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Travel Between Sits: A Full Time Housesitter’s Race Across the World
There are a growing number of housesitters who move internationally. Their travel between sits can be multi-stage and fraught with opportunities and challenge. In this article Maria Vano seasoned solo traveller tells us of a recent journey between two international sits that required some nifty juggling and enjoyed some good luck. Here’s her story.
Travel Between Sits: Luxury for Full Time Housesitters
One of the underrated luxuries of full‑time international house and petsitting is the little gaps between assignments that create opportunities for travel between sits — those one‑ or two‑day stretches where you can slow down, wander, and take the scenic route instead of the sensible one.
That’s exactly what I was doing.
I had time. I had space. I had a plan.
Why Buffer Days Matter When Travelling Between Housesits
And then the universe started playing Jenga with my schedule, gambling with my precious time to travel between sits.
Photo courtesy of Maria Vano
Not the housesit — that part was solid.
But the logistics? The trains? The Airbnb check‑in window?
Every mode of transport suddenly decided to show its personality at once — and none of them were in a cooperative mood.
How to Handle Travel Between Sits: Lessons from a Seasoned Housesitter
So I headed to the Dover ferry terminal with a “passenger with bicycle” ticket offering affordable travel for housesitters — the workaround the entire internet swears by for the “no foot passengers” route. I wanted that early ferry. I *needed* that early ferry. I did not, however, have a bicycle. I never do. But apparently the classic “my bike was stolen on the way to the port” line works for everyone else.
DFDS staff took one look at me and said:
“Too bad. Buy a bike and come back in 10 minutes.”
Yes, of course. Let me just nip over to the imaginary Bike‑o‑Rama conveniently located between Departures and the vending machines.
They refused to let me board.
They kept my money.
And they told me to “go take P&O.”
So I did.
Photo credit – Laura Lezman
And here’s where the sitter magic kicked in — the kind of thing that only happens when you’re travelling slow, staying open, and trusting that the universe hasn’t abandoned you just because the ferry has.
The P&O staff were kind, calm, and helpful. One woman heard me muttering some choice words (in two languages, because why limit oneself?) into the ferry‑air ether and came over, laughing, to ask what was going on.
She’d seen this before.
She got me on the next ferry at the same walk‑up price.
No drama. No attitude. No problem.
While waiting to disembark, I chatted with other foot passengers, trying to figure out how to get to the Fréthun train station quickly and cheaply so I could catch the last connecting train of the night to Lille, in France. One man mentioned his sister lived in the arrival port city and was picking him up. He said he’d ask her.
When Reaching my Checkpoint was Under Threat
Photo credit – Saurav S
Meanwhile, we sat there. And sat there. And sat there. Every passing minute was another little shove to the Jenga tower. Would I get to my next checkpoint?
When we finally disembarked, he asked his sister — and she not only knew the way, she offered me a lift. She saved me €70–€80 and turned a stressful morning into a warm, human moment.
And here’s the twist:
None of this would have happened if I’d taken the “fast” route.
Full-Time Housesitters Travel Tips
Taking time to think was an advantage.
If I’d rushed, panicked, or forced the original plan, I would have missed:
– the kindness of P&O staff
– the fellow traveller who knew someone local
– the free ride
– the unexpected help
– the reminder that people are good.
How to Travel Between House Sits
In 30 years of solo travel — and a lot of travel between sits — this is what I have learned as as seasoned housesitter who loves and respects the challenges of international travel:
- Above all else, it is important to stay flexible.
- Don’t panic when the plan collapses.
- Don’t force the route.
- Stay open to opportunity.
- Accept help when it’s offered.
- And always thank the people who step in.
Because the story doesn’t happen when everything goes right.
The story begins the moment it doesn’t. And for me it often happens in the travel between sits.
Photo courtesy of Maria Vano
Not yet a member? Browse international housesits on HouseSit Match →
🧳 Lessons for Travelling Sitters
(For when the universe starts wobbling your Jenga tower).
- Buffer days are gold.
They’re not wasted time — they’re your safety net. - Transport has opinions.
- Ferries, trains, buses… and none of them care about your carefully planned schedule.
- Flexibility beats speed.
- The “fastest” route is often the most fragile.
- Talk to people.
- Your next solution might be someone’s sister waiting at the arrival port.
- Kindness is a travel tool.
- Use it generously; it comes back in surprising ways.
And above all:
Don’t panic. You’re a sitter. You’ve handled worse.
The moral of this story? Hmph. I could win *Race Across the World*… fancy being my partner in crime?
BIO
Maria Vano is a self-confessed dreamer who believes that the world is there for all of us to see, to taste all the wines and foods, to interact with as many cultures as you can because it’s the only way to truly experience the world. She now fulfils her love of travel and of animals by house and petsitting her way around the world. Her first book is about her life as a solo traveller ‘When every road whispers my name‘.
FURTHER READING
At Housesitmatch.com we like to share useful blogs and practical advice about housesitters, housesitting and pet sitting. If you have enjoyed reading about the ‘When travel between sits becomes a Race Across the World’, try another blog. We hope you find this small selection of our blogs on house sitters and house sitting in Europe useful.
What a housesitter does – Top 10 responsibilities
Best cat sitting in Marbella Spain
Housesitting Ile de France – Discover living like a local
Cultural Preparation for International Assignments
FAQ – On Travelling Between Housesits
What does travel between sits mean for a full-time house sitter?
Travel between sits refers to the journeys a housesitter makes from one housesitting assignment to the next. For full-time sitters — those who live entirely through back-to-back sits — this travel can range from a short local trip to a multi-stage international journey involving ferries, trains, and overnight stays.
How much time should I leave between housesits?
Most experienced housesitters recommend leaving at least one to two ‘buffer days’ between sits, especially for international travel. These days act as a safety net: if transport is delayed, cancelled, or disrupted, you still arrive on time for your next sit without letting the homeowner down. The longer the journey, the more buffer time is wise.
What are the biggest challenges of travelling between international sits?
The main challenges include: transport delays or cancellations (ferries, trains, buses); tight connection windows where one delay cascades into the next; accommodation gaps if check-in windows don’t align; and the mental load of managing logistics across borders. Having flexibility in your plans is the single most effective way to handle these challenges.
What should I do if my transport is cancelled or I miss a connection?
First, contact your next homeowner immediately — honesty and early communication are essential to maintaining trust. Then focus on finding the next viable option: speak to transport staff directly, ask fellow travellers for local knowledge, and stay open to alternative routes. Most disruptions can be resolved calmly if you have buffer time built in and don’t panic.
Is travelling between housesits expensive?
It can be, but seasoned housesitters minimise costs by planning routes in advance, travelling off-peak, using slower but cheaper transport (trains and ferries over flights where possible), and occasionally finding fellow travellers willing to share lifts. The accommodation savings from housesitting typically far outweigh travel costs, making it one of the most affordable ways to travel long-term.
How do full-time housesitters find back-to-back sits with no gaps?
Finding perfectly sequential sits takes practice and a strong profile. On Housesit Match, sitters can search by date and location to identify sits that align geographically and chronologically. Building a track record of positive reviews, keeping your profile updated, and applying early all help secure back-to-back placements. Some gaps are inevitable — planning for them rather than against them makes the lifestyle much more enjoyable.
What is a buffer day and how do housesitters use them?
A buffer day is a planned, intentional gap between two housesits — typically one or two days where you’re not committed to either a sit or a strict travel schedule. Experienced sitters treat buffer days as essential, not wasted. They give you time to absorb transport delays, explore a new place slowly, rest, and arrive at your next sit refreshed and on time.
Can you travel between sits without a car?
Absolutely. Many full-time housesitters are car-free and rely on public transport, cycling, ferries, and walking. The key is researching routes thoroughly in advance, especially in rural areas or when crossing borders, where public transport options can be limited. Flexibility with timing and a willingness to take slower, more scenic routes often leads to the most memorable journeys.
What is the best mindset for handling disrupted travel between sits?
The housesitters who thrive on the road share a common mindset: they treat disruption as part of the adventure, not a failure of planning. Staying flexible, accepting help when it’s offered, talking to the people around you, and resisting the urge to panic are the practical tools of experienced travellers. As housesitter Maria Vano puts it: the story begins the moment the plan doesn’t go right.
How do I become a full-time housesitter to travel the world?
Start by creating a profile on a trusted housesitting platform like Housesitmatch. Build your profile with references, a clear bio, and photos. Apply for sits in locations you want to explore, starting with shorter assignments to build your review history. Over time, as your profile grows stronger, you can secure back-to-back international sits and transition to full-time housesitting as a lifestyle.
