Dianaa

My husband and I have been invited to attend some events in Capri, Ischia, and Procida for a week this spring, but we want to bring our fifteen month old daughter along. We'd need to have some sort of child care while there, but the Naples Chamber of Commerce is telling us that only illegal aliens will watch children there and that they wouldn't trust them with their own kids. They say there are some child care agencies, but that our daughter is too young for them to work with.

Help! Any ideas for us? We'd really love to go, but if we can't bring our daughter we'd rather not go....

Zerlina

Where are you staying on Capri? The concierges of the more upscale hotels should be able to recommend or arrange for dependable people.

Dianaa

The Capri Palace in Anacapri. Though the chamber of commerce tells us the hotel says they can't help either because our child is too young. Strange!

LoveItaly

Hello Dianaa, I rather doubt the Capri Palace which is a 5 star luxery hotel and spa is too interested in having babies, toddlers and young children on their property. At least that was the case in the past. And from everything I know Italians now have a difficlt time finding other Italians to watch their children, do their housework or help out with their elderly relatives, with some exceptions of course, so most do hire immigrants.

I assume you do not have any family members or close friends at home to watch your little one? You could bring someone reliable with you to watch your child but that would cost a fortunate so to speak what with additional airfare and the cost of an additional room at the Capri Palace. Or you could research and see if you could find a room at a different place for the babysitter that falls within your budget but Capri is not an inexpensive location to visit. Best wishes, I hope you find a solution to your problem.

Zerlina

I've heard that the concierges at the Capri Palace are not particularly helpful...

I'm not sure what the age of the child has to do with it, but there may well be some rule or regulation I don't know about.

You might try to send an email (I think it would have to be in Italian) to the person on the town council responsible for tourism. His name is Massimo Copolla and his email address is coppola@

Zerlina

Sorry, pressed the wrong button. It's [email protected]. Warning: Italians don't read their email very often.

Is it a congress/conference of some kind? If so, have you tried asking the organizers?

Zerlina

P.S. The spelling of the name is correct in the email address, incorrect in the text.

LoveItaly

If Signor Coppola has a fax number I would fax him as in my experiences most Italian respond much faster to faxes than to emails.

Dianaa

Hi Zerlina and Love,

Many thanks for this helpful info. I'll try contacting Signor Coppola. Alas, the organizers for the conference are the Naples Chamber of Commerce-- the ones telling us they can't find anyone! Sheesh, you'd think with the economy being what it is, it would be easier to find babysitters.

Zerlina

The fax number for the town council is 081-8373445.

Somewhere in Anacapri there must be some dependable nonna who has raised 14 kids and would be delighted to do it. The problem is finding her. Maybe Signor Coppola (born 1962) has an aunt who fits the description. On the other hand, Signor Coppola owns the Hotel San Michele and may not want to put himself out for someone staying at a rival establishment. As the owner of a hotel, he probably understands some English, though.

zeppole

The Capri Palace advertises that it offers babysitting services (upon request), so it looks to me like they want children on their property, 5 stars and all.

I'm unsure reading this therad: Have you contacted the hotel directly?

Sally30

I found this service when I was looking for a babysitter in Rome - http://web.tiscali.it/angelsstaff. We didn't end up using a sitter at all but they were responsive when I contacted them. I am not sure if they have sitters in Capri but you could try.

Dianaa

Zerlina-- Exactly! That's just what I keep thinking (about a sweet nonna....)
Zeppole-- I was told that our bambina is too young to meet their age cut off, but I'll try contacting them directly to make sure.
Sally--this service looks really interesting-- will definitely call them. Thank you!

Ann1

zeppole: They may not mind children at their hotel but the poster mentioned twice that she was told 15 months old is too young. They probably offer babysitting for older children. 15 months old is a bigger responsibility than a 6 or 10 year old. I can understand that completely.

Diana: I think the idea of bringing the babysitter and cheaper hotel is good. If you stay on Ischia you will get as good a hotel for half the money. This way you know who is with your child.

zeppole

Dianaa, yes, you should contact the hotel directly, given the various remarks of the Napoli Chamber of Commerce.

Ann1, the Chamber of Commerce also told Diana that even child care agencies wouldn't take care of a 15 month old, among other remarks that indicate to me they've no interest in solving the problem. Instead of contacting rival hotel owners and tourist boards to straighten it out, I suggested she begin with calling the hotel she wants to stay at first.. Babysitting services are offered all over Capri by various hotels. I think bringing a babysitter, unless she or he speaks Italian, is not a particularly good idea.

Dianaa

Zeppole,

Remarkably, the chamber of commerce has just informed me that they don't want me to contact the hotel myself because they made "special arrangements" with them! I'm starting to wonder if they're planning to sneak us in the service entrance. Stranger and stranger....

Zerlina

I don't know where Zeppole saw "Babysitters (on request)" for the Capri Palace. I looked at several Web sites; the hotel's own has no such mention, and one site said "Adults only (see hotel policy)", although I was unable to find the "hotel policy" anywhere.

zeppole

Dianaa,

I'm beginning to wonder, if you don't mind my saying so, if you want to be involved in this at all, let alone involve your offspring. I was always hate it when somebody says I can't talk to somebody directly myself.

Zerlina,

It's on the hotel website. There is an icon for babysitting (upon request). It's a woman pushing a baby buggy.

http://capripalace.arteh-hotels.com/

But also:

From Hotels.com listing for Capri Palace Hotel and Spa

Babysitting or child care
Complimentary newspapers in lobby
Concierge services
Fitness facilities (two gyms)
Full-service health spa

From PerfectEscapes.com listing:

On-Site Services -
24-Hour Room Service
Aerobics Instructor
Babysitting/Childcare
Baggage Hold
Business Services
Concierge

From the mytravelguide website:

Amenity Highlights — Babysitting/Child Services, Bar/Lounge, Barber/Beauty Shop, Restaurant, Mini Bar

Hotel City listing:

Hotel Facilities
Babysitting/Child Services
Concierge
Laundry/Valet Services

Hotel Scout says:

L'albergo dispone di:
bar - ristorante - parco/giardino - cucina vegetariana - piscina scoperta - parcheggio esterno - si accettano i gruppi - ascensore - servizio baby sitter

Booked.net says:

Children 10 years and under cannot be accommodated at the hotel during the months of June, July, and August.

But Diana's going in Spring, right? And if it's an "Adults only" hotel, why was Diana told her baby was too young for a sitter instead of telling her not to bring the baby at all?

Ann1

Zeppole: Sorry you were on the wrong website. It's www.capripalace.com Those other websites you were on are very different and not directly the hotel so they are not reliable at all. Look at the real website....I believe Zerlina that they don't want kids there.

Ann1

Dianaa: I have a good idea I just looked at the price they charge for a room. You can check in, rent the room to someone else for half the price. What you make on the room you can bring your whole family over and stay in a nice hotel and you won't have the babysitting problem

Now nobody get your hackles up...I'm just being funny. It's a gorgeous hotel but WOW those prices!