How to travel cheaply between house sits

You probably already know that housesitting is a great way to travel and save money and that more and more people are choosing house sitting as a fulltime lifestyle. But what happens in between sits if you don’t have another house sit to go straight to? 

Here we’re giving you the lowdown on how you can make travelling in between your sits as cheap as possible. So, read on to find out how to save on transport and accommodation costs when getting from one housesit to another.

Be flexible

Let’s face it, packing up and moving isn’t the highlight of house sitting and as such, many sitters actively choose house sits of 2 weeks or longer. But sometimes taking on shorter length sits is an easy way to cover dates in between longer house sits and also to shorten the time needed to stay in paid accommodation.

Travelling as a couple, either as friends or partners, can definitely have its advantages. Not only do you save by sharing the cost of the house sitting membership fee, it also allows you a degree of flexibility in navigating house sit dates. Some homeowners allow couples to start or finish a sit separately if the dates of their two house sits overlap. That means one person stays at the current sit and the other moves onto the next until the first sit is completed. This not only helps out the owners but also means no accommodation fees between sits.

Finding cheap accommodation

Many house sitters choose to travel in their own self-contained accommodation, be it a campervan, caravan or for adventurous types, even just a car and a tent. In Australia, we’re lucky to have a vast network of campsites suitable for all budgets. 

Camping in national parks is a fantastic way to stay cheaply in beautiful surroundings and most park entry fees are only between $8 - $15 per car. If it’s something you plan to do regularly it might also be worth investing in an Annual Parks Pass.

Camps Australia Wide are known as the "Must Have" guide for budget & low cost camping in Australia. Their book and app are an excellent resource for up to date information on finding free & low cost campsites, caravan carks and freedom camping destinations across Australia.

Hostels

Hostels aren’t only for young backpackers anymore. There are folks of all ages staying in hostels these days and most hostels have made an effort to move away from the dingy image and become comfortable, affordable places for people of all ages. If privacy is important you can opt to stay in your own room instead of a shared dorm and in most instances, hostels are much cheaper than hotels.

Also, hostels are an easy way to meet fellow travellers and share stories and tips for life on the road. Just make sure to read the reviews for a hostel before you book it. 

House swapping

House swapping is a unique and budget savvy alternative for travellers compared to hotels. It’s a great way to enjoy the comforts of living in a home while experiencing the opportunity to live like a local. And whether you own your own home, rent a unit or live on a house boat, virtually anyone has the potential to house swap.

If you register on a home exchange site like Aussie House Swap, you’ll pay an annual fee less than the cost to a night’s stay in a hotel room. House swaps can range in length of time anywhere from a long weekend to a few months or even a year. For those who travel regularly, it’s an affordable alternative housing option that lets you enjoy all of the conveniences of a home base without the cost.

Transportation

Transport in between housesits can be another pricey factor so whether it’s petrol process or the cost of a plane, bus or train, it’s important to plan in advance. 

Petrol Spy is a great app that shows you on a map the cost of petrol from every petrol station in your area. 

If you don’t know yet how to get from one place to another, the Rome2Rio site is a great place to start your research. The website shows you all the options available to get from nearly any city in the world to another including planes, buses, ferries and trains. It also tells you how much it’ll cost you and how long it’ll take you. If you decide to go ahead and book a ticket, it’ll send you straight to the booking website where it found the best deal.

Budget airlines

When you’re looking to find the absolute cheapest flight, your best bet is to visit at least 3 websites. Try going through Google flights, Webjet or Skyscanner however, once you’ve found the best flight, don’t book with them – go straight to the airlines website and book directly.