Blog Post Categories
House Sitter Travels – 7 Excellent Tips
Some of our international house sitters enjoy all kinds of adventures on the road. This house sitter travels a great deal around Europe and knows a lot about managing her travel logistics. And in this article Tiera St Claire, seasoned house and pet sitter and world traveller, tells us of the challenges of some logistics in ticketing. And for those younger readers, the days before digital tickets presented one or two challenges for frequent travellers. Read on to learn more about one house sitter’s journey across Europe between petsitting assignments.
This House Sitter Travels by Train – With a Ticket But no Print Out
Photo by Tiera St Claire
In the Spring a few years ago I did a pet sit in Marbella, Spain for five cats. When Sharon, their person, came back it was Easter time and, lo and behold, there were absolutely no tickets available to leave Marbella – not trains, buses or planes. Spain is very busy and booked for Semana Santa (Holy Week), which neither I nor Sharon had taken into account.
TOP TIP – Always check the dates with local festivals before you commit or plan your travel. It can help a lot. When a house sitter travels between assignments in different countries, it is easy to forget the differences in culture and festivities.
Photo by Tiera St Claire
Sharon was lovely and invited me to stay a week or two and it was not a problem as her home is large and I was able to help around the house and with the animals even when she was there.
TOP TIP – Old fashion barter can help when a house sitter travels – Sharon hired me to do some work for her and I asked that, rather than paying me she would by my tickets back to London – where I had other Housesits lined up.
Have Train Tickets Will Travel
So I bought my train tickets on line with her credit card. My trip to London was in about a month and I was finally able to get out of Marbella to Madrid where I went to stay with a friend for a few weeks.
At some point I was informed that I would not be able to print my ticket at the station (as I had always done when travelling in those days) because I wouldn’t have my friends cc with me! This was well before digital tickets came about. And previously this had not been a problem in Spain.
W.T.F!
Photo by Tiera St Claire
I called SNCF and was told yes it was impossible and when I called back to ask something else, no one spoke English (seriously?).
Complaining Through Socials
I posted my discontent on the SNCF FB page and someone responded. You need to try all the channels when at first you don’t get a customer service response. We went back and forth a bit, I was told I could purchase a new ticket at the station at the same price I had paid (a very good price) and then go through a lot of trouble to get a refund for the original.
TOP TIP – Don’t be afraid to explore every avenue when you need to communicate with a travel operator. More often than not today they have international contacts who speak English overseeing their social media channels. This really helps when a house sitter travels between countries with different languages.
Then, I was also told that there was a possibility of printing my ticket “at the discretion of the train station attendant.”
At that point my mind was eased, surely the discretion of the attendant would be in my favour. Surely I would be able to get on the train….
To Print or Not to Print
I did spend the next month with a low to high level of anxiety about this stupid situation.
TOP TIP – Avoid the anxiety, and print before you leave for your destination. A house sitter travels well these days without a language because we have Google Translate and all manner of free language tools on our mobile phones. But when a house sitter travels with a printed document it means you at least know you are not dependent on an electronic device that doesn’t connect or is low on power.
Nonetheless, I made it into the South of France going by way of Irun and walking the last 30 minutes into Hendaye, where I caught a local bus to Biarritz. There I met up with a friend from the states and we enjoyed a couple of days in this lovely seaside town.
The day before my departure from France I spent wandering about Biarritz with my friend, taking photos, laughing, eating bread and cheese on a bench overlooking the ocean and have a great coffee at the Nespresso store. Well I thought, this house sitter travels in style.
Prepared for my Journey
The morning of my trains departure, full of nerves, I went to the station. My friend gave me my opening line (I often have no idea how to begin a conversation) ‘Bonjour, I need your help.” How challenging, this house sitter travels with little French I thought.
The opening line worked, the lovely woman at the desk really wanted to help me. And yet she could not. She said it was completely Impossible to print my ticket without the card that bought the ticket. She said I could purchase a new ticket, but it was now double the price!
At which point tears came to my eyes and she said she would go consult with a colleague. It took quite a while and she came back with a piece of paper with French words that I could not read.
Divided by a Language
She said her colleague would speak with the conductor and it would be ok. Hope blossoming.
Then she introduced me to her colleague who said actually it was a very difficult situation and she was not at all sure it would work. Hope plummeting.
She asked me if I has a seat number (we were speaking Spanish now as she had no English and I three words of French – bonjour, café, merci.)
Conductors Rule on Trains
I said no I didn’t have a seat number, then she left. She came back and wrote a seat number on my piece of paper. She actually never came over to speak to the conductor on my behalf. When the train arrived I got on, found my seat, stowed my bags and decided to walk around. Made my way to the café car where I saw all the conductors were gathered! Into the Lion’s Den I strolled…
I passed by one and we made eye contact, flirtatious eye contact (he was very handsome, I can’t help myself.
I found a seat at a little café table and planted myself. A little while later a woman and her baby sat across from me. The baby was charming and he quite captivated me. I also enjoyed the baby’s mum and we share photos and I told her about Human Design. The dad was there too, but was in and out of the area.
Photo by Tiera St Claire
Next Stop – Paris!
Turns out the handsome conductor was the ticket collector. He walked by numerous times checking tickets but didn’t ask for mine. I think that eye contact made me be a familiar person in his mind, as if I had already given my ticket.
So I relaxed a bit, but each time we stopped at a station my nerves ignited (it really wasn’t pleasant, I felt like a stow away even though I had bought my ticket!).
On the last leg of the journey, a new ticket collector came on board. He came up to our table (I had spent the whole journey in the café) and asked for our tickets. The man produced theirs and then he asked for mine.
I looked up and said, oh my ticket is back at my seat…and shrugged a smile as if to say, do you really want me to walk all that way back?
Photo by Tiera St Claire
He looked at me a moment, then asked for my seat number which I knew! and I told him. He wrote on his tablet and walked away. Next stop Paris.
TOP TIP – Carry your ticket or at the very least know your seat number, wherever you are. A house sitter travels easier having their ticket and travel documents with them.
Dashing for the Metro
But the journey wasn’t over! What would happen in Paris?
The train arrived late, would I make it to the Eurostar in time? Would they let me on the train there?
Arriving at Montparnasse I had to make my way to Gare du Nord. On-line when I had checked how to get from one station to the other, everyone said how easy it was and how quick to take the Metro.
Well.
The station was packed so I had to dash through crowds of people, made it to the Metro, got on the train, thinking it would be a couple of stops…oh no….it was about 10 stops, with longs pauses at each station. Packed train.
Made it to Gare du Nord, stepped out the door for a couple of seconds for a photo of Paris, made it to the Eurostar and went up to the desk that said Print your tickets manually’ to ask the guy for help.
This House Sitter Travels on With Help at Last!
I was just embarking on my ‘tale of the tickets’ when a woman station attendant passed by and said, “I can help you”.
I smiled warmly, willing on her helpful attitude.
She took me to another room, we typed my confirmation number and name into the machine and out popped my ticket. And finally I could easily breathe again.
TOP TIP – Always try to be polite and welcoming of help. Kindness occurs in the most unexpected places. Many house sitters travel further with the aide and kindness of strangers.
Even now, writing this, I just took a deep breath.
I had a lovely time on the Eurostar.
And so to London
I then had two lovely housesits in London – one with a dog and cat and another with 2 cats and then to Glasgow to be with two lovely greyhounds.
TOP TIP – Try housesitting. I love it and have been travelling around the world for nearly 20 years as a pet sitter. House sitters travel further and in comfort caring for people’s pet and homes.
I am so very glad we now have digital rail cards!
Frequently Asked Questions About House Sitting and Travel
A house sitter is someone who looks after a homeowner’s property and pets while they are away. Responsibilities usually include basic home maintenance, pet care, collecting mail, and ensuring the home is secure. House sitting is a great way for travelers to explore new locations while staying in local homes.
You can find trusted house sitting assignments on platforms like HouseSitMatch. Create a complete profile, highlight your experience with pets and home care, and browse assignments by city, country, and dates to find house sitting jobs that suit your travel plans.
Yes! Many house sitting opportunities require travel, often locally or internationally. To make travel easier, plan ahead and check transportation options. Our article House Sitter Travels – 7 Excellent Tips provides expert advice for smooth travel between house sits.
Preparation ensures a successful house sitting experience. Communicate clearly with the homeowner, understand pet routines, pack essentials, and research the local area. Planning around local events, holidays, and seasonal travel tips can help you enjoy your house sitting assignment stress-free.
Absolutely! New sitters can start with local or short-term assignments to gain experience. Reading tips from experienced sitters, such as those in our House Sitter Travels blog, can help beginners feel confident and learn practical house sitting tips for travelers.
Experienced sitters plan their trips carefully, ensuring they arrive on time and can manage pet care and home responsibilities. Our article provides valuable advice on travel planning for house sitters, including checking event dates, transport, and local attractions to make your stay smooth and enjoyable.
Photo by Tiera St Claire
Tiera St Claire is a full time house sitter, working with HouseSit Match to travel the world, one pet sit at a time. She writes about her travels and records her journeys sharing her stories with us here on the blog.
Fancy housesitting as a way to travel and see the world? Join as a Housesitter like Tiera and visit all kinds of new places while caring for a homeowners pets and home. You’ll be a amazed at what the collaboration will offer you and what you could see while you are there.
Further reading on housesitting, housesit travel and housesitters
At Housesit Match we like to share useful blogs and practical advice about travel, housesitters, housesitting and pet sitting. We hope you find this small selection of our blogs on how a house sitter travels, and the notes on the logistics of crossing Europe useful.
Travelling and housesitting in Spain – Top Tips
Housesitting Ile de France – Discover living like a local
