We’ve saved £12,000 on accommodation across the world – by pet sitting

For a whole month, Becky Walsh and her partner Musti Özbey stayed in a four-storey house overlooking Hong Kong’s Clear Water Bay. They had a roof terrace, incredible views and more than enough room to swing a cat. Except they weren’t swinging any cats – they were looking after one, as well as two dogs and a gecko called Gucci. Becky estimates that staying somewhere similar for that length of time would typically cost about £5,000. But the couple paid nothing. All they had to do was take care of the animals and home while the owners were away. “We were very lucky,” Becky says. “We didn’t have the things that most people [dislike about] Hong Kong: the lack of space, the humidity. We sort of had the best of both worlds.” Hong Kong’s Clear Water Bay, where the couple spent a month (Photo: Bosco Yip/Getty Images) The couple – both in their 50s – have been funding their holidays this way since 2021, when, following the Covid-19 lockdowns, they resolved to travel more. “Suddenly the world opened up again and you could travel, but clearly travelling full-time you can burn through cash very quickly,” says Becky. “I’d always wanted to housesit, and we thought, well, how hard can it be?” They signed up to TrustedHousesitters, which, for an annual fee of £99, allows potential sitters to connect with home- and pet-owners around the world. Becky and Musti have a home base in Kalkan, Turkey, where Musti is from, but they’ve stayed in 65 housesits since they signed up to the platform five years ago. They’ve spent almost half of the past year housesitting in Turkey, Hong Kong, Serbia and Oman – all without paying a single penny for accommodation. They estimate this has helped them save about £12k on booking hotels or holiday homes. Shorts They’re not alone in looking to cut their travel costs; in a recent YouGov poll, about 42 per cent of Britons said the cost of living would affect their travel plans – so it’s no surprise housesitting is an attractive option. It’s not all about cost, however. According to Becky, travelling this way enriches the whole experience. “You meet local people, whether it’s the guy in the taxi or the guy in the supermarket – you become part of this community,” she says. “That’s what makes the experience. Not, ‘I’ve spent £160 visiting four different pieces of architecture in Rome.’” Housesitting also allows the couple to stay in luxurious places they may not be able to afford otherwise – including in southwest Turkey. “It’s a beautiful villa, heated swimming pool,” says Becky. “They leave us a case of wine, the cleaner comes every week. You know, it’s just, feed some cats and live in this beautiful villa and swim in the pool and go to the beach. What’s not to like?” While most of Becky and Musti’s sits have involved caring for cats or dogs, they have also encountered more exotic pets. On a trip to northern Thailand a few years ago, they were tasked with looking after 36 animals, including “three dogs, four giant tortoises, quails, chickens, conures, cockatiels, fish, a bearded dragon called Bache”, says Becky. Musti also found a “massive” wild snake in the outdoor shower, although they weren’t expected to feed it. Becky and Musti at Wat Phra That Doi Kham in Chiang Mai, Thailand Aside from the snake and a couple of slightly “grubby” homes, the couple’s experience has been very positive overall. But Becky warns aspiring housesitters against taking the decision lightly. “You need to be someone who is adaptable and flexible and very good at communication – then you’ll get the best of it,” she says. “If suddenly the house owners say, ‘I’m coming home three days early because grandma’s sick’ or ‘I’ve argued with my wife’ or whatever it is, ultimately it’s their house.” Becky believes housesitters should always have some savings for just such a situation. “If you haven’t got a financial cushion of some sort… you’ll get yourself in trouble.” She has seen examples online of sitters who have landed in “hot water”. “There’s one girl at the moment on the forum, and she’s in a flea-infested place and is covered in bites. But she’s got no plan B, she’s got no money for a plan B.” As working professionals (Becky is a freelance business consultant and Musti is a retired restaurant manager), the couple say they have money to spend if need be. They also have a mortgage-free home in the UK that they rent out for £1,600 a month, while their place in Kalkan is always available for them to return to. The couple have no intentions of giving up their lifestyle any time soon. They’re heading off to Yogyakarta in Indonesia next, followed by another sit in Turkey – this time in Dalyan. “We’re not planning to stop at all,” said Becky. “I would definitely say 10 [more] years. Maybe more, who knows?”