The French are letting us back in (thank goodness) and holidays are starting to look well and truly on the cards - WAAHOO 🥳
These are Lucy’s top tips for holidaying with your family (or any family for that reason, although not actually your own family - I’m not sure I’d get paid to hang out with my sisters…)
General things to think about:
Can you actually do the dates they need? Remember with holidays there is always travel time. Have they given you the flight / travel day and is it a morning, afternoon or evening one? Can you get there?!
Have you got travel insurance? And does it cover you for working? Check with your public liability provider to see if they can help. Also don’t forget to insure your phone / any tech - accidents can still happen when you’re on holiday!
General bits of advice:
We’d normally expect you to have 1 full day (or two half days) off per 8 days that you are away with the family. You need to REST.
All travel, accommodation, food are paid for by the family. The only exception may be on your days / nights off
Take some spending money with you for your days off and in case you want to purchase anything lovely.
The days you travel with the family are paid if you are working (i.e. helping care for the children). 9 times out of 10 this is the case. The only exceptions tend to be if you are joining a family who are already out there, in which case your travel time might not be paid for but your travel (flights / petrol) etc. will be.
As a guide we would suggest a basic of 40 hours work per week (daytime hours) and 3 evening babysits, and would expect it to be paid at circa £500 per week. This is of course dependent on your experience and/or responsibilities.
This holiday isn't deducted from your holiday allowance, you are still working and so it isn’t ‘holiday’ for you.
Things to get clear on before you say YES! (this might mean having that potentially ‘awkward’ feeling conversation, but I promise you it’s better now than afterwards!)
On the evenings that you aren't babysitting, are you joining the family for dinner or sorting yourself out?
Pay - how much are they going to pay you and what will the hours roughly be? We find it easiest to work in hours over the week as it leaves an element of flexibility for everyone to find their feet. If the family do the holiday regularly or are experienced with having a holiday nanny they may have a clear idea already.
Will you have your own room? As far as you’re able we’d strongly recommend you have a separate room from the children so that you can actually get some space and downtime when you’re not working. If you do have to share with the children, we would expect you to be paid more.
Top tips
Book a day off, the day after you get back from the holiday! It sounds backwards BUT it will mean you can get refreshed and ready to show up as the BEST version of yourself. It’s genuinely a game changer. If you get back on a Saturday you might feel that Sunday off is sufficient…
Pack an eye mask - in order to be the best holiday nanny you can be you need to get good sleep and an eye mask can really help!!
Take trainers, sports kit and a rucksack so that you can get out for a walk / fresh air / cycle / swim / beach trip when you’re not working. Space is definitely key when you’re holidaying with a family, so do take the opportunities when they crop up!
Holidaying with a family is one of the best ways to nanny! It’s intense, fun and always a huge learning curve but one I would also say filled with laughter and epic experiences!
If you have any questions or need a hand at any point then give us a shout! Team Freckles are here to help you!! X