What’s cheaper than bunking down for the night in a youth hostel? While hostels can be pretty inexpensive, if you don’t relish the idea of washing your socks out in the bathroom sink or maybe even sharing the bathroom with strangers to save a dime, you might want to take a serious look at another pretty enticing way to travel cheaply. Yes, even cheaper than a hostel. What am I talking about? I am referring to house sitting, an under-appreciated way of living well on less.
I started house sitting my way around the world about eight years ago and haven’t looked back. My international house-sitting business has enabled me to live in some fine homes while enjoying the amenities that these homes have to offer, for free. That’s right! It didn’t cost me one cent to live atop a 1700 ft. cliff on the tiny Caribbean isle of Saba. I lounged in the pool, enjoying a view of all of the islands of the Dutch Antilles from this spectacular vantage point. No out-of-pocket expenses required to live on a 57-foot boat in Baja California either. A cozy cottage on the English Channel was my home for a month and a half as I exchanged my services for the owner’s amenities with a smile on my face. It’s a tough life, but someone has to do it.
I started house sitting my way around the world about eight years ago and haven’t looked back. My international house-sitting business has enabled me to live in some fine homes while enjoying the amenities that these homes have to offer, for free. That’s right! It didn’t cost me one cent to live atop a 1700 ft. cliff on the tiny Caribbean isle of Saba. I lounged in the pool, enjoying a view of all of the islands of the Dutch Antilles from this spectacular vantage point. No out-of-pocket expenses required to live on a 57-foot boat in Baja California either. A cozy cottage on the English Channel was my home for a month and a half as I exchanged my services for the owner’s amenities with a smile on my face. It’s a tough life, but someone has to do it.
Taking care of someone else's home, whether internationally or domestically, has a long list of perks for those lucky enough to land a gig. Besides having your lodging needs taken care of, you might also enjoy the use of a car, pool, stocked larder, a gardener, even the keys to the wine cellar. With so many attractive perks, there are few reasons left for staying in a hotel. Even inexpensive hotels can break the travel bank, making it impossible for many ordinary travelers to spend time exploring this amazing planet for more than a few weeks a year.
Of course, taking care of a home does have a few limitations. For one, it requires that you stick around. After all, the homeowner has hired you to do just that, while they are off happily doing their own thing. However, if you are the kind of person who enjoys total immersion in a foreign culture or community, the quieter pursuits may be just what you are seeking. There is something kind of romantic about sipping a cup of coffee in an outdoor cafe where the waiter actually knows your name. Day trips can be a lot of fun, too. Just as long as you can get home by the end of the day, there is usually plenty to explore close at hand.
Some house sitters charge for their services, but just as many use the bartering system, instead. Exchanging your services and the security of having someone on the premises for a comfortable home with plenty of amenities seems very advantageous to both parties. No matter how you choose to do it, your overhead is going to be very low by comparison to the traditional tourist. Leaving money in your pocket for another airplane ticket to the next exotic location.
(Photo and article by Teresa Roberts)
Of course, taking care of a home does have a few limitations. For one, it requires that you stick around. After all, the homeowner has hired you to do just that, while they are off happily doing their own thing. However, if you are the kind of person who enjoys total immersion in a foreign culture or community, the quieter pursuits may be just what you are seeking. There is something kind of romantic about sipping a cup of coffee in an outdoor cafe where the waiter actually knows your name. Day trips can be a lot of fun, too. Just as long as you can get home by the end of the day, there is usually plenty to explore close at hand.
Some house sitters charge for their services, but just as many use the bartering system, instead. Exchanging your services and the security of having someone on the premises for a comfortable home with plenty of amenities seems very advantageous to both parties. No matter how you choose to do it, your overhead is going to be very low by comparison to the traditional tourist. Leaving money in your pocket for another airplane ticket to the next exotic location.
(Photo and article by Teresa Roberts)
 | Visit Teresa’s website, www.findingthegypsyinme.com, where she explore creative lifestyles, travel adventures and debt-free living. BOOKS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON: Finding the Gypsy in Me - Tales of an International House Sitter by Teresa Roberts Creative Paths to Freedom - How to Live Your Dream Life ASAP by Teresa Roberts |
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