Around this time of year, many families are going on vacation and traveling to visit relatives and enjoy some warmth and sunshine. Travel with kids can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it can also be stressful and prevent parents from getting the rest and relaxation they need.
This is why it is beneficial to hire a vacation nanny to accompany your family and take care of the kids on your next trip. Here are some tips for how to hire a travel nanny and recommendations for taking a nanny on vacation.
Questions to Ask a Nanny for Traveling Family
There are many nanny interview questions that parents need to ask potential candidates before hiring someone to take care of their children. But there are even more questions to ask if you’re planning on taking nanny on vacation. At Household Staffing International, we’ve connected many families with amazing travel nannies over the years!
Here are some important questions to add to your interview list.
- Have you ever worked as a travel nanny before?
- Has your past nanny experience involved domestic or international travel?
- How flexible is your schedule for future travel plans?
- What is your travel style, and what do you like to personally do on vacation?
- What are some ways that you would entertain kids on car trips, plane rides, and rainy days?
How to Make Your Vacation Nanny Feel Welcome
It’s also very important to make your travel nanny feel as comfortable and welcome as possible while taking trips with you and your kids. One way to do this is to include your nanny in planning discussions for your upcoming trip and ask the nanny’s opinion about activities and itineraries.
It’s also a good idea to include some personal space and free time in your nanny’s schedule to avoid burnout and make the trip more enjoyable for everyone. Although this is your vacation and not your nanny’s vacation, you also don’t want to make your nanny feel taken advantage of or unfairly compensated.
Coordinating Responsibilities with a Travel Nanny
One of the most challenging parts about having a travel nanny along on your vacation is coordinating responsibilities. A successful travel nanny arrangement is dependent upon discussing expectations in advance, such as sleeping schedules, the nanny’s level of involvement, and opportunities for free time.
Perhaps you will want your nanny to be the primary caregiver during the day while you go sightseeing or relax by the pool. But in the evenings, you may want to be a part of your children’s bedtime routine. Or maybe, you want to spend as much time as possible with your kids during daytime activities but enlist the help of your nanny to go out to dinner or experience the local nightlife scene in the evenings.
Whatever your preferences are, let your nanny know what your goals for the vacation are and how much help you’ll want at various times of the day. It is often beneficial to draw up a simple contract to outline your travel nanny’s responsibilities so that there are no unexpected surprises or disappointments during the trip.
Compensation Tips for Taking a Nanny on Vacation
Another important issue to communicate with your nanny concerns additional compensation for travel outings that goes beyond the nanny’s normal salary or hourly rate. It is common for families to offer an hourly rate to cover the on-duty hours for a travel nanny. Alternatively, you can come to an agreement on a lump sum for the entire trip if you don’t want to have to keep track of each hour and minute so closely.
Just remember that this is a work assignment for a nanny and that overtime pay may be required for long days, even if they take place in a beautiful or exotic place. Also, don’t forget about your travel nanny’s various trip expenses, such as hotel rooms, meals, and activities planned with the children. To cover these costs, you can offer your nanny a daily stipend or provide the nanny with a credit card or a predetermined amount of cash each day.