Joy in Housesitting for Slow Travel 7 Top Tips 💡

When I first said to my other half I was going to create a business to discover the joy in housesitting for slow travel. Slow travel was a fantasy we neither one of us could entertain at the time as busy working parents with a mortgage. He looked at me as if my lid had finally flipped.

Housesitting – What’s that? Today a decade or so later both he and I can take our time in travelling as housesitters, immersing ourselves in each location, trying to learn the language and local culture. And here are some easy to follow top tips we created based on our recent long term housesit in Southern France, to help get you started on your journey towards housesitting for slow travel.

Lamia and David at Vezenobres in the Gard, France — During our month long housesit in France we made a point of looking for fabulous vistas, this on in Vézénobres in Southern France

How to discover a joy in housesitting for slow travel with 7 easy tips

First of all you might not know or understand the term housesitting. So what is housesitting. Well if you are housesitting for someone you are living in their home looking after their property and pets, for free in exchange for a free place to live in their absence. It is a fair exchange, an old fashioned barter if you like, between the housesitter and the homeowner who usually owns pets and needs someone to care for their animals as well as their home.

Gearing up for the longer housesit and period of housesitting

Now in terms of housesitting for slow travel, it means you will be housesitting over a longer term than the usual one to two week holiday and will be travelling at a slower pace, moving from housesit to housesit.
There are many advantages to this form of travel, namely:

It is cheaper than traditional travel because you do not pay for accommodation.
It is more authentic because you stay in people’s homes and discover their locale.
It can be more satisfying for many because of the ability to spend time in one particular location
It enables you to learn more about a location and its local customs, history and produce.
You can make great friends with the owners, and their neighbours.

Ready to experience the joy of slow travel through housesitting?

Join Housesitmatch today as a housesitter and start discovering trusted house and pet sitting opportunities around the world. Create your profile, connect with homeowners, and begin your next meaningful stay — one home at a time.

How to make the most of housesitting for slow travel 💡

Most important is to make the most of your housesitting for slow travel experience, and there are some benefits of long term housesitting tips that will help you do that.

Read on to learn our top 7 slow travel for housesitting top tips.

1. Enjoy the pets in your charge as a housesitter 🐾

You’ll get so much out of the housesit you have chosen if you build a relationship with the pets from the beginning. They will trust you more, you will enjoy them more and altogether your bond will allow you to enjoy their individual characters and personalities.

petsitter playing with a dog — Housesitters enjoy housesitting more when they build a relationship with the pets
Photo credit – Lamia Walker

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2. Learn how to care for the property before the owners leave 🏡

Make sure you have notes from the owner about the property, how all the electrical items and mechanical items work – all the key ones that pertain to the running of the house. We have rarely but occasionally found ourselves in a situation where we asked – where are the water mains just in case? And is there a plumber to contact who knows the house in case of an unexpected issue? Spend time with the owners learning about the house, how it works and get some emergency contact numbers, just in case.

plumber and housesitter in the garden looking into the septic tank — Make sure you have contact numbers for all the key trades the owner’s house might need, just in case
Photo Credit – Lamia Walker

3. Discover local markets and food halls to get the best of local produce 🌿

If you are planning a long housesitting for slow travel you can economise and make your money go much further by shopping at the local markets and food halls. This way of shopping allows you to cook fresh produce, collected with low air miles, and to save money on cafes and other eateries. We found that we were also able to enjoy the local flavours by using their local ingredients and spices. For us it made the experience that much more enjoyable and authentic.

We were in the South of France, so we used local salts from the Camargue, often the locals add spices, herbes de Provence and other local flavours to these salts. We started to use those too. We bought our fresh spices locally from the weekly market in Uzes and the wonderful aromas from this and other stalls were incredible. This all added to our experience of housesitting for slow travel to enjoy the culture and flavour of the terroir.

spice stall at Uzes market — The spice stall at the Uzès weekly market was hard to beat, and all the spices were aromatic and stimulating
Photo credit – Lamia Walker

4. Sample local specialties to really imbibe the local vibe 🎂

One of the most enjoyable pleasures we find is sampling the local specialties, local foods, local wines. And occasionally we treat ourselves to a meal out to see how the professionals do it. Needless to say the patisseries in several cafes were fair game during our housesitting for slow travel across Southern France this last trip.

patisseries in a french boulangerie — Just look at this choice! DO you know how we found it to stick to our once a week treat rule? But housesitting for slow travel meant we could have several goes at this cherry over the month
Photo credit – Lamia Walker

5. Tour all the local sites you want to see 🗺️

We spent every afternoon on one adventure or another around the housesit. The mornings we would work online and care for the pets and home. Then come lunchtime we would download a map for a new location, grab some exploration essentials (mobile phone and charger) and off we’d go on an adventure. And we saw some wonderful places in our month housesitting for slow travel in France.

We went to the big cities of Nimes, Avignon, Orange, Bordeaux, Tours. Then we also followed our hosts’ advice and discovered lots of other smaller places in between. Each delivered it’s own delights. We are already planning our return journeys.

the pont d'avignon — The Pont d’Avignon has only four arches left of the original 22 built in the 12 century.
Photo credit – Lamia Walker

6. Dig deeper to discover lesser known locations – Go off the beaten track 🧭

Then we also followed our hosts’ advice and discovered lots of other smaller places in between. Each delivered it’s own delights. Through their recommendations we found fantastic hill top villages that were not listed in our guide books, with stunning views and walks.

We found abandoned Roman monuments which had been assimilated into village urbanisation – note the washing hanging not 10 feet from the aqueduct built 2000 years ago near Caesar’s encampment at Laudan L’Artoise.

We are already planning our return journeys.

Aqueduct at Laudan L'Artoise — This is an abandoned Aqueduct built 2000 years ago, near Julius Caesar’s encampment at Laudan L’Artoise. Note the washing line not 10 feet from the ancient monument.
Photo credit – Lamia Walker

7. Take photos and records of your trip – You may want to return and remember details 📷

Those of you who know me will know that I am always taking photos and keeping records of where we go and what we do. It is part and parcel for me of discovering and learning about where I am , what the world has to offer and enjoying each experience after another. Plus I often think I may well want to return but remembering details these days is easier with photos and notes so easily portable and accessible at the touch of a button on a smartphone.

Which do you think is my favourite memory from this experience housesitting for slow travel in France?

thomas and timon our pet charges — Petsit – Caring for Thomas and Timon our pet charges

Tarte au framboise — Food – Tarte au Framboise from La Nougatine in Uzes

Architecture – La Cour d’Honneur in Avignon

FAQ: Housesitting for Slow Travel

What is housesitting for slow travel?

Housesitting for slow travel is a way of staying in one destination for an extended period while caring for someone’s home and pets. It allows travellers to live like locals, build routines, and experience a place more deeply without paying for accommodation.

How does housesitting make slow travel more affordable?

Housesitting makes slow travel more affordable because accommodation is exchanged for pet and home care. By removing hotel or rental costs, travellers can stay longer in one location, reduce daily expenses, and focus their budget on experiences rather than lodging.

How long do slow travel housesits usually last?

Slow travel housesits typically last from two weeks to several months. Longer stays are ideal for travellers who want to immerse themselves in local culture, develop community connections, and explore beyond major tourist attractions at a relaxed pace.

Do you need experience to start housesitting?

You do not always need formal experience to start housesitting, but reliability, pet care confidence, and strong references are essential. Many successful house sitters begin with smaller assignments and build trust through positive reviews and clear communication.

Is housesitting suitable for solo travellers and remote workers?

Housesitting is highly suitable for solo travellers and remote workers because it provides stability, comfort, and companionship through pets. A settled home environment makes it easier to work online, maintain routines, and enjoy slow travel without constantly relocating.

How do I get started on my housesitting journey?

With Housesitmatch, you can reduce accommodation costs, enjoy authentic local living, and build trusted connections with homeowners worldwide. Sign up as a housesitter today and start applying for sits that match your travel goals.