5 Ways TrustedHousesitters Helps Pet Lovers Live Their Travel Dreams

My wife and I have reached a point in our lives where we aren’t happy with the status quo in suburbia. We have dreams of traveling the world, but those two weeks off from work each year don’t allow for much slow travel. We long to go somewhere and linger for two weeks or more to absorb, and maybe even become part of the culture. Through a little effort on our own and a dollop of happenstance, we’ve reached a point with our careers where we can still do that before our son hits school age. The one thing holding us back is our dog. Thankfully TrustedHousesitters offers a solution for those of us with wanderlust. Whether you have pets or just love animals, TrustedHousesitters.com can help you live your travel dreams. Here's how.

1. Get pet sitting for free.

Vito, our Boston Terrier Pug mix, is as much a part of the family as my wife, my son, or myself. But, he’s holding us back. The bill for a month or more of boarding would probably cost more than the slow travel itself. And, I wouldn’t want to burden even my closest family members with our four-legged fur-child for that long. With TrustedHousesitters, though, we can execute our travel dreams.

My family and I recently spent a four-day weekend in Lexington for a family wedding. Kenneling our dog was our second highest expense for the weekend after lodging. Yes, we spent more on pet boarding services than we did on food! The cost skyrockets when more nights or pets are added. It’s a major deterrent from traveling, yet we can’t live without our family’s best friend.

The biggest advantage of booking with TrustedHousesitters is that, beyond annual membership, it’s free. In exchange for a free place to stay while you’re gone, a fellow animal lover and travel buff will watch your pets, plants, and home. Basically, it’s someone with a similar wayfaring spirit like your own staying in your house and cuddling up with your pooch or other animal friends at night.

2. Get free accommodations for your travels.

Not only can you score free pet sitting with TrustedHousesitters, but also you can get free travel digs while you watch someone else’s pets. Talk about going local and providing a true cultural immersion for your family! A quick search on TrustedHousesitters revealed a cottage in the Cotswolds, a vineyard in Switzerland, and a farm in New Zealand. Would I be willing to stay for free in exchange for a few walks a day and maybe some plant watering? You betcha!

3. Your pets will be comfy and happy while you're away.

As much as I say Vito is as equally a part of the family as the rest of us, he’s been a tad neglected since our son was born. If I’m being honest, he probably misses at least a walk or two a week. Most likely, a house sitter will follow your instructions to the T, and your pet will receive better care than when you’re home. Why? Because most house sitters are serial sitters. They don’t want to mess up their sweet TrustedHousesitters gig. They want positive feedback so they can continue to housesit. It’s how they travel the world. Besides, which do you think Vito would prefer…sitting in a kennel all day or relaxing at home where he's comfortable with someone who loves pets?

TrustedHousesitters isn't just for dog owners, either. When you sign up as a house sitter, you can choose which types of animals you feel comfortable watching: dogs, cats, reptiles, horses, birds, small pets, fish, poultry, and even farm animals!

4. Your house gets watched, too.

Another thing that prevents our family from embarking on a long trip is my wife’s garden. She has a green thumb and takes pride in growing most of the produce and herbs we consume. A house sitter will take care of her garden while she’s away (and they can even pillage a tomato or two if they like). With TrustedHousesitters, there’s someone in your house to water your plants and pick up your mail. Plus they can look out for home disasters that can occur, like leaking roofs or malfunctioning hot water tanks.

5. TrustedHousesitters enables you to travel without worry.

The scariest part about hiring a house sitter is trusting someone with the keys to your home. After all, they will be living amongst all of your valued possessions and, if you're a pet owner, caring for your beloved pets. With TrustedHousesitters, each house sitter’s identity has been verified. Additionally, many have gone through a criminal background check. Look for the Enhanced Level symbol next to their name to confirm their background check.

TrustedHousesitters is simple and easy to use, and it removes some of the biggest burdens and costs associated with travel. Go take a tour of their site and start living your travel dreams today!

Save These Housesitting Tips

Considering hiring TrustedHousesitters.com or signing up to be a house sitter yourself? Keep these housesitting tips for future reference. Simply save the image above to Pinterest. Go ahead and follow Travel Mamas on Pinterest while you’re at it!

Would you give TrustedHousesitters a try? Let us know in the comments below!

A Note from The Hungry Travel Daddy: This story is sponsored by TrustedHousesitters. Travel Mamas received compensation related to this post. All opinions are mine, as always.