@ShulasMom , you’re woonnderful. I want to sit for you!
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Thank you. How sweet. Save my HO profile. You never know. Ventura’s a lovely place to visit and my little dog Shula is all about fun adventures.
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My most special sit was recently.
A family friend of the HO flies commercially and owns their own small plane.
They suggested reaching out and offering dinner as appreciation for taking me and my partner up.
Flight and dinner were great fun.
It was very memorable.
More commonly while it is never expected, it is always appreciated being asked if I need anything from the grocery before the sit starts. It is nice to have a cup of coffee and a decent breakfast the morning after arriving without a headache.
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Ventura, California?
I lived there many years ago. It is beautiful! Also love the little town nearby, Ojai.
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Yes, Ventura CA. It’s very special to be able to live on the coast here and know that if you need a hit of heat, you can drive 20 miles to Ojai for abundant heat and sunshine. Both towns have their own unique style and if you need a hit of posh, Santa Barbara is 27 miles up the freeway.
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I know we’re going off topic here but I recently got a job offer at a high school in Carpintería for a multimedia manager position. It didn’t work out as I’m in a different field now making a lot more than what they could offer me, but I’m not going to lie, I was very tempted to take the cut.
I really miss it sometimes!
I used to live right by Meta and Hemlock. I was never great at surfing but loved taking photos at Surfer’s Point. I went to Brooks Institute 20 yrs ago!
I highly recommend for sitters to visit Ventura or Ojai. Beautiful towns!
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Wow every sitters dream.
I love the destination but travel is stressful that won’t stop me doing that .but when you have been on a taxi a bus a plane then a taxi you are tired.and are just offered a yesterdays left over chicken Chinese as a pescatarian. Yep sucks.
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A dear friend of mine used to have that position at Carp. High. He’s now been retired for several years after 35 years there. C Street is one of my favorite areas to watch the surfers. Thanks for the Ventura plug. It will be helpful for my next get away.
What a thoughtful question. As previously a HO and now sitters, what is special is having a snack coffee or tea … so the pet is prioritised vs a quick visit to the shops.
Just as important is information exchange prior the sit and information about sleeping accommodation. Recently we, as married couple had a small double that was placed against wall - which meant having to climb over each other. It wasn’t ideal
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As a HO, I was wondering the same thing because I want my sitters to have a great time. The sitters are giving us this huge favor by taking care of our pets. So I feel that I have to make sure they enjoy their stay (besides a clean and comfortable place to stay in). I asked myself what is someone staying at my place looking for?
We live in Switzerland. Living here is expensive. So we always offer our couch (as we only have one bedroom) for the sitters to sleep on if they want to come a day early or stay an extra night or two after the sit and sitters can take whatever they want from the pantry, cupboards and fridge (as it makes no sense for them to buy something they will not finish while they are here).
The rest depends on the circumstances. If someone will stay here for more than just a couple of days I try and find something I can get for them that they can enjoy. For example, the people coming to stay the next time we are away for 10 days mentioned that they really want to try a real Swiss fondue. So I’ll go and get a good cheese mix from a local store, make sure we have everything they need to prepare it at home when they get here, and print out the instructions in English so they know how to make it.
I also like giving the sitters something that they can take home. My go-to things are a mini Swiss pocket knife and a bag of assorted mini Swiss chocolates.
We have two pretty low-maintenance cats. So I always tell the sitters that they can go on day trips if they like. I went to the tourist information and got some flyers and maps so the sitters could browse if they wanted. Next to the box with the tourist information I put a printout of the welcome guide (I didn’t like the version you can download so I made my own and added some more things to do around here).
As travelling around can get very expensive here I always try and look out for special offers. Additionally, I always ask what the sitters like to do in their free time so I can make suggestions that actually fit their interests.
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This is such a thoughtful question. Thank you on behalf of all petsitters! My two cents: It is so nice when the house is clean and tidy. I also like to know where all the cleaning supplies are, including lots of rags, so that I am not having to search all closets and cupboards, trying to guess which rags are for cleaning.
A solid briefing of the dog’s usual exercise habits and personality quirks/challenges is super important. On one of my sits, I got to do a dog walk with the owners the night before they left, and it was so great to see how the dog was for them and what their usual route was.
Access to your spices is so helpful! Also-- a brief explanation of grocery locations and areas to explore. I like the idea of toiletries, just in case. If you have any free passes to workouts, museums, parks, movies, etc. that would also be very nice.
Thanks again for asking!
Sounds like you’re the perfect home owner. I hope I housesit for you one day 
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@sihtamilo well, I just saved your listing.
It looks fantastic! Ideal for a cat lover.
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Very nice of you @sihtamilo . Your mention of a Swiss army knife brought back a memory. I brought one back for my dad from Switzerland years ago. A few years later – TSA had just cracked down on sharp objects on planes at the time, they confiscated it before he boarded his plane. So, although it’s a very handy item to have, it’s best to skip it if the recipient has to take a plane.
So, one anecdote. On a previous sit, the HO and I shared the same enthusiasm for Christmas. I mean, “All I Want for Christmas is You” starts after Halloween kind of enthusiasm. The sit was for 10 days in early December in Scandinavia and we arrived to a home filled with hygge and fully decked in Christmas decor. The HO also shared her list of favorite local places (with plenty of Christmas markets & experiences). To this day, it’s one of our top sit experiences.
I’m not as seasoned as many of you. We’ve only done 11 sits to date and so far we’ve been so lucky that we’ve had wonderful relationships right away with our furry friends and their HO/PPs always make sure that we enjoyed our stay at their home. So that’s not the point that distinguishes one sit from another for us.
I think what does for us is probably the feeling of being home right away. An immediate integration, like you could live there. While we do housesit, we also still stay in hotels. And what I appreciate in housesitting the most is the feeling that you’re not just a traveler, but the experience of living like a local.
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LOL. I’ve not even met my HOs yet — will do that today — but I’ve already started looking a real estate ads in my latest sit city. That’s how much I feel at home in Stratford-upon-Avon, in the U.K. Such a cultured, charming, easygoing place. Plus, there are various places to have afternoon tea, which I love.
Likewise felt at home at my previous sit, in London. That was my best sit to date. And this latest one is promising as well. I also had a previous sit outside of Cambridge, where I could definitely live, too.
I so appreciate that THS affords us these experiences.
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Have a mooch round Leamington Spa whilst you’re there @Maggie8K 
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Thanks, @Cuttlefish. I will. I didn’t realize how close it was till yesterday. I saw on a map on the way here.
I had to get from London to Stratford-upon-Avon and decided to skip public transit and instead take a guided tour of the Cotswalds and Stratford-upon-Avon. I just didn’t return to London with the tour group. It worked out perfectly. I stayed at a great hotel overnight and have explored the city since on my own. Very leisurely and lovely. About to have afternoon tea and meet my new HOs after.
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@Maggie8K How long are you in Stratford-upon-Avon for? The market on riverside is usually on a Sunday although they have also been on for various special events over the summer. Great selection of eclectic stalls and street food. My favourite coffee spot is Box Brownie Coffee on Henley Street. (One of the few to do a long black). If the weather is good it is a great place to sit outside and people watch. The buskers up that end are usually good for a listen too. To be fair there are a lot of great spots to choose from for coffee, food and things to do/see. We are back in the area (15 mins out of town) if you fancy a coffee with a fellow sitter?
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