delawana Inn - Single Parents Family Vacations

We are pleased to cater to single parent families and believe the Delawana is the perfect destination for parents traveling alone with children. Single parent families will have the chance to get to know each other at weekly mixers and a variety of interactive games, contests and tournaments designed just for them.

Single Supplement Policy
Stay in the Beeches, with one child free and pay no single supplement or pay a 25% single supplement charge in the Ashes or Spruces. Charges apply for additional children.

The Spruces

Spruces floor plan

The Ashes

Each of the Ashes has a king bed, double pull out sofa, 2 person Jacuzzi and a private screened in porch. The Ashes are situated in a park setting close to the spa.
Maximum 4 guests (up to 2 adults, the remaining in children).

The Beeches

These comfortable rooms are equipped with a cozy gas burning fireplace, a queen bed, a twin bed, a pull out sofa that converts into a double bed and a private screened in porch.
Maximum 5 guests (up to 2 adults, the remaining in children).

These rooms are closest to our supervised (summer only) sandy beach and are ideal for single parents with children. Each room has one queen size bed and a pull out that converts into a single bed. All have private decks with a view of Georgian Bay. This is a single parent accommodation, with no single supplement.

Excerpted from Tripadvisor.com
That's right single parents finally a resort that does not charge a single supplement for "The Beeches" location. It just so happens of all the accommodations it is my favourite because the beautiful sand beach is a stone's throw from your patio. I have been to MANY resorts and nothing compares to "The Del". The staff is enthusiastic and friendly without being overly so. You can tell working there is a good experience for them. The food, activities and entertainment are fabulous. The well appointed accommodation is clean and nicely decorated. You have got to attend the daily pool party. So much fun. With the new prices for 2006 in place I have a fantastic affordable vacation that my 13 year old daughter is looking forward to and that's no easy task. This will be my 5th time at "The Del" and I say "Is it June yet"? (sigh)

Excerpted from The National Post Camilla Cornell, Weekend Post Published 4/8/2006
Vacationing single parents have often felt like the odd person out. But they needn't any longer:

DELAWANA INN & RESORT Located in the Muskoka region not far from Toronto, this resort offers rooms for single parents in its Beeches and Birches sections. (It's open from May 19 to Oct. 15.) You'll pay no single supplement for a Beeches room with a queen-size bed and pull-out sofa, though for the larger Birches rooms (a queen, a double and a pull-out) you'll pay a 25% single supplement. On top of that, one child under 15 stays free with a single parent, and additional kids pay children's rates of $30 a day (up to six years old) to $60 (seven to 12) a day. There are even special rates for teens (13 to 17) of $75 to $85 a day. (Not bad when you consider how much food they can pack away.)
For about $450 for a weekend in spring, or $550 for a weekend in summer (including the single supplement), you'll get a room with one queen bed or two doubles and a pull-out sofa, breakfast and dinner, as well as lunch for kids under 12. In the spring, theme weekends offer organized hiking, biking and kayaking. Summer guests can frolic on the water trampoline and the "iceberg," a giant inflatable that doubles as a climbing wall and slide. If that's not enough, kids' programs keep them busy from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with supervised arts, crafts, games and nature activities ... while you loll in the Jacuzzi and read a trashy novel. It doesn't get any better.

It’s not every day one comes across a vacation resort that takes the time to consider that single parents, moms and dads are unique and special people. Delawana Inn does. How or when they became aware that single parents have only one brain and two hands but have to do the work of two brains and four hands is beyond me, but some enlightened Delawana soul had a single parent epiphany. I guess when you’re able to stroll around some of the most beautiful Muskoka lakes and forests as part of your job, your brainstorms take on a whole new and wonderful dimension.

Let’s face it, if you’re a single parent you’re presented with challenges that the average parent doesn’t have to face. (Which is why I created www.singleparentlovelife.com). Yes, we know that you’re the new single parent, the renaissance single parent, the hip, smart and utterly committed single parent, but the unique challenges don’t seem to take that into consideration when it comes to your monthly budget. Luckily, the Delawana Inn does.

I am a single parent, have been for sixteen years and I’ve been to the Delawana Inn three times. It’s a wonderful place for children for a number of reasons. First and foremost I love the expanse of the place. Kids need to run around and get a feel for the nature around them. Delawana is all that, what with its wooded grounds, Georgian pines, and the wildlife that abounds the Honey Harbour area.

Next, there are tons of other children there! You know that dreaded feeling you get in the pit of your single parent gut when you arrive at some place and wonder if there will be other kids for your child(ren) to play with? This would never happen at Delawana, I give you my personal guarantee.

Next, these guys know how to make eating fun for kids. It’s called the greatest buffet ever. It’s so important for our kids to eat so they have some fuel in their engines to carry them through the day and the Del knows how to lay out a spread that motivates children to eat. As a parent, this is important for me. The dining room is large, filled with kids and has a fantastic serving staff all with big brains, shiny eyes and fabulous smiles.

Next, as a single parent it often seems that your official job is to give, give and give some more. Delawana knows this so they’ve made it their mission to give something back to you – the single parent. In other words, it’s time for you “to get”. They have a fantastic spa there and yoga classes which take place in a large open space just underneath a grove of towering pine trees. So if you’re a somewhat stressed out single parent, take advantage of the Del’s approach to de-stressing you.

Next, and I saved the best part for last. When I am at the Delawana there is always one thing that is utterly consistent – their amazing staff who will take care of you and your child(ren). I am not exaggerating when I say I have *never* seen such patient and empathetic young people in my life. I was astounded to see how they related to the children in their care. I remember thinking, when these kids grow up they’re all going to be the best parents in the world. Never, not once have I ever seen a staff member speak to a child in any way but the most loving and compassionate way.

And they all wear bright red t-shirts which is great for the kids because after a day or two that bright red t-shirt means but one thing to them – that there is a caring and loving person wearing it who will take care of whatever need they have at that moment. As in, “Susie, I have to go to the bathroom”. ‘You do? Well then, take my hand and let’s get going!’ (The entire exchange said with a huge smile.)

Why is the Del’s staff so great? They literally spend months interviewing young people from across the country. That’s right, they make sure they are staffed with the best of the best from across Canada. The young woman serving my son and I dinner hailed from Vancouver no less!

What does this mean to you? It means that you can trust the people who are caring for your child(ren) while you the single parent can finally, after what may be months or years of uninterrupted and committed child rearing can take that spa or yoga class you’ve wanted to try for so long. It means that you can finally take that long and languorous walk by yourself, in peace, all while taking the moment to pat yourself on the back, give yourself lots of credit and say to yourself – “I’ve been a great single parent and I’m proud of myself”.

Peter Ehrlich is the proud single father to Noah, the greatest son in the world. Aware that dating and meeting as a single parent is completely different than just dating as a single, he created a popular online site called www.singleparentlovelife.com

Peter has been interviewed extensively on television, radio and in print for his take on the new paradigm of the fastest growing family type worldwide – the hip, sexy and nurturing single parent.

Please note: All accommodations are equipped with air conditioning, mini refrigerators, alarm clocks, satellite television and telephone with dial-up capability. Additionally, units offer either an open air deck or a screened in porch. Parking is located at units.

The Spruces

The Ashes

The Beeches