Just the words “travel nanny” evoke images of sunkissed selfies on far-flung islands with adorable toddlers in tow. For people who enjoy child care and have a case of wanderlust, signing up to be a travel nanny looks like a dream job — and it just might be. While travel nannying is more complex than a simple selfie might make it appear, the truth is the job can be a great way to travel the world while earning an income.
Experienced travel nannies know that a good trip involves clear expectations, a healthy dose of flexibility and an open and honest relationship with their employer. If a day in the life off a typical travel nanny sounds like a fit for you, read on to see what some seasoned travel nannies have to share about a typical working vacation.
What goes on in a typical day as a travel nanny?
While travel nannying is often exciting and fun, it is also an important job with tons of responsibility — namely, the health and safety of small children. For a typical travel nanny, the bulk of each travel day is filled with child care tasks, just as an at-home nanny’s day would be. There are also extra tasks related to travel, such as helping to manage flights and set up the vacation home.
A travel nanny’s typical job duties might include:
- Packing and unpacking luggage.
- Handling travel details for the kids.
- Being on-call 24 hours a day for the duration of the trip.
- Planning and supervising outings with the children.
- Handling meals and food prep for kids.
- Helping kids with morning and bedtime routines.
- Packing diaper bags, swimsuits and other items kids might need.
- Handling snacks, photos and souvenirs.
“It really depends on the family and your pre-discussed duties,” says Kelsey Barr, owner and founder of Three Flamingos Agency in Naples, Florida. “For me, personally, I travel with families where I am hired to be responsible for all aspects of child care and the children.” She does typically request a two-hour break each day, but says that changes based on what the family has planned — it’s not the same time each day.
“This is not your vacation; however, you make the best of it and live in the moment as time presents itself.”
— MiMi Scharmann, early childhood educator and nanny
MiMi Scharmann, a Pittsburgh early childhood educator who has also worked as a travel nanny, says a big part of the job is just making sure every aspect of the day runs smoothly, no matter what else is going on. “Don’t forget the pacifiers, milk or formula and wearable baby sling — it’s a lifesaver,” she says. “Make sure you look over yourself in the mirror. You should have something functional and presentable on. Did you pee?”
Do travel nannies get time to sightsee and relax?
The short answer is yes — but not as much as you might think. Travel nannying is hard work, and most nannies are on-call for most of each day during the trip. When out and about, Scharmann says nannies will be preoccupied with children at most places where sightseeing occurs, but they still do get to enjoy them. “This is not your vacation; however, you make the best of it and live in the moment as time presents itself,” she adds.
The key to balancing your time, she says, is to define expectations before the plane takes off. “Be sure to set clear boundaries. Getting paid to travel as a nanny isn’t for the average person.” Keep reading for her suggestions on what to include in your nanny contract to ensure you can make the most of your trip.
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For travelers looking for more free time during a traveling care gig, travel pet sitting might be a better option. Occasionally, though, flexible travel nanny jobs do come along. Brooke Barry, a Pittsburgh-based child care provider, has traveled on two international vacations as a nanny — and got to take her young son along. When he was 2 years old, they visited Rome, and they ventured to Greece when he was 6.
“Typical days for me varied, but I had a lot of flexibility in the schedule of the day,” she says. On the trip to Greece, her family was able to stay five additional days after the nanny family returned home, which may be an option for some nannies. “We stayed in Athens and visited the Acropolis and the Parthenon,” she says — both core memories for her son.
What’s a typical daily schedule for a travel nanny?
Each day for a travel nanny looks different, says Scharmann. She’s often up at 5 a.m. preparing children for a flight, checking bags for loveys and pacifiers and falling into bed exhausted each night. It’s worth it, though, she adds, even if travel nanny days never look like a standard 9-5 job.
“Social media has a way of making a travel nanny position look glamorous, but… in many ways it’s even more challenging than nannying at home.”
— Kelsey Barr, owner and founder of Three Flamingos Agency
Barr adds that most travel nannies are, like her, largely on-call for the duration of the trip. “Social media has a way of making a travel nanny position look glamorous, but the reality is, in 99% of positions, it’s far from glamorous. In fact, in many ways it’s even more challenging than nannying at home,” says Barr. “You don’t have your normal routine, your normal gear and your normal work space.”
Here’s what Barr says a typical day might look like as a travel nanny:
- Wake when the children wake.
- Order the children breakfast or prepare breakfast, depending on the destination.
- Get children dressed.
- Around 9 a.m., meet with parents to plan out the day.
- Spend the morning swimming, visiting playgrounds and/or exploring.
- At noon, return to accommodations for lunch and naps, if applicable. While the children rest, Barr plans afternoon activities, repacks the children’s bags and takes care of household duties like bottle washing, cleaning up, etc.
- Once the children wake up, start afternoon activities or sightseeing. This typically involves more low key activities than the morning.
- Return to accommodations in the evening for dinner and bedtime. Barr usually crawls into bed herself around 9 p.m.
Barr typically eats lunch and checks in with family and friends during the children’s nap time. Her personal time may change depending on the day’s schedule, and she works in breaks around the family’s needs.
How to maximize your experience as a travel nanny
Find a nanny job
The most important thing to do to ensure you’re taken care of during travel nanny jobs is to very clearly lay out all expectations in a written contract before each trip. When ironing out your travel nanny contract, here’s what Barr, Scharmann and Barry say to include:
Compensation and travel expenses
Some nannies are paid a daily rate while others are paid hourly with a daily travel fee added on. Whatever works best for you, your contract should specify your rate, what expenses are included and how and when you’ll be paid.
You should also iron out how travel expenses and other essentials will be paid for. Typically, nanny families should foot the bill for:
- Plane tickets.
- Transportation, including Ubers to and from the airport.
- Parking fees.
- Luggage fees.
- International fees for cell phones.
- Meals, groceries and other items.
When it comes to meals, make sure to ask if you will be given a meal budget per day or expected to dine with the family. Also, double check that the budget is appropriate for the area you are traveling to. Advocate for a fair meal budget for yourself — you’ll need the calories to keep up with the kids!
Accommodations
Generally, accommodations will be covered by the nanny family. That said, there are still important details to discuss. For example, will you have your own room or be sharing with the children? If the children are in your room, will you be paid extra for being in charge of them overnight as well? Get these answers ahead of time.
Schedule and child care duties
While most travel nannies work far more than eight hours each day, it’s still important to get some downtime for your own well-being. Clearly outline what hours you will be on duty or on-call and what hours you’re considered off the clock. Most travel nannies get a few hours off-duty each day.
Additionally, discuss the scope of your child care responsibilities. Don’t forget to ask about specific details, including:
- Can you take the children off hotel property?
- Can you take them on public transportation?
- Are you responsible for all aspects of their care?
- Are there certain days or hours when they’ll be with their parents?
Unexpected changes
If the schedule or scope of the trip changes and you will have to work more than originally agreed upon, create a time frame for how much notice you will be given. If you have other obligations that limit your travel date flexibility, be up front about that.
Lastly, don’t forget to discuss sick days. Everyone gets sick. Outline in the contract what happens if you, the parents or any of the children get sick.
The bottom line
While it’s clear that travel nannying is much more than a paid vacation, it’s also clear that there are so many benefits. With open communication and planning, you’re likely to enjoy a smooth trip that meets everyone’s expectations. These conversations are much more difficult to have once you’ve arrived somewhere, so protect yourself and create a well-written contract.
“I really have never had any issues arise on a trip that were out of the ordinary,” concludes Barr. “The biggest thing is communication. As long as everyone is communicating well and everyone is on the same page, there’s really not any room for issues.”
