When her son was six years old, Sonia Prokopek took her son on his first “single” trip.
They went to Rome, which was so unforgettable that Prokopek said she is now planning a second trip this summer.
“I really enjoy the one-on-one time we get when we travel alone,” she said. “There were no distractions, no arguments between siblings, the time spent together was of high quality… My son still talks about our time in Rome and can’t wait for (our) trip to London this June. “
Prokopek and her husband had three children – her son, now 10, and two younger daughters. She said they travel together, but the time spent traveling with just one child and one parent has benefits that family travel doesn’t typically offer.
“Traveling with just one child allows you to focus solely on that child’s needs,” she says. “Plus, because I don’t get stressed out about dealing with different demands, I feel like I’m a better parent—more patient, fun, and in the moment.”
Plus, “my son loves all the attention and us exploring together, just the two of us,” she says.
She said Prokopek’s husband “always insisted on doing things together, including traveling” and was now a supporter.
“My husband also took my son to Turkey on his own and he really loved it there…even he saw the value in it,” she told CNBC Travel.
Serbian Sonia Prokopek and her son Les during a trip to Rome.
Source: Sonia Prokopek
Prokopek did not travel alone with her two youngest children, she said, mainly because of Covid-19. But that may soon change.
“I will definitely do more,” she said.
Showing a growth trend
Luxury travel company Scott Dunn lists “family vacations” as one of the hottest travel trends in 2023.
According to the company, mother-daughter travel is particularly on the rise, although father-son travel is also becoming more popular.
“Parent-child duos often choose destinations and experiences based on shared interests,” said Mike Harlow, general manager at Scott Dunn.
Scott Dunn’s Mike Harlow recommends hiking and biking in Norway (pictured), Northern Lights viewing in Finland and Africa, the latter of which is popular with parents traveling with teenagers. For more affordable options, he recommends Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand or Sri Lanka.
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Harlow said his company recently helped a father and son book a trip to Cambodia that focused on the country’s history and national parks.
“We also had a mother-daughter duo go on a trip to South Korea on a Korean drama and K-pop themed trip, while another mother-daughter duo went to India to perform the classic Golden Triangle together,” he said.
Elephant and “Jungle Bubble”
Last year, I decided to book my own mother-daughter trip with my oldest. (In order to satisfy my brothers and sisters’ calls for injustice, I promised everyone to take a “solo” trip on their tenth birthday.)
To decide where to go, I asked my daughter a series of simple questions: Beach or mountains, cold or warm weather, animals or adventure sports?
Based on her answers, I gave her some ideas.she chose Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Resort, The outskirts of Chiang Rai, Thailand. We booked a few nights at the main hotel and one night in the hotel’s “jungle bubble” – a dome tent with a king-size bed and bathroom overlooking the hotel’s 168 acres, where elephants can Take a stroll there.
During the day we walked through fields with the elephants and watched them bathe in a river on the border with Myanmar. We prepared food for the elephants and fed them, but we did not ride them, a practice that is neither permitted by a hotel nor condoned by animal rights supporters.
In the evening, we swam in the hotel swimming pool and had a “spa night” in the room, using facial masks from home, bath salts and lotions from the hotel. At night we sat outside and watched the stars.
Guests at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp Resort can prepare “energy balls” made of bananas, rice bran, sunflower seeds, glutinous rice, tamarind and salt to feed the elephants.
Source: Monica Pitrelli
One morning I suggested we book a cooking class. But my daughter was determined to try Muay Thai. I resisted the urge to tell her she didn’t like it (read: I didn’t like it) and booked a session. She loved every minute.
As for me, I appreciate having so much time with my daughter and not having to attend to other people’s needs. I found myself telling her stories from the past—my own and my husband’s—just because, without the competing voices around me, I could.
Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Resort currently has 20 elephants, including a mother and a calf. The hotel said they don’t buy elephants and rides on them are prohibited.
Source: Monica Pitrelli
This time also offers many teachable moments—lessons that have long needed to be taught. One day, as I was resting in my room, it occurred to me that we needed to order lunch for my daughter’s upcoming semester.
“MotherShe looked up from her book and said, “We can do this when we get home.” “
As an added bonus, my husband reports spending quality time at home with my other kids – enjoying their special moments as a trio without the hassles that come with a family of five.
“Forever” memory
California native Madeleine Austin also grew up with a family of five in her family. She said she vividly remembers traveling with her mother and grandmother as a child.
These trips “are centered around things they know I’m interested in. For example, I did a report on Yellowstone National Park in elementary school and was fascinated by the geysers, so they took me on a long weekend trip to visit and Really seeing them live,” she said.
Latest photos of Madeline Austin and her mother before heading to the Hollywood Bowl, a live music venue in Los Angeles, California.
Source: Madeleine Austin
Austin said her family doesn’t travel much, so traveling with her mom feels “very special.”
“She was so invested in my interests and the undivided attention I got from her that weekend, especially as the forgotten middle child, was really special and something I will always remember,” she said.
She recalled holding hands with her mother and watching the geyser erupt. “I remember leaving the park tired from walking, having dinner together, and ordering sodas—we didn’t usually have sodas at home!”
Austin, 27, is not a parent yet, but she said she will one day continue the tradition with her own children.
“It’s a very special time to connect with your children one-on-one in a way that can’t be replicated at home.”
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