What is one thing you MUST take with you for every sit?
For me, it’s my 6" French knife and a zip lock bag of about 15 herbs and spices. You never know what you’re going to find in someone else’s kitchen and I just wanna know I have what I need to cook the way I like cooking.
Something I WISH I had, (maybe stored at Gatwick Airport between trips?), is a pair of wellies for my UK sits. I don’t own any boots (not needed where I live and wouldn’t carry them in my luggage even if I did) so I’m often borrowing ones belonging to the woman of the house when we take our pups for “walkies” in the early morning wet grass. (And yes, I ask first).
I’d love to hear what items you always take when you travel.
(I would imagine full time sitters would differ from part time sitters.)
For local sits I bring my own coffee maker if the homeowners don’t have one. I’m also into spices especially curry, so I’ll bring certain spices that I enjoy.
Matt and I drive a conversion van to house/pet sits within the United States. We have many things that are stored in the Ford E150 that we don’t bring into the pet owner’s home. But, there are a few things that we often use at sits such as a ricemaker, cast iron skillet, bedding, yoga mats, and toiletries.
I always carry my yoga stretching strap & my roller. If i’m on my own for a long period of time I have a little stuffed moose, my husband has the little polar bear & have had them for many years.
UK sits we take my special pillow, topper for the bed (cannot get over how most of the beds on our many sits are so uncomfortable, Nespresso maker, potato peeler, Karcher for the shower, Wettex and sponge for washing up, 2 tea towels, plus towels so that we leave the Owners things all clean. European sits - special pillow, takes up most of the case, Nespresso maker, Wettex and sponge, tea towels, towels. There is never much room for our clothes. I have a long check list!
I like that, taking your exercise equipment and not using it ! . We used to take several books to do some drawing but found we never got around to doing any. I took up Pilates via zoom during lockdown and on the pet sit we did in September there was a zoom class! My husband also took his drum kit! The house stands on its own and it was at the suggestion of the owners!!
I always travel with a microfibre cloth and squeegee for the shower. Makes cleaning so much easier. If abroad, I have a double flat sheet with me as I’m not used to just a doona/duvet on top. There’s usually some dog treats as well.
We always have a flat sheet at home. I find the beds we have slept in so uncomfortable that I’ve not missed the flat sheet. I think many Owners must put their old bed in the guest room but to be fair European beds are generally harder. I’ve always gone for the softest mattress even when a spring chicken !!
& have had them for many years.
. We used to take several books to do some drawing but found we never got around to doing any. I took up Pilates via zoom during lockdown and on the pet sit we did in September there was a zoom class! My husband also took his drum kit! The house stands on its own and it was at the suggestion of the owners!!