A nanny who is unable to travel should never be placed in a difficult position over family travel during her employment.

More and more, “traveling with the family” is a service nannies highlight on their résumés. In today’s world, parents can work from nearly anywhere and may even arrange for their children’s schooling to travel with them. For nannies aiming for high‑end positions, keeping a valid international passport can be essential, as top‑tier families often require travel as part of the role.

However, some families mistakenly believe that an all‑inclusive resort package and airfare for the nanny should be at the nanny’s expense — assuming it’s a “vacation” for her too. The reality is that not all nannies want to travel with the family. Many have children or other personal responsibilities at home, and a true vacation would be time spent traveling with their own family. Still, when presented with the choice between working during a family trip or losing income for one or two weeks, most nannies will choose to work.

Traveling with the family is not a vacation for the nanny. For newer nannies, the expectation to travel is often unclear, and some accept such arrangements out of fear of jeopardizing their position. That’s why families should be upfront from the interview stage if there’s a possibility that travel will be required. The job description should clearly state whether traveling with the family is a condition of employment.

When a nanny is required to travel, all travel‑related expenses — including airfare, accommodations, meals, tickets, parking, and any other work‑related fees — should be fully covered by the family, in addition to her regular pay. Overnight fees, overtime pay, and private accommodations must also be provided.

Travel should always be the nanny’s choice, and when she does travel with the family, every effort should be made to respect her time and provide adequate breaks to recharge.