I'm looking for suggestions on how to go about finding local babysitters when we travel on family trips. It would mainly be in the evening. I'd prefer to hire someone locally and prefer to go through an agency of some kind.
I was just recommended to www.sittercity.com
I *think* its national but I'm not for sure. Good luck!
I have never needed to do this, but I stayed at a hotel last May in Chicago that actually had their own babysitters. You just asked the hotel for a babysitter, and they would send one to stay in your room with your child while you were out. I would not be comfortable doing that, but I am sure they would let you pre-screen them, and then it might be better. It made me nervous having someone hired by a hotel be alone with my child, so it was not something I would have wanted to do, but I did not look into whether they let you pre-screen or choose a babysitter either. Maybe if you find a hotel that offers that service, you could choose from their babysitters.
I have done this on several occasions, including: San Diego, Ft. Meyers Beach, and Las Vegas. I've also used an agency here in the Twin Cities. In all cases my experiences have been excellent. I think for the most part I did my research on line, looking at nanny services and what I could see in terms of their screening process and qualifications of sitters. As I recall, I was able to learn quite a bit on line. I think in Ft. Meyers I got a brochure on the nanny service through the hotel. Most large hotels are able to offer guidance in this arena.
Always when travelling for vacations I now look for resorts/hotels that offer babysitting or kid's programs. Hope this helps.
We checked with the hotel desk and see if they have any suggestions. Most of the bigger ones have onsite daycare. Good luck.
K.
