taking nanny on holiday

[GaribaldiGirl]

question for experienced nannies. i'm taking my nanny on our family skiing holiday. we're in a catered chalet so there's no cooking/washing etc. she's normally paid £300/week for 40 hours. i was planning to pay her an extra £300 since she will be working an extra 3 days and slightly longer hours. i have 5 children but 3 of them will be with me most the day and she will only have the baby in the morning and the 4 year old as well for 4 hours in the afternoon. A friend had an experience where her nanny expected paying for every hour she was awake and in the company of the children on holiday (ie even when sitting eating breakfast in the chalet) - which would be sooo expensive. she isn't needed to babysit but i'm imagining she won't want to go out on her own in the evenings, she's quite shy. Does this sound reasonable?

I would be happy with that but you should talk about expectations before you go so you both know where you stand. I once had a job and we went skiing and i had all 3 kids 24/7 unless the older ones were skiing in the morning and no extra pay [shudder].

Agree with nannyj - talk to your nanny about your expectations. Consider travel days... is nanny going to be responsible for entertaining any children during travel periods.
£100 per day for every day including travel days sounds reasonable.

Would your nanny be able to do any skiing? Sounds like she may be working 7+ hours a day. If there is time for your nanny to do some skiing as well - then you could throw that in, maybe including a few hours of tuition.

I've accompanied most of my families on ski holidays. I work every day from 7 ish till bedtime, including travel days, babysit 2 or 3 evenings, and am paid my normal rate plus £200/£300 extra depending on how many extra days I work. I don't ask for babysitting payments as I have nowhere else to be! However - my employers have historically also given me 2x 4 hour boarding slots (with pass and rentals) so i can have a bit of fun too. (but then again I LOVE the snow!)

Is she normally live in?

Tbh I would talk to your nanny about what her expectations are and what yours are. It might even be worth doing a separate contract just for that week so you're both clear on hours, duties and pay.

If she's not normally live in and is on an hourly rate you will need to make it clear she's becoming a live in for the week and won't be paid hourly and that her hours will be different (but do set out what they'll be so you know when her time off is).

Even if she doesn't want to go out she might want to go for a walk or veg out with a book/DVD and know she won't be disturbed.

I've always found it works best when things are thrashed out before even if they seem obvious to you. I've only had 2 bad holidays with families - one the mother couldn't even decide what I was there for let alone communicate to me what I was supposed to do, the other expected me to work 24/7 but didn't tell me or pay me any more for it!

thanks everyone - that was really good advice. talked it all through with her this morning and did a little schedule of when she'd be working and offered to pay her £300 extra. she was really pleased and i feel much more relaxed abotu taking her now. it works out expensive taking them with you, but the peace of mind of the children having their regular nanny there is worth it!