as yours Im sure could amuse each other while we lounge and have a nice long quiet drink LOL But also, I can understand your reservations about taking baby, and its hard post break up, our first trip post break up with my ex was 1 weeks in Dominican Republic.

If theres anything you'd like to know, please feel free to PM me, I just think its a wonderful place to go, people wonderful, weather, place, hotel everything, and just great Or if you just want to chat anytime, am always here
Karen x

Well, I've been and gone and done it again booked again for me and my daughter to go back to OD middle of august (arriving early hours of 16th) - we're staying at the Majestic so if there are any other single parents around that week, get in touch!

Can't believe I've managed to wangle a second week away to such a fantastic place!!

I#LL BE THERE!!!!

We fly out 13th/14th aug for 12 nights going to Hotel Yel, cant wait!!!!#
Single parent of two girls aged 8 and 11 ( they are both packed and ready!!!) So to say they are looking forward to it is an understatement!!! lol

No qualms about being single, not bothered, as I look at it, I work harder now so I have THE RIGHT to blooming well enjoy the fruits of me wages!!!
You wanna meet up? gove me a shout, plan on doing the markets and a boat trip to an island I cantr remember the name of but hey ho and a water park thing at a hotel that i have the name written down somewhere and i have also posted on the thread " waterparks near Hisoranu" and to induldge in some fine quisene?!?!? food.

passports ready, tenners n sterling ironed and only 12 more shifts to go!!! whoo whoo

sha33a14

Hi sha33a14! Would be good to meet up, not sure where your hotel is, I've not heard of it so dont know how close we will be but as it's OD, not that far then lol! We're flying overnight friday (15th) and should be there early hours saturday morning so would be good to meet up, be good to do the island trip, last time we were there we were lazy b's and stayed poolside or lagoon each day, daughter loves to swim/mess about in pool so good times!

Trying not to think about it cos then I'll get excited and it's not for a couple of weeks yet

But hey, happy days!!

Wish we could go for longer but a week will do for now!

Nina x

Im not sure of the location either, its up a hill somewhere, thats all i know so far, but hey, its Turkey, who cares!!! LOL

Yeah can definatley meet up, my two love the pool too, youngest has had few lessons at school but im hoping she will be swimming like a fish at the end of this holiday! she got arm bands but i bought them for a 6 year old so that they would be too small and she will HAVE too swim (cruel? - Yes!) Kids should be able to swim, its so much more fun lol.

Private message me and ill give ya my mobile an e-mail address. What part of the country you from? Im in good old Halifax so will be glad to leaveit behind for a wee while!! 16 more sleeps whoo whooo!!
sha33a

We're from east angular, not far from Peterborough - i'll pm you contact details so we can meet up when we get there...which isn't long wooooooohoooooooooooooo!!