An early article I wrote for Beaches All The Way Down was entitled A Review of 5 Amazing House Sitting Experiences – click here to check it out. But with another year and a half of house sitting under our belts, I’d like to tell you about our favorite house sitting experiences since then.
We are currently back in Tucson, Arizona, a house sit that featured in my original top 5. Being back has prompted us to reflect on the journey so far and some of the incredible places we have been able to visit over the last year on the road.
We completed 12 excellent sits in 2024, ranging from a few nights to 2 months. We had excellent experiences with all of them, but for reasons that I’ll detail, here are our top sits and what we got up to last year.
Become a Trusted Housesitter
Before we start, let me just tell you a little about the platform that allows us to travel the world full-time. Trusted Housesitters was a game-changer for us, and we simply couldn’t imagine traveling without it. The number of global opportunities for house sitting placements is growing all the time.
Sign up for free using just your email address and start browsing the thousands of available listings – click here to sign up. To apply for a sit you will need to be a paying member, but memberships start at just $129/year. Compare that to the cost of an average hotel and you’ll see it’s a no-brainer!
Additionally, our readers receive 25% off any membership when they use the discount code BEACHES25 at checkout – click here to get started today. If you would like more information, read my previous article – Everything You Need to Know About Trusted Housesitters.
Phu Quoc, Vietnam
The southern Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc didn’t crop up on our radar until we were already in Vietnam house sitting in Ho Chi Minh City. Our hosts there told us we needed to make the trip to Phu Quoc. We are so glad that the opportunity to do so presented itself, as it is paradise!
A house sit for 3.5 weeks came online, and as we were already in Vietnam, we were an obvious choice and comfortably secured the listing. We took care of one giant husky called Abraham and two chilled cats called Pink and Gold. The apartment was on the small side, but clean and functional.
Abraham was a bit of a celebrity around his local neighborhood. His size and fluffiness drew the attention of pretty much everyone as we walked at dusk and dawn to avoid the heat. Read all about Abraham in my previous Short Tails – Abraham the Big Famous Dog of Phu Quoc.
House Sitting in Phu Quoc
It was the perfect location for a house sit. A 2-minute walk to the pristine beach, and with all the amenities we could need right on our doorstep. A night market opened up every evening, and we enjoyed dining out lots with delicious meals costing just a few bucks.
We made friends with international visitors at the local shop, which also doubled up as a bar. Buying the beers inside for 50 cents, patrons could sit on the benches outside drinking, chatting, and watching the tourists from the resorts opposite filtering in for an evening exploring the night market.
The resorts were ideally located and welcomed us, even though we weren’t guests. We were able to pay a day fee of around $6pp to use all of their facilities, including swimming pools, gym, business center, and more.
Final Thoughts About Phu Quoc
We had a great time, and Phu Quoc is one of our all-time favorite house sitting experiences. Not only were we able to rack up another 5-star review for our profile, but we also were able to find the perfect ratio of work and relaxation. Phu Quoc is an idyllic place, one of my favorite destinations ever!
It was whilst in Phu Quoc that we decided to launch our website – Beaches All the Way Down. Working from the resort hotel, overlooking the ocean and the descending tiers of luxury pools, is still to date the best ‘office’ I have ever had. We’d return to Phu Quoc in a heartbeat.
Singapore
For personal reasons, Singapore had always been high on my list of places to visit. My Grandad was taken prisoner there during the Japanese occupation in 1942 and subsequently spent almost 3 years in POW camps around Southeast Asia. He returned home safely after the Allied victory.
I wanted to pay my respects to my Grandad, for whom I was named, and visit as many of the memorial sites as possible. We knew Singapore was an expensive city, and an extended stay would take a big bite out of our budget. Thankfully, we were able to secure 3 back-to-back stays for the duration.
House Sitting in Singapore
All three sits were great – comfortable apartments all either in the city center or within easy access to all of Singapore’s main attractions. Our favorite, however, was the middle placement, in the suburban region of Queenstown. Here we looked after two great little dogs in a beautiful setting.
Rueben and Mowgli, a French Bulldog and a Pug, respectively, were two food-loving chunky little fellows that enjoyed short walks and lazy days inside their air-conditioned apartment. They were both very lovable and a pleasure to care for.
The apartment itself was fantastic, set on a resort-style complex with a pool, gym, and tennis courts. We even had bikes available to us so we could cycle along the tranquil canal to the famous Marina Bay.
Final Thoughts About Singapore
Singapore is one cool place. It’s a modern metropolis that mixes South Asian charm and heritage with striking modernity and a business allure greater than any city I have ever visited.
We enjoyed fabulous hikes in the parks and surrounding countryside, ticked off all the war memorials we wanted to see, and explored the city on foot, by bike, and through public transport, enjoying every aspect of it, from Chinatown to Haji Lane. I highly recommend a visit to Singapore!
Check out my Definitive Guide to House Sitting in Singapore to learn more. It was one of our favorite house sitting experiences.
Goolwa, Australia
In the diary for almost 10 months, our time in Goolwa was a long time coming, but worth the wait. Our entire year traveling through Asia was bookended by needing to get to South Australia for a 2-month house sit in the quiet town near Adelaide. When we finally arrived, it felt like a real accomplishment.
In Goolwa, we took care of a lovely little Staffy called Molly. She lived for her food, requiring snacks whenever you entered or left the house, and better than any alarm clock, she could tell you to the minute when it was dinner time.
The home itself was excellent. Spacious, homely, steps from the Murray River, and around a 5-minute drive to the beach. We walked Molly every day on the white and expansive sandy beach, meeting fellow dog walkers and many of Molly’s friends along the way.
House Sitting in Goolwa
Long-term house sitting has always been our preference, it allows us to get our feet under the table and explore an area to the fullest. In Goolwa, we were able to take on a volunteering placement with a local op shop (thrift store/charity shop). We ran their car boot sale every Wednesday.
Our hosts met with their friends and family every Wednesday evening at the local pub, and in their stead, we were invited along. Things like this are why we speak so highly of sites like Trusted Housesitters. You are not paid workers there to do a job, you are part of the family and part of the community.
Another big positive from our time house sitting in Goolwa was the excellent gym in town. Exercising is a big part of both of our lives, and the gym in Goolwa was perfect. I was able to get back into boxing, something I’ve done my whole life, for the first time properly in years.
Final Thoughts About Goolwa
The natural beauty in Goolwa and the surrounding areas made this a truly special house sitting experience. The town is dotted with cultural and historical spots and attractions, like the famous cockle train, which now ferries tourists along the coast to Victor Harbour.
There is a relaxed vibe in Goolwa, people are friendly, and the pubs reminded me of the ones back home in England. We loved our time in Australia. Read more about Goolwa in my previous article – Unexpected Amazing Places: House Sitting in Goolwa, Australia.
Devonport, New Zealand
Perhaps the country that has been on our ‘to visit’ list the longest is New Zealand. We were finally able to tick it off the list in late 2024. Planning to explore as much of the country as we could within the month we’d allowed ourselves, house sitting was almost a secondary consideration when planning our trip.
But as always, we kept our eyes on the Trusted Housesitter alerts and applied for a great-looking 2-week stay in Devonport, the lovely Auckland suburb just across the bay. We looked after a fantastic and loveable Cavapoo named Archie and a shy cat called Rosie who kept pretty much to herself.
The house remains one of the best we have ever stayed in. It came complete with a gym, sauna, cinema room, hot tub, and was walkable to 3 great beaches. We could also easily stroll into town, where there were several nice bars and restaurants and more of a chilled vibe compared to the busier Auckland CBD.
House Sitting in Devonport
It felt a little bit like living in a spa. The house was bright, clean, spacious, and fresh. It is without doubt one of the most comfortable homes we have ever taken care of. The animals were low maintenance, and we enjoyed walking Archie every day on the beach.
Getting into Auckland was easy via the ferries that shuttle every 10 minutes across the bay to the main harbor. We could walk to the Devonport terminal in a few minutes and be in Auckland’s city center in no time at all. It was always great to then retreat to our quiet base back across the water!
Final Thoughts About Devonport
Our time in Devonport ranks as one of our best-ever house sitting experiences because the home and pets were just so lovely. We felt right at home as soon as we arrived, and the only downside was that we only got to stay for 2 weeks! It’s a lovely part of the world and well worth a visit.
For more information about house sitting in New Zealand, check out my definitive guide here.
Durham, NC, USA.
Durham, NC, was another place that featured in my first article about our house sitting experiences. We loved our time there in the spring and summer of 2023, and when the opportunity to return came up for December and January of 2024, we jumped at the chance to return.
Although we wouldn’t be going back to the same placement, we would be within easy walking distance to the former home and the lovely pets we had cared for. We stayed in regular contact with our former hosts, so it would be great to reconnect with them and the other friends we made previously in Durham.
We were accepted for a lovely placement 3 streets along from where we had previously stayed, so we knew the area well. The home was lovely, filled with the colorful works of the owner (a professional artist!). We were tasked with caring for 2 great dogs and a very self-sufficient cat.
House Sitting in Durham, NC
We picked up where we left off the previous summer, taking the two dogs, Romeo and Piper, on treks around the Duke East Campus situated at the top of our road. Although the temperature was significantly different from our previous trip, we still enjoyed the walks around and through the historic school grounds.
All of our favorite spots in Durham were still open, which was a great relief. There is a lot of construction and redevelopment happening in the city, and I lost count of the new brew bars that had opened in the 18 months we’d be gone. There are some cool spots around Durham to eat and drink.
Our house sitting hosts, a lovely couple originally from New Zealand, even allowed us to invite Hannah’s parents over for a visit. We hadn’t seen them in well over a year, so it was great to see them again in Durham and show them around some of our favorite haunts.
Final Thoughts About Durham
Spending Christmas and New Year’s in Durham was a special house sitting experience. We enjoyed reconnecting with old friends and visiting with family from back home in the UK. We have a weird kismet bond with Bull City, and it keeps pulling us back. I’m sure it won’t be long before we’re back in ‘Durty’ Durham.
Final Thoughts
I have really enjoyed revisiting the highlights of our house sitting experiences from 2024. We are already well underway with our house sits for 2025 and have plenty of ammunition for next year’s article.
If you would like to learn more about house sitting, head over to our website and browse through the hundreds of helpful articles to get you started and to ensure you, too, can have fantastic house sitting experiences.
Don’t forget to sign up for free with Trusted Housesitters via this link and use BEACHES25 at checkout to receive a 25% discount on any paid membership option.
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