When Bob and Maddie Manfreda of Seattle, WA decided to host an au pair, they didn’t anticipate the extra travel benefits they’d receive from this already amazing childcare option. With three kids under the age of four, hosting an au pair made sense in many ways: the in-home childcare, the flexible schedule, the cultural exchange experience. What these parents recently discovered was the added bonuses of vacationing with their au pair on a recent trip to New Orleans.
Bob and Maddie, avid travelers, decided to take advantage of time off from work earlier this year during their parental leave. With two toddlers and a baby, the idea of a relaxing and fun vacation may have seemed impossible to many parents, but they were up for the challenge. They decided to book a trip to the culture-rich city of New Orleans with Bob’s parents and sister and invited their new au pair, Alexa, to join them.
Even though they had previously traveled with their au pair for holiday travel to visit family in California and Connecticut, this trip was different. Bob and Maddie planned to sightsee, dine at new and unique restaurants, and experience all that the New Orleans culture has to offer.
As you can imagine, nap times and feeding schedules can really put a damper on an adventurous trip like this one. Fortunately, this family was lucky to have extra hands on-deck, especially from their au pair, Alexa. Not only could they enjoy experiences together as a family, Bob and Maddie were able to sneak in some date nights and adult only excursions too.
“It was pretty cool. Traveling with kids without childcare doesn’t feel like a vacation but at the same time we love our kids and love spending time with them,” Bob explained. “It was a nice balance. We could have a date night. We could also do activities as a family.”
The Manfredas’ vacation itinerary was action packed with trips to a children’s museum, a storyland park, a swamp tour where they saw lots of alligators, a New Orleans Saints pre-season game, and so many good restaurants! They watched live music, ate gumbo, learned about the history, and consumed a ton of other incredible food.
You may be thinking that traveling with your au pair means childcare, and that certainly is a perk. But, Bob and Maddie made the most of the opportunity to get to know their new au pair on a personal level as well. With the added support of grandparents on the trip, Bob, Maddie, Alexa, and Bob’s sister (who happens to be Alexa’s age) got to experience a night on the town on the famous Bourban Street during their trip as well, singing karaoke, enjoying a piano bar, and even riding a mechanical bull. What a fun way to bond with their new au pair!
We asked the Manfredas if they had any tips for vacationing with their au pair. Here’s what they had to say:
- Firstly, make sure your au pair wants to go, so they don’t feel like it’s an obligation. Alexa was excited about the trip to New Orleans and even said she made a core memory there.
- Next, booking an AirBnB was helpful, so their au pair had space and privacy without having to get a separate hotel room.
- Then, be sure to set expectations when your au pair will be working vs. hanging out with the family. Obviously when you’re on a vacation with your au pair, you’ll be spending lots more time together. Be clear about the work schedule vs. just-for-fun schedule.
- Finally, leave some time for your au pair to go do some things on their own. Even with a packed itinerary, the Manfredas made sure there were gaps in the schedule so their au pair could walk the city solo and experience a new place on her own too.
Have you thought about your next vacation yet? An au pair could be the missing piece to make it an even better trip for your family. Apply today to host an au pair. The application is free!
