The Updated Guide to Travelling with your Nanny
With summer just around the corner, you may find yourself like so many families, dreaming of your next getaway. Perhaps you've toyed with the idea of bringing your nanny along for the trip, but aren't quite sure where to start: How does it work practically? What will it cost? Would it actually be the right fit for your family? Or could it make the holiday more relaxed and enjoyable for everyone?
It's a popular option, and it’s natural to have questions about the practicalities of how it all works. While every family's needs are different, the team here at Kindred have put together an updated guide answering a few of the most common queries we get asked.
If there's any questions of yours we haven’t touched on, please don't hesitate to contact us, we are so happy to help!
The Benefits of Bringing your Nanny on Holiday with you
Bringing your nanny on holiday can truly transform the experience for the whole family. Having a familiar, trusted face alongside the children can make a world of difference, particularly for younger ones who may find new environments overwhelming or unsettling. Because your nanny already understands your children's routines, preferences and boundaries, the transition into holiday mode can be far smoother than it might be otherwise.
For parents, the benefits are equally significant. Without support, a family holiday can often feel like simply parenting in a different location. Having your nanny there means you can have pockets of time to genuinely switch off, whether that's enjoying a leisurely breakfast, exploring at your own pace, or finally having that quiet dinner for two.
It can also open up the type of holiday you feel able to take. Destinations or activities that might have previously felt too ambitious with young children suddenly become far more manageable giving your family the flexibility to do more and worry less.
Travel Arrangements
Whether you're travelling by train, plane or car, you are responsible for covering your nanny's travel costs including any airport transfers, travel insurance and travel time.
While your nanny may not be actively caring for the children during the journey, it's important to recognise that they are giving up time they would otherwise spend working and earning in their normal environment, and should be compensated accordingly.
A Note on Travel Insurance: Cover should extend beyond the journey itself to include your nanny's health and wellbeing while abroad whether that's for general illness or activity related incidents. Be specific about what activities are covered.
For example, if you're planning a ski trip, make sure your policy includes winter sports cover.
Accommodation and Meal Considerations:
When it comes to accommodation and meals, a little planning ahead goes a long way! Most nannies prefer their own bedroom where possible not only for comfort, but to ensure they have the private downtime they need to recharge.
While separate accommodation isn't always feasible, it's a conversation worth having well in advance so that expectations are clear on both sides. If your nanny is sharing a space with young children who may wake during the night, an overnight retainer should be offered.
Similar to live-in nanny arrangements, families are expected to cover three main meals a day. Nannies are generally happy to eat with the children and fit in with the family's routine, however snacks and personal extras during their own time are their responsibility.
A quick chat about expectations or dietary requirements beforehand will ensure everything runs smoothly from the moment you arrive.
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Hours and Compensation
Pay and working hours should always be agreed well in advance of any trip. While there is no fixed industry standard for holiday arrangements, Kindred recommends a minimum of 7 hours per day to make the arrangement worthwhile for your nanny, with pay based on an hourly or day rate aligned with London market rates. If you need flexibility in the schedule, communicate this early so your nanny can plan accordingly.
For families travelling with their existing nanny, take their current salary as your starting point and factor in any additional hours the holiday may require. If your nanny is ordinarily live out, an overnight retainer of £30–£60 per night is recommended, with the higher end applying where the nanny is expected to attend to young children during the night.
If the holiday involves longer hours or additional days beyond their usual working week, overtime must be paid for those extra hours and in some cases, time off in lieu may also need to be offered.
It's worth noting that travel time counts as working time and does not affect your nanny's holiday allowance. As with all arrangements, agreeing everything clearly before the trip sets expectations on both sides and avoids any misunderstandings down the line.
Excursions and Activities
It's always a nice idea to think about how your nanny fits into the holiday beyond just their working hours. Most nannies are genuinely keen to get involved so if you have day trips, excursions or activities planned that you'd love them to be part of, keep in mind that when your nanny is on the clock during these moments, the cost of their entry or participation should be covered by you as part of the arrangement.
Group Travel Considerations
If your holiday includes friends or extended family with children of their own, it's important to be upfront about what your nanny's role actually covers. Looking after a large group of children should never fall solely on one person, so make sure boundaries are clearly established from the start.
If your nanny is taking on the care of one or two additional children beyond their usual amount this comes with extra responsibility and should be reflected in their pay. Like everything else, it's a conversation best had well before you travel with both your nanny and friends or family members with other children.
Our main pieces of advice for taking your nanny on holiday
Get a plan in place! Before locking in any trip with your nanny, we always recommend sitting down with them or your Kindred consultant to map out your expectations and how you envision the trip looking. Remember open communication is key, from there, all the little details to work through will flow.
If you'd like your nanny to help with things like laundry, washing up or occasional evening babysitting, make sure this is also discussed and agreed well before you travel. It might feel like a lot to think through in advance, but a little preparation goes a long way.
The more clarity you can offer upfront, the more seamlessly your nanny can settle into the rhythm of your holiday and equally, the more comfortable and confident they'll feel knowing exactly what's expected of them, which activities or excursions they'll be part of, when they're needed, and crucially, when their time is genuinely their own. Nobody works well under uncertainty and a nanny who feels clear and confident in their role will always bring their best to your family.
Kindred recommends having a fixed term contract in place for any trip, even if it's short. You can download a sample nanny contract from our website to use as a guide. And if your usual nanny isn't able to join you, or you don't currently have one, get in touch with the Kindred team. We have a wonderful network of experienced temporary nannies who would love to travel with your family.
Conclusion
Ultimately, this is your holiday. Communicate your expectations early, ensure hours worked are hours paid, and make sure your nanny has the downtime they're entitled to.
Details are important and will make sure everyone can truly enjoy the trip!
About Kindred Nannies
The team at Kindred Nannies has over 20 years of experience helping families find a nanny in the UK and abroad. We have assisted hundreds of nannies to find a rewarding nanny job caring for children of all ages throughout London and the surrounding areas.
