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Updated September 2026.
Over the last 15 years I've house sat across Turkey, Bonaire, Antigua, Spain and Portugal. Boat sat in Greece, Turkey, the Caribbean, Australia and Mallorca. Built a small global network for the boat side, because the public platforms don't really cover it.
I pay for two platforms and I built one network. That's it.
I wrote most of my book while couch surfing, hitch-sailing, house-sitting and boat-sitting: no money involved, lots of excitement (and adaptation!). I don't book hotels. Between ocean crossings, long trails and van winters, a sit is how I rest, reset and get to know a place at walking pace. A dog to walk, a kitchen with space, a bed that doesn't move. And it's cheap.
This page is the platforms I use, the eight others I've looked at and where I've landed on each, and the niche almost nobody on the internet covers: boat sitting.
If you just want the quick answer: TrustedHousesitters is the platform I use most, and the one I recommend to almost anyone starting out. Membership starts at €9.95/month on the annual plan (15% off a new annual membership with code TRUSTED15), and it's free to browse listings before you subscribe. Below: all 10 platforms, TrustedHousesitters against HouseCarers side by side, and how to land your first sit.
Try TrustedHousesitters
Browse listings in your destination for free. Upgrade to full membership from €9.95/month on the annual plan when you're ready to apply. Get 15% off a new annual membership with code TRUSTED15 (click through first, then enter the code at checkout).

The best house sitting websites and apps in 2026: at a glance
Here's the quick-compare table. Full review of each platform below.
| Platform | Best for | Price (2026) | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| TrustedHousesitters | Best overall, pet sitting worldwide | Free to browse / from €9.95/month on annual plan | 5/5 |
| HouseCarers | Less competition, longer remote sits | Free to browse / EUR 45 (~$50) per year for full membership | 5/5 |
| MindMyHouse | Budget-friendly starter option | $29.95/year | 4/5 |
| Nomador | Europe and short stopovers | From €29/3 months | 4/5 |
| Workaway | Eco-homesteads and exchanges | €49/year | 4/5 |
| Rover | Paid pet sitting (US/UK cities) | Free to join | 4/5 |
| HouseSit Match | UK and European countryside | From £69/year | 3/5 |
| Facebook Groups | Free but risky | Free | 2/5 |
| Ocean Nomads | Boatsitting, sail sharing and nomad support network | Membership | 5/5 |
| Relocation rental vans | Near-free vanlife travel | Symbolic fee or free | 4/5 |
My pick
For house and pet sitting, the platform I pay for and use most is TrustedHousesitters. Best all-rounder, biggest network worldwide, B-Corp certified, and the one I recommend to almost anyone starting out.
Browse TrustedHousesitters free
Prefer boats? That's Ocean Nomads, the community I founded, further down. My second house-sitting pick, HouseCarers, is in the full list below.
What is house sitting and boatsitting?
House sitting or boatsitting is a value exchange between home owners and house sitters. While the home owners are away, you stay in their home and care for it. This usually includes looking after pets, watering plants, keeping things tidy, and being a trustworthy presence in the home.
Boatsitting works the same way, but instead of a house or apartment, you're staying aboard a sailboat or yacht. The owner might be travelling or taking a break from the boat and needs someone to check lines, air the space, or 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. I've boat sat in Greece, Turkey, the Caribbean, Australia and Mallorca. Boat owners are usually very happy to have someone on board. In Poros the owner of a schooner would rather have someone aboard than leave her empty for a week, so I volunteered. Office can't get better. Add some Kalamata olives and what else is there to wish for?
It's a non-monetary exchange. You provide care, company and presence; the owner provides accommodation. There are still costs involved (your travel to and from the sit, food, supplies, sometimes a contribution to utilities), so this isn't “free travel,” but it's an affordable way to stay in real homes for the cost of a night at a hotel or less.
The dog is the best part
Most sits come with a pet, and for me that's the point. You slot into their day: feeding, walking, the evening cuddle on the sofa. A dog also walks you round the neighbourhood twice a day, so within a week you know the parks, the trails and the café where the locals sit, none of which a guidebook would have given you.
For pet parents, the appeal is that their pets stay in their own home, in their own routine, while the owners are away. No kennels, no boarding stress, no travel for the pet. It's around-the-clock care from someone who's chosen to be there because they love animals.
The 10 best house sitting, pet sitting and boatsitting platforms in 2026
Here they are, in the order I'd try them.
1. TrustedHousesitters: best house sitting app and website overall (2026)
This is the one I pay for and use most.
TrustedHousesitters is the best-known house sitting app and website, with the biggest network worldwide. Most listings come with a pet. Membership includes a 24/7 vet advice line, accidental damage cover and verified reviews on both sides, and you'll find everything from a weekend to a three-month sit.
It's also the only platform in this space that's a certified B Corp, so it has been independently checked on social and environmental performance. That matters to me as much as the listings.
As a sitter, you pay an annual membership. As a home owner, you pay too. That two-sided commitment filters out the flakey ones on both sides. There are a lot of opportunities on there, sometimes for months. I'm browsing them right now to take a break from vanlife, which is part of what inspired me to write this post. If you only invest in one house and pet sitting platform, this is the one.
You can browse TrustedHousesitters for free first, to see what's listed in your destination before paying anything. Worth doing to get a feel for the homes and pets where you're heading.
What I like
- Biggest network of listings worldwide
- The mobile app works well
- Built-in 24/7 vet advice line and home protection
- Real verified reviews on both sides
- B-Corp certified, so the values check out
- Free to browse before subscribing. See what's available in your destination first
- Last-minute filter for flexible travellers
What to know
- Popular listings can attract 30+ applicants within hours, so a strong profile matters
- Annual membership is the cheaper way to subscribe vs monthly
- Does not include “free travel.” You cover your own travel costs and any expenses during the sit
It costs from €9.95 a month on the annual plan, which is cheaper than paying monthly. For the price of one hotel night you have a year of access. Get 15% off a new annual membership with code TRUSTED15 (click through first, then enter the code at checkout).
Browse TrustedHousesitters free
(Ocean Nomads members get a stack of other partner perks too: boatsitting, sailing shares, exchanges and the nomad support network.)
2. HouseCarers: best for less competition and long-term sits
The one I'd add second, once you've got a few reviews on TrustedHousesitters. I've just joined as a free guest member and plan to upgrade.
I've been a TrustedHousesitters member for years. HouseCarers is newer to me. I signed up as a free guest member after researching the alternatives, and I'm planning to upgrade to full paid membership for my next round of sits. So read this as first impressions plus research, not five years of receipts. If you want a five-year-deep review, the TrustedHousesitters section above is that.
HouseCarers is the world's first house sitting site, founded in October 2000. Twenty-five years matching sitters with home owners. Not the biggest platform. No slick app. No marketing budget like the corporate sites. Their lower overhead is part of why they can keep prices flat and the listings well-managed. They're not under pressure to sign up sitters by the thousand to satisfy shareholders.
The big appeal for sitters: less competition. The smaller user base means fewer applicants per listing. Your application has a real chance of being seen and read, especially as a new sitter still building reviews.
The other thing I noticed: home owners on HouseCarers tend to be loyal repeat users. They keep coming back year after year, which means a good first sit often turns into being asked back. Many of the listings are for longer durations too. A month, three months, sometimes a season. Good if you want to slow down between adventures instead of moving every weekend.
HouseCarers has a smart entry point. You can register as a free guest member and straight away:
- Browse all the listed housesits in your destination
- Receive email notifications of new sits matching your locations
- Display your profile so home owners can find you and message you
- Read summaries of the messages home owners send you
You only need to upgrade to paid membership when you actually want to respond to messages and apply for sits. So once you've already got TrustedHousesitters running and want to widen your net, add HouseCarers, register, see what shows up in your destination, and upgrade when there's a real sit you want to apply for.
What full membership gets you (EUR 45, about $50 a year)
- Apply for unlimited posted housesits
- Respond to messages from home owners
- Display up to 14 references in your private library
- Photo gallery of up to 14 pictures with captions
- YouTube video on your profile (huge for trust)
- Free verified ID badge (passport, driver's licence, mobile)
- Priority appearance in search results
- Featured Sitter rotation (random rotation matching visitor's location)
- Display your direct contact details to home owners you've spoken to
- Verified two-way reviews after each completed sit
The interface is dated and the design is from another era of the internet. But the listings are real, the home owners are real, and the price is hard to beat. No monthly drip pricing, no upsells, just one flat annual fee.
What I like
- The world's first house sitting site, 25 years of operation
- Less competition per listing, better odds when you're starting out
- Higher proportion of long-term and remote sits
- Loyal repeat home owners, good for building recurring relationships
- EUR 45 (~$50) per year flat, no monthly drip pricing
- Free guest membership lets you test before paying anything
- Free verified ID badge included with paid membership
What to know
- Smaller total number of listings than TrustedHousesitters
- The interface is functional but dated
- No mobile app, it's website-first
- No built-in insurance or vet advice line, you handle that yourself
Free to browse, EUR 45 (about $50) a year for full access. You pay only when there's a sit you want to apply for.
Or go straight to full membership for EUR 45 (~$50) / year
TrustedHousesitters vs HouseCarers: which should you choose?
The question I get asked most is: “Which one should I subscribe to?” My take: if budget allows, both. They complement each other and cost less than €15/month combined. But if you can only pick one, here's the side-by-side.
| Feature | TrustedHousesitters | HouseCarers |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2010 | October 2000 (the world's first) |
| Network size | Largest worldwide | Smaller, well-managed |
| Competition per listing | High (popular sits get many applicants) | Low (better odds for new sitters) |
| Price (annual) | Free to browse / from €9.95/month on annual plan | Free to browse / EUR 45 (~$50) for full membership |
| Mobile app | Yes, well designed | No, website only |
| Insurance and vet line | Included | Not included |
| Verified reviews | Yes, both sides | Yes |
| B-Corp certified | Yes | No |
| Long-term sits (1 month+) | Available, filter by duration | Higher proportion of these |
| Best for | Most people, especially first-timers wanting structure and support | Sitters wanting less competition and longer, slower stays |
If you're brand new to housesitting, start with TrustedHousesitters. The app, the verified reviews and the support make the learning curve easier, plus you'll find listings in almost any destination. Once you've built up two or three reviews and you know how this lifestyle works for you, add HouseCarers. The longer sits and lower competition become more valuable when you've proven yourself as a reliable sitter.
On the tightest budget, HouseCarers is the cheapest paid platform with a real reputation behind it, worth adding once you know this lifestyle is for you.

What about the other platforms? My take on each
I get asked all the time why my list isn't 10 platforms I personally pay for. Two cover what I need (TrustedHousesitters, plus Ocean Nomads for the boats), and I've just added HouseCarers as a guest member. Here's where I've landed on the others after research and conversations with sitters who use them.
Workaway is a cultural exchange where some work is expected as part of the deal. For pure house and pet sitting it isn't a fit. If the exchange model appeals to you, it's strong.
Nomador is strongest in Europe, especially France. The Stopover system is useful for shorter stays. I haven't paid for it because I travel further than Europe and TrustedHousesitters already covers those listings.
MindMyHouse is a cheap entry point and one of the originals. From what I've seen the listings thin out outside the UK and Australia, so I'd treat it as a regional add-on, not a main platform.
HouseSit Match is solid for UK and European countryside sits. Niche but real, and worth it if that's where you're heading.
Facebook groups are free and sometimes useful for last-minute local cover. Also the most scammy corner of the space. I wouldn't start here.
Rover and Pawshake are a different model: paid pet sitting in the city you live in, not the travel exchange. Worth knowing about if you want to earn money while staying put.
The short version: I haven't paid for Workaway, Nomador, MindMyHouse or HouseSit Match myself. I've researched them all, talked to sitters who use them, and decided that TrustedHousesitters plus HouseCarers (just joining) plus Ocean Nomads covers everywhere I want to go. If your travel pattern is Europe-only or UK-focused, one of the regional platforms might earn its fee for you. If you're moving around the world the way I do, two solid platforms have been enough.
3. MindMyHouse: best budget house sitting website
A budget-friendly option and one of the original house sitting platforms. Simple, low-cost, and has some good international listings. A reasonable starting point if you're testing the waters before committing to a paid subscription elsewhere.
It costs $29.95 a year.
4. Nomador: best for Europe and short stopovers
Especially popular in France and across Europe. Offers traditional house sits and shorter stays called “Stopovers,” where travellers connect with locals for 1-2 night sits or exchanges. Useful as a backup to your main platform if you're moving around Europe.
From €29 for three months.
5. Workaway: best for eco-homesteads and cultural exchange
Primarily a volunteer exchange platform, but includes many listings that combine house sitting, pet care, and help on eco-homesteads or tiny farms. A good option if you want more people around and don't mind a few hours of work a day.
6. Facebook groups: free house sitting websites and groups, but risky
A lot of pet and house sitting gigs get shared by word of mouth. Search for groups like “House Sitting World,” “House Sitters Europe,” or “Pet Sitters.” Local expat and digital nomad groups are also full of last-minute listings.
If you're serious about housesitting, I wouldn't invest too much time in Facebook. It's also a scam ground and I've read quite a few negative experiences. If you do go with Facebook, post an ad yourself instead of answering one. It's very competitive.
7. Rover: best for paid pet sitting jobs
Rover is for paid pet sitting: it connects sitters with pet owners in the bigger cities. Useful when you're staying put somewhere for a while and want to earn a little.
8. HouseSit Match: best for UK and European countryside
HouseSit Match is a smaller, family-run platform, founded in 2013 by Lamia Walker. It has never tried to be the biggest, and that's sort of the point. It runs on a hands-on support team instead of scale, which makes it an easy place to start if you're new and would like a real human to talk to.
What stands out, from my own research and from sitters I've spoken to:
- Free ID verification for every member at registration, so the trust bar is high on both sides.
- Real support from a real team, useful when you're building your first profile or sorting out a sit.
- Strongest in the UK, Europe and Australia, with more worldwide listings appearing all the time.
- A smaller pool means less competition per listing, better odds while you're still building reviews.
Membership runs from £69/year, and it's free to register and browse first. If your travels centre on the UK, Europe or the countryside, it's a solid, friendly option. Explore for free.
Boat sitting: how I find the boats
None of the platforms above list boats. After 15 years of doing this I think that's a real gap, because a boat is the best sit there is: a cabin that rocks you to sleep, a swim before breakfast, and an owner who is relieved someone is aboard.
Same idea as house sitting. Owner is away, boat needs someone living on board to run the systems, air the space, check lines, and sometimes care for pets onboard. The exchange is the same, the platforms are not. Most boat sitting happens inside the sailing community, not on public listings.
I've boat sat in Greece, Turkey, the Caribbean, Australia and Mallorca. None of those were posted on TrustedHousesitters. They happened through marina networks, sailing meetups and the network I built for ocean nomads, which is what the next section is about. (One of them involved freediving for a dropped key in an ice-cold marina, rescued by a stranger who turned up in a kayak with diving gear. Boat sitting has its moments.)
If you want to mix house and boat sitting through your nomad year, you'll likely need two sources: TrustedHousesitters for the house sits, and a sailing community for the boats. That's the setup I run on.
9. Ocean Nomads: best for boatsitting, boat sitting jobs and yacht sitting
Ocean Nomads is the community I founded, for people who live on and around the sea and want to find each other in anchorages, ports and basecamps. It started with sailing and has spread to vans and land bases. There are 300+ hand-reviewed members from 40+ nationalities, including 75+ boat owners and projects.
What's inside
- A private member hub with community feed, noticeboard, and direct messages
- A global member map: boats, vans, basecamps, projects pinned worldwide
- Crew calls, trip invites, expedition opportunities, many never posted publicly
- Monthly New Moon meetups online, plus spontaneous real-world gatherings
- 75+ guides and trainings: crossing prep, boat-buying advice, captain interviews
- Member discounts on a stack of trusted brands

Boat sitting through the community is the same deal as house sitting: the owner is away, the boat needs someone aboard to run the systems, check the lines, air the cabin and sometimes feed a cat. Sometimes that's a marina berth, sometimes it's on the hook in a beautiful anchorage.
Most boat sitting jobs and yacht sitting opportunities here aren't published publicly. They're offered or asked for inside the community, where members already know each other from trips, meetups, or shared online spaces. If you want yacht sitting opportunities specifically, this is one of the few places you can reliably find them.
Through Ocean Nomads I've stayed on boats, sailed boats, been hosted in homes, and have offered the same back to fellow nomads. We help each other out across the ocean nomadic lifestyle. I once offered a petsitting opportunity for my dog in exchange for staying in my campervan.

It's not only boat sitting either. Members host each other in homes, vans, and basecamps. I recently hiked the Fisherman's Trail and was hosted by Ocean Nomads members on three different occasions. One member sailed solo from the Azores to Ireland, hit a storm, lost his boat 400NM from shore. A fellow member on land tracked him via InReach and coordinated the rescue. That's the kind of network it is.
I also found a petsitting opportunity in the Caribbean once via Ocean Nomads. They are often looking for animal caretakers on the island of Mayreau.
Ocean Nomads community
Members host each other on boats, in vans and at basecamps across the world. Everyone is hand-reviewed before they join.
Includes the member hub, global map, monthly New Moon meetups, 75+ guides and trainings, and partner discounts, TrustedHousesitters among them.
10. Relocation rental vans: near-free vanlife travel

Not technically house sitting, but relocation rental vans go well 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. A useful way to bridge between sits or get yourself to a region where you've lined one up.
Platforms to check:
- Imoova
- Transfercar
- Indie Campers
- Travellers Autobarn (USA)
- Local rental agencies
For homeowners: how to find a trusted house sitter
If you're on the other side of this exchange (a pet parent or homeowner looking for reliable house sitters), most of the platforms above work both ways. Here's how to think about it.
Why in-home sitting is good for your pet
- Your pet stays in their own home, in their own routine. No kennels, no boarding stress, no travel for the pet.
- Around-the-clock care from someone who's chosen to be there because they love animals.
- Continued familiarity for puppies, kittens, senior pets, and animals with separation anxiety or medical needs.
- Someone can administer medication, keep an eye on health, and update you while you're away.
- Your home is occupied, which deters break-ins.
Where to find a sitter
- TrustedHousesitters has the biggest pool of verified sitters worldwide, ID checks, two-way reviews, included home protection and 24/7 vet advice. Best all-rounder for most homeowners.
- HouseCarers has a smaller pool but loyal repeat sitters, especially good if you need someone for longer (a month or more) or you're in a less common location.
How to vet a sitter before confirming
- Read every review on their profile.
- Have a video call before confirming. You'll learn more in 15 minutes face-to-face than in 50 messages.
- Check ID verification badges. On TrustedHousesitters and HouseCarers, sitters can verify their passport or driver's licence. Look for the badge.
- Trust your gut. If something feels off in the conversation, don't book.
- Write a clear handover document with feeding times, vet contact, house quirks, and emergency contacts.
The safest approach for vacation house sitting is using a vetted platform with reviews and ID verification, not Facebook groups or strangers responding to local ads.

How to find house sitting jobs and become a sitter in 2026
Finding a sit is easier than it looks once your profile shows who you are. Most sits are an exchange, not paid work (Rover is the exception if you want to be paid).
First, build a strong profile. Say what you've done with animals, how you live and travel, and why you want to sit. Add photos with pets and any references you have. Owners want to know who's coming into their home before they read a word of your message.
Start local. Offer to sit for friends or join a local platform to get your first reviews. Two solid references go a long way.
Write each application for that owner. Show you've read the listing and know what they need. Copy-paste applications get filtered out fast on the busy platforms.
Once accepted, ask questions, confirm what's expected, and stay in touch before and during the sit. Send photos of the dog while they're away. Most owners love it.
Keep the pet's normal routine, treat the home with care, and leave the place 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 leave a place tidy
- 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
- You can administer medication if needed and keep an eye on the pet's health
Bonus if you have gardening or off-grid experience.
My dog Wingo:

Why I keep doing it
A sit costs the planet less than a hotel and costs me almost nothing. I've lived on less than US$300 a month doing this, and once got down to one peso, which went on a coconut. Waking up in someone else's kitchen with a dog at my feet is a form of health and wealth.
The good sits give you a rhythm: a walk, a desk, a bed that doesn't move, and someone to help out in return. If you work remotely or have a project to finish, a month in one place does more for it than three countries.
House sitting FAQ (2026)
What is the best house sitting app in 2026?
TrustedHousesitters. It's the one I pay for. It has the biggest network worldwide, a solid mobile app, built-in vet advice line and home protection, B-Corp certification, and a review system that filters out unreliable users. If you can only subscribe to one platform, this is it. If you can subscribe to two, add HouseCarers for the less crowded long-term listings.
Are there free house sitting websites?
Technically yes. The free house sitting websites are mostly Facebook groups like “House Sitting World” and “House Sitters Europe”, but scams are common and there's no vetting. For something trustworthy and free to start, HouseCarers offers a free guest membership: you can browse all listings, receive email notifications of sits in your destination, and home owners can contact you. You only need to upgrade to paid (EUR 45 / ~$50 a year) when you want to apply for sits. You can also join a nomad network like Ocean Nomads where people already know each other.
Is house sitting really free?
No, and avoid anyone who tells you otherwise. House sitting is a value exchange. Accommodation in return for pet care, home care and presence. You still cover your own travel to and from the sit, food, and any incidental expenses during your stay. The savings on accommodation are real, but it's affordable, not free.
How do digital nomads find pet sitting jobs with housing?
Most full-time nomads I know combine two or three sources. TrustedHousesitters and HouseCarers as the paid pair, plus a regional platform like Nomador (Europe) or HouseSit Match (UK), and a nomad community like Ocean Nomads for the under-the-radar gigs that never get posted publicly. Build up a strong profile and 3 to 5 reviews first, then you can land sits almost anywhere in the world with reliable Wi-Fi included.
Can you make money house sitting?
Most traditional house sitting is non-monetary. Accommodation in exchange for care. If you want to actually get paid, Rover is the main app for paid pet sitting (strongest in the US, UK and Canada). Some premium or longer sits on TrustedHousesitters also offer payment, but it's not the norm.
TrustedHousesitters vs HouseCarers, which is better?
Different platforms for different needs. TrustedHousesitters is the better all-rounder for most people: bigger network, mobile app, included insurance and vet line, B-Corp certified. HouseCarers is the better pick if you want less competition between sitters, longer-term listings, and a lower flat annual fee. I currently pay for TrustedHousesitters and have just joined HouseCarers as a free member with plans to upgrade. Many serious sitters subscribe to both. If you can only choose one and you're new to sitting, go TrustedHousesitters.
What's the best platform for last-minute house sitter gigs?
For last-minute finds, TrustedHousesitters has a “last-minute” filter worth checking weekly if your schedule is flexible. Sits that come up at short notice often have less competition. Nomador's “Stopovers” feature is also built around short-notice stays. Facebook groups can work for urgent local cover, but apply with caution and verify the homeowner.
How do homeowners find last-minute house sitting services nearby?
If you need someone urgently (illness, work trip, family emergency), TrustedHousesitters has the largest pool, so your odds of finding cover at short notice are highest there. Many sitters keep their availability open for last-minute requests, and you can filter for sitters near you. HouseCarers' Albergue de Reciprocity option allows for shorter mutual stays. For local last-minute, paid services like Rover work in major US, UK and Canadian cities.
What's the safest way to arrange a house sitter for a vacation?
Use a vetted platform with ID verification and reviews. TrustedHousesitters and HouseCarers both verify sitter IDs and run two-way review systems. Read every review on a sitter's profile, have a video call before confirming, and write a clear handover document covering pet routine, vet contact, house quirks, and emergency contacts. Avoid no-verification Facebook posts unless you already know the person or have a strong mutual connection.
How do I find long-term house sitting opportunities?
For long-term sits (one month plus), HouseCarers and TrustedHousesitters have the best selection. HouseCarers in particular tends to have a higher proportion of multi-month listings. Filter by duration, and focus on homeowners with extended travel plans. Expats, sailors, snowbirds and retired travellers are the most likely to need someone for a month or more.
What are the best countries for nomadic pet sitters?
The UK, Portugal, Spain, Australia, the Caribbean, Turkey and France have the highest density of sits and the most pet-welcoming cultures. Of those, I've personally sat in Turkey, Bonaire (Caribbean), Antigua (Caribbean), Spain and Portugal. The UK has an insane density of sits per square kilometre. Southern Europe is my personal favourite. Good weather, dog-friendly beaches, and strong nomad communities.
Is international house sitting safe?
On vetted platforms, yes. In 15 years of travel I've never had a serious issue. Stick to platforms with ID verification and reviews like TrustedHousesitters, HouseCarers, Nomador, and HouseSit Match. Read every review carefully, have a video call before confirming, and trust your gut. I'd avoid no-verification Facebook listings unless you already know the person or have a mutual connection.
Where I'd start
If you want to travel slower and cheaper next year, one or two sits change the sums. A pause between hikes, a cosy stay between sailing trips, a stop on the van route with a proper kitchen. Start with TrustedHousesitters, browse your destination for free, and apply for one sit.
If boats are calling, come and meet us at Ocean Nomads. Maybe you'll petsit my dog one day. And the other way round: need a caretaker, petsitter or subrenter for your house in nature, ideally near the sea or a summit in Spain or Portugal? Let me know.
The rest of what I use to travel this way, from insurance to eSIMs, is on my travel resources page.
If this resonates
Join me on YouTube for more slow travel adventures by sail, van and foot.
If the ocean is calling more than the mountains, come sail with us. Ocean Nomads is the community I built for people who want to live closer to the sea. Atlantic crossing winter 2026/2027.
For deeper trail reflections, raw logbooks and behind-the-scenes, Patreon is where I share the long-form thinking.
Ready to start?
If you do one thing, start with TrustedHousesitters. Browse listings in your destination for free, upgrade when you're ready to apply, and code TRUSTED15 gets you 15% off a new annual membership (click the link first so it tracks).

Stay wild,
Suzanne



























