Travel House Sitting 101: A Budget-Friendly Way to Slow Travel
How House Sitting Changed the Way We Travel
When Megan and I flew from our small town in Ohio to New York City for a four-day trip, we had no idea it would quietly change the direction of our lives.
Four days later, sitting in LaGuardia Airport waiting to fly home, we downloaded the TrustedHousesitters app. When we landed home we started our profile, and completed our background checks. Less than a month later, we were back in Manhattan for three full weeks, house sitting two cats in a pre-war studio apartment and paying nothing to stay there.
That trip didn’t just make travel more affordable. It showed us a completely different way to live in a city. Slower, calmer, and more rooted in everyday life.
Since that first sit in October 2024, we’ve house sat in Detroit, San Francisco, Asheville, and Seattle. We’re now planning overseas house sitting gigs for 2026, and we have no intention of stopping.
This post is a simple, no-fluff breakdown of how travel house sitting works, why it’s one of the best budget-friendly slow travel methods, and how to get started with confidence!
having a whole kitchen to cook in while traveling >- making coffee and breakfast at home before going out all day >
- working from home with cuddly kitties while traveling >
What Is Travel House Sitting (and Why It Works So Well for Slow Travel)
Travel house sitting is a simple trade. You take care of someone’s home and pets while they’re away. In return, you stay in their home for free.
There’s no money exchanged between sitter and homeowner. Both sides pay a membership fee to use the platform, have background checks, and gain something from the trade.
What makes house sitting different from hotels or Airbnbs is that you’re not just passing through. You’re living in a real home, in a real neighborhood, with a routine that naturally slows you down.
When you’re house sitting, you have:
- A full lived in space with amenities
- A grocery store near by
- A pet that needs daily care
- A neighborhood you return to every day
It doesn’t feel like a vacation. It feels like temporary real life somewhere new. And that’s exactly why we love it. It fits into our slow travel lifestyle perfectly.
Why House Sitting Is One of the Most Budget-Friendly Ways to Travel
Before house sitting, we stayed in New York City for four nights in a boutique hotel in the LES and spent nearly $800 for a very small room (though it was perfect, would highly recommend Untitled at 3 Freeman Alley.)
Our first house sit in NYC looked like this:
- 14 nights: $0
- TrustedHousesitters annual membership: $129
That single sit paid for the membership many times over. Not only did we save on lodging, but since you can cook every meal at home if you so desire, the food budget is 100% in your control as well.
Heres a quick breakdown of our expenses between our 2 Manhattan trips
Even while running our fully digital business and building our travel blog, house sitting made it possible to:
- Stay longer than a few days
- Learn how we like to travel (slow travel > vacationing)
- Travel while still earning income
- Reduce overall expenses
We weren’t instantly breaking even, but it allowed us to start traveling full-time while our work continued to grow.
TrustedHousesitters: The Platform We Use (and Recommend)
The primary platform we use for travel house sitting is TrustedHousesitters.
TrustedHousesitters connects homeowners with sitters through a membership-based system. Both the sitter and the homeowner pay to join, and no money is exchanged between the two. Instead, it’s a fair trade. You care for their home and pets while they’re away, and in return, you stay in their home for free.
What we like most about TrustedHousesitters:
- Pet-focused
- Well-established
- Built around trust and accountability
- Huge platform all over the world
The platform includes background checks, identity verification, messaging tools, and a review system that helps both sides feel confident before confirming a sit.
It’s also incredibly popular in major cities and well-traveled destinations, which is why it’s been easy to find sits in places like New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, and Asheville.
For anyone just getting started with travel house sitting, TrustedHousesitters is the easiest and most straightforward place to begin.
Other House Sitting Platforms (Including Workaway)
In addition to TrustedHousesitters, we’re also members of Workaway.
Workaway is primarily tailored toward work-exchange travel, where travelers trade a few hours of help per day for accommodation and sometimes meals. These opportunities can include things like farm work, hospitality help, creative projects, property maintenance, or assisting families and small businesses.
That said, Workaway also includes house sitting and pet sitting listings, especially overseas. These tends to be more niche and location-specific, and often involve:
- Longer stays
- Rural or private properties
- Large homes or estates
- Unique or luxury properties that need watching over
While we haven’t booked a sit through Workaway yet, it’s a platform we’re excited about as we move toward international and longer-term house sitting. TrustedHousesitters has been our foundation, and Workaway feels like a natural expansion as we look beyond city-based sits.
How to Set Up a Strong House Sitting Profile
Your profile matters more than almost anything else.
One of the best features of TrustedHousesitters is that they provide a shareable review link. This allows friends, family, or past pet owners to leave references even if you didn’t book them through the platform.
That’s exactly how we landed our first NYC sit. We had two reviews from friends we had previously house-sat for.
When building your profile, focus on:
- Clear, friendly photos
- A warm and honest “about us” section
- Any real-life pet or home care experience, even informal
- References that show trust and responsibility
You don’t need to sound professional. You need to sound reliable, kind, and human.
Applying for House Sits: What Actually Works
Have a basic application message written and ready to go, but never send it without editing.
Each application should:
- Address the homeowner by name
- Mention the specific pets and their needs
- Explain why you’re a good fit for that sit
- Include a personal detail so it doesn’t feel generic
You’re not applying for a free place to stay. You’re applying to care for someone’s home and their animals. That mindset makes a difference.
Important Things to Know Before You House Sit
House sitting is not a no-strings-attached situation.
Most sits require:
- Morning and evening feeding
- Being home overnight
- Taking care of home/plants
- No guests
- Daily communication + pictures
Many homeowners understand that you’re there to explore the city or work remotely, and some pets have automatic feeders or flexible schedules. Still, you need to plan your days around your responsibilities.
House sitting works best if you:
- Like routines
- Are respectful of other people’s spaces
- Are comfortable being accountable
- Want to stay an extended period in 1 place
Why We Personally Choose Cat Sits
We love dogs, but we only apply to cat sits.
For us, that’s because:
- Cats stay indoors
- There are no late-night walks or weather stress
- Cats are generally more independent
- Cat sits work better with remote work and slow travel
This is a personal preference, but it’s worth thinking about what type of sit fits your lifestyle before applying broadly.
Is Travel House Sitting Right for You?
House sitting isn’t for everyone. But if you:
- Love animals + routines
- Enjoy slow paced travel
- Want to live like a local
- Are traveling on a budget
- Work remotely or have flexible time
It can completely change what travel looks like.
Final Thoughts
Travel house sitting has reshaped how we think about travel, money, and time. It’s allowed us to stay longer, spend less, and live more fully in places we once thought were out of reach. For us, it’s been life changing.
