Also, I'd like to add, her friend is not your employee besides the occasional sitter. The friend can and should cover her own meals if she wants to attend the trip.

If they are "off" they should have funds to cover their meals BUT if this is a work trip to where you asked her to come along because she has to work more than 50% of the trip, you should give her a stipend for spending $. She wouldn't be going on this trip if she wasn't asked to work so by law this is a work trip, im sure you can look up the laws about this online.

With the nanny bringing her friend, I would suggest that they need to cover all costs outside of work hours.

Thanks for the responses.

In the past we've covered all meals for our nanny and gas or ski lift prices and such. This is a working vacation for her after all. I think its just tricky now with the friend. Although we did invite her and want them to enjoy themselves.

Well if they choose to have dinner with your family then I think you should provide that. However if they choose to dine somewhere of their choice then that should be entirely on them. Btw, you are being a very generous employer!

If you cover nothing outside of house this working trip may incur a cost for the nanny. Cover meals and make it clear that if the nanny and her friend want to go for an expensive meal they have to foot the bill. Why not set up a daily food allowance that would cover three meals- that was if she wants to skip breakfast for a fancy dinner she can.

No obligation to cover anything in their off hours. Just make sure they know that.

If this is not a work trip for you, then you should try to spend at least one day with your kids site seeing or whatnot when the nanny is off. As for food and other things on the nanny and friend's off time, I would give a stipend to be spent at their will.

We are going out of the country with our nanny and told her she could invite one friend. She is bringing a girl friend of hers along. We have met this friend many times and she has even babysat for us. We are covering the flight for the friend and they are sharing a private room on another floor from us. We will have our nanny work normal hours and be off in the evenings. We are too old and tired for date nights! We will also try to give her 2-3 off during the day to sight see and such. Probably put kids in hotel camp.

My question is regarding meals- her and her friend will of course eat breakfast and lunch and snacks throughout day with us. And we will happily cover. But when they go out at night do we cover that as well?? Drinks or a fancy restaurant? Dinners every night?