Flexibility

We realise that not everyone has the same routine, especially whilst on holiday, so we build flexibility into our childcare programme. Our nannies are available to book for half and full days, either 5 days a week, or by the individual session.  

• Half day morning 0830h to 1330h
• Half day afternoon 1430h to 1930h
• Full day – any 8 consecutive hours between 830h and 1930h. 

You do not need to decide on the hours until your meet your nanny on the Island, and these hours are flexible and can be changed from day to day depending on your plans. Evening babysitting is subject to availability, and payable locally at €12 per hour. 

Welcome Meeting

We know how daunting it can be meeting someone new, which is why on the first evening of your holiday, your nanny will come to your villa to meet you and get to know the children. This is a good opportunity to chat through the week ahead and discuss your children’s routine. 

What The Children Can Expect

Our private nannies will care for your children in the comfort and familiar surroundings of your own villa, meaning toys, comforters and spare clothes are always close at hand. If you would prefer, they can accompany you on an outing or daytrip as an extra pair of hands at the beach or eyes in the water.

Any good workman has a big box of tools, and our private nannies are no exception. Your nanny will bring a box of goodies to the villa so you don’t have to worry about bringing any more than a few essential favourites. There will be games, books, toys and art materials, and the youngsters can look forward to creative activities, and messy play too. 

Food is not included in the childcare service, however our nannies will be happy to prepare and serve any bottles, purees, snacks or lunches you wish to provide in your villa.

Only the best will do

We have gone to great lengths to ensure that you will feel absolutely confident in your nanny’s ability to care for your children. We take on nannies with NNEB or equivalent level 3 qualifications, who pass out own rigorous screening and CRB checks. All nannies undergo training including paediatric first aid, food hygiene and pool safety courses. Most of our nannies are selected following a successful winter season and excellent guest feedback from our sister programme VIP SKI.

We understand that happy children make for relaxed parents, and that quality childcare is an essential ingredient to every family holiday.

Ratios

• 2 children where the youngest is aged 3 years on under
• 3 children where all are aged 4 years and over

If you have children of mixed age groups, please call our childcare line for advice on how many nannies you will require. Nannies will be happy to work alongside parents with shared responsibility to look after larger groups of children.

Here's one guest's personal account of how to holiday with children and make sure everyone gets a break...

"Do you remember your first family holiday as a parent? Mine was a desperately-longed-for villa in the sun with my newly mobile 9 month old, my exhausted husband and my mum, the latter invited in the hope that she would volunteer a little baby sitting from time to time.

I fantasized about achieving a Zen-like state of relaxation as the sun revived my wobbly and worn out body on the beach. I fondly imagined delicious meals al fresco and en famille, locals enchanted by my adorable and impeccably behaved little boy and the rougher edges of life pleasantly softened by a bottle or three of something cold and pink. 

Of course the reality was somewhat different. Even getting to the beach was like moving house: buggy, sun tent, nappies, cool box, water, toys, hat, sun cream, change of clothes and laboriously mashed purees (no blender in the villa) which were routinely spurned in favour of large handfuls of damp sand. And of course by the time we had unpacked everything onto our patch of beach, my little angel was bored of his sand snacks and had no intention of letting mummy or daddy sit still for a nano second of peace.

Granny was back at the villa – “beaches don’t agree with me”.

Dinner was no easier. Trying to find anything to eat other than a Full English Breakfast before 8pm was nigh on impossible, and while gorgeous olive-skinned Med babies seemed happy to play quietly or sleep while the extended family enjoyed a long relaxed supper, my baby stuck resolutely to his Gina Ford routine and howled in over-tired frustration at being away from his darkened room after 7 in the evening.

I ended up cooking every night, with Granny knocking back vats of rosé to help her sleep “in case the baby wakes”.

“How was your trip?” friends asked later. To be perfectly honest it was just like being at home, only a bit warmer, a grim realisation that holidays might never be quite the same again. 

So last year we treated ourselves – and our son – to the services of a private nanny. For one whole incredibly indulgent week, lovely Lucy came to our villa promptly each afternoon to care for Nicolas, leaving us free to enjoy a swim, snooze or shop in glorious grown-up peace.

Didn’t I feel guilty leaving my son with someone else? Yes, for about 40 seconds, until I registered his delight at the huge box of new toys Lucy had brought.

Nicolas took to his Nanny alarmingly quickly, which made it much easier than I had expected to slip out of the door with our picnic basket and paperbacks. And returning for tea after just a few hours of genuine me-time I was actually looking forward to the bath & bed routine, previously the hardest hour of the day.

We all love our kids, but a few hours off now and again makes it so much easier to enjoy them too." 

Heather travelled to Corsica with Coastline.

Our nannies take water safety very seriously and undertake a National Rescue Award run by the Royal Life Saving Society as part of their training for the summer. Whilst we do not want to take the fun out of your child’s holiday, there are strict ratios they must adhere to as follows:

1 Nanny may take 2 children into the pool as long as both of these children are able to swim confidently and competently without the use of a swim aid (wings,rings, float vest, float seat).

1 Nanny can take only 1 child into the pool if he/she cannot be in the water without the help of a swim aid (wings, rings, float vest, float seat)