Interesting…I will remember that should I travel to the UK…I would love to go see Wimbledon in person one day.
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The English are real travel ‘nerds’ we even have in our National Schools Curriculum how to read train and bus Timetables from age 7 
and as adults we love to talk about routes and travel options…. some of us also know train times out of major cities off by heart…
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This thread has taken on a life of its own!
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My understanding is that OP was asking for a video call with both the sitter and the BF in order to make a decision, and the request for the video call, which could lead to a yes, was being ignored. It is in the sitter’s interest to set this call up asap… it comes across that she wants to let time run down to force the host’s hand.
I would also cancel this and relist. In my mind, this sitter would already be knocked down for reliable and organized before the sit even starts!
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I have not seen that.
Too much speculation here. I see really no reason for the OP to cancel unilaterally. As a reminder: according to THS, that requires extraordinary circumstances. Getting scared by random people on the internet does not qualify.
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Her coninued lack of communication is another red flag. I wish you luck in whatever you choose to do in this sticky situation .
I sit and have sitters in my home. When you apply for a sit the host chooses you based on the info in your profile and then often follows this with an interview. There is a strong element of doing a job for someone and trust. I dont think its ok to agree a sit then start trying to change the parametres of it by inviting unknowns into someone else’s home at the last minute. NOT inviting unknowns into your home is the whole point of THS. I would try to make this clear to the sitter. She needed to add him at the application stage.
As a solution you could ask that the boyfriend create a profile so you can see who he is as well as having a video chat with them both and see how you feel then.
As for flights, I always get the info on flights before accepting a sit then buy them immediately after being accepted and let the host know all the details at the same time to put them at ease and show them I’m serious. Also, on an extra note, I’m in Europe and, I’m sorry but flights get more and more expensive the closer you are to the time of travel and there are fewer seats available, especially over the summer hols. On some runs perhaps its ok but a sit has quite a specific arrival time which needs a bit more forward planning. It sounds a bit non-commital to me to leave it so last minute. Then again may be she is insuring herself against a cancellation your end by not buying so far in advance? That can happen too.
Best of luck with it all.
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Absolutely
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@legendvictoria Then listen to your inner voice; cancel the sit and re-list, whilst you still have time to find an alternative sitter. Or, say no. We’ve occasionally asked if we might invite guests to a sit, but made it very clear that it’s not a deal breaker and we don’t want anyone to feel put on the spot. We wouldn’t be offended if the response was negative (which we also make clear). Often, PPs offer - without prompting - an invitation for us to have guests during a sit (an offer we find incredibly generous, but don’t often take them up on). Everybody is different - thank goodness - and it’s about finding a balance which works for both sitter and PP.
Again: there is not the required extraordinary reason for that.
The sitter asked a question, which the HO did not answer. The sitter making a request is really no reason to cancel the sit.
Why cannot people communicate and make a phone call anymore?
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@legendvictoria
Maybe you can pass the phone number to @pietkuip and he can make the call on your behalf? Hehehe
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You’ve selected to quote just one part of my post, @pietkuip.
The sitter is attempting to change the terms of the sit. If the pet parent is not happy with the proposed change, she is entitled to refuse the request or even cancel the sit if it makes her feel uncomfortable (which she has stated it does). I have pointed out that some PPs do not have a problem with guests. It is up to the individuals concerned to work this out and surely for us to advise the pet parent of her options.
You may believe it is not a problem for the sitter’s boyfriend to attend the sit @pietkuip , but you are not the pet parent here, @legendvictoria is, and has posted because she is not comfortable with the proposal.
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Of course. But the HO had not done that.
Advising the HO to unilaterally cancel the sit is bad advice because it goes against the T&Cs. Frankly, I find the advice unimaginably cruel. Suppose the sitter had just bought a ticket? Canceling unilaterally is not an option.
Being “uncomfortable” with a request is not an extraordinary reason.
This type of situation would be resolved quickly (or not even arise) in a culture like Sweden or the Netherlands where being direct and brutally honest is expected and valued. 
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@toreishi This is exactly how I feel!
I’ve got a back up plan in place at this point.
After much thought, I’m just not comfortable with having this sitter.
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@andrealovesanimals I didn’t know this was an option.
BTW - I haven’t heard back from the sitter since I reached out after my bf/transportation follow up inquiry…and the messages have been read.
@longlegs1 What a nightmare!!! My heart aches for you! The audacity and entitlement of some people is beyond my understanding.
Do you mind me asking, how you handled this situation? Did THS provide support?
If the previous reviews weren’t exactly to your liking, I’m wondering why you chose this individual for the sit? Hoping that it all works out, and if it had been days since you received a response, and your notes are being read, I’d also cancel and repost. It’s no longer a mutually agreeable situation for either you or the sitter. Time to make a decision and stick to it.
Seriously, @pietkuip , I think you’re misquoting me again. If you re-read my post, I did not advise the OP to ‘unilaterally cancel the sit’, I mentioned the option of cancelling, of refusing the request for the boyfriend to accompany the sitter to the sit and I also mentioned that some PPs are happy for sitters to invite guests or visitors.
And I agree that feeling ‘uncomfortable’ with a request is not an extraordinary reason to cancel, but not being willing to accept a third party is. What we don’t yet know, of course, is how the OP has actually responded to the sitter’s request or what the sitter’s stance is.
@pietkuip The sitter never provided a phone number which I requested after the sit was confirmed. I requested again when I checked on ETA for travel.