The captivating peaks of the Rocky Mountains surround a beautiful five bedroom house overlooking the charming town of Breckenridge.
Yeah, that Breckenridge.
The insanely popular ski destination.
The place with world class restaurants and amazing hiking and biking.
And oh, those views; some of the most majestic America has to offer.
Add it all up, and you’ve got one of the most expensive places in the US to stay.
So how did I, a frugal traveler known to walk a mile in the rain to save the $5 taxi fare, end up in a 5 bedroom mansion complete with a BMW and a hot tub?
The answer is simple (and is also your key to unlocking a world of amazing travel opportunities):
Housesitting!
Heather and I have been members of the popular and ever-growing site Trusted Housesitters for almost two years now (which was founded by our good friend Andy Peck, whose interview you can find here).
And for the last two years, I would open my email every single day and lust after the amazing options available for a free house in various countries.
From castles in Ireland to bucolic estates in the French countryside, I knew one thing for sure…
Someday we needed to housesit.
Enter Breckenridge.
When this opportunity came through my email, I jumped on it.
It just so happened that spending three weeks in the Colorado Rockies at the beginning of fall fit perfectly into our schedule.
Finally, we were going to housesit…
And wow, what a house it was!
We had an absolutely amazing experience housesitting and taking care of two labs, Gracie and Rufus.
The house we stayed in was spacious and well decorated and the house owner provided every convenience we could need – including a car.
And not just any car – a BMW SUV!
There were plenty of rooms, and while every house sitting profile is different, this particular one did not mind if we had guests (within reason, of course).
Heather’s sister and our friend came out to visit and we all enjoyed hiking and relaxing in the hot tub with the amazing view of Breckenridge.
We arrived in Breckenridge just as the temperature started to drop at night.
It was the perfect opportunity to enjoy a nice soak in the hot tub and for the leaves to begin changing.
So, How Do I Start Housesitting?
If you’re someone who is interested in housesitting, the first place you should start is with Trusted Housesitters.
Not only is it the world’s biggest housesitting website, but it’s also the easiest to use.
And because Andy is a friend of mine, I’ve even been able to work out a special discount code just for EPoP readers.
If you grab a 12-month subscription, you’ll get an additional 3 for free!
Here’s how to sign up and make sure you get the extra free months:
Click this link to be taken to the Trusted Housesitters website.
Hit “Join Now” in the top right-hand corner.
Click on “Housesitter Membership and Pricing Plans” on the right-hand side.
Scroll to the bottom and enter EPOP where it says “Have a Promotional Code?”.
Hit Apply Code. Scroll back down to bottom and you should see a message that says “Promo code applied” as well as a checkmark.
Now, pick your plan.
Enter your info and create your account.
When you get to the confirmation page, you will see that the length of your membership has been extended. Yeah!
I LOVE housesitting because it offers an incredible opportunity for all people involved.
For the homeowner, they know that they’ll have people taking care of and watching after their house while they are away (and in some cases, their pets as well).
For the traveler, it provides the unique ability to stay in some amazing places across the world while having all the conveniences of home – and sometimes even more – for free.
Housesitting is part of the new wave of accommodations opportunities that every traveler should look to take advantage of.
From short weekend stays in penthouses in Manhattan to long term opportunities on remote islands, Trusted Housesitters has a wide variety of options, and with new ones being posted every day, there’s always something for everyone!
So, what are you waiting for?
Sign up today (don’t forget the discount code) and let me know what amazing housesits you’ll be applying for in the comments below!
When you follow me on social media you might think that my travel was all delicious food, great beer, and amazing vistas. You’d be wrong.
Those things do happen (quite a lot actually), but there are moments in between when things go just a touch sideways.
Those are the moments that you’ll remember forever.
Heather joins me today to talk about two of our worst travel mishaps; you’ve heard bits and pieces of the stories these past 73 episodes and it’s finally time to tell the whole story.
You’re sure to have a laugh, as we recount our time stuck in Singapore and getting our “Thailand tattoos”.
Make sure to leave your travel mishaps in the comments below, we shared ours, now it’s your turn!
Ever wondered what some of the worst travel mishaps out there are? We won’t know unless people come to share theirs. Help us find out some awesome stories by clicking “Tweet This” below!
@PackofPeanuts shares some of his hilarious #travel mishaps on the podcast, what are some of yours? #travelmishap → http://bit.ly/1t1Z5KF
From excellent beer to delicious coffee, the best ice cream in the world, and amazing food carts around every corner Portland is a dream come true!
As we record this episode we are actually IN Portland for the second time this year. We discuss the different parts of town, some great breweries, restaurants, and the best ice cream in the world.
We also comment on the Multnomah Falls, the gorge, and the Japanese Rose Garden where you’ll find out just how frugal of a traveler I can be.
Capped off with a spectacular 2-day itinerary, you won’t be able to wait to book your next (or first!) trip to Portland.
An hour-long wait for breakfast that’s absolutely worth it.
Where to get the best Ice Cream in the world.
How we got a little slice of Japan right in Portland.
How much of frugal traveler I really am.
The Multnomah Falls and Oneonta Gorge
A two-day itinerary of all the must see’s in Portland
and much more!
Things we talked about in this episode:
Click on the map above to see all the locations we mentioned in this episode on a Google Map for easy planning! Website links for specific places are located below.
you’re only going to be in Portland for a couple of days, here are Heather and my best suggestions.
Day 1 Breakfast – Tin Shed Mid Morning – Coffee at Stumptown or Barista Noon & Mid Afternoon – Japanese Rose Garden. Alternative – Walk or Bike around Portland. Mid Afternoon – Hit up a Happy Hour at any of the delicious restaurants around town. Dinner – Either Tasty n Alder or Andina in the Pearl District Dessert – The Salt and Straw
Day 2 Multnomah Falls & if you have time, the Oneonta Gorge. Dinner – Edgefield McMenamins
Have you ever wanted the backpacker experience but more organized, and with, perhaps, better accommodation?
Bruce did, and he figured there had to be other people like him out there.
So he started a tour company for them.
Bruce Poon Tip, the found of G Adventures, joins us today to talk about the evolution of the travel business, how exporting tourism works, where your dollars do the most good, and why group travel is really awesome.
Bruce started G-Adventures in the early nineties and has since grown it into a company that runs over 15,000 tours a year with 2,000 employees worldwide. He shares some great business advice for those of us who are entrepreneurs and lays out what it takes to run such a huge company.
Bruce has some great insights about what it is that causes companies to stagnate and how to get out of that rut, along with some advice on having a strong purpose for your business.
We also chat a lot about how travel changes you, why you’re never “done” with a country, and a crazy story of travel mishap (it involves tear gas, helicopters, and exercise, you won’t want to miss it!).
What are some of your best experiences from finding a group while traveling? Either while you were on a group tour, or just hanging out with people you met along your journey.
Colorado. A state where the names of towns and mountains produce a sense of nostalgia for the past. A state of beautiful national parks, gorgeous mountains, and amazing scenery.
And what better way to learn about Colorado then speaking to a local? Today we bring Jason back to share his experiences living in Colorado and to hear what he would suggest for anyone looking to visit.
We cover the best cities, how to visit all the national parks for cheap, great ski spots, delicious food, and of course, great beer. Jason also shares his Rule of Three, a great way to tell the best restaurants in any area you visit!
Have you ever been to Colorado? Tell us about the things Jason’s been missing out on in the comments below!
Some of the best restaurants to eat at in Boulder, Denver, & Breckenridge
An Epic way to save money on skiing during the season. (If you like to ski, this is a MUST do!)
The top 3 ski locations if you’re on a time crunch
and much more!
Things we talked about in this episode:
Click on the map to see all the locations listed below on a Google Map! It’s a great tool for planning your own trip to Colorado!
A Great Roadtrip Path
Take the 285 starting in Denver and head towards Salida and Gunnison before turning south towards Telluride and the San Juan National Forest. Here you’ll find some of the youngest mountains in the state, which are craggier, and very different from mountains found elsewhere in Colorado. Turn west towards Mesa Verde National Park and then loop back up north towards Grand Junction or loop back to Salida before returning to Denver via Boulder.
The captivating peaks of the Rocky Mountains surround a beautiful five bedroom house overlooking the charming town of Breckenridge.
The answer is simple (and is also your key to unlocking a world of amazing travel opportunities):
Enter Breckenridge.
