A completely restored 1906 home in Chicago. Every inch of beautiful wood was brought back to its original splendor. The original charm was 100% intact while the chef’s kitchen was completely modern—oodles of countertops, storage and a butler’s pantry.
A lovely house in Neutral Bay Sydney looking after 2 gorgeous indoor cats. We walk 10 mins down the road where we catch the ferry for 2 stops into Central Quay. The house doesn’t have a large garden but it’s on three floors and has numerous terraces off rooms and bedrooms
The owners allow us to use their bedroom on the top floor of the house where we can prop ourselves up in bed and see the headlights of the cars coming towards us on the Harbour bridge. We pinch ourselves every time we go as the sits are for 3 weeks and we’ll be there again in 3 weeks time.
Our current sit in Malta is pretty special. 2 terraces with views over historic Birgu. Minutes walk from transport (Buses and ferries) and an amazing home owner who is a sitter herself. And of course, the very (VERY) easy going ginger cat with the personality of a lovable, grumpy old man.
As an American, I had long daydreamed about living in an English village and was lucky enough to sit for a lovely couple just outside of Cambridge, soon after joining THS. They were warm and kind, went above and beyond. They even intro’d me to neighbors/friends, who later invited me out.
My hosts’ house was pristine, charming and full of art, because one was an artist. They had a beautiful conservatory full of plants (where I would have afternoon tea), as well as a lovely garden with a fish pond.
During my sit, it seemed idyllic to walk my sit dog (a bow tie-wearing miniature poodle) and see cricket being played on community acreage, to chat with friendly villagers (who recognized my sit dog), to pass sheep in fields, to see someone riding a horse on the village high street, to go to the chippy (or to the cafe and have a full English), to see storybook thatch-roof houses, and so on. I also took my sit dog to the pub for drinks (for me, not the poodle 
), where they warmly welcomed me, knowing whom I was sitting for.
Coincidentally, Charles was being crowned king, so the village had decorated and all the newspapers had historic coverage. I love reading U.K. papers, which have so much more personality than ours in the U.S.
I couldn’t have asked for a more idyllic sit. My stay really gave me a sense of living in the village. Plus, I fell in love with their plump British shorthair cat.
I stayed in touch with my hosts. I even visited a hotel in Washington, D.C., after my sit, so I could photograph one of the artist’s pieces displayed there and send her the pictures.
My hosts gave me a terrific review, which quickly helped me land other wonderful U.K. sits, including in London and Glasgow. Those all were also amazing sits, but my first fulfilled my English village daydream. I could not have done that without THS.
Funny this topic should pop up, just yesterday I texted my all time favorite sit HO and house thanking them! They texted back and, hopefully, we can host them Here at our equally fabulous ocean view home during their current road trip! It was a beautiful custom home with 360 degrees view of the Salish sea and Olympic mountains in the distance over in the San Juans for a month last spring. Two good natured, mellow cats, a few fireplaces, walls of glass, and decks with more fireplaces 
, heaven to me. Couldn’t believe my luck. Only downside was the ocean was so cold I was afraid to kayak alone. There was only a 15 second window should I capsize to get back in the kayak before hypothermia sets in. Then, there were the orcas…3 of them hunting for seals on the beach, each the size of a city bus, it seemed! I didn’t spend much time in the water, which is why I was so enamored with the beautiful house and views. I’ve never been happier 
!
That’s funny. I was in the UK at the time, too. I was on my second sit and I really enjoyed reading about the event, following it on the TV and talking to old friends in Northern Ireland about the change of attitude regarding Charles.
Peaks Island in Casco Bay. Just a short ferry ride from Portland, Maine, but a whole other world with beautiful coastal scenery and a laid back vibe. Also Malahide, Ireland, a 15 minute walk to the castle and huge park, seaside village, and an easy train ride to Howth and Dublin.
It’s in England. I’m there right now, looking after two cats. The house is in the Arts-and-Crafts style - popular in the 1930s. The HOs designed it themselves, along with the garden; the house and garden were designed to sit together as a coherent whole. It looks 100 years old, but was finished in 2016. It sits in open countryside in a broad valley and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anywhere so staggering, let alone had the privilege of staying there.
I could tell you guys where it is - but then I’d have to kill you. 
Oh hm. Being from the US we’ve had some memorable ones for different reasons.
One of my top was an estate in Provence, France. An 1800’s restored flour mill owned by a Belgian baron and his wife. It’s a vacation resort during most of the year but we were there off season and had our own 2 bedroom stone cottage complete with wood burning fireplace (multiple villas on the property) and no pets to watch. It was like walking into a Marcel Pagnol movie.
Another was an 8,800 square foot 18th century home outside Edinburgh on land that once belonged to the castle next door. There is a 450 year old tree that was planted by a rumored lover of Mary Queen of Scots. This, too, felt like a movie set. And just 2 adorable kitties to care for.
A month in Panama with an incredible swimming pool would be another and my husband would say the one in Malta bc we were loaned a car and he drove all over the island swimming every single day (but my least favorite accommodation by far).
We have also stayed in some fabulously beautiful homes just steps to the beach and are incredibly grateful for it!
Did you leave the house, I’m afraid I wouldn’t!
We’ve been fortunate to enjoy some lovely housesits.
But in terms of memorable experiences we’d suggest our first ever housesit - in Calgary, Canada. May 2023.
The people were welcoming; single friendly dog; family home for a few weeks - all good.
But what made it memorable was that it was our first housesit. We had only heard of housesitting concept the prior month. It was an experiment for us, in multiple regards. Mercifully we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It opened our imagination, gave us confidence and illustrated the win-win-win outcome from housesitting. And Scottish DNA processed the avoided cost of airbnb accommodation, for a trip that we would have taken anyway.
These are brilliant, thank you everyone! I’m now very jealous!
@sandydandy orcas the size of city buses? Sounds incredible! Did you get any photos?
@Suzy.b watching the Harbour Bridge lights from bed sounds unreal. Enjoy the next one!
@Brightlight grumpy old man cats are the best!
@Maggie8K a bow tie wearing poodle at the village pub feels very English village life. So lovely that you’re still in touch with your hosts.
@DieFledermaus I don’t blame you for keeping this one to yourself, it sounds amazing!
@GotYourBack love that your very first sit is the one that stuck with you.
Quick follow-up for anyone reading… has a sit ever looked pretty ordinary when you agreed it but turned out to be one of your favourites?
Jenny 
One of our favourite house sits was a beautiful home on the River Thames, with the river running right past the garden. Through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, we could watch the boats go by.
Outside, there was a choice of three decked seating / dinning areas — perfect for dinner, a BBQ, or simply enjoying a cup of tea or coffee( or a glass of wine )while watching the ducks , swans , kingfishers, boats, paddle boarders and occasionally swimmers too !
We even had people passing by on their boats calling out to tell us what a lovely house we had! And, to top it all off, there was a lovely dog and great hosts too!
One afternoon, a wedding party came past on a paddle steamer, complete with a live band, and they all gave us a wave as they passed by the garden .
I’ve favourited a couple of sits with houses on the Thames @Silversitters but never been available for when they’ve been listed. This sit of yours sounds a beauty. So glad you had a great time enjoying it.
Living the dream @Silversitters - that sounds wonderful.
Sounds absolutely heavenly @Silversitters 
You’re right, Jenny, the orcas were regular sized, but they seemed to be enormous, much bigger than my tippy kayak, sort of like Moby Dicks! They were definitely hunting, though! Aaarrrgghh!
Totally get it @sandydandy - I have a touch of thalassophobia so the mental image was crazy! 
very brave to kayak on the open water!
@Jenny, we’ve had several housesits where the pets have won our hearts. Sometimes as they clicked with our personal preferences - likely from our late pet, we relish dogs off-leash walk in rural trails 
. Sometimes as their character was simply adorable - a few that, given other circumstances, we’d have happily adopted 
. Sometimes as pet was clearly happy with their life.
