Sit Stay Trips

08/11/2024

We're calling to tell you we had a fantastic time in Edinburgh!
Moving on to our next pet sit tomorrow (hello wee Blue!) but we'll be posting plenty more on Edinburgh!

03/11/2024

is a great app to use to track our travels.

I use Google Maps to save places I've been but I love the graphics of Polorsteps. You can also attach photos, make notes and probably a lot of other stuff that I have yet to discover. It automatically tracks our trip and you can also add in previous trips.

What are your go to apps when traveling?

We're Barb and John of Sit.Stay.Trips. We are retired travelers who pet sit. We started traveling extensively after we both retired 7 years ago. We were not professional pet sitters. We just loved animals.
We have used pet sitting to explore new cultures and locations for days, weeks or even months, all while significantly reducing our accommodation costs. You see, we exchange free pet sitting for free accommodations.

Pet sitting has connected us with amazing pet owners and their pets in some incredible locations. We love animals and having the pleasure of their company is a great benefit. Their owners know they are having a comfortable, stay at home experience.

Follow us as we explore the world, one pet sit at a time.
If you think you'd like to be a traveling pet sitter or just want to learn more about it, visit our website.
Link in our bio.

27/08/2024

14/08/2024

Help!

On the left hand side are apps we use when we travel domestically by car.
On the right side I'm starting to collect apps I'll use when we travel internationally. Some apps work for both of course.

What other apps should I add for international travel?
What travel apps can't you live without?
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We're Barb and John of Sit.Stay.Trips. We are retired travelers who pet sit. We started traveling extensively after we both retired 7 years ago. We were not professional pet sitters. We just loved animals.
We have used pet sitting to explore new cultures and locations for days, weeks or even months, all while significantly reducing our accommodation costs. You see, we exchange free pet sitting for free accommodations.

Pet sitting has connected us with amazing pet owners and their pets in some incredible locations. We love animals and having the pleasure of their company is a great benefit. Their owners know they are having a comfortable, stay at home experience.

Follow us as we explore the world, one pet sit at a time.
If you think you'd like to be a traveling pet sitter or just want to learn more about it, visit our website.
Link in our bio.

08/08/2024

Anthony Bourdain was and is an inspiration. He is one of the main reasons we started traveling. Watching his shows made us realize there's a great big world out there with so much to discover.

Now preparing for our 6th pet sitting trip and our second time to Europe, each journey has changed us. Changed our thoughts, our beliefs and our lives.

Travel isn't always pretty. Social media shows all the beautiful landscapes, all the incredible food and all the adorable pets. It doesn't always show the frustrations, the uncomfortable times and sometimes the heartbreak that comes along with being a traveling pet sitter. But all of it, good and not so good, makes us who we are today.

Go out and find your adventure.

We're Barb and John, retired travelers who pet sit. We started traveling extensively after we both retired 7 years ago. We have traveled throughout Europe and the USA.
We have used pet sitting to explore new cultures and locations for days, weeks or even months, all while significantly reducing our accommodation costs. Pet sitting has connected us with amazing pet owners and their pets in some incredible locations. We love animals and having the pleasure of their company is a great benefit. Their owners know they are having a comfortable, stay at home experience.

02/08/2024

We're at that starting point.

Our tickets are purchased. We have lists of what to take, what to buy and what to do in our home before we leave it to a very good friend to stay in while we're gone.
But the most important part of our trip is the pet sits. Going through all the posted sits, cross referencing dates, location, responsibilities and pets. Applying for sits, meeting potential hosts on video calls, making the difficult decision to pick one pet sit over another and yes, the disappointment when you're not picked. 😞

We've written a whole series on becoming a traveling pet sitter. You need to put in a little work in the beginning but with each pet sit you become better. Better at choosing the right pet sit, better at logistics, better at understanding your hosts and their pets.

We know so much more now than we did the last time we went to Europe to pet sit. We had no idea what to expect and yet, it turned out to be one of the best years of our lives.

Europe, here we come.... again!

We're Barb and John of Sit.Stay.Trips. We are retired travelers who pet sit. We started traveling extensively after we both retired 7 years ago. We were not professional pet sitters. We just loved animals.
We have used pet sitting to explore new cultures and locations for days, weeks or even months, all while significantly reducing our accommodation costs. You see, we exchange free pet sitting for free accommodations.

Pet sitting has connected us with amazing pet owners and their pets in some incredible locations. We love animals and having the pleasure of their company is a great benefit. Their owners know they are having a comfortable, stay at home experience.

Follow us as we explore the world, one pet sit at a time.
If you think you'd like to be a traveling pet sitter or just want to learn more about it, visit our website.
Link in our bio.

as p,

28/07/2024

It's happening....

Our first sit confirmed.

We're Barb and John of Sit.Stay.Trips. We are retired travelers who pet sit. We started traveling extensively after we both retired 7 years ago. We were not professional pet sitters. We just loved animals.
We have used pet sitting to explore new cultures and locations for days, weeks or even months, all while significantly reducing our accommodation costs. You see, we exchange free pet sitting for free accommodations.

Pet sitting has connected us with amazing pet owners and their pets in some incredible locations. We love animals and having the pleasure of their company is a great benefit. Their owners know they are having a comfortable, stay at home experience.

Follow us as we explore the world, one pet sit at a time.
If you think you'd like to be a traveling pet sitter or just want to learn more about it, visit our website.
Link in our bio.

as p,

11/07/2024

We've been featured in AARP!

We were lucky enough to be selected to tell our story along with other pet sitters and we couldn't be happier!

https://www.aarp.org/travel/travel-tips/budget/info-2024/pet-sitting-bartering-services.html

We're Sit.Stay.Trips.
Barb and John, retired travellers who pet sit. We started traveling extensively after we both retired 7 years ago. We have traveled throughout Europe and the USA.
We aren't your typical tourists. We leverage pet sitting to explore new cultures and breathtaking locations for days, weeks or even months, all while significantly reducing our accommodation costs.
Pet sitting has connected us with amazing pet owners and their pets in some incredible locations. Our love for animals ensures they receive top-notch care and a comfortable, stay at home experience while their owners are away.
Follow our story as we explore the world one pet-filled adventure at a time.

09/07/2024

As traveling pet sitters, the logistics of travel and coordinating pet sits can be stressful. In our new blog post, "Where To Go and How To Get There", we share our insights on coordinating our pet sitting trips.

We're Sit.Stay.Trips.
Barb and John, retired travellers who pet sit. We started traveling extensively after we both retired 7 years ago. We have traveled throughout Europe and the USA.
We aren't your typical tourists. We leverage pet sitting to explore new cultures and breathtaking locations for days, weeks or even months, all while significantly reducing our accommodation costs.
Pet sitting has connected us with amazing pet owners and their pets in some incredible locations. Our love for animals ensures they receive top-notch care and a comfortable, stay at home experience while their owners are away.
Follow our story as we explore the world one pet-filled adventure at a time.

05/07/2024

Expectations.
As a pet sitter, what are your expectations of hosts?
As a pet owner, what are your expectations of a pet sitter?

For a successful sit for both parties, clear expectations before a sit starts is key.
We have a page devoted on our website to expectations, what a pet owner can expect from us and what we expect from a pet owner/host. We ask that each prospective pet owner reads and agrees to the expectations.
We have also written a blog, "Let's Get Together", concerning expectations and what a pet sitter should be concerned with prior to a pet sit.

Communication is key to a successful pet sit. Agreeing on expectations from both the pet sitter and pet owner is a great way to ensure success!
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We're Sit.Stay.Trips.
Barb and John, retired travellers who pet sit. We started traveling extensively after we both retired 7 years ago. We have traveled throughout Europe and the USA.
We aren't your typical tourists. We leverage pet sitting to explore new cultures and breathtaking locations for days, weeks or even months, all while significantly reducing our accommodation costs.
Pet sitting has connected us with amazing pet owners and their pets in some incredible locations. Our love for animals ensures they receive top-notch care and a comfortable, stay at home experience while their owners are away.
Follow our story as we explore the world one pet-filled adventure at a time.

18/06/2024

"Be careful who you make memories with. Those things can last a lifetime" - Ugo Exe

Never a dull moment with this guy.

When we were pet sitting in Louisiana, I told John I may need his help to unload the top loading washing machine. I'm short and it was very deep. Sitting down at my laptop, I received the above text for help, I hurried out to the laundry room and found this. My brain couldn't figure out what the heck happened, John then sneaks up behind me laughing.
What a guy.
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We're Barb and John, retired travelers who pet sit. We started traveling extensively after we both retired 7 years ago. We have traveled throughout Europe and the USA.
We have used pet sitting to explore new cultures and locations for days, weeks or even months, all while significantly reducing our accommodation costs. Pet sitting has connected us with amazing pet owners and their pets in some incredible locations. We love animals and having the pleasure of their company is a great benefit. Their owners know their pets are having a comfortable, stay at home experience.

as p,

25/05/2024

Interested in passive income while you travel?

We have a new blog post explaining how we use our home to create passive income.

So many people have asked us, “How do you afford to travel for as long as you do?” We use pet sitting to drastically cut our trip expenses and we rent our home to cover our house expenses.

Utilizing short term rentals (Airbnb/VRBO) to cover our home expenses allows us to visit dream destinations, spend weeks instead of days exploring new places, meeting new people while not having to worry about how much you’re spending.

If you’re comfortable with strangers using your home while you are off on your next great adventure, you’ll be rewarded with money to take care of expenses at home and possibly on the road too. This could lead to longer trips and less stress.
Link in bio.
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We're Sit.Stay.Trips.
Barb and John, retired travellers who pet sit. We started traveling extensively after we both retired 7 years ago. We have traveled throughout Europe and the USA.
We aren't your typical tourists. We leverage pet sitting to explore new cultures and breathtaking locations for days, weeks or even months, all while significantly reducing our accommodation costs.
Pet sitting has connected us with amazing pet owners and their pets in some incredible locations. Our love for animals ensures they receive top-notch care and a comfortable, stay at home experience while their owners are away.
Follow our story as we explore the world one pet-filled adventure at a time.

# passive income

18/05/2024

Curious about travel and pet sitting?
We've got you covered!
Visit our blog and read our Traveling Pet Sitter series. We explain how we got started and the steps to take in the road to becoming a traveling pet sitter. We explain the sign up process, How to stand out among all the other pet sitters, how to find the perfect pet sit and how to get that coveted 5 star review from your host!
Link in bio.
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We're Barb and John, retired travelers who pet sit. We started traveling extensively after we both retired 7 years ago. We have traveled throughout Europe and the USA.
We have used pet sitting to explore new cultures and locations for days, weeks or even months, all while significantly reducing our accommodation costs. Pet sitting has connected us with amazing pet owners and their pets in some incredible locations. We love animals and having the pleasure of their company is a great benefit. Their owners know they are having a comfortable, stay at home experience.

07/05/2024

My happy place.
So many times we've thought of what it would be like to sell our home and travel full time. Seeing all these happy couples who have sold everything, bought an RV and traveled full time seems so romantic and adventurous.
But....
I'm a nester.
As much as I love to travel, I love to have a home to come back to. A home full of all my things, a home where I can garden, a home where I know my neighbors and spend time with them on our deck or around the fire pit. A home that welcomes visits from family and friends. A home to grow old in.

Travelers come in all shapes and sizes. Different dreams, ambitions and goals. "Home" can look very different to different people.
Here's to all the travelers 🥂 May you always find your home.
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We're Sit.Stay.Trips.
Barb and John, retired travellers who pet sit. We started traveling extensively after we both retired 7 years ago. We have traveled throughout Europe and the USA.
We aren't your typical tourists. We leverage pet sitting to explore new cultures and breathtaking locations for days, weeks or even months, all while significantly reducing our accommodation costs.
Pet sitting has connected us with amazing pet owners and their pets in some incredible locations. Our love for animals ensures they receive top-notch care and a comfortable, stay at home experience while their owners are away.
Follow our story as we explore the world one pet-filled adventure at a time.

05/05/2024

That lazy, Sunday feeling.

as p, #

02/05/2024

Want to know what to look for in a pet sit? Part 4 of our Traveling Pet Sitter series, "I See You!" goes into detail on the specifics of a Host's pet sitting listing. What you need to know before accepting a pet sit and what are the "red flags" to help you avoid a sit that may not be acceptable to you.
Link in bio
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We're Sit.Stay.Trips.
Barb and John, retired travellers who pet sit. We started traveling extensively after we both retired 7 years ago. We have traveled throughout Europe and the USA.
We aren't your typical tourists. We leverage pet sitting to explore new cultures and breathtaking locations for days, weeks or even months, all while significantly reducing our accommodation costs.
Pet sitting has connected us with amazing pet owners and their pets in some incredible locations. Our love for animals ensures they receive top-notch care and a comfortable, stay at home experience while their owners are away.
Follow our story as we explore the world one pet-filled adventure at a time.

08/04/2024

We're pet sitting in Austin. Last night we went to the and today the eclipse! Austin is in the path of totality. The experiences pet sitting gives us is truly amazing!
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We're Sit.Stay.Trips.
Barb and John, retired travellers who pet sit. We started traveling extensively after we both retired 7 years ago. We have traveled throughout Europe and the USA.
We aren't your typical tourists. We leverage pet sitting to explore new cultures and breathtaking locations for days, weeks or even months, all while significantly reducing our accommodation costs.
Pet sitting has connected us with amazing pet owners and their pets in some incredible locations. Our love for animals ensures they receive top-notch care and a comfortable, stay at home experience while their owners are away.
Follow our story as we explore the world one pet-filled adventure at a time.
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