Travel with Kids

Finding Travel Babysitters: How to Date Around The World

Finding Travel Babysitters: How to Date Around The World

Last updated: October 26, 2026. This update qualifies babysitter and childcare-service information by location and provider while keeping the family’s experiences historical. Date information added October 28, 2026.

Originally published February 15, 2021. These are our family’s experiences finding childcare during earlier travels. The ages, trips, sitter stories and booking terms describe those experiences; named sitters, agencies and old links are not confirmation of current availability.

Before Booking Care for a New Trip

Start with the rules and childcare guidance for your destination. Japan’s Children and Families Agency guidance on using babysitters recommends gathering provider information, meeting the actual caregiver beforehand, confirming identity and contact details, checking relevant qualifications and insurance, and agreeing on check-ins and emergency communication. It is guidance for Japan, rather than a statement of the rules everywhere. Ask the local authority or provider what requirements apply where you will be staying.

Care.com explains the limits of background checks: they can be incomplete and form only part of choosing a caregiver. Its U.S. terms also set residence and eligibility requirements; international affiliates have separate terms. CareFinder describes a Japan service. AuPair.com describes a live-in cultural exchange arrangement, which is different from short-term vacation babysitting. Check current coverage and the right kind of care before relying on any platform.

For resort care, check the exact property and booking dates. Club Med describes different age-group programs, with limited places and some services at extra cost; a children’s stay being included does not mean every care service is included. Bluefields Bay’s current inclusions also have defined care hours and accommodation types. Confirm your family’s arrangement directly rather than assuming it matches our earlier stay.

Who loves babysitters? WE DO! They make dating around the world so much easier!

*Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. Opinions shared are my own, and I only endorse products I support. By clicking on any of the links below, I may get a small commission if you purchase at absolutely no additional charge to you. I appreciate your support.*

We’ve been serious about babysitting for years. Having five young children taxes everyone about your life, in the best of ways, and getting a break is crucial to success.

Our friends often laugh and are amazed at not only how often we use babysitting to date, but also our ability to find them. Many, many times I’ve been able to hook up a friend with a sitter for a last-minute item.

Finding a Babysitter on Vacation

You’re taking a vacation. You’re bringing the kids. Welcome to family travel!

When this article was first published in February 2021, we had been traveling full-time with our five kids for over two years! Many factors make this possible to maintain, like how we afford it, how we worldschool around the world, etc, but a crucial element for us is getting some adult time together!

Sometimes a vacation really isn’t going to be a vacation without a date or two. No judgment here: we 100% agree.

Watch our originally linked Vietnam film

Can You Really Find a Babysitter On Vacation?

Short answer: it can be possible, depending on the destination and your family’s needs.

Finding suitable care takes time. Local availability, your children’s ages, language needs and the provider’s rules all matter. Start planning before the trip, and leave room to change your plans if the care arrangement does not feel right.

I’ve Found Babysitters in Dozens of Countries

The first time we used a sitter on vacation was when we spent a month in Florida. I networked like crazy at church and found a college student home for a semester that was happy to earn some money.

Getting out on a date when we’d been with the kids 24/7 for three weeks was so nice. It made us both love the vacation again (vacations with kids can get overwhelming and exhausting real fast!).

Since then I’ve found and used babysitters, even for one overnight, in countries ranging from Hong Kong, Japan, Bali, Thailand, Portugal, France, and New Zealand. Notice most of those countries don’t have English as the native language.

Watch our originally linked Date Nights in Osaka film

Why Is It Worth The Effort To Find a Babysitter on Vacation?

For me, when I can break up a vacation like this, it is the best of all worlds.

We’ve left our kids at home for couples trips and we’ve left our youngest kids for older-kid trips. However, none of these scenarios are quite complete.

When we leave the kids on a couples trip, I LOVE it, but I also miss them almost immediately. We talk about them constantly. When we leave the littles, all of us miss them. We love what we can do during the day activity-wise, but we want to see the other kids.

Meet the babysitter! They can give you all three vacations in one package!

It’s like going to a resort with a kids club. Have you ever tried one? It’s the best! You get your couples trip and your kid memories and time with the big kids all in one. The flexibility is amazing. I promise it is the best kind of vacation (and we’ve obviously tried a few!).

“I Could Never Leave My Kids With a Stranger, Especially in a Foreign Country!”

I understand. I really do. Leaving your kids is like any new activity. Intimidation is high at first… your mind races with all the horrible possibilities of what could go wrong.

You leave them and it’s incredibly painful at first. Then that high creeps in of being able to hold a conversation without interruption. You remember why you’re together in the first place! You fall in love all over again.

The more you do this exercise, the more you see its value. Eventually, it becomes necessary for your relationship’s health. Vacations shouldn’t be a drag on your couple’s emotional bank account and let’s be honest: putting kids in a new environment, stretching their limits and yours often leads to short tempers and jabs at your spouse.

Practice before you go! What fabulous homework, right? In this article, I discuss babysitter tips in general and some of the excuses I hear from other parents.

Watch our originally linked Tokyo onsen film

Finding a Travel Nanny Domestically Versus Internationally

You’ll probably feel more comfortable finding a vacation babysitter within your home country. Give this a try first!

The Best Tools for Babysitters in The USA

A lot of this info is covered in my other babysitting tips post, but let’s recap some of the best ways to find vacation babysitters in the USA:

1. Google. Try searching “babysitter Chicago” or whatever city you are in and see what comes up! An agency may be an option where you are staying. Ask the specific agency what screening it performs, when it was done, what it covers and who will actually care for your children. Agency fees differ.. some charge you upfront and you pay the sitter directly. Some collect the whole fee before the sitter ever comes. Use the “contact us” on their site and explain your needs.
2. Facebook. Babysitting Facebook groups can be a great resource. Often you need to join this ahead of time, so try to do this before your travels. Post about your needs.
3. Care.com. My personal favorite for finding sitters. You can post to different zipcodes and we’ve found amazing sitters on here! See my tips for using it in this post. A video call can help with an initial conversation before traveling. Arrange to meet the actual caregiver with your children before leaving them in that person’s care. If the arrangement does not meet your needs, keep looking or change your plans.
4. Other sites and apps. I haven’t used these sites personally, but this post from Fatherly.com lists some great options like Sittercity, Helpr, and Sitter.

Our Experience Hiring a Vacation Babysitter at Disneyland

We used Care.com when we went to Disneyland and found a wonderful nursing student who was so happy to come babysit.

That was our experience with one sitter, rather than a promise of availability for another trip. Confirm the caregiver’s experience and the accommodation’s rules before planning activities or using hotel amenities. In our case, we were in an Airbnb and it was perfect also.

We went to Disneyland at night on dates, took our older kids for the “big kid rides” without having to rideshare, and enjoyed some time all together with the kids as well. Perfect vacation!

The Best Ways to Find a Babysitter in a Foreign Country

Traveling outside the US? Try these platforms when trying to find a travel nanny.

1. TripAdvisor is your new BFF. You can find a ton of info on there, from babysitting services to where to eat. We’ve found it to be the best so far. Search for your destination and babysitter. You may find accounts from other travelers. Treat those posts as leads, then check the provider’s current details and references yourself.
2. Go to Facebook. You might see a name in your TripAdvisor comments, or just try it directly. A social page or group can be a starting point for finding local leads; it does not establish a caregiver’s identity, qualifications or availability. We had the BEST nanny in Bali, Maya, and you can see her FB page here. We miss Maya!
3. Google for agencies. It takes a bit more reading and digging, but you can find them. Check the provider’s identity, references, relevant qualifications, local registration where required, insurance and booking terms as well as your own comfort with the arrangement.

Current coverage and eligibility vary by service and country. Check the specific platform’s current terms for your destination and residence before relying on it for a trip.

UPDATE: Since I wrote this post the first time, I’ve successfully found two additional websites for finding babysitters internationally. One is Aupair.com and the other (only for Japan) is carefinder.jp. CareFinder’s current site describes its service in Japan. Au-pair arrangements are different from booking a sitter for a date night; check the relevant program and destination requirements before making plans.

Our Experience With Foreign Babysitters

For Bali, Singapore, and Hong Kong, I first found the names of individuals or agencies on TripAdvisor.

I saw comments about a babysitting service called Debbie’s Nannies Bali on FB. Facebook is also a GREAT way to get in touch with services when you are international.

Agree on a communication method that works for you and the sitter, test it beforehand, and decide how you will check in and handle an emergency.

Hong Kong was our most difficult experience finding care for our five kids. Our first sitter from an agency stressed out too much and basically quit, so the service found us another sitter that was great. In all cases, kids were safe and well taken care of.

Watch our originally linked Date Night Dilemma in Hong Kong film

How to Overcome a Language Barrier

Confirm language needs with the actual caregiver before booking. Make sure you can discuss your children’s routines, allergies, duties and emergency plans clearly; a shared language is something to check for your particular arrangement.

On the trips described here, we did not have a hard time finding a sitter who spoke English. That is our experience, rather than a guarantee for every destination.

This doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea to teach your kids some manners words in a foreign language: hello, thank you, goodbye.

Tips for Selecting a Travel Babysitter

Similar to my tips in this post, here are a few guidelines I use when selecting a sitter myself. An agency may propose or assign a sitter; ask to meet the person who will actually provide care before the booking begins.

1. Notice how well they’ve filled out their profile, if applicable, and any reviews on their profile.
2. Ask for recent references relevant to the ages and number of children in your family, and contact them rather than relying only on a written testimonial.
3. Text or call them, if you can, and feel out the connection.
4. Be upfront with what might be difficult about your job. I’m clear that my kids have a lot of energy and are loud, and there are a lot of them!
5. Ask for their past experience especially as it relates to your family. Have they watched that many children before?

Using an Agency to Hire a Babysitter

I find a lot of comfort in hiring an agency that I’ve already read reviews about. Agency practices vary. Ask how the particular caregiver was screened, what experience and qualifications they have, and what insurance, support and complaint procedures apply. An agency name or a review does not guarantee suitability.

What To Expect From An Agency Babysitter

These are things we encountered with the services we used. For a new booking, confirm rates, hours, deposits, cancellation, payment, meals and permitted activities in the actual agreement:

• They are expensive. That was our experience with the agencies we used. Rates depend on the destination and arrangement; hiring directly is not automatically cheaper. We usually didn’t have the time or network to find someone ourselves.
• Many require the exact hours you want in advance. This is annoying for me as I would like to be more flexible. My family requires flexibility. The arrangements we found differed by place and provider. In Bali, we could commit to a certain number of minimum hours and get a dedicated nanny, which was fabulous.
• Many require a deposit upfront. This can range from maybe half of your expected hours to 10%. In Bali, I had to download a new money transfer app (similar to Venmo) for international transfers. In Hong Kong, I paid a PayPal deposit (and yes, they charged a CC fee).
• Sometimes you are paying the sitter cash and sometimes the service is. I have no idea how much the service takes off the top, but I hope it is fair.
• Sometimes the sitter has a great idea of what to do! In Bali, many have worked for hotels with kids club. They would come with toys, crafts, etc. It was amazing! Our favorite, Maya, was enough to convince me we should travel with her full-time. She was so calm, so nice, yet got the job done.
• Sometimes they are totally clueless. The first sitter we used in Hong Kong… I’m honestly not sure if she’s ever babysat before. Thankfully, we were only using her for the little two kids. She managed but didn’t do what I asked. We left her money for take-out food (she never got it), we gave her suggestions to walk to a park nearby (she was terrified to leave the apartment). When she was coming back, she finally admitted she was totally overwhelmed and could NOT do all five kids. I appreciated her honesty and worked it out with the service to get someone else.
• Cancellation terms can mean paying for committed hours even if you do not use them. This hurts sometimes… we scheduled a sitter for Valentine’s for 14 hours. We were so EXCITED. A whole day together. I had all the food prepped, activities, ideas. Then the kids got horribly sick. We ended up having to still pay the money and sit at home, cleaning up vomit, taking naps, and being sad. Oh well. Just know that in advance because life happens!
• Agree on meals and duties in advance. If in a hotel room service would be the best. I buy toys for babysitting days in the new place and plan to just leave them when we go. Have things to do (unless you are OK with TV all day, which also works!).
• Some can’t do many activities with your kids. In Singapore, the Terms and Conditions stated they WOULD NOT take your kids swimming or out to a park. Pretty much nothing outside the room or home.
• Our experiences included some wonderful sitters. We enjoyed time together while the children were cared for, but the difficult arrangements taught us to be clear about expectations and to speak up when the fit was wrong. A positive experience for our family does not guarantee the outcome of another booking.

Hotels With Babysitting Services

We love ourselves a hotel with a kids club! We often used this as a “vacation” during our full-time travels.

Club Med was a favorite of ours for its children’s program on our trip. For a new stay, check the specific resort’s current ages, hours, meal arrangements, reservations, capacity and extra charges before assuming childcare is included.

We visited the Dominican Republic location and loved every second of the vacation and the amazing kid’s club.

Sometimes hotels will offer babysitting services as well. We’ve never used this and when I’ve shopped it the rates have been astoundingly high. I’ve always felt bad confining my children and a babysitter to our hotel room for a day!

Things to note on kid’s clubs:

• Check the club’s actual hours, breaks and evening arrangements for your resort and travel dates.
• Very young children may not be accepted or need an appointment with an extra fee. On a cruise, Grace (age 1) had to have an appointment each day and we paid extra for her. Minimum ages and age groups differ by program; check your chosen club’s current rules.
• Typically you need to bring a bag of supplies with your child each day with all items labeled.
• They are SUPER fun for kids! Our kids LOVE them

Also know that some luxury hotels or resorts include a nanny! We stayed at this Jamaican resort where our stay included a cook, maid, and nanny. Check the current inclusions for the accommodation you book. As you can expect, it was one of our best vacations ever. The nannies (we had 2) came with us on day excursions if we wanted and loved our kids.

Overcoming Your Worst Fears About a Vacation Babysitter

Meeting a caregiver with your children before a booking can help you assess the fit. Some families may prefer an accompanied outing first. Take time to verify the arrangement, agree on duties and emergency contacts, and change your plans if your questions are not answered. A trial or a friendly meeting is only one part of choosing care.

Other tips:

• Use Whatsapp to connect with your sitter if you can’t use your cell phone
• Having something like my Babysitting Binder from this post would go a LONG way for any travel babysitter as well.
• Prep your kids well for what to expect. Don’t tell them about the babysitter for the first time when he or she arrives!
• Having some new toys or a favorite show gives the babysitter some tools in their toolbelt.
• Agree on check-in times and how the sitter will reach you quickly, keep your phone available, and ask how the time went when you return.

Xoxo,

Leslie

Additional Reading

AIRBNB VS HOTELS INTERNATIONALLY: WHERE TO STAY FOR FAMILY TRAVEL

TIPS FOR FLYING WITH A BABY

VISITING DISNEY WORLD DURING COVID: FINDING YOUR MAGIC IN A PANDEMIC

EUROPE TRIP BY CAR: 10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW