What to Pay for Vacation Babysitter

I did this one time forever ago for a family with a boat. We took the boat from southern NJ to Newport, RI & made several stops along the way. The family paid for all of my expenses & I was basically in charge of taking the two 8 year old girls to dinner every night & baby-sit them for the evening after that. I think we were gone 5 or 6 days & they paid me $250 on top of expenses, food, etc., but this was back in '98.

Even if she is not your regular nanny, it should not cost her anything to go on YOUR vacation. She is still working. She is not able to be at home with her pals and go hang on the beach or go to a restaurant on her off time away from your family while there.

Come up with a sum that plays off her regular hourly rate, with food stipends (if she wants fancier fare, etc she can pay for it). For example, if you are staying at a resort or decent hotel with a normal sort of restaurant in the lobby or aggreeable room service prices, use those numbers and suggestions for the food stipend amounts when she is "off duty", and to be nice offer a small stipend for an outing for her (pay for the taxi, bus far, or arrange the hotels shuttle service...to the beach, or other notable, safe outing for a single person of her age and awareness of danger). Maybe she will just want to go shopping (spending her own cash, but needing a ride to get there), or to spend a whole afternoon at the beach or hotel pool, umbrella drink in hand (another thing to specify..if she is over 21, some drinking alcohol rules).

Her own room and possibly a bath is nice too...again, if she rooms with the kids, its work ALL THE TIME she is there. Just a thought.

Just remember, this is WORK for her, even if she is going to a fun location. I traveled to ski locations and a Disney park with my nanny family years ago, and each time we learned something new! I got to learn to ski on their dime, but hated sharing a room with the kids (that trip I got a HUGE bonus once home tho!) and in the end they were good experiences as a whole.

Be fair and have a blast!!!

I like the $100 a day plus expenses mentioned below. That seems fair.

I brought our nanny on a week long vacation as well as a month away (summer time) I too paid for all of her expenses and during the month (I was working remotely from the beach) paid her weekly rate as well as a few extra hundred dollars per week. I did the same for the one week

If she's not your regular girl AND you're going to use her more as a mother's helper (not leaving the girls exclusively with her) I think the $100 a day plus expenses is a GREAT deal.

From experience, I would sit down w/ her PRIOR to leaving and let her know what nights you are going out alone w/ your hubby, what nights are just for family, etc. I Loved our nanny - but on the week it was just vacation (Our first trip) she didn't want any alone time and I felt odd leaving her (she had never traveled before). So set the expectations ahead of time so she doesn't feel like you're tired of her, trying to get away from her, etc.

I'll be your babysitter! You don't even have to pay me if you just cover my expenses! :)

I've never done this, but would think that if you paid her for her actual time that she is with the kids (like you do at home) that would work. Or even figuring out an average pay and paying her a lump sum for the stay? I would definitely write all of the expectations out in advance so you all are on the same page.

Hope others on here are able to help you further. But, my offer still stands! :)

I'd pay the regular rate for the hours that you use her. Set a fixed amount of hours per day. I'd also ask her what rate of pay she expects. Is this a professional nanny or a teen sitter?

My daughter went to Hawaii with a family as their babysitter/nanny while on vacation. They paid her ticket and expenses and paid her additionally $100/per day. I thought it was reasonable as did she.

When all are together, it is assumed that this person is a mother's helper. Take the kids to the bathroom, put them to bed, etc. She should be paid per day not per hour.

I would pay her for the time she's alone with the kids.

I am confused on a babysitter for vacation though. Don't you go on vacation to spend time with your family?

I would pay her the 18 per hour for the hours she is alone with the kids. I would also make sure she is allowed as much time out as possible by herself. This way you will both get to enjoy the trip. Any time the whole family is together and she's there too, then I would not pay her for those times. I am writing this assuming she is not taking time off other jobs or missing some kind of regular work to go with you. If she did have to give up other work to go, then you should replace that amount of work over the time you are gone.