Idyllic getaways promising the company of pets and no-cost accommodation are proving to be a draw for animal lovers this Christmas — with hundreds of new house sits available on the world’s largest house and pet sitting platform, TrustedHousesitters.com.
In exchange for enjoying someone’s home this holiday season, pet lovers are simply asked to take care of cats, dogs and sometimes livestock while hosts are away.
TrustedHousesitters have rounded up their top picks for spending Christmas abroad as well as a selection of staycations.
Yarramalong Valley, New South Wales
Join Winnecke’s two beautiful Benegal cats at this incredible retreat tucked away on 26 acres of beautiful bush land north of Sydney.
Divonne le Bain, France
Spend your holidays with Cappy the wheaten terrier, enjoying picturesque, snowy walks together in Eastern France.
Cappy. Picture credit: TrustedHousesitters
Vermont, USA
Peaceful wooden lodge nestled above a creek, set in 18 acres of forest in Vermont, complete with two dogs, two cats, chickens and a micro pig who enjoys a belly rub.
Picture credit: TrustedHousesitters
California, USA
A 42 foot houseboat with Fiona, the Border Collie and a Chihuahua called Cheech. Great hiking trails and outdoor grassy areas to play with energetic Fiona, are only a stone’s throw away.
Cheech and Fiona would like to share their houseboat in California with a sitter this Christmas. Picture credit: TrustedHousesitters
Battersea, London, UK
A former photographer’s studio provides a peaceful and relaxing space with two roof terraces and only a 25-minute walk to Chelsea. Zorba and Ziggy are the resident Irish Terriers.
A former photographer’s studio in Battersea. Picture credit: TrustedHousesitters
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
A back-to-nature summer sit, complete with horses, miniature horses, a dog and a wild peacock, on a seven acre, four-bedroom property.
Julie and Dom’s ‘adopted’ pet peacock. Picture credit: TrustedHousesitters
With a community of more than one million animal lovers in 130 countries, the platform is full of properties seeking pet sitters to move into stylish homes and take care of pets for free.
Angela Laws, community manager at TrustedHousesitters said: “Christmas is one of the most popular times of the year to find incredible house and pet sitting opportunities. It’s a wonderful thing to see members travelling thousands of miles to spend time with a pet they’ve never met before, simply because they love animals, travel and adventure and want to help pets feel happier at home while their owners are away. We’re giving owners peace of mind and the freedom to enjoy Christmas wherever they choose to travel.”
How the site works
Unlike a home rental, with TrustedHousesitters no money changes hands. Unlike a house swap, there is no need to have someone stay in your home if you simply want to travel as a sitter. All arrangements are made through trust, with members building their trust profiles through references, recommendations and police background checks.
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