Discover Affordable Family Travel with TrustedHousesitters
How TrustedHousesitters Changes Your Travel Game
“Petting, scratching and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as a prayer.”
Sophie, Colleen, & Rachel, cuddling with Josie.
You've spent hours scrolling through dreamy travel photos: charming European villages, sun-soaked beaches, bustling city streets. You can imagine your family there, walking those same cobblestone streets, sipping espresso in a quiet café, watching the waves roll in at sunset.
Then reality hits: Family travel can be expensive! Flights, food, accommodations; add a kid (or three) and suddenly you wonder if family adventures are only for millionaires.
But what if we told you there’s a better way? What if one simple decision could save your travel budget, unlock epic adventures, and open the doors to homes worldwide, without draining your bank account?
For our family, that decision was saying yes to house and pet sitting. This small choice has made family travel possible when we thought it was out of reach. In this post, we’re sharing how one platform became one of our secret weapons for travel freedom, connection, and comfort.
Want to know how it could do the same for your family?
Sophie, getting a kiss from baby Ruby while momma, Reba, grazes nearby.
What is TrustedHousesitters?
TrustedHousesitters is an innovative platform that connects homeowners with trustworthy travelers. When homeowners leave their homes and pets behind for their travels, their trusted connections move in to pick up right where they left off, caring for the home and pets as if they were their own. In return, the house/pet sitters get a comfortable, homey, and free place to stay—no rent, no hotel fees, and no cleaning charges!
Sitters care for the house (and possibly some adorable pets) and get a cozy home to call their own for a few days to a few months. But the real value? Living like a local! These unique homestays can be found in a variety of locations, including quaint neighborhoods and bustling cities. Throughout your stay, you’ll shop and eat in your new local area and learn to love a location you may never have visited otherwise!
Insider Tip: Sits aren’t limited to just cats and dogs! Stay on small farm properties and care for a variety of animals, including horses, cows, ducks, chickens, and more.
If you already have experience with these types of animals, it’s an opportunity to lend a hand to homeowners who may have a more difficult time taking vacations.
No experience yet? Don’t let that stop you! It’s a great way to learn and get the whole family involved.
Click on photo to enlarge and see descriptions.
How Does TrustedHousesitters Work?
We won’t delve too deeply into the details here as we have several future posts planned around our amazing experience with TrustedHousesitters, including a TrustedHousesitters review. However, it is helpful to have a general understanding of the platform and how it works to determine whether it is worth using for you and your family.
Think of the TrustedHousesitters app as a matchmaking service. Home/pet owners and sitters each create a profile. When home/pet owners have a vacation scheduled, they can list their exact dates and post their sit for prospective sitters to find.
Sitters can search by location, date, length of stay, specific animals, and more. Then, they can browse listings, looking for adorable animals or idyllic locations. If the home/pet owner has had any past sits, prospective sitters can browse the reviews, looking for both good and bad experiences. Once they find a listing that fits their wants and needs, serious applicants can submit their application for the sit.
Insider Tip: Application spots are limited to just five per listing, so potential sitters should jump at the perfect opportunity, especially for more popular locations (like an overseas sit in Singapore… those go FAST).
The home/pet owner can review applications at any point after receiving them, but must do so once all five application spots have been filled. They will go through their own careful selection process, looking for the best option to meet their needs and ensure they have happy pets and a secure home while away. They often reach out to prospective sitters via the platform, looking to connect further through messaging or video calls.
Insider Tip: Downloading the TrustedHousesitters mobile app and allowing push notifications is a great way to see your latest messages and be alerted when some of your “favorites” have added dates for a new sit.
What Does TrustedHousesitters Cost?
TrustedHousesitters offers annual memberships for both sitters and homeowners. Here's a brief summary of the annual membership fee options:
Pet Sitter Membership Plans:
Plans for sitters range from $129 to $259 per year. Each plan allows for unlimited pet and house sits for the year and offers a money back promise.
Basic Sitter Membership: This no-frills plan allows you to apply for sits on the platform and may be an excellent option for those who are unsure about it.
Standard Sitter Membership: This is the most popular plan, providing a great middle-of-the-road option. It includes added perks like a vet advice line (including free video calls), dedicated customer support, instant alerts for unlimited saved searches, and an accident and third-party liability plan for any of those occasional hiccups.
Premium Sitter Membership: This plan option includes all the benefits of the Standard Sitter plan, plus a sit cancellation plan that covers you in the unlikely event that the home/pet owner cancels the sit after it has been confirmed. In addition, you’ll get two global airport lounge passes and a premium badge on your profile, helping you stand out from other potential sitters.
Pet Parent Membership Plans:
Plans for pet parents and/or homeowners range from $149 to $299 per year. Each plan allows for unlimited pet and home care for the year and offers a money back promise.
Basic Pet Parent Membership: This basic plan lets you list your home and pets on the platform and connect with potential sitters. It could be a great way to try the platform before committing to a more expensive plan.
Standard Pet Parent Membership: This is the most popular pet parent plan. It offers added benefits, including a vet advice line (with free video calls), dedicated customer service, and a home and contents plan. It will also boost your listing in the search results and allow you to see any sitters who have saved your listing.
Premium Pet Parent Membership: This plan option comes with all the benefits of the Standard Pet Parent Membership plan, plus a sit cancellation plan that covers you in the unlikely event that a sitter cancels the sit after it has been confirmed. In addition, you’ll get two global airport lounge passes and a premium badge displayed on your listing, helping you stand out from other pet parents.
Insider Tip: As a pet parent with a Standard or Premium Membership, you can view which potential sitters have saved your listing. Don’t be afraid to make the first move! Browse through those who have saved your listing and message them directly if their profile fits your needs.
Combined Membership Plans:
If you have a home and pets that need to be cared for AND you also want to care for those of others while you’re traveling, no worries! TrustedHousesitters has memberships that will cover you.
For sitters who are also pet parents, plans range from $209 to $399 per year. Each plan allows for unlimited pet and house sits for the year, as well as unlimited pet and home care. Plus, each plan offers a money back promise.
Basic Combined Membership: Got pets AND want to pet sit, but don’t want all the extras? This plan is a good idea for pet owners who wish to travel, but still want to enjoy time as pet lovers (just in a new location).
Standard Combined Membership: This is the most popular Combined Membership plan. It comes with all the added perks of the Standard Sitter plan AND the Standard Pet Parent Membership! Get access to a vet advice line (including free video calls), dedicated customer support, instant alerts for unlimited saved searches, a home and contents plan, and an accident and third-party liability plan for any of those occasional hiccups. It will also boost your listing in the search results and allow you to see any sitters who have saved your listing.
Premium Combined Membership: This plan is the ultimate option, combining the benefits of the Premium Sitter plan AND the Premium Pet Parent Membership! Enjoy all the benefits of the two standard memberships, plus a sit cancellation plan that protects you in the unlikely event that a sitter or home/pet owner cancels the sit after it has been confirmed. In addition, you’ll get two global airport lounge passes and a premium badge displayed on your listing AND your profile, helping you stand out from other pet parents and sitters.
Considering that a single night in a hotel can cost more than the fee for a full year of membership, the value is undeniable! (Our membership paid for itself within the first few days of our first sit.)
A Win for All Involved
For homeowners, travelers, and even pets themselves, TrustedHousesitters offers a wide range of benefits. Whether you’re a solo traveler, a digital nomad, a remote worker, a family on the move, or a pet/home owner seeking peace of mind, TrustedHousesitters creates a win-win proposition.
Homeowners gain peace of mind knowing their home is in good hands the entire time they're away.
Pet parents can leave for vacation with confidence that their furry family members are getting quality pet care from caring pet sitters.
Travelers can experience comfortable, home-like stays without incurring traditional accommodation costs.
The animal lover gets to make new furry friends (even horses, birds, hamsters, reptiles, and more) and have great experiences in a vacation spot.
Pets enjoy companionship instead of a stressful boarding experience.
Insider Tip: With so many different types of animals, TrustedHousesitters allows you to explore how you and your kids interact with various breeds of dogs and cats, as well as different types of other animals.
It also allows you to see how seriously your kids take on helping with chores and pet responsibilities before committing to a pet of your own.
Where are TrustedHousesitters Sits Available?
With a global presence, you can find sits nearly anywhere. However, as the platform grows, more sits are currently available in the UK, Australia/New Zealand, and the U.S.
A quick peek at what the TrustedHousesitters platform looks like, along with some examples of where you can find pet sits.
We have had amazing sits in each of the following locations:
U.S.A. – As US-based sitters, TrustedHousesitters helped us transition from long-term renters to a remote worker family of digital nomads. We found a two-month sit close to “home” with two small older dogs. It was perfect, letting us finish getting our affairs in order before becoming a full-time traveller family.
England – We stayed in a beautiful country home south of London with a very active and loving greyhound who made us laugh with her zoomies in the backyard. Sophie loved having a snuggle buddy each night, and we loved connecting with pet owners who shared unique stories and offered lovely hospitality. This week of accommodations made our five-day stay in London much more economically feasible.
Wales – Our rural sit in the heart of Mid-Wales came with the world's sweetest mixed breed who kept us all active, even on rainy days. He gave us loads of snuggles and laughs, and caused a tearful goodbye when it was time to go. His owners have even become good friends we hope to see again soon!
Taiwan – Our most recent sit took us to Taipei. We were responsible for two small dogs who were generous with snuggles and made us feel right at home. Between the time we confirmed the sit and when it started, their eldest dog was diagnosed with diabetes. The pet owner reached out to ensure we were comfortable with the unexpected new care requirements (a twice-daily insulin shot), which we greatly appreciated! It was a fun, yet relaxing sit, and a great way to experience a very different culture.
Each sit has brought its own kind of magic. More importantly, they have helped us stay on the road longer and explore places we might not have prioritized otherwise.
We've also saved our favorite profiles for future sits in Asia, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and during visits back home to the United States. We've even been contacted by pet owners in Australia inviting us to come and sit for their pets. Schedules don't always work out, but we're definitely adding some great opportunities for future travel to our plans.
Want a behind-the-scenes look at where we are and what we’re up to each week (including pet sits)?
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The Money Side: How Much We’ve Saved
TrustedHousesitters allows us to travel to places that might otherwise be financially out of reach. It’s not an exaggeration to say it’s saved us thousands of dollars on accommodations in the last year alone. If you’re trying to travel more often, or for longer stretches, TrustedHousesitters could be your new best friend.
Here are some specific ways we’ve saved money using the TrustedHousesitters platform as a small part of our travel strategy.
Accommodation Savings:
On average, accommodations for a family of four in Europe and the U.S. can easily run $150–$300 per night (and that’s being conservative). As a family of five, we often have to book two rooms for each night, and yes, it can get expensive. With TrustedHousesitters, we often go weeks or months without incurring lodging costs.
Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the pet sits that have saved us big bucks over the last year:
10-Day Pet Sit in England: Saved ~$2,100
21-Day Pet Sit in Wales: Saved ~$5,600
One-Month Pet Sit in Taiwan: Saved ~ $5,000
Two-Month Pet Sit in the United States: Saved ~$10,500
Food Savings:
Your savings don’t stop there. Now that you’re in a home with a full working kitchen (including all the pots, pans, and dishes you need to make most of your meals), you can save on dining out.
Sure, if you’re in Paris, you’ll want to splurge on a couple of meals out, but not having to dine out two to three times per day will save you big money over the course of a week!
How about that morning cup of coffee? Kevin, Ellie, and I are all coffee drinkers. Without our morning brew, we just can't function well. In just one week, we'll make at least 21 cups of coffee, assuming each of us drinks only one cup. (Hint: It’s NEVER just one cup!) For the cost of one to three cups of coffee from a coffee shop, we can purchase a package and brew it just the way we like it for several weeks!
Comforts of Home (Yes! This Can Actually Save You Money!)
At first glance, comfort might not seem like a financial benefit, but hear me out. When you're uncomfortable, you spend more time and money trying to fix it, sometimes without even realizing it.
We've all booked an Airbnb that looked great in photos, only to arrive and find the reality underwhelming: a couch that feels like sitting on plywood; a mattress that leaves you tossing and turning all night; a kitchen with barely functional knives, warped pans, and missing basics like a coffee maker or containers for leftovers.
Many Airbnb hosts equip their spaces with leftover furniture or cheap stuff that wouldn’t make the cut in their own homes. You know what I mean, the IKEA furniture that falls apart when you sit on it or looks like every other space you’ve stayed in.
When your accommodations aren’t set up for actual living, you spend more money trying to compensate.
Inadequate sleep in a cheap hotel = extra coffee shop stops
A barely stocked Airbnb kitchen = more restaurant bills
An impersonal, uncomfortable rental = more money spent “escaping” the space with paid activities
TrustedHousesitters flips the script: you stay in a real home, designed for daily living. That means a real bed, a fully equipped kitchen, a cozy living room, and often a furry friend curled up beside you, making the place feel even more like home.
Long-Term Travel Savings:
Now, who says you only get a week’s vacation? Since you’ve already paid for transportation, you might as well look for a longer sit or consider linking more than one sit together to extend your trip, experience more things, and create more memories.
You can pair a week in Paris with another week in Berlin. We spent nine days in a town south of London and three weeks in Wales with a couple of our new favorite pets. The only money spent on accommodations? A cheap overnight stay at a hotel and/or a short-term rental on either side of each sit.
Free TrustedHousesitters Account
One of the best ways to determine if something is right for you is to try it out before making a purchase. You don't have to wait until you have a paid membership to do this. You can create an account FOR FREE and browse the opportunities immediately!
If you like what you see and want to purchase a plan, use our exclusive discount code—UNCOMMON25—for 25% off your first year!
Bonus for Home & Pet Owners
If you’re the pet owner, you can save on the expense of boarding your pet. So, in addition to avoiding the stress that your treasured pet often experiences with boarding, you’ll save money. Not only does your pet get to stay in their comfortable environment, but they’ll be getting affection and personalized care while you’re away without the high cost of a private pet-sitter!
Even if you’re not a pet owner, the advantage of having someone watch over your home without having to hire a housesitter or trouble a friend or neighbor is priceless. Your mail will be collected, so there’s no need to put it on hold at the post office. Passers-by will see lights, movement, and cars coming and going, so your home is less likely to be a burglar target while you’re away.
Ellie, enjoying a relaxing afternoon with Junie & Josie.
A Lasting Impact
TrustedHousesitters has allowed us to travel with less financial worry and taught us the importance of community, trust, and connection. We’ve met amazing people who welcomed us into their lives (and homes) and shared their stories, enriching our travel experiences beyond what we could have hoped or even imagined.
As we continue our journey, we look forward to the fantastic people and adventures that await us. Each sit is a new chapter in our story, and we’re excited to see where each excellent opportunity takes us.
If you’re eager to check out TrustedHousesitters, click here to explore the site. You don’t even have to commit to a membership plan to make an account and browse listings. Simply sign up for FREE and look at what TrustedHousitters can offer you!
If you like what you see and want to purchase a plan, use our exclusive discount code—UNCOMMON25—for 25% off your first year!
Ready to Take the Next Step & Travel Smarter?
If you liked this post and want to know more about TrustedHousesitters, stay tuned! We’ve got more posts coming to help you get started, make your profile stand out, and navigate the whole process confidently (including how to land your first sit even with kids in tow).
Got questions? Nervous about your first sit? Curious how it works with toddlers or teens? Drop them below—we’d love to help you get started!
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