Travel with purpose, stay for free, and care for homes, pets, and boats around the world
If you’re dreaming of slow travel, living like a local, and the joy of caring for animals or boats while you explore the world, then house sitting, pet sitting, and boatsitting might just be your golden ticket to being in nature in 2025. It’s not just about free accommodation (though that’s a beautiful bonus). It’s about trust, connection, and exploring the world in a conscious and intentional way.
As someone who’s crossed oceans, trekked mountains, and lives in a a van, I’ve found house sitting and boatsitting to be the ultimate travel tools. They allow you to rest, reset, and experience a deeper connection with the places you pass through. Whether you’re taking a break between hikes, looking to pause between sailing passages, or have a change from vanlife, or just craving a cozy space with a dog by your side, these sitting opportunities offer something rare: purpose-driven travel without the high price tag.
Here’s your guide to where to find these opportunities and how to get started.
What is House Sitting and Boatsitting?
House sitting or boatsitting is a mutual exchange between home owners and house sitters. While the home owners are away, you stay in their home and care for it. This often includes looking after pets, watering plants, keeping things tidy, and simply being a trustworthy presence.
Boatsitting works the same way, but instead of a house or apartment, you’re staying aboard a sailboat or yacht. The owner might be traveling or taking a break from the boat and needs someone to check lines, air the space, or even take care of pets onboard. This is especially popular in the sailing and cruising community. It’s often better for the boat to simply have someone living on it running the systems.
In both cases, it’s typically a non-monetary exchange. You receive free accommodation in return for your care and presence.
Why Pet Sitting Adds Heart to the Journey
Most house sitting jobs come with pets. As a pet sitter, you become part of their daily rhythm. Feeding, walking, cuddling, playing. It’s a beautiful way to bring companionship, routine, and a sense of home to your travel lifestyle. It also allows you to explore a destination with a different lens. You’ll discover parks, trails, and hidden corners you may never have found otherwise.
Where to Find House Sitting, Pet Sitting, and Boatsitting Opportunities in 2025
Here are the top websites and platforms to begin your sitting journey.
1. TrustedHousesitters
One of the most well-known house sitting websites with listings across the world. It focuses mainly on pet sitting, and includes features like insurance, vet access, and detailed reviews. Perfect for finding both short and long-term house and pet sitting jobs. This website has a high trust rate and many home owners prefer using it over facebook groups and other platforms. As a petsitter you have to pay a subscription. For home owners it filters out the flakey ones. There are A LOT of amazing opportunities on there, sometimes for months even. I’m browsing the opportunities right now to have a break from vanlife. While doing so it inspired me to write this blogpost:).
The investment: From 9,95 euro / month
Get 15% Discount with code TRUSTED15
(Or 25 % off as an Ocean Nomads member, a global network of boats, offgrid adeventure people and nomads)
2. MindMyHouse
A budget-friendly option and one of the original house sitting platforms. It’s simple, low-cost, and has some great international listings. Ideal for those just starting out in the housesitting world.
The investment: 29,95 $ / year
3. Nomador
Especially popular in France and across Europe. This platform offers both traditional house sits and shorter stays called “Stopovers,” where travelers can connect with locals for 1-2 night sits or exchanges.
The investment: From 29 euro’s for 3 monts.
4. HouseCarers
Another global site with listings that often include more remote or unique homes. A great place to find longer sits in places off the mainstream radar.
5. Workaway
While primarily known for volunteer exchanges, Workaway includes many listings that combine house sitting, pet care, and help on eco-homesteads or tiny farms. A great option if you want more interaction or an intentional lifestyle experience as part of the exchange.
6. Facebook Groups and Local Networks
Many pet and house-sitting gigs are shared via word of mouth. Search for Facebook groups like “House Sitting World,” “House Sitters Europe,” or ” Pet Sitters.” Local expat and digital nomad groups are also full of last-minute listings and hidden gems. If you’re serious about housesitting, I wouldn’t invest too much time into Facebook. It’s also a scamground and I have read quite a few negative experiences. If you do go with Facebook, be proactive and post an ad yourself as opposed to responsing to one. It’s very competitive.
7. Rover
If you want to turn pet sitting into a bit of paid work, Rover connects pet sitters with pet owners in major cities. Best for longer-term stops where you want to base yourself and earn a little while staying put.
8. House Sit Match
A slightly lesser-known platform, but with a solid reputation. Great for finding house and pet sitting opportunities in the UK and Europe, especially for those seeking more rural or countryside stays.
9. Boatsitting through Ocean Nomads
Within the Ocean Nomads community, boatsitting is a growing and trusted happening. Boat owners often look for responsible crew or members to care for their boats while they’re away. Sometimes this includes taking care of pets onboard or simply living on the boat and checking and running systems. It’s a great fit for those already familiar with sailing life or those wanting to immerse themselves in it. If you want to learn more about sustainable sailing, community, and opportunities to get on boats, Ocean Nomads is the place to start networking. Most boatsitting opportunities aren’t published but offered or simply asked for. Myself for example, I offered a petsitting opportunity for my dog and in exchange you can stay in my campervan. I only offered it on Ocean Nomads as it’s my trusted network, as with many other members.
Via networking in the ocean nomads network I also found a petsitting opportunity in Caribbean once. They are often looking for animal caretakers on this beautiful Caribbean island of Mayreau.
10. Relocation Rental Vans
While not technically house sitting, relocation rental vans pair beautifully with house sits. These are vans that rental companies need driven from one location to another. Often you’ll pay only a symbolic fee or even drive it for free. This allows you to travel for free (sort of) and explore the world.
Platforms to check:
- Imoova
- Transfercar
- Indie Campers
- Local rental agencies
How to Become a House Sitter in 2025
Getting started is easier than it seems, especially if you take time to craft a thoughtful and trustworthy presence online.
1. Create a strong profile
Share your experience with animals, your lifestyle, your travel background, and why you’re interested in sitting. Add photos with pets and testimonials if you have them.
2. Start local
Offer to house sit for friends or join local platforms to build up your reviews. A couple of solid references go a long way.
3. Apply intentionally
Tailor your messages to each homeowner. Show that you’ve read their listing and truly understand what they’re looking for.
4. Keep communication open and clear
Once accepted, ask questions, confirm expectations, and stay in touch before and during the sit.
5. Be proactive and respectful
Treat the home and pets with great care. Go the extra mile, and leave the space better than you found it.
What Makes a Great House or Pet Sitter?
- You’re responsible, honest, and communicative
- You love animals and know how to care for them
- You’re tidy and respectful of others’ homes
- You’re comfortable being alone or in quiet, remote places
- You’re flexible and able to handle unexpected changes
- You understand boundaries and don’t treat someone’s home like a hotel
Bonus if you have gardening, or off-grid experience.
Why This Lifestyle Works for Conscious Nomads
House sitting and boatsitting allow you to live and travel in a way that’s more sustainable, both financially and environmentally. You’re not consuming more resources or staying in resorts. You’re stepping into someone’s life, helping them out, and getting to experience a location in a slower, more grounded way.
For many of us combining remote work, creative projects, or simply living seasonally with nature, it fits beautifully. The best sits offer rhythm, rest, and a chance to give back while staying in motion.
Final Thoughts
If you’re building a lifestyle of travel, adventure, and freedom in 2025, adding house sitting, pet sitting, and boatsitting into the mix can open up a world of opportunity. Whether you’re looking for a pause between hikes, a cozy stay between sailing trips, or a purposeful stop on your vanlife route, sitting gigs can help you live and travel more consciously, affordably, and joyfully.
Looking for more tips on nomadic living, sailing life, or van travel?
Explore the blog for guides, reflections, and real-life stories from the road, mountains and sea.
Curious about connecting with a like-minded ocean tribe and discovering boatsitting opportunities?
Come meet us at Ocean Nomads. Maybe you’ll petset my dog someday :)
