How can seniors travel cheaply? Our top tips for senior travel

With all the time in the world and wanderlust-shaped holes to fill, you wouldn’t be alone in wishing you were jet setting a little more often. In fact, thousands of our members are retired too, and reap the benefits that their house sitting lifestyle allows them. By connecting with pet parents near and far, our sitters care for new furry friends and get a unique homestay in return - it’s a win-win.

So, if you’re looking for ways to reignite your retirement with adventure, purpose and meaning without busting your purse strings, we’re here to help. Take a look below for senior travel tips that’ll help you save, along with how house sitting will help you carve a post-work life you love, all made possible by pets.

How can seniors travel cheaply? 10 top tips for senior travel on a budget

1. House sitting - with TrustedHousesitters, you can explore the world without paying a penny for your place to stay. Just unique homestays across the globe with pet pals for company.
2. Take shorter flights - traveling to your far-flung destination slowly can cut costs and extend your adventure.
3. Book flights ahead of time - this can seriously divide the costs.
4. Pack light - if you’re house sitting long term, you can top up on all the things you need once you’ve arrived at your destination.
5. Get creative with transport - is there a cheaper way to get from A to B? Does your retirement status or age grant you travel at a reduced rate?
6. See free attractions - there are heaps of landmarks, museums and cool spots to see for free.
7. Bring reusables - not only is it better for the planet, but bringing your own water bottle and portable coffee cup can often get you your favorite refreshments at a reduced rate.
8. Make the most of travel rewards - look into whether the airlines you fly with regularly have reward schemes - this could mean big savings in the future.
9. Rent out your home - if you plan on reinventing your retirement completely and traveling full time (which you can do with house sitting, by the way), renting out your home to fund your travels is an option.
10. Save your long hauls for off-season - the price of flights during peak holiday seasons is sometimes double off-peak.

Seniors travel: why house sitting is the key to seeing the world 

Explore with purpose

Jetting off to an all-inclusive resort or cruising with an always on-hand waiter might have its perks (in the beginning), but after a while it can all get a little… samey. After a life so far filled with meaning and purpose, there’s only so long that so-called ‘relaxing’ can last in retirement. That’s why so many senior travelers join our community with a mission for meaningful travel, and experiences that truly count for something - meaning that regular holidays simply can’t provide. With house sitting, senior travel doesn’t have to be a passive act. In fact, it’s a rather active one, with sitters being the vital companions of pets, and pets, of course, provide the purpose. The new company of furry friends comes alongside the welcome tasks of tending to the home - peaceful upkeep activities like watering the plants, tending to the garden and collecting the mail.

Company of furry friends

Travel for single seniors can often get lonely - sightseeing sometimes just isn’t the same alone. That’s why so many members of our community find house sitting the answer - it means traveling for seniors never has to be lonely again. It’s any pet-lover’s dream - seeing the local sights with a furry friend leading the way, and fluffy snuggles waiting on the sofa once all the excitement of the day has been spent exploring. 

Pet pals without the commitment 

There’s no two ways about it - our community is filled with pet people, but that doesn’t mean they’re pet parents themselves. While having your own pets can be a tie if you’re starting your senior travel journey, house sitting gives you the best of both worlds: all the fun and companionship of pets, without being fixed to one home.

Unique homestays

Ever wondered what it might be like to live in a manor house with acres of rather regal grounds, or to cozy up with a cup of tea in a quintessentially English cottage, slap bang in the middle of nowhere? Or maybe the chic streets of Paris are your thing - whatever floats your boat, you can stay in the homes that you never thought possible, getting a taste for the lives you haven’t yet discovered. It’s the freedom to roam with the feeling of home - the perfect answer to retirement travel, surrounded by the home comforts you’d expect in locations you didn’t.

Exchange nothing but love for pets and get a place to stay in return

If you’re wondering how seniors can travel cheaply, house sitting offers a whole lot more than frugal travel in retirement, but it’s certainly one of the benefits. If lofty hotel fees and over-priced accommodation just isn’t your thing (and to be honest, is it anyone’s ‘thing’?), a membership with TrustedHousesitters allows you to stay in homes around the world without exchanging a penny with pet parents. Rather, exchange love and care for pets and get a homestay in return.

See the world in a new kind of way

For seniors with a sense of adventure, house sitting means that travel in retirement couldn’t be further from the vanilla, almost clinical regime of a fixed itinerary, strict hotel pick-ups and premature vacation cut-offs. Rather, house sitting allows you to live like a local for as long as you like - hopping from house sit to house sit, staying in real homes, making real connections and having real experiences.

Join a community of like-minded others

It’s no wonder that house sitting is popular with older travelers - with the time to jet off, it’s a no-brainer if you still haven’t quite scratched that wanderlust itch. Our community is filled with pet people like you, seeking adventure and real purpose when it comes to travel. Explore our community meet-ups, join the conversation on all things pets and travel, and meet like-minded others over on our community forum.

Make friends for life

Many of our sitters connect with pet parents who soon become great friends, returning time and time again to sits they’ll never forget - something you simply won’t get with a hotel reception. To read the tales from our community, visit our blog.

See corners of the world you never thought possible

Retirement travel on a budget doesn’t mean you’re limited to local stays - it’s the opposite, in fact, when it comes to house sitting. With pets needing a companion in all corners of the globe, you can rest assured you’ve got the option to stay in neighborhoods untouched by tourism, or the bustling streets of someplace popular.

Enjoy a change of scenery locally

While jet setting might be for some people, it might not be for you. With house sitting, you enjoy a much-needed change of scenery without traveling too far.

How house sitting gave John and Barb the retirement of their dreams

Meet retirees and avid house sitters - John and Barb. With time to spare and an urge to see places they were yet to visit, the pair joined the TrustedHousesitters community. Before long, they were jet setting to Edinburgh, and have since explored over 30 sits all over the world. To hear more about John and Barb’s transition from retirees living in Asheville to jet setting house sitters, read their story - there’s nothing stopping you from making it yours.

Related article: The gift of wanderlust: Rose O’Connor’s pet sitting story

So, ready for a retirement filled with exploration?

Join our lovely community of pet people passionate about adventure, and explore house sits in places you’ve always dreamed of staying - here's what to pack.