How to Find a Babysitter on the Road
Traveling with kids and getting in some adult activities -- especially at night -- requires outside help, that is, a baby sitter. I learned that on a trip to San Diego with my 7-month-old when he fell asleep at 4pm and we wanted one grown-up night out.
This isn't the first time my husband and I relied on outside help while on the road. For a trip to Washington, DC, we hired a local day care teacher, and we are now booking a trip to Europe in April and choosing hotels that offer baby-sitting services. But, finding a reliable sitter can be challenging. Plus, if you're anything like me, you didn't even know hiring a baby sitter was an option when you first started traveling with little ones. Here are several ways to find child care when traveling so you can still enjoy some adult activities during the trip.
Book a Hotel with Child Care Amenities
One of the easiest ways to ensure you have child care — especially internationally — is to book a hotel that touts its baby-sitting services. Family-friendly Martinhal Family Hotel & Resorts in Portugal, for example, provides help for children as young as six months. Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, offers in-room child care as an amenity. The Peninsula Beverly Hills has the Camp Peninsula upgrade, which includes a four-hour baby-sitting service featuring camp-themed games and a guided scavenger hunt.
Simply look at the website of the hotel you're considering and check under amenities. Properties with a history of offering such services will have them listed. Also, researching family-friendly hotels is an excellent place to start if you're not sure where you want to stay.
Of course, plenty of hotels offer additional amenities for babies and toddlers, too.
Ask the Hotel
Even if the hotel doesn't specifically list child care as an amenity, many will help you find someone reputable from an outside source. The Rittenhouse Hotel in Philadelphia partners with a local company — Your Other Hands — to help guests set up baby-sitting (as well as pet-sitting). Lotte New York Palace has a 20-year partnership with the Baby Sitters' Guild, so that adults can enjoy a night out in New York City. Timbers Kauai helps resort guests book a private baby sitter through a local on-island company called Kauai Babysitting Co.
Any concierge should be able to suggest a service or recommend a local sitter based on your needs. You can always ask for the background of the individual to ensure you're comfortable leaving your child with a stranger.
Use the Kids Club
On-site kids clubs are great for leaving youngsters in a supervised setting while parents sneak away for a little while. For instance, Hyatt's Ziva KidZ Club in Los Cabos, Montego Bay, Cancun and Puerto Vallarta provides free, supervised activities for vacationers' children ages 4 to 12. Baha Mar Resort in the Bahamas has the Explorers Club, where parents can choose a morning, afternoon or night session to keep children 3 to 12 years old entertained. That means you get time for that couples massage you've been thinking about or simply three hours for an uninterrupted date night. However, your "alone" time comes at a price. Baha Mar charges $62 per child for three hours of baby-sitting.
Kids clubs are typically found at larger resorts in tropical destinations, but you can find them at non-beach properties, too. Gstaad Palace in Switzerland, for example, has a kids club for children 5 to 12 years old.
Don't miss this list of US hotels that offer free kids clubs and some points hotels that also offer free kids clubs.
Hire a Traveling Nanny
If you want someone to be on hand with the kids for more than a couple of hours during vacation, you might want to consider hiring a traveling nanny. Yes, you can book a vetted caretaker on a short-term basis to watch the children at a schedule that suits your needs. Adventure Nannies will pair you with someone who has been fully background-checked and assists with salary negotiation and an employment agreement.
While cost will vary depending on the length of the trip and hours, typically you'll have to pay an hourly or lump-sum rate in addition to meals, accommodations and transportation costs. You also could tap nannies in your hometown to see if they're between jobs. Some might enjoy a temporary gig and a change of scenery.
Bring a Family Member
I was a little nervous for my first international trip with my 10-week-old infant, so I brought along my mom to Portugal as a backup for my husband and I. We covered some of her costs in exchange for her baby-sitting so we could enjoy a few nights out. Ask a sibling, parent, aunt or uncle to see if anyone in the family might be up for taking a trip and playing nanny here and there. Sure, you might have to pay all or some of their costs, but you have confidence knowing your child is in the care of a loved one and not a stranger.
Ask for a Recommendation
Traveling to a destination where you know a friend, family member or friend of a friend? Ask them if they can recommend someone they trust to take on baby-sitting duty. I reached out to a cousin in DC who set me up with her daughter's former day care teacher to watch our tot while we attended an evening family party. It's a great way to get a vetted caretaker without the hassle of dealing with a concierge or local service.
Bottom Line
Finding a baby sitter on the road may seem like a daunting task. We all want the best for our children, which can sometimes make it hard leaving them with a stranger. But, you can travel with your kids and find some time to yourselves. You just need to plan ahead and find child care services that work for your family's needs.
Have you used a baby sitter while on the road? How did it work out?
Need more resources for traveling with your kids? Here are a few:
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.