Navigating Summer Travel with Your Au Pair

Traveling with your au pair? It’s already better! Having that extra support on the road makes for a more relaxing vacation for you and a great experience for your au pair. To help your summer travels go smoothly, here are some tips on managing schedules and expectations.

Scheduling & Planning

Whether you are traveling together or staying local, au pairs must receive a set schedule. While we know that vacation plans can change, providing your au pair with a written schedule is ideal. This ensures both the family and the au pair understand when they are on duty and when they are free to spend time independently.

Before your trip, take the time to discuss any specific plans, such as if you’d like your au pair to work during two scheduled date nights. We recommend having a conversation about flexibility and how it can be mutually beneficial for everyone. Regarding the stipend: the au pair must still receive their full weekly stipend payment for any weeks the host family does not schedule them to work.

Traveling Together

International travel with an expired visa is not recommended and can lead to complications upon re-entry.

An au pair may travel with their host family for up to 30 days per calendar year. However, how the time is logged depends on the nature of the trip:

Work Trips: If the au pair provides childcare, assists during travel, or is the responsible adult while children are sleeping, these hours count as work. You must provide a written work schedule in advance, and standard hours and stipend guidelines apply.
Family Invitations: If the au pair is invited to join purely as a family member with no childcare responsibilities, the time does not count as their paid vacation.

Important Note: When traveling as a family, the host is responsible for all au pair meals.

When Your Au Pair Stays Home

If your family travels and the au pair stays behind, this does not automatically count as their paid vacation. For it to count toward their vacation bank, the dates must be mutually agreed upon in advance.

If the host family travels and the au pair remains in the home, food must be provided and paid for by the host in their absence. While the au pair is home, you can ask if they would be willing to watch your pets, but they are not required to do so. Your au pair must be free of all household responsibilities and able to come and go as they please during that time.

Host families are not responsible for au pair meals while the au pair travels alone during their own paid vacation.

Clear communication is the best way to ensure a rewarding summer for both your family and your au pair!