Everything You Need to Know About Traveling with Your Nanny

Have a family vacation in the books? A travel nanny can make an incredible difference in your trip, making your vacation more relaxed and enjoyable for yourself and your kids. There are many misunderstandings, though, about hiring a travel nanny, so allow us to guide you through what you need to know.

How a Travel Nanny Arrangement Works

If there’s one thing to take away from this blog, it should be this: when you bring your nanny on vacation, it is not a vacation for them. You aren’t giving them a vacation, you’re hiring them for a work trip, and they need to be paid accordingly. You will still need to pay your nanny for all their regular working hours in addition to extra fees and expenses (we’ll get into those details below), and they should never be told, asked, or encouraged to use their PTO for your vacation.

At the same time, your nanny shouldn’t be working 24/7 during the vacation. They still need time off every day to relax and they need their own space for that downtime as well.

Expenses When Hiring a Travel Nanny

When you bring your nanny or a temporary nanny on your vacation, here’s a breakdown of the primary fees and expenses:

• Your nanny’s regular salary - She should be paid her hourly salary for all of her guaranteed hours, whether she’s full-time or part-time, as well as any overtime. You’re legally required to pay her for all time she spends on transportation like flights, taxis, etc.

• Overnight fee – If you expect your nanny to care for the kids during the night, you will need to pay an overnight fee each night in addition to her hourly pay.

• Travel expenses - You must pay for all of your nanny’s travel costs including airfare, taxis or rideshares, and so on.

• Accommodations - You must pay for private accommodations for your nanny so she has her own space (not in the kids’ room). If she doesn’t have private accommodations, you will need to pay her hourly rate for 24 hours per day during the trip, although many nannies won’t agree to travel with a family unless they have private accommodations.

• Living expenses - During the trip, you’ll need to pay for all your nanny’s food and other living expenses that arise.

• Expenses for activities - If you choose to bring your nanny along for any activities during the trip to help with your children, like theme parks, shows, or other attractions and events, you need to buy her ticket.

• Daily travel fee - It’s customary to pay a daily travel fee or inconvenience fee to compensate your nanny for being away from her home, friends, and family. The standard rate is about $150 per day.

Legal Considerations for a Travel Nanny

Remember that no matter where you travel with your nanny, US labor laws still apply. You’re still required to pay her for her guaranteed hours and any overtime hours she works.

Other Tips and Considerations When Traveling with a Nanny

Along with the expenses and expectations, keep these tips in mind when making arrangements for your travel nanny.

Build In Downtime

Your nanny is a human, not a robot! Traveling is exhausting, even to a beautiful destination, and they’re working while they’re traveling too. Make sure they have adequate time to unwind, especially on travel days. Also, consider giving them a paid day off after the vacation so they can relax and refresh at home (this would be an extra PTO day, not one of the PTO days that is already included in their employment package).

Discuss Details in Advance

Discuss all the details of the trip with your nanny in advance: the itinerary, what you expect, what they expect, where they’ll be staying, compensation, and so on. It’s helpful to put it all in writing too. It’s important to make sure everyone is on the same page before you go.

The Bottom Line: Put Yourself in Your Nanny’s Shoes

Ultimately, consider how you would feel and what you would expect if you were asked to take a work trip, and be sure to treat your nanny with fairness and respect. Recognize the value of her time and energy and compensate her accordingly. Remember, a travel nanny is an extreme luxury and is only an option if you are willing to pay all the expenses that go along with it.

How to Hire the Best Travel Nanny for Your Family

If you already have a nanny, you may be able to arrange to hire them for your vacation. If not, Tried and True Nannies and Sitters can help you find a fantastic travel nanny for your trip. Contact our Nashville nanny agency to learn more about our pricing for a travel nanny placement.