After a birthday trip to Chile, Suzanne and Mitch Rutledge realized that long term travel might be something they could ACTUALLY do! They got back home and started planning;
What would they do with their house?
How would their son’s school take the news that they were taking an extended trip abroad?
Where were they going to go?!
As they began preparing for their trip things began falling into place, and here they are, on the other end, talking about their experiences as seasoned world travelers!
Suzanne, Mitch, and Luke (the youngest person to ever be on the podcast) join me today to chat about getting out the door and deep into a 9-month adventure around the world, along with some of the best tips that they learned along the way.
Today Heather and I list the top 15 websites that we LOVE to use to plan our travels. If we’re paying for plane tickets (yes, it happens) we know where to go.
Train tickets? Check.
We’ve even got a ton of sites for accommodations and a great one to help budget your travels.
And of course, you need to know what to do when you get there!
If we use it, we’ve linked it and there are some great resources here to help you plan your trip from the moment the idea pops into your head to the moment you return home, exhausted, but thankful for the entire experience.
What are some of your favorite travel sites? Let us know in the comments below!
Next to flights, accommodation is the next most expensive aspect of flying.
So how do we make it cheaper?
Jason and I have 21 suggestions that can help anyone find better digs, no matter where they are in the world.
Today we discuss the first 10 of those options, so make sure to check out part II to get the rest of these awesome money saving tips!
We start the show off with a bonus tip, then move into concepts like negotiation and always having a story to tell. I also manage to take over the bad pun mantle from Jason!
I ain’t even kitten ya!
What ways have you found to save money on accommodations while traveling?
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!
What if when you traveled, you could stay in these types of places?
And better yet, what if they were free?
With housesitting, they can be!
All over the world, people are opening up their homes for others to come and stay in while they are gone. And in return for looking after their home and sometimes their pet, you get to stay in their place, for free!
It really is a win-win for both parties involved, and explains why housesitting is quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing ways to travel.
Today, Andy Peck, the Godfather of Housesitting and founder of the biggest housesitting site in the world, Trusted Housesitters, sits down with us to talk about the ins and outs of housesitting.
From how to give yourself the best chance to score your first housesit to some of the best places he’s ever seen, Andy breaks down housesitting from A-Z.
Oh, and he also gives Extra Pack of Peanuts listeners a special discount on a Trusted Housesitter membership (see instructions below)!
So if you’re someone who is interested in trying your hand at housesitting, this is the podcast for you. Andy’s tips will have you scoring your dream housesit in no time!
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.
