The Vacation Sitter

Today's post is written by guest contributor Erin on her experience hiring babysitters while traveling. As she points out, this is a topic that many people have strong opinions on, and she herself wrestled with. Enjoy her well researched and humorous tale of the vacation sitter. 

The Vacation Sitter

My family and I ventured to Florida for a month with our 18-month child and dog in tow. We rented a home in Sarasota for the duration of the trip. We knew when we booked the vacation that adult time was a must while we stayed in Sarasota and definitely during our quick three-day jaunt to Miami.

Prior to our departure, we asked our friends with kids if they have ever used an agency. Common responses included, “No, I would never. You don’t know who these people are, they will steal from you or worst, harm your baby!” These were all justified fears of my own, but I wasn’t willing to give up the dream of enjoying dinner once in a while without hearing our child scream like a pterodactyl, or spend the entire meal picking up Cheerios under the table.

So while The Husband was googling how to make the perfect mojito, I was online searching for the perfect sitter. There were many options: hire a nanny from an agency, Skype a sitter from a classified ad, or if you are a millionaire with cash to burn, bring your trusted sitter from home (The Husband spit out his mojito when I suggested the latter). It was all very overwhelming but after a bit of research we chose the agency option.

We used the Sarasota agency Elite Family Care twice and the recommended babysitting service provided by Lowes hotel while staying in Miami. Everything worked out wonderfully! At Elite Family Care we requested the same sitter more than once because we were familiar with her, she arrived on time, was pleasant and was a teacher (or so she told us), so we felt very comfortable. 

At the hotel in Miami, we had a young college student arrive in our tiny hotel room with her ipod, book light and college text books. I am not going to lie, I was nervous leaving my child with a complete stranger, but by the end of the experience (and a couple glasses of wine later) I was over it and knew I would likely do it again!

Here are tips to consider when choosing your caregiver:

• Use an agency recommended by your hotel, or call the concierge service at highly reputable hotel for the name of their agencies if you are staying in a rental home or condo. Often these agencies will advertise this on their websites, but it’s best to confirm with the manager/concierge, especially if you’re staying elsewhere. I figured that the local Ritz or W hotel would only use excellent agencies for their guests, so I called in advance and told them a little white lie that I would be staying with them and needed the list of their recommended child care agencies to pre-book. Maybe one day I’ll actually stay there!
  
  
• Have all your questions written down. Common questions include the sitter’s CPR/First Aid training, references, and their day job. Are there any additional costs such as admin fees, hourly fees, and any additional fees past midnight or for an extra child? Does the agency perform REGULAR criminal background checks and drug tests? One agency owner told me she actually had a woman apply for the job, submitted the drug test and it was positive. The applicant just thought you had to provide the drug test not pass it. She obviously was not hired.
  
  
• Do your research in advance so you are not rushing and feel confident with your choice.
  
  
• If you are still nervous about your child actually interacting with someone new, make your plans after he/she is asleep.
  
  
• Contact the agency owner and inform him/her of your fears. This gave me the assurance I needed as there are so many services.
  
  
• Trust your instincts. It may not be ideal in every country. For instance, we travelled to Costa Rica and when the rental concierge told us that there were no sitters “off the top of his head” but that he could call his mother-in-law who “kinda liked kids,” we no doubt spent our evenings at home picking up Cheerios under the table.   
  
  

Erin's gorgeous son enjoying the vacation. Photos courtesy of Erin.

European Accommodations for Children PART 1

Travelling with a child is an amazing experience, while at the same time having its own set of... let us  call them challenges. To make these more hill-size than Himalaya-size, here is a list of things we have learned to consider in our travels with the Adorable Son.

Kitchen
Kids eat all the time, any time. Also, they can, as our Adorable Son does, have pretty selective palates. Therefore in order to make your trip as stress-free as you can, rent a place with a kitchen.

Warning: kitchens in Europe are tiny. Very functional, but tiny. Do not plan any kitchen parties.

Bonus: renting with a kitchen is a great way to save money.

Groceries, Pharmacy and Bakery.
AKA: milk, diapers and  bread. Your new BFF's. Know them, know where they are. A special note: Pharmacies tend to only sell drugs and a few limited items like soap, diapers and wipes, unlike in North America where you can pretty much buy anything at a Pharmacy.

Warning: a lot of things are closed on Sunday in France, and in Europe in general. Much more than in North America, so plan ahead.

Bonus: you will spend many wonderful hours discovering your surroundings while looking for that one place where they might hopefully possibly sell that one thing that your toddler will eat this week (seriously, it can be fun, I swear!).

Costs
Eating out is expensive and you can cut costs by only going out every few days. Lunch is a great time to eat out in France, where lunch breaks are almost sacred. Go to a cute cafe and you can stay as long as you want.

Warning: avoid places with pictures of the food. They have a high chance of being tourist traps.

Bonus: if the restaurant is located on a square, you can let your little person run around when they have finished eating.

Bonus II: Or, do lunch during nap time when the Toddler is snoozing in the stroller and enjoy people watching.

A small backyard in the South of France

Park space and Squares
These are car free areas, frequently found in European cities, that are great for the kids to run around in. Most parks in cities are gated, so you don't have to worry about the kids running off into traffic.

Warning: most parks are closed after 8 pm or around. Usually not a big deal, but good to know.

Bonus: Many parks have plenty of activities for small children, carousels, ponds with ducks and fish, small playgrounds, a café or play equipment that can be rented for your child's delight.

Rent close to the attractions.
Public washrooms are hard to find in Europe and most restaurant or café toilets are incredibly tiny with no change tables. When you rent centrally, you are close to an equipped bathroom. Learning to diaper change while the Toddler is standing up is an excellent skill as well.

Second reason to rent close to the attractions is you can immediately enjoy the scene or museums without having to waste an hour commuting or navigating the transit systems with your stroller or do the stairs with your baby carrier.

Warning: places nearer the attractions will sometimes be more expensive, but weigh that against convenience, and be aware that, with a toddler, if the commute is too long, there's a big chance you won't get to see much at all. We know. We tried.

Bonus: if you're close to your place when the Toddler gets crabby, you can run back for a quick nap, bite, or chocolate treat/bribe.

Be near public transit.

I would go for a bus over metro stops, easier to get around since there are less stairs.

Bonus: in a bus, you get to see the sights while commuting.

Stay tuned for more amazing tips in part 2: Return of the Travel Advice.

SOS : Traveling With A Toddler, Grandparents Required

We are back in Paris, this time, a better location. And backup. Aka THE GRANDPARENTS.
Yes, you heard me.

Together we have rented an enormous apartment in the 6th arr.
This time we are ready to handle this city. Bring it. I have a Grandpapa and Grandmaman.

I realize that for some people renting an apartment with your inlaws is basically hell. I am not one of those  people, because my inlaws are FANTASTIC (yes, they read this blog). But it's true, I basically won the inlaw lottery. I tell my husband I married him for his parents. Some people marry for money, or looks, but those people are fools. You have to go for the inlaws, they will make your life a dream.

A dream you say? Here is the lowdown.

They will love your child, fiercly, to the point you may have to pry him out of their arms.
After nearly a month on the road without childcare, they will take over so you may soak in the bathtub, go on a shoe shopping expedition in Paris and date night with The Wonderful Husband. They will save your butt, your sanity, they will always have your back, without judgement, and always with plenty of love. Not to mention: good food. The Adorable Son thinks they are pretty darn fantastic too. So I don't even think about feeling guilty while I am sipping my wine and enjoying the view of the Eiffel Tower. Not. One. Second.

The Early Toddler Gets The Worm

As a parent of a toddler, waking early, as in six in the morning is sleeping in, is a regular occurence.
It can be trying, and significantly increase your caffeine intake. If you have a toddler, you know this. But when travelling, you can turn this liablilty into an asset. Now you can do what  you always said you would do on trips but could never accomplish: get to the sights early, no line ups, no crowds. The whole place to yourself!

Today we went to the Palais des Papes, aka the old center and home to the Christian church for a while, during the 14th century. This is an acient palace, quite large, with many rooms to see.

We arrived as soon as they were opening, and we had already gone out for breakfast and played at the park. We had to ditch the stroller and exchange it for a free baby carrier to get around the palace. No strollers allowed. Not that we ever used the baby carrier. Since the Adorable Son refused to get in it, its main use turned out to be providing the Wonderful Husband with extra exercice. So instead we let the Toddler toddle around the palace, where he eventually became a central attraction for the Japanese tousists taking pictures.

This is not Versailles: there is not a ton of fabulous furniture for him to destroy, it's simply ancient stones, so we were not too worried about the palace getting damaged by the Toddler. Perhaps the Toddler getting damaged by the palace was more of a relevant concern, with all the stairs, sharp drops and hard surfaces. I guess the popes didn't have two-year-olds around much.

We even  managed to climb the highest turret, holding onto The Adorable Son with both hands. I was completely out of breath by the time we arrived at the top, and enjoyed the incredible view of the land while trying to desperately suck in oxygen. It was worth it, the view was superb.

As we left, we saw the crowds building up, and the packs of tourists swarming the entrance. We were glad to have had the opportunity to go early. Thank you, Toddler!

Avignon, a pleasure for the senses

We arrived in Avignon to an uber-well located apartment in the old city, just a few minutes walk to the carousel, a huge open square, children's parks, and all the boutiques.

Today we had a wonderful afternoon sampling much of Avignon's menu. This is a very walkable town, with pedestrian streets paved with polished stones, many beautiful parks, open squares, castles and gardens.

Here is what we found in pictures.

The main square is enormous, with plenty of safe space for children to run. There is a beautiful Belle Époque carousel that we have been on at least three times a day. The Adorable Son would like to add that it turns, which is what he points out in an admiring tone to every passerby.

If you walk past the castle (which is open for viewing), and head up along the road you will find a very charming park with a view of the pont d'Avignon (like the song).

On the top of the hill sits a public garden (no dogs permitted or should I say no pooping permitted), with ducks, greenery, trees that remind me of group of seven artworks and a small children's park.

The pond has Koi fish, a turtle, and ducks all which expect to be fed. A toddler's delight.
You can climb to the very top, without toddler, to get an even better view of Avignon.

 If you are feeling adventurous, you can rent children's reclined bicycles that are created to resemble chariots. The inventor was smart enough to put padding on the front of the horse to protect innocent bystanders.

It has been raining for the past couple days, resulting in puddles. This is a huge dose of awesome for The Adorable Son, although perhaps less so for the Maman who does laundry. However, the Adorable Son would like to point out, once more, that the washing machine turns as well, which makes everything all right.

Packing light

Packing light is key to our easygoing travels. Because we often take the train to get around Europe, we can't have more than two suitcases.

Here is how we do it:

2 suitcases for clothes etc. 
Ideally one suitcase would be best for moving around... well, that or a private jet.

1 knapsack for books or other heavy items that we check-in as our third piece of luggage. 
This bag can sit on top of one of the suitcases when moving about. We keep a heavy bag so we can stay under the weight restrictions of 50lbs for each bag when flying. The bag is lightweight and folds away easily if we do not need it.

2 items of carry on luggage that are hands free. 
One knapsack for kids stuff and one messenger bag that is safe for holding  tickets and passports.

1 lightweight collapsible stroller. 
We really like our Uppa Baby G-LUXE. We roll it around the airport right up to the moment we get on the plane. 

What we skip:

1. The carseat. 
This is a heavy piece of equipment that I have never attempted to travel with. Luckily there are plenty of options to travel without this ball and chain.
Airport pick-up services such as Taxis Baby Seat in Paris will meet you at the airport with a car seat already installed. First class service, I can't say enough nice things about them.
If you are renting a car, some companies have carseats available for rent as well. Check ahead.
Second last choice is public transportation. We tried this approach in Istanbul with suitcases and it did not garner a warm reception. Many public transportation systems are pretty packed, and squeezing your family's gypsy caravan into a subway car is not a good way to make friends. Another important point is that many old European apartments and metro stations do not have elevators, and you may have to go up or down several flights of stairs. If however, you are looking for an excellent cardio and muscular workout,  this is a highly recommended training circuit. You will have sexy arms and legs at the end of your trip.
My last choice is to take a taxi. Taxis in most countries are generally exempt from laws requiring a car seat or a infant or child, but of course there is a risk involved.

2. The third suitcase. 
We could bring a third suitcase, but then, we would need a third arm. One parent is rolling our son around or running after him while simultaneously pushing the stroller, and the other parent has two suitcases and the heavy items bag. That's quite enough.

3. Keeping our purchases with us on the road. 
Who doesn't love to pick up art work or some funky kitsch as they travel? The key is to mail it back home, along with any seasonal clothing that has run it's course. 

4. The portable crib. 
Don't get me wrong, these are amazing inventions, so amazing that almost everywhere we go they already have one. If a crib is unavailable, we have a small, extremely light weight child's camping mattress from MEC which we will be test driving this trip.

5. Books. Truth be old, we always have a few books,  we love books. This trip we are trying out a kobo reader that was lent to us, and relying more on travel guides that are available online. 

Upcoming post on minimalist wardrobe that travels well.