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TheBuzz
Erika Engle
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Maui villas offer niceties for noble nannies
WAILEA Beach Villas on Maui is taking a cue from the soon-to-be-released movie, "The Nanny Diaries," based on a book of the same name -- and is offering survival kits to nannies who stay on property with their employers and young charges.
Some might think the trip to Hawaii is enough of a perk for a nanny, but you have no idea how challenging other peoples' kids can be unless you've pushed a stroller a mile in those nannies' sensible shoes.
The Nanny Tote contains separate lists for kids' activities, playgrounds and parks, and kid-friendly dining options; a $20 gift certificate for Lappert's Ice Cream; sunscreen; a first-aid kit; private-label bottled water; a Hawaiian-themed beach blanket; the book, "Good Night Hawaiian Moon" and a read-along CD featuring slack-key guitarist Ken Emerson; as well as a stuffed sea-turtle toy.
Unlike in "The Nanny Diaries," however, the toy is not outfitted with a Nanny Cam.
Just for the nanny, though, the tote also comes with a copy of "The Nanny Diaries" book, the latest issue of "People" or "Us" magazine and aspirin.
Wailea Beach Villas is run like a hotel, though its 98 two- and three-bedroom penthouses and villas are individually owned. The gated resort community is managed by Colorado-based Destination Hotels & Resorts.
Its Web site uses the word "amenities" more times than you could shake a stick at. Even the kids get arrival amenities for gosh sakes.
Among other amenities and services, Wailea Beach Villas concierge staff can arrange for a private butler, in case madam requires that her bath be drawn a certain way.
This is definitely one of those, if-you-have-to-ask-how-much-it-costs-you-can't-afford-it situations.
Your columnist's cover remains intact however, as current rates for the five types of accommodations are posted on the Web site, which advises that rates vary per season.
Penthouse units with a garden view are available from $1,100 to $1,600, while at the top end, oceanfront villas go from $3,500 up to $5,000.
If not the lady or gentleman, the lady-and-gentleman's certified public accountant will need to know that those are per-night rates, but the resort is presently offering a 20 percent discount.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4747, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached at:
eengle@starbulletin.com