I don’t think publishing a listing has anything to do with fairness. It’s a question of matching up. If HOs expectations don’t align with sitters expectations, then they will need to find alternative care for their pets, that’s all.
The ones I see that annoy me are for one night only, possibly Xmas night. Really? I know we all look for different things out of THS but I can’t fathom short sits. I know some people use them as a gap filler but I think I’d rather just book a hotel. Luckily we all get to choose what we want or don’t want to do.
We decided to accept a very last-minute Christmas sit to help someone out (confirmed on 22nd, commenced 23rd December). We arrived to find the fireplaces hadn’t been cleaned out, there was less than an inch of shower gel in the bottle, no shampoo, and not a slice of bread or a biscuit had been left for our arrival. We were, however, told to help ourselves to the out-of-date lettuce in the fridge and a dried-up end piece of stollen. We didn’t.
I’m totally aware that it’s not necessary for HOs to leave anything for sitters but, this was one of the very few times that absolutely no effort had been made to ensure our warm welcome, and that somehow felt worse with it being Christmas.
To be fair, the place was lovely and we spent a relaxing Christmas (after a hasty shopping trip once the HO departed), but we certainly didn’t feel appreciated, or treated like guests.
This was our 51st sit (not solely via THS), so hopefully will illustrate that it’s still possible to find experienced sitters for last-minute Christmas sits, but please do give some thought as to what will make them feel valued and welcomed during what is supposed to be a festive season.
How absolutely disappointing for you @Happypets, especially as you really were helping them out. I hope your review will give others a hint of their lack of appreciation, especially over the festive season. You wouldn’t have wanted to pay a booking fee for that one!!
@Happypets I can’t understand HOs who care so little for their sitters, especially at Christmas, the time of giving and caring! It makes me sad (and a bit angry) to read how poorly you were treated on that sit.
Last Christmas we did a Christmas sit in KL. We flew in for it, from Europe. The HOs were a young couple and seemed nice enough on the video call. We arrived in KL and went over to their place the day before the sit, as agreed, for a meet & greet and to pick up the keys. The only time they were available for us was at peak rush hour where Uber prices were at their highest & traffic was terrible (no public transport to their zone) They did not offer even a glass of water on arrival and we saw that they had a nice spacious guest room they could have (if they’d wished) invited us for a pre- sit overnight before their very early departure. It was absolutely OK for us not to stay (preferable even) but they did not think of our comfort or convenience with the meeting. When we arrived next day to start the sit we discovered only one roll of TP (for a 3 week sit) and all soaps/shower gel/washing liquid etc almost empty. Nothing nice left for us.. at Christmas..
The apartment was very clean & comfy, the cats were gorgeous, the building facilities great and the area very convenient etc. So we did enjoy the sit overall but we did not feel at all appreciated or properly welcomed. The HO also wanted pics of the cats every single day…
Thankfully they gave us a great review.
In great contrast - on our current sit in Australia the HO picked us up from the airport and we received a very warm welcome. In our room was a big Christmas hamper of goodies waiting for us! And a Christmas present (strictly not to be opened till Christmas day!) The evening before their departure they took us out for a lovely dinner. On Xmas day we opened the present- it was an expensive bottle of Champagne and a $100 Voucher for a meal at a lovely Tapas Bar on the beach!! Extraordinary generosity! We feel so extremely appreciated here and they keep telling us how wonderful it is to have us, and how relaxed they are feeling on their trip! The mother of our HOs (who lives locally) invited us for Xmas Lunch with her other daughter and grandkids & even gave us a present too!! So kind and welcoming. And not to forget the car they organised for us for this 9 week sit!! Rarely have we felt so appreciated! After 130 sits we feel we finally earned a really special sit experience! 
I don’t celebrate Christmas either, which means I am happy to do Christmas sits.
I am genuinely interested to see that some people prefer a longer sit over both holidays. I am a singleton, and non religious, but I assumed, it seems incorrectly, that most other people wanted to be at home with their own families over Christmas, or to sit as couples over Christmas, then move on. I guess there is a lid for every pot.
Oh no, does it take 130 sits to finally earn that special one? Oh well, I have 50 more to go then, sniff, sniff 
And, on top of that, it was a very last minute sit. Who wouldn’t be appreciative of finding someone right the day before leaving?
It takes all sorts.
We use THS to be near our family- so that we don’t have to stay with them! It makes for a happier row-free time if you can blame the pets for not staying very long each visit. 
We never did get our Christmas sit. But have something booked in for September (repeat sit so this is great) if anyone in Spain is looking for Christmas 2026/New Year 2027 we are still available, ideally in or around Barcelona!