How I’ve Traveled the World for Free (While Taking Care of Cats)
If you're a budget traveler, a solo adventurer, or a couple looking for unique stays around the world, let me introduce you to my most recent favorite travel hack: Trusted Housesitters!
Within just one year of using this platform, I’ve taken care of 33 cats around the uk, netherlands, and usa, stayed in beautiful homes for free, and explored new cities without the usual accommodation costs.
and the best part is — i get to stay in these places on my own! a few times i have invited someone to join me, but most of the time — the whole place is to myself.
What is Trusted Housesitters?
Trusted Housesitters is a global platform that connects travelers with homeowners who need pet and house care while they’re away.
Instead of paying for a hotel or Airbnb, you stay in someone's home for free in exchange for taking care of their pets and plants. Whether you love cats, dogs, bunnies, horses, chickens, or even gardens full of plants, there’s a sit out there for you!
just look at a few of these adorable cats i’ve been blessed to take care of!! 🥲
How I Got Started with Trusted Housesitters
Back in jan/feb 2024, I stayed with a friend in the english countryside and felt like i wanted to stay longer in the uk.
so I reached out to an instagram friend living in Cambridge, UK, who reminded me about the website. Funny enough, I signed up for the site two years prior to try to sit in seattle, wa — but never got around to doing a sit.
now i’m writing this as i’m doing a sit in seattle, wa after I finally took the leap last year!!
I started my first official trusted housesitters sit in london, uk on February 26, 2024 — i was honestly going through a lot of ups and downs, questioning my life and what the heck i was doing.
but since then, i was able to…
✅ Stay around different parts of England for 5 months
✅ stay in den haag and Amsterdam, Netherlands for 7 weeks
✅ Explored Los Angeles, Venice Beach, Austin, Seattle, Atlanta, and Las Vegas — for free!! — for 3+ months
And the number one thing that impacted me the most?
I’ve met some amazing people along the way :’)
Why You Should Try Trusted Housesitters
Save Thousands on Accommodation: If you love to travel, you know how expensive hotels and Airbnbs can get. With TrustedHousesitters, you stay for free!
Live Like a Local: Instead of touristy hotels, you get to experience real neighborhoods and homes.
Perfect for Animal Lovers: If you miss having a pet but can’t commit to one, this is a dream come true :’)
Flexible & Worldwide: There are sits in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and beyond. You can find one for a weekend or several months!
still have questions about it? here are a few i’ve answered!
Is all you have to do is pay for a flight? Or do they pay for flight?
yes, you usually do have to pay for your own travel!
since i was traveling around uk & netherlands, i was primarily using buses and trains since they were way cheaper than flying
because i use my travel credit cards with 0% foreign transaction fees, i also maximized my cash back/points to essentially get a few trips for free as well
sometimes pet parents have paid for my groceries & given me a tip as a token of their gratitude, so that tip can technically go towards your travels
Is this real? I can’t afford a vaca. Do you need a remote job to travel nomadically like you did?
totally real!
i didn’t have a remote job while i was traveling nomadically.
i sold 90% of my stuff in america and traveled around with a 0% transaction fee travel credit card and money from when i sold my stuff
(a travel hack i do is to use the credit cards to rack up points and pay it off right away with the money on hand — the points can get you cash back and free travel!)
having a mindset that focuses on “can” instead of “can’t” allowed me to unlock opportunities that i never would have imagined, because i didn’t plan to travel around as a nomad without working, it just happened!
with trust and an abundance mindset, the uniderse took care of me & i believe it can for you too :)
Want to Start Housesitting Too?
If you’re ready to travel for free while caring for adorable pets, you can use my referral link to sign up: Join Trusted Housesitters & get 25% off your first year Here 👈
Or use my trusted housesitters referral code RAF769955 when signing up!
Happy housesitting! 🐾✨
