How Much To Pay And Where To Find A Nanny/cook In Koh Samui

[jdidio]

We are looking to hire a nanny for December and January on Koh Samui. I would like to know what rates in Baht to expect for a thai person that is good with kids, can cook nice basic thai food, and has basic english. We understand this is short and only for two months.

Where do we look or how do we find someone like this?

[ThailandBert]

It might help if you could tell us how many children, ages, sexes etc and where on the island you are. I presume you want live out ? I may know someone who would be suitable and available for the time you require her.

[jdidio]

We have two children a girl 3 years and a boy 6 months. We are in Taling Ngam. I am flexible for a live in or live out, we have a spare room. Thanks.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

We have two children a girl 3 years and a boy 6 months. We are in Taling Ngam. I am flexible for a live in or live out, we have a spare room. Thanks.

Best is to find someone through word of mouth - can be an indirect chain but starting with a long-term resident, ideally of relatively high social status.

For example, if you are friendly with (more ideally personally trust) someone like the manager of a local hotel or resort, ask them for permission to ask around among their domestic staff, or maybe they'd be willing to make enquiries themselves.

Remember you're bringing someone into your home so beware your property as well as of course the good treatment of the kids - so a relatively direct personal connection to someone that's part of the established community will help ensure (but not guarantee) a decent person. To me that sort of criteria is much more important than high expectations of hard-working efficiency, make sure not to set your standards to high, just be grateful if you don't have negative consequences.

If you're here permanently of course it's a different story, but you won't have time to really winnow the chaff from the wheat. . .

Regarding cost, for a short-term gig I reckon anywhere between B300 to B500 per day would be fair, at the higher end for longer days and you don't have to pay for days off. The English is the main stumbling block and key determiner of the cost.

[Chittychangchang]

Nanny and cook are 2 separate jobs!

All depends of the level of care and education you desire for your children!

Anyone with half a brain can cook.

3000bht amonth for the cook

????bht for the nanny (Philipino or backpackers can make good temp nanny's if you do your checks etc)

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Nanny and cook are 2 separate jobs!

All depends of the level of care and education you desire for your children!

Anyone with half a brain can cook.

3000bht amonth for the cook

????bht for the nanny (Philipino or backpackers can make good temp nanny's if you do your checks etc)

If you pay at the higher end of the range I suggested it would be perfectly acceptable to ask for simple meals to be prepared by the nanny, especially if we're mostly talking about feeding the kids.

The kind of inflexibility you're talking about only comes from those with experience working in wealthier households with multiple servants.

But if you're talking about someone who is familiar with preparing western food, that's a whole different ball game, and adds to the price just as much as decent English does.

[jdidio]

Thank you for the help.

[PomRakBKK]

3,000 baht per month for a cook... LOL lets be realistic.

[jdidio]

How much do you think would be realistic?

[BigJohnnyBKK]

How much do you think would be realistic?

How long is a piece of string?

Are you looking for a real cook, someone who would qualify for a restaurant?

Do they need to know how to prepare Western food? Just basic or how fancy?

Do they also need to be able to communicate in English?

The starting point would be what I outlined for the much less skilled/experienced nanny above. If yes to all, then maybe B15-25K given it's a short-term gig.

But even in a tourist area not going to be easy to find.

Probably easier to get a down-and-out backpacker type for say B1,000 a day plus room and board, but then you're most likely trusting your own intuitive judgment as to whether you can trust them as part of your household.

[Eric1949]

Probably easier to get a down-and-out backpacker type for say B1,000 a day plus room and board, but then you're most likely trusting your own intuitive judgment as to whether you can trust them as part of your household

Not easy to find a backpacker with a work permit, assuming they are foreign. 5000 - 6000 baht/ month is normal for a house keeper.

Edited October 29, 2012 by Eric1949

[Samui Coconut]

How much do you think would be realistic?

Nanny and cook in one person, I would look at at least 15,000 per month.....it is a short term job (2 month) and just finding the right person is already difficult. As suggested earlier, speak to some locals, may be hotel guys. Don't forget Christmas and January are high season, and with an already difficult work force, it will not be easy to fill this post.

[Birdman]

How much do you think would be realistic?

20.000 for a cook preparing all food daily from morning to evening and buying staff at the markets and stores - cost for that excluded of course - and wash up

[ThailandBert]

The lady I had in mind who speaks good English and is an excellent cook and loves kids would be looking at 15,000 a month for just the two months.

[concerned]

Nanny and cook are 2 separate jobs!

All depends of the level of care and education you desire for your children!

Anyone with half a brain can cook.

3000bht amonth for the cook

????bht for the nanny (Philipino or backpackers can make good temp nanny's if you do your checks etc)

3000 baht a month for a cook? Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!

[ThailandBert]

Nanny and cook are 2 separate jobs!

All depends of the level of care and education you desire for your children!

Anyone with half a brain can cook.

3000bht amonth for the cook

????bht for the nanny (Philipino or backpackers can make good temp nanny's if you do your checks etc)

3000 baht a month for a cook? Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!

The wife has just said can you get her one as at that price she will pay to save her from doing it