Hello all
I will have a friend from the UK visiting me for an extended period next year. She is not a member of THS. Can I ask HOs if she can join me on a sit? Do I have to change my profile accordingly to mention that there will be two of us? Does she have to take up membership with THS?
Cheers
Karen
I have had a friend go with me a couple of times but only on returning sits where the owners have got to know me. A lot of people may say no, so add it to your profile. Remember not everyone has a spare room and they may not want their own room used. I have been in 5 bedroom places where bedrooms are now, an office, sewing room, studio etc. A lot will depend on your reviews, start local or somewhere you know well. She doesn’t need membership but they might ask for references
1 Like
My mother-in-law comes to visit us every year and joins us on sits whilst she is here. We ask the home hosts when we apply if they are ok having 3 adults stay and,so far, we’ve had no problems finding sits.
2 Likes
I have a friend who occasionally joins me for a sit.
My advice is: update your profile to refkect that you might sometimes have a friend joinnyou for the sit, and that you’d check with any HO before confirming the sit. Then choose sits that clearly offer the bedroom accommodation that you require. Then you could ask the HO in your application or in your chat before either of you confirm the sit, but be sure to word your request so that they can say no without feeling mean. You might be able to reassure the HO that with 2 of you their pet(s) will get twice the care 
The HO might ask for some form of references so they can be confident with both of you.
1 Like
Please ask in your application, and clarify if your friend needs a separate bedroom or a sofa/cot would be ok. Better that than wait for a phone or video chat if the accommodations arent what you and your friend want.
We have 4 bedrooms - the guest room (where sitters stay), our master. The other 2 bedrooms are repurposes to a lounge and an office. We don’t want our master bedroom used and could only offer the downstairs sofabed in addition to the guest room.
This has been discussed before on the forum from a sitter’s and owner’s perspective.
On my second sit, I was being shown around the house and after my bedroom, was shown another bedroom for friends to use. I hadn’t asked if friends could stay but the lovely owner said that as it was a long sit I might like friends to visit. I took up this opportunity and 3 friends came individually for a weekend each.
Ever since then I’ve occasionally asked if a friend could stay and never been refused. It may have something to do with my age and that it would be unlikely I’d have raves!
15 Likes
Agree with all comments so far. If your friend is essentially staying with you for months in 2025, and you want to travel around together, I would add her to your profile.
I have not had to do this, but imagine it simply requires editing your profile wording and adding some photos? You can explain in your profile who she is. At least Owners will know from the beginning of your application.
If you prefer separate bedrooms, I would make that clear in your profile and application.
2 Likes
Short answer yes. Just ask. As a HO I always say bring friends, family. I love getting all the photos of people playing with my pup. Maybe it’s a USA thing?
3 Likes
@Karen65 Definitely ask the HO now if the friend can join you.
But be prepared to have HOs say no and be prepared to honor their wishes.