A young UK couple have found a way to explore expensive destinations without paying for hotels. Ellen Carter, 26, and her fiancé, Connor Gill, 27, look after people’s homes and pets while the owners are away. In return, they get free accommodation, sometimes in properties with private swimming pools, large gardens and other luxury features.

The couple says this arrangement has helped them visit 18 countries during their six-year relationship, while keeping their travel expenses low. However, house-sitting also comes with responsibilities that can limit how they spend their time.

House-sitting helped the couple travel on a student budget.

Carter and Gill first tried house-sitting in 2022, when Gill was completing the first year of his PhD, and Carter was finishing her master’s degree. With both still studying, they could not afford expensive holidays.

Their first assignment was close to home, just 10 minutes from Carter’s mother’s house near Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. The property was a large home in the Chilterns with woodland, a private cinema, a gym and three West Highland terriers that needed care.

A few months later, the couple traveled to Budapest, Hungary, where they spent 10 days in a gated five-bedroom house with a large garden and a private swimming pool.

Carter described it as one of their most luxurious house-sitting experiences. The couple also grew attached to a dog named Chilli during their stay.

They spent their days exploring the city and returned to the house in the evenings. By preparing their own meals instead of eating at restaurants, they kept the total cost of the 10-day trip to around £200, including flights.

The arrangement has taken them from luxury homes to desert camping.

House-sitting has allowed the couple to experience different types of accommodation without paying standard hotel rates. Their travels have included luxury properties in the UK and glamping in Morocco’s Agafay Desert.

Glamping combines camping with more comfortable facilities than traditional camping. For Carter and Gill, the Moroccan experience offered a chance to enjoy the desert landscape, watch the stars and see the sunrise.

Carter said the biggest advantage of house-sitting was saving money on accommodation. Access to a kitchen also helped them cut food costs by cooking their own meals.

The couple uses HouseSit Match, a platform that connects homeowners with people willing to care for their properties and pets. Homeowners can find someone to look after their homes while they travel, and sitters get a place to stay without paying for accommodation.

The arrangement depends on both sides meeting their responsibilities. Homeowners need reliable sitters, and travelers must be willing to follow the instructions provided for each property.

Caring for Pets Can Limit How Much Travelers Explore

Although house-sitting can reduce travel costs, it does not always offer the freedom of a conventional holiday.

Pet care can involve more than feeding animals and walking them. Some pets require medication or regular attention, adding work and responsibility to the stay.

Sitters may also need to remain at the property for much of the day. This can make it difficult to take long trips, stay out late, or explore destinations without planning around the animals’ needs.

Carter acknowledged these limitations but said they suited the couple’s lifestyle because they do not drink or regularly go out late.

The couple now live in Brazil for a year while Gill, a researcher, completes a work contract. Carter, who previously worked as a caseworker for a Member of Parliament, has taken a career break.

Their experience shows how house-sitting can make international travel more affordable for people willing to exchange some flexibility for free accommodation. It doesn’t eliminate every travel expense, but it can significantly cut one of the highest costs of visiting another country.