VIP nanny service: The secret to juggling kids and business trips
London has a magical feeling at the holidays with the high streets strung with a magical glow, Hyde Park's ever-growing Holiday Extravaganza and "festive fare" offered in restaurants and pubs across the city.
Looking to capitalize on the often empty U.S. offices during Thanksgiving week last fall, I planned a business trip to work with our The Points Guy U.K. team over the holiday week. I also made the decision to take my kids out of school and put them into a whirlwind organized tour of London's iconic museums and kid-friendly hot spots.
Related: Why you should visit London over Thanksgiving
While traveling for work requires advance planning, traveling with kids adds another level of complexity. Here are a few tips and tricks if you plan on hitting London with kids.
As a lifetime Platinum flyer on American Airlines, I booked our tickets using my American Airlines cobranded credit card, and while I didn't fly on AA metal, I was able to leverage my status to get preferred seating on the only British Airways daytime flight during the weekend. My kids don't live with a TV or iPad at home so the carrot of having access to an iPad on an airplane is enough to keep my little travelers happy and quiet. Though my son did muse to me, "Why doesn't my seat go all the way back," to which I reminded him that most people don't get to skip school and visit London so settle in with your 48-inch body.
Related: How to keep kids entertained on flights without tablets
While London has become cheaper to visit with Brexit, it's still an expensive city. That's why I opted for a functional and convenient accommodation rather than a chic hotel room. We bunked in at the Dolphin Square Hotel. The kitchen, washer/dryer combo, internal shopping arcade and DSQ Gym -- all set conveniently near Pimlico Station -- make the Dolphin Square a great spot for families. Normally, my only hotel requirement is a nearby running trail and the Dolphin Square is situated near Battersea Park and the Embankment.
Related: How to fly to London for free using points and miles
Remembering that I was in London for work not for play meant that I needed my team in place to handle the kids from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and I wasn't traveling with my nanny. After some careful research and due diligence, I was introduced to Tracy Whittington from VIP Trips for Kids. The company offers a variety of itineraries for different ages.
Tracy was thoughtful and thorough in preparing an itinerary that worked for me, professional in collecting all the necessary emergency forms and spot-on in identifying a wonderful nanny (Georgia) for my kids.
Tracy had advance deployed a bag of board games to the hotel along with the tickets, forms and instructions for Georgia at our hotel.
Related: These are the best times to visit London
Georgia and my twins managed to hit the Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate Britain and National Portrait Gallery in addition to undertaking a scavenger hunt in Trafalgar Square.
They also enjoyed the SeaLife and Shrek Exhibits. In each cultural spot, Georgia worked with the kids to undertake a writing or drawing exercise and in each "fun spot," the kids managed to exhaust themselves.
By the time I was finished with my workweek, my kids had seen parts of London that were news to me. We made sure that the school absence wasn't such a bad thing.
Related: The pros and cons of taking your kids out of school to travel
Bottom line
Combining my business trip with an educational vacation for my kids worked out better than I had imagined. We were lucky to find the right people to care for my kids and they truly enjoyed their tour of London. Have you traveled with your kids while on business? How did you manage it?
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app