How one can Grow to be a Home-sitter in France

On this article, I’ll be outlining the most effective methods to turn into a house-sitter in France. Alongside my husband, Rob, I’ve been touring the world repeatedly for 2 years. I repeatedly use home and pet-sitting websites to boost our experiences and hold our lodging prices down.

There are a number of wonderful web sites obtainable for home and pet-sitting. Realizing the most effective ones and the best way to use them effectively will allow you to safe house-sitting jobs in France and the remainder of the world. I’ll be outlining all my experiences, good and dangerous, on this article.

I’ve accomplished over thirty housesits; starting from taking care of a small ranch in Tucson, Arizona, to caring for beach-loving canines in Santa Theresa, Costa Rica. I house-sat and pet-sat three totally different occasions in France over 2 and a half months. This included taking care of 2 lovely canines, 2 cute cats, and a menagerie of birds, simply exterior of Toulouse, France.

Since I began home and pet-sitting, I’ve not solely acquired free lodging worldwide, however I’ve realized rather a lot and have some good tricks to move on. Home sitting is a good way to satisfy new folks and uncover totally different elements of a rustic that you just may not in any other case get to see. Let’s get began.

How one can Grow to be a Home Sitter in France

There are a number of nice web sites obtainable for any burgeoning home and pet sitters. Discovering the best one for you is the primary essential step to take. Totally different websites have totally different professionals and cons, so learn on to search out out extra.

1. Trusted Housesitters

Trustedhousesitters.com is my go-to web site and the one I’ve used greater than another. Their app and website-based platforms are straightforward to make use of and there’s all the time a ton of listings obtainable. I simply checked, and at present, there are 6,530 listings accepting functions for housesits world wide…lots of that are luxurious home sitting gigs.

My favourite side of Trusted Housesitters is the power to save lots of your searches. For instance, once I was on the lookout for choices in France, I set my dates, my location (nation or metropolis/space), and different search standards. If you happen to don’t get any hits instantly, it can save you a search and be alerted when one matches the invoice.

Primary yearly membership begins at $95 and permits for limitless functions and housesits. Greater-tier memberships embrace totally different advantages resembling insurance coverage, vet chats, premium customer support, and a search and alert operate. The highest membership is $190 a yr. Goats On The Street readers obtain 20% off utilizing this hyperlink and promo code GOATS20.

2. Home Carers

Housecarers.com is an easy-to-use website-only home and pet-sitting web site. Though the variety of listings can’t compete with Trusted Housesitters, it’s a nice concept to maintain your choices open and to construct your profile. Most individuals itemizing their property solely use one web site, so the best posting for you would be ready on one other platform.

Housecarers.com doesn’t but have an app facility, so you need to head to the webpage to maintain up to the mark. Members obtain e-mail notifications and alerts for attainable housesits and when speaking with a bunch. The performance of the searches is nice and could be well-tailored to go well with numerous preferences, areas, dates, pets, and so forth.

Housecarers.com is an reasonably priced introduction to the world of housesitting. They’ve a free membership that permits you to peruse all their listings in full. To use, you’ll have to turn into a fully-fledged paying member which at round $50/yr is a good deal.

If you happen to’re considering of turning into a house-sitter in France, Housecarers.com is perhaps a superb place to begin to get a really feel of what a housesitting web site gives and the way it all works.

☞ SEE ALSO: How one can Put together For Your Home and Pet Sitting Job

3. Workaway

Workaway.data is probably higher generally known as a volunteer/cultural change web site than it’s for housesitting, however it shouldn’t be missed. I’ve used it to search out placements everywhere in the world the place meals and lodging are exchanged for 4-5 hours of labor a day. Nonetheless, it has since turn into a priceless instrument of mine for home and pet sitting.

Considered one of their fundamental search choices is house-sitting and at a fast look, there are over 500 listings looking for sitters world wide, together with many individuals on the lookout for a house-sitter in France. Their web site and app are straightforward to make use of, listings are all the time properly introduced with loads of particulars, and communication with hosts is normally fairly environment friendly.

Membership prices round $50/yr or $30pp/yr when a pair indicators up with a joint membership. I’ve made some terrific connections, long-term associates, and international contacts by way of Workaway. I extremely suggest it as a string to your house-sitting bow. See Additionally:

4. Thoughts My Home

Mindmyhouse.com is likely one of the longest-serving on-line platforms for house-sitting. It started in 2005 and has a terrific open ethos that advantages everybody concerned. They’re additionally one of many least expensive round at simply $29/yr.

I really like Thoughts My Home for the close-knit really feel of the corporate. In case you have a problem, you’ll possible communicate on to one of many homeowners of the corporate. They play an energetic function within the day-to-day. The ‘About Our Members’ part of their web site is a good function. It exhibits what number of hosts and sitters are at present energetic and the place they’re. Proper now, customers are at round 12,500 folks.

For my part, Thoughts My Home would possibly simply be the best choice to get you began if you happen to’re missing somewhat confidence in embarking on your home and pet-sitting profession in France.

5. Nomador

Nomador.com is a good web site if you happen to’re seeking to turn into a pet sitter or home sitter in France. Though they do have listings world wide, there are a ton in Europe. Their web site is similar to Trusted Housesitters, priced equally, and equally as straightforward to make use of.

A terrific membership possibility with Nomador is their 3-month short-term fundamental bundle. It permits new customers to dip their toes in and see if the housesitting sport is for them. Added advantages resembling insurance coverage, premium customer support, and early entry to new listings include larger membership costs. The highest-end bundle is round $190/yr.

Regardless of not having an app, Nomador is a good possibility for newcomers to accommodate and pet sitting. See Additionally: Inquiries to Ask a Dwelling and Pet Proprietor Earlier than Accepting a Job

Private Expertise Housesitting in France

My husband and I pet-sat in France for simply over two months. It was wonderful! Even in mid-November, it’s heat sufficient to drink a beer exterior within the south of the nation. Whether or not you’re in a small city out within the countryside or one of many massive cities, it’s such an attractive vacation spot with one thing for everybody.

Home-sits in France typically embrace a pet, or pets, to take care of. In rural areas, a component of gardening and watering normally comes into the equation too. Simply housesitting listings (no pets) do come up, however for essentially the most half, a pet or pets are sometimes all the time a part of the cut price. Every time I’ve been a house-sitter in France, the hosts have included a automobile too (extra on this later).

I sorted 2 stunning principally out of doors cats in Bergerac, the place my greatest process was sustaining the swimming pool! Then I moved additional north to Limoges and took care of a pleasant little Jack Russel terrier known as Alfie. My closing cease was simply exterior Toulouse, within the tiny however pretty village of Cologne – 2 cats, 2 canines, and let me rely… 23 birds!

☞ SEE ALSO: 15 Professionals and Cons of Home and Pet Sitting

Greatest Areas to Home Sit in France

As I’m initially from the UK, I’ve visited France many occasions previously. There are many nice areas to go to from small cities within the countryside to very large cities. Listed below are a couple of of my prime locations to think about house-sitting in France:

1. Paris

Essentially the most iconic, and maybe the obvious, place to take pleasure in house-sitting in France is the French capital, Paris. It’s a very fantastic metropolis stuffed with artwork and tradition that bubbles with life and ambiance — there are infinite issues to see and do in Paris. World-class eating places, cool bars, and cafes that set the usual for espresso tradition worldwide are round each nook.

Home-sitting in a giant metropolis like Paris will imply extra of an city setting and the expertise shall be akin to a metropolis break relatively than a rural retreat. Smaller metropolis homes and residences appear to dominate lots of the listings I see on the housesitting websites for Paris. This after all comes with the additional advantage of getting on a regular basis facilities in your doorstep.

I haven’t but been to Paris for a housesit, however have visited many occasions for brief weekend breaks. It might be a tremendous place to base your self as a house-sitter in France.

Location: Paris is situated in the direction of the North of France, round 2.5 hours from the coast and three hours from neighboring Belgium. Discover it right here.

2. Bergerac

My first expertise as a house-sitter in France was really in Bergerac and it’s the proper place to kick issues off. The attractive and historic city dates again to the Center Ages and has many well-preserved medieval buildings. It sits on the beautiful Dordogne River and is a common vacation spot for vacationers.

A terrific profit to house-sitting in Bergerac is that lots of people communicate English. That is as a result of quantity of British vacationers and expats that dwell within the area. I ordered a spherical of drinks in my greatest dangerous French, and the waitress responded in a thick London accent, “We could discuss in English as an alternative?”.

There are a great deal of cute cities located close by resembling Pereguex and Riberac, and Bordeaux is simply over an hour away. Good transport hyperlinks make getting out and about straightforward. It’s normally fairly low cost too. I used BlaBlaCar a number of occasions, which is a good ride-sharing app unique to Europe and really low cost.

Location: Bergerac is situated in the direction of the southeast of France, round an hour east of Bordeaux and 6 hours south of Paris. Discover it right here on the map.

3. Toulouse

I house-sat and pet-sat simply exterior Toulouse for a few month. My location was fairly a small city simply exterior of town however it was very easy to get to central Toulouse. Fortunately, the hosts left their automobile behind to be used throughout our keep. There’s an categorical prepare into Toulouse that I traveled on rather a lot, which at sure occasions of the day prices round $1.

Toulouse is named ‘The Pink Metropolis’. That is as a result of variety of terracotta brick buildings that give it a heat and rosy glow. The Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage Website, runs by means of Toulouse, with many nice spots for leisurely strolls, boat rides, or just stress-free.

Toulouse has a bustling vibe, with full of life markets, cafes, and a thriving restaurant and nightlife scene. A visit to the Convent des Jacobins is a tremendous expertise. Drinks beside the Garonne River and Pont Neuf are additionally a should. Home-sitting on this area can be perfect for anybody looking for quiet retreats on the outskirts, barely exterior of a extra fast-paced metropolis expertise.

Location: Toulouse is situated within the southern a part of France, round 105 miles (170 km) from the border of Andorra and 155 miles (250 km) from Spain. Paris is round 420 miles (678 km) to the north.

4. Montpellier

Montpellier was the primary metropolis I visited in France and it gives a novel expertise for anybody contemplating turning into a house-sitter in France. Considered one of my favourite issues about being a brief native is not only visiting however really dwelling someplace. Think about waking up in a centuries-old residence with slim medieval streets simply exterior your step – that’s Montpellier!

A terrific perk of housesitting in Montpellier is indulging within the many culinary treats. Contemporary produce is bought day by day at native markets and there are a number of excellent eating places and cafes everywhere in the metropolis. Montpellier can also be identified for its full of life ambiance due partly to it being residence to one among Europe’s oldest universities.

Past town, housesitting within the Montpellier space might even embrace seaside stays alongside the Mediterranean coast or extra rural houses surrounded by the pure great thing about the area. Situating your self right here would provide the freedom to discover the seashores, spend time in nature, and embrace a vibrant metropolis as a house-sitter in France.

Location: Montpellier is situated on the Mediterranean coast within the south of France. It’s round 2.5 hours east of Toulouse, 3.5 hours west of Good, and 280 miles (450 km) to the Italian border. Click on right here to search out Montpellier on the map.

5. Limoges

Limoges was a brand new metropolis for me. I knew it was a fairly centrally situated, massive metropolis, with a college, and that it had good direct prepare hyperlinks to my subsequent already-confirmed placement in Toulouse.

I’m glad I opted to go to Limoges. It’s a metropolis steeped in historical past and it exudes an old-world appeal, with its cobblestone streets and half-timbered homes. Though my house-sit was a reasonably fashionable house, house-sitting alternatives right here might be for centuries-old houses. What an expertise that may be!

There are some nice museums, an impressive cathedral, and a few fascinating historic websites that can delight fellow historical past buffs like me. As a college city, there are many cool bars and nice locations to eat to go well with each funds, and there’s all the time heaps happening. My husband and I spent his birthday in Limoges and it was an incredible day of meals, drink, and cultural sightseeing.

Location: Limoges is situated pretty centrally in France, edging in the direction of the south. It’s round 4 hours south of Paris and three hours north of Toulouse. Discover it right here on the map.

Is France Protected?

I discovered France to be a secure place to go to, and it’s thought-about a secure vacation spot for vacationers. Like several nation, it’s essential to stay vigilant, particularly in crowded vacationer areas the place petty theft can happen. Train frequent sense, resembling keeping track of private belongings and staying conscious of your environment.

French authorities take safety critically, and main vacationer websites are sometimes well-monitored. As a house-sitter in France, do your greatest to remain knowledgeable about any advisory warnings, and in case of any emergency, dial 112 the European emergency quantity. Having an insurance coverage coverage to cowl issues resembling private harm, lack of belongings, and theft is all the time extremely advisable.

If it’s your first time as a house-sitter in France and you intend to drive, it’s all the time a good suggestion to familiarize your self with native driving rules forward of time. Don’t study issues the laborious approach, particularly if you happen to’re renting a automobile or utilizing the homeowners’ car. Even skilled drivers will profit from a fast read-through of one other nation’s driving customs.

Professionals and Cons of Being a Home Sitter in France

There are professionals and cons to staying anyplace. Listed below are a couple of of the important thing factors which have cropped up throughout my time as a house-sitter in France:

Professionals of Dwelling in France

• High quality of Life: France persistently ranks excessive for high quality of life. It has a robust healthcare system, wonderful public companies, and a superb give attention to work-life stability.
• Culinary Paradise: Famend for its gastronomy, France has a various and beautiful tradition with meals that’s deeply ingrained in its tradition and historical past. As a house-sitter in France, you’ll be spoilt for alternative!
• Public Transportation: Environment friendly and in depth public transportation networks make commuting and journey inside France handy and eco-friendly.
• Cultural Richness: France’s wealthy artwork, literature, and structure historical past is unparalleled.
• Scenic Landscapes: From the picturesque countryside to the beautiful Mediterranean coast, France is residence to many breathtaking landscapes.
• Unbelievable Wine: France is well-known for making among the greatest wine on the planet. Good bottles of wine can be found in supermarkets for as little as $2.

Cons of Dwelling in France

• Paperwork: France is thought for bureaucratic processes that may typically be complicated and time-consuming.
• Language Barrier: The language barrier could be difficult for a house-sitter in France who isn’t fluent in French. Although many French folks communicate English, many additionally don’t.
• Strikes and Protests: France has a historical past of strikes and protests, which might often disrupt public companies and transportation.
• Value of Dwelling: The price of dwelling in sure areas, particularly in main cities like Paris, could be comparatively excessive in comparison with different international locations.
• Climate Variability: Whereas France typically has a nice local weather, climate circumstances can range, and a few areas expertise excessive temperatures and climate occasions.
• Critically Rural Areas: If you happen to like having facilities in your doorstep 24/7, a few of France’s extra rural areas is probably not for you as they lack on a regular basis conveniences. Many small cities and villages require a drive into greater cities for companies.
• Weekend Hunters: Looking with weapons or packs of canines is a well-liked pastime in lots of areas of France particularly on weekends. If you happen to’re pet-sitting or planning to turn into a house-sitter in France take additional precautions and search recommendation out of your hosts about the place to go and when.

Ideas for Home Sitting in France

With a lot to think about earlier than taking up an inventory, I’ve put collectively a couple of of my prime suggestions for house-sitting in France:

• Know your location: France has some very rural areas and housesits could also be approach out within the countryside unsupported by public transportation. Be totally conscious of the precise space you’re heading to and the way straightforward it’s to get to grocery shops, cafes, and so forth.
• Ask a few automobile: If the folks you’re housesitting for are leaving the nation they might be leaving their automobile behind. Most often, the insurance coverage in France covers anybody with a legitimate license to drive a correctly insured car – good for a house-sitter in France!
• Be taught the market schedule: Weekly markets are nonetheless a very talked-about factor in France, it’s how plenty of locals get most of their produce. You’ll discover every little thing from garments and quick meals to contemporary and reasonably priced groceries at a city market.
• Carry some money: Most locations, even the markets, settle for card funds however not all. If you happen to’re staying exterior of a giant metropolis discovering a cashpoint that doesn’t cost a hefty price could be a actual ache. Seize an affordable money float when you may.
• Put together for spotty WiFi: Most hosts shall be clear and upfront concerning the WiFi scenario. We’ve had a couple of connection points in rural France so I like to recommend having a pay-as-you-go SIM for information as a backup.
• Plan your buying: Many supermarkets, even the actually massive ones will shut round midday on Sundays. So plan your buying accordingly.
• Put together to make fires: I discovered that many rural homes in France had been heated virtually solely by a hearth. Hosts ought to all the time go away you ample provides of wooden and present you the best way to function them, however constructing good fires is a necessity out within the French countryside.

Home Sitting in France: FAQs

Listed below are some solutions to essentially the most generally requested questions on house-sitting in France:

In Conclusion

I hope this text has helped with some concepts on the best way to turn into a housesitter in France. It actually is a superb nation and one which I really feel everybody ought to expertise sooner or later of their lives.

Home and pet sitting offers a tremendous alternative to journey extra cost-effectively. For me, it additionally heightens the expertise of each journey. I’ve made some lifelong associates alongside the way in which, with each the folks I’ve sat for and their associates and neighbors.

I rave about home and pet-sitting to anybody who will pay attention. It’s one thing that’s modified my life and has opened up so many home windows of alternative for journey that I by no means thought attainable.

Good luck!