Mary Poppins: Don't Leave Home Without Her!

If you're like most American families, couple time is already at a premium, given the demands of work, children, school, friends and more. Vacations can be a perfect time to steal a few hours to "honeymoon" without the kids.

But how do you get that couple time, given that you're miles away from your regular sitters and family members? There are a few solutions.

Many hotels offer babysitting services either through the hotel itself, or in partnership with a local sitting service. Because these services are often quite costly (starting at $10 an hour for one child, and up from there), a more economical choice may be to bring your sitter with you.

Sounds crazy and way too expensive? Not necessarily.

If you have a regular sitter that your kids are already used to, and who knows the "house rules," your younger family members may be better off with a familiar face than with a "stranger," however highly recommended he or she comes. And because your sitter is getting a vacation of sorts herself, you may not have to pay as much as you think you might. And when you factor in the peace of mind that extra set of hands can bring, you may find it's worth every penny.

For instance, my husband recently had a two-week business trip in Europe. Fares to France are quite low right now, so we decided to meet him in Paris partway through his trip. The challenge was how to get the kids and me from here to there. I couldn't imagine taking a transatlantic flight by myself, with a toddler and an infant. So we invited our nanny, Nicky, to come along.

The trip was a huge success. Not only did John and I get a quiet evening "a deux," Nicky was invaluable in keeping the kids occupied and happy, even when both John and I were available. My stress level was low, and she enjoyed the trip abroad to a country she'd never visited before.

If you decide to give traveling with your nanny a try, here are some things to think about before you take off:

Will you have separate hotel rooms? A suite is ideal so you'll have a little more breathing room. We had one very large room with a king bed for us (and Benjamin), a crib for the baby and a rollaway for Nicky. You may decide you're more comfortable with your own space.

What expenses will you pay for, and which (if any) will she be responsible for? We picked up all travel, food and lodging; she took care of her spending money.

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