How to become a travel nanny: Tips, responsibilities, and salary

If you love to travel, becoming a travel nanny is an exciting way to explore new destinations and get paid to do it. However, it’s important to understand exactly what it means to be a nanny.

Let’s take a look at how to become a travel nanny, including your requirements, salary, and everything you need to know to get a travel nanny position.

We'll also introduce the Wise account, which allows you to send, spend, and receive your money across the globe in over 40 currencies – all at the fair mid-market rate.

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Table of contents
What is a travel nanny? What to expect as a travel nanny: Duties and responsibilities Pros and cons of being a travel nanny How much do travel nannies make? Going abroad? Make sure to take a Wise Multi-Currency Card with you How do you become a travel nanny? Helpful skills, training, and qualifications How to find a travel nanny position

What is a travel nanny?

A travel nanny is someone who goes on vacation with a family to support parents who want to travel with their kids.

You’ll be responsible for looking after the children during travel and making sure the family has everything they need on vacation.

There are a few different types of travel nannies, including full-time positions and destination-specific roles. Let’s take a closer look.

Full-time travel nanny

If you’re already working as a full-time or live-in nanny for a family in the US, they may ask you to come with them on an upcoming trip.

A full-time nanny will often build close relationships with one family, helping them both at home and overseas.¹

Tell your family that you’re open to assisting on trips to get started with your travel nannying adventure!

Part-time travel nanny

A part-time travel nanny usually works with a number of families. Rather than living or working with one family full-time, you’ll be hired to help out with short-term domestic or international trips.

This is a good option if you want to pick and choose your travel nannying gigs. However, you may find it harder to create a lasting relationship with the kids in your care.¹

Destination-specific nanny

In some cases, a family may want to work with a local nanny in their chosen vacation destination, rather than bringing one along with them.

A destination-specific travel nanny has a good knowledge of the local area and can care for kids on short- or long-term trips.

If you live in a popular tourist location, you can work with families from across the US and further afield, all without leaving your hometown.²

What to expect as a travel nanny: Duties and responsibilities

As a travel nanny, you’ll be expected to provide personalised help and assistance for families travelling in the US or abroad.

You’ll keep kids safe and entertained during travel, establish a good routine for your family, and ensure parents can enjoy their vacation in peace.

Let’s take a closer look at some of your key duties and responsibilities as a travel nanny – everything you need to know.

Travel assistance

Unless you’re a destination-specific nanny, you’ll likely need to help out with travel logistics. Getting a flight, for example, can be very stressful with young children.

As a travel nanny, you’ll need to assist with packing bags, getting through security, and managing feeding or changing on the go.

Your job is to get everyone to the destination with as little stress as possible.²

Child safety

Child safety will be one of your biggest responsibilities as a travel nanny. You’ll need to assess exactly what the children in your care need on a day-to-day basis.

This includes looking after the kids during travel and on vacation. Your job is to act as an additional pair of hands, providing support to parents during potentially stressful travel situations.¹

Entertaining kids

Being a travel nanny is more than just looking after the kids in your care – you’ll also need to keep them entertained.

This includes educational and recreational activities, such as visiting landmarks, playing games, and organising kid-friendly outings.¹

Creating a good vacation routine

Travel nannies will need to create and maintain a structured vacation routine for their family. This involves getting kids ready for the day and keeping everyone fed.

You’ll be responsible for maintaining regular bedtimes, bath times, and nap times for the children in your care.¹

This is particularly important if you’re travelling for a longer period of time. For example, some travel nannies may help out on cross-country trips or short-term relocations.

Pros and cons of being a travel nanny

There are some big pros and cons of becoming a travel nanny. Let’s take a closer look.

Pros	Cons
Get paid to explore the world, including the chance to experience new countries and cultures	Being a nanny is hard work. It’s a lot of responsibility, especially if you’re new to childcare
Grow your skills and use your experiences to find new opportunities in the education or travel sector	Depending on the children in your care, you may need to handle a range of difficult issues
You won’t typically have to pay for your own accommodation or flights	Many travel nannies deal with isolation and homesickness
Travel nannying often comes with higher pay than regular nannying²	Your salary can vary. Make sure you do your research to find the best opportunities for you

How much do travel nannies make?

Your travel nanny salary will differ depending on the family, vacation destination, and your training or qualifications.

You’ll typically make from 20 USD to 50 USD per hour for short-term or one-off trips.¹ If you work as a full-time travel nanny, you could earn from 30,000 USD to 70,000 USD per year.³

Your chosen family will usually pay for your accommodation, flights, and other expenses. You may also get spending money for your trip. This means becoming a travel nanny is often a convenient and affordable way to visit new places.⁴

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How do you become a travel nanny?

There are a few different ways to become a travel nanny. Most travel nannies start out as regular nannies or childcare providers.

From there, you can find families who need support with travel, or go on vacation with your current family should the opportunity present itself.

Here are some helpful tips for becoming a travel nanny:

• Build up your childcare experience and qualifications
• Use your contacts – word-of-mouth can be very powerful
• Set up a profile on international nanny agency sites

Many families will require you to show that you can effectively care for children, manage travel logistics, and provide proof of any relevant credentials.

You may also need to go through an official interview process to ensure you and your family are a good fit.³

Helpful skills, training, and qualifications

It’s important to look into any useful training or qualifications for your new role.

Here are some certifications you may need to qualify for your nanny position:
First aid and CPR training Full background check Valid driving license Childcare or teaching qualifications Good references from previous jobs¹

Each family will be looking for something different. Some families may require teaching qualifications or advanced medical training, for example.

How to find a travel nanny position

International travel nanny agencies like Adventure Nannies® or Nanny Authority® are a popular choice for finding new travel nanny positions.

You can search for relevant job postings and access a certain level of protection, as many agencies require screening for both families and nannies.⁵

Here are some tips to find your first travel nanny gig:

• Search on multiple job sites
• Speak to local parents and families
• Create a good resume with all your childcare experiences

Job sites can be very competitive. If you have additional qualifications or training to offer, it may put you ahead of other applicants.

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There are many benefits to becoming a travel nanny, but it’s important to do your research. Consider your qualifications, responsibilities, and salary expectations.

You’ll need to look for the best job opportunities and ensure you always plan ahead to make the most of your travels!

If you’re heading abroad, spend your money like a local in over 150 countries across the world with Wise.

Sources

1. Travel Pander - How to become a travel nanny
2. Care - How to become a travel nanny
3. Household Staff - Travel nanny
4. Project Untethered - How to become a travel nanny
5. The Nanny Solution - Top 10 reasons nannies should use a nanny agency

Sources checked 06/05/2025