There are several things you can expect, starting from the moment they are hired to the moment you leave one another's company:
1. Scheduling and packing. Preferably you will be able to find a family guide that is familiar with the area(s) you will be vacationing in, which will make them a huge asset when deciding on what essentials should be brought and what type of schedule should be kept. Such as, is it best to travel during the night or day to your vacation spot. A good family guide will know ahead of time where and what they will plan on letting the kids visit and see while you are out on your own vacation adventure. He or she will even know what types of sights and activities that are best for you as well.
2. Private, but not too private. When on a vacation as a single parent there are going to be times when you just want to get away and do your own thing. This is exactly what the family guide is for. Go out and have a great time, because you know that while you're gone your children are in capable hands, and that the guide will report every incident to you, if any had occurred, once you return.
It is very important to also sign a confidentiality clause. The clause will cover the fact that they will report the happenings and highlights, good or bad, from every outing they go on and field trip they take while not in your direct custody. In the same clause it should be clear that they are to communicate with you and only you about their children's day and actions. This will allow the family guide to speak to, legally, no one else about your children, but you. Let your kids have their privacy, but not too private!
3. Evaluate and Correct. A great family guide will be able to evaluate the type of personalities your children have and be able to correct his or her own guide style to accommodate for their individual personalities. This will make sure they are seeing and experiencing a vacation that they will remember for years to come; which is the biggest goal for any and every vacation, can you agree? An experienced family guide will take into account the children's personal tastes in food and fun to evaluate and correct their own work on the fly.
4. Personal Goals. The best way that a family guide can have a direct and noticeable impact on you and your children's vacation is by setting personal goals. Personal goals for each of your children will keep them interested and entertained. If one child has never had a certain type of food that they have always wanted to try, or a place they have always wanted to go, such as famous landmarks, it is all possible. A list of these goals should be made by the family guide and reviewed by the parent for any changes. This type of list will ensure your kids will have the time of their lives no matter where they are.
These are just a few tips to help you know what to expect when hiring a family guide for your vacation. In the next piece of my traveling series we'll be discussing, How To Ensure Your Family Vacation is as Safe Possibly, By Using a Family Guide.
