Winter is here, and with it the desire to ski. You’re planning a trip to the ski resorts, and you’re wondering how you’re going to organize your vacation with your Au Pair, especially as the budget is quite substantial for most families.
Even if the vacation was discussed when you selected your Au Pair, it may be that not all the details have been clarified yet.
The first thing to do is to question yourself.
- Do I need my Au Pair to look after the children?
- Do I want to share these moments with her?
- What am I willing to pay for it (e.g. transportation, lodging, packages, rentals, restaurants)?
⚠️A Note that it is customary to maintain your Au Pair’s pocket money during the vacations.
Once you have everything you need: talk to your Au Pair.
Your au pair won't be one of you?
Would you rather enjoy your vacation without your Au Pair?
In this case, simply inform her. Your only obligation is to allow her to stay in your home and to provide her with an envelope for her daily food expenses. Do not hesitate to give him/her a few addresses to discover your region while he/she is away. The earlier you inform him/her, the more your Au Pair will be able to make his/her own arrangements, and perhaps even set off to discover other regions.
Your Au Pair doesn't want to come with you?
Respect his choice, of course 😉And make sure he can stay in your home in the best possible conditions.
Does your au pair come with you?
That’s great. In that case, there are 2 options:
Option 1: You need her to take care of the kids and give you time to enjoy the slopes with your spouse or friends?
In this case, make sure you cover her transportation, accommodation and food expenses, as you usually do, and that you plan a schedule that respects her maximum authorized working hours. This will enable him to make the most of his free time.
Don’t forget to give her pocket money, and why not a few extras (e.g. 1 day’s package/rental). Inform her of all foreseeable expenses (e.g. package, rental, restaurants) and of the moments you’d like to share with her outside working hours.
Option 2: You don’t need your Au Pair but want to share these moments with her?
Many Au Pairs will discover the snow with you, and enjoy walks in the resort and tobogganing.
Is your Au Pair an avid skier? Introduce her to the cost of ski passes and rentals. Whatever her level, if you can, she’ll be delighted if you take charge of a day’s ski pass/rental, for example. Discuss the organization of the week with her.
If she doesn’t ski, remind her that she’ll be “alone” while you’re on the slopes. If she does ski, discuss whether you’ll be skiing together or only at certain times. Plan meals with her, and if you’re planning a typical outing, let her know who’s paying for what in advance.
She doesn’t have the right outfit? Think about your old outfit, or borrow one from friends. There are also great bargains to be had at thrift stores, and one outfit can serve more than one Au Pair ;). You’ll have plenty of memories of laughter, snowball fights and sledging for you, your children and her!
To conclude
It’s therefore essential to present your Au Pair’s vacation as objectively and transparently as possible. Give her a clear and precise statement of the costs she will have to bear if she accompanies you (e.g. additional costs for accommodation and/or transport and/or packages and/or rentals and/or restaurants), what you will pay for and what your expectations are. This will enable her to make an informed decision and ensure that the vacation is the best possible one for everyone.
