On this article, I’ll define the very best methods to develop into a home sitter in Italy. Since leaving my residence within the UK in 2022 and embarking on a worldwide touring journey, I’ve been lucky sufficient to get pleasure from two unbelievable spells in Italy. Home sitting has performed an enormous half in permitting me to journey extensively whereas additionally saving a fortune with free lodging alongside the best way.
Understanding the place to look and the best way to safe nice placements is essential. It may be somewhat daunting getting began, so I’m completely satisfied to have the ability to provide the better of my years of data and expertise to get you efficiently on the street to home sitting in Italy.
Italy has all the time held a particular place in my coronary heart. It was the primary nation my husband, Rob, and I actually explored in-depth. A lot in order that he now speaks Italian to a reasonably respectable stage. It was additionally whereas sitting in a stunning cafe in Milan that we determined that touring completely was what we wished to do.
Lovely Italy is filled with tradition, historical past, world-class meals and wine. It’s additionally residence to among the most welcoming folks I’ve ever met. With an enormous variety of home sitting alternatives out there, from the seashores of Sicily to the piazzas of Turin, let’s get began.
How one can Turn into a Home Sitter in Italy
Many glorious web sites submit home sitting jobs in Italy. With some assorted memberships, value choices, and totally different options for every, discovering the precise web site for you is a crucial first step. I’ve outlined all the small print for my prime 5 right here.
1. Trusted Housesitters
Trusted Housesitters has been my go-to home sitting web site for over 5 years now. It’s by far the most important web site of its variety in the marketplace with over 7,000 energetic listings worldwide at the moment in search of sitters. It’s an important platform that’s simple to make use of with some very helpful options for home sitters.
One function I notably love about this web site is the choice to save lots of my search filters in order that I may be alerted when the precise itemizing comes on-line. Being fast to use for postings is necessary and this function is a good way to make sure you don’t miss any good placements that come up.
Having probably the most listings and being, in my view, the very best home sitting web site round does carry with it an even bigger price ticket than others on this record. Priced at $260 a 12 months, the top-tier membership contains advantages cancellation insurance coverage, enhanced customer support, and extra. The extra financial fundamental membership at $129/12 months is a extra reasonably priced start line.
Avoid wasting cash if you join by utilizing GOATS20 for 20% off any membership choice. Or be part of utilizing this hyperlink.
2. Thoughts My Home
There’s quite a bit to love about Thoughts My Home, and it’s an important web site for newcomers wanting to check the waters. Priced at simply $29 a 12 months, it’s an reasonably priced platform that has some nice options.
Thoughts My Home is without doubt one of the longest-established home sitting web sites having been energetic since 2005. The house owners play a day-to-day function within the customer support which I really feel offers it an in depth and private really feel. The stats portion of the web site is a wonderful addition that permits everybody to see precisely how many individuals are utilizing the positioning and the place they’re primarily based.
Owners be part of and submit their listings without cost, so you may as well ensure of loads of home sit alternatives. On a fast scan on the time of scripting this, there are over 20 posts out there throughout Italy, starting from just a few days in Umbria to a 5-month keep in Veneto! With such a low yearly value, Thoughts My Home is a good addition to any home sitter’s software package.
3. Nomador
Nomador is a good selection for home and pet sitting in Italy. Though the web site does record sits throughout the globe, they’ve a very sturdy European membership base with a whole bunch of postings on the Continent. The platform has most undoubtedly taken a leaf out of the Trusted Housesitters e book; it’s simple to make use of and has some glorious options.
The absence of an app is actually some extent towards it because it requires you to repeatedly test your emails for updates on any saved searches. However, the premium membership affords early entry to accommodate sits and definitely offers members a head begin when making use of for these superb Italian listings.
Nomador has 3 membership choices, the highest tier with quite a few added advantages is $190/12 months. However for those who’re nonetheless somewhat not sure about committing for a complete 12 months, there’s additionally a 3-month ‘Discovery’ choice. At $85 it is a nice solution to get began and not using a important monetary outlay.
4. Workaway
I’ve a tender spot for Workaway I’ll admit it! I’ve met some nice associates and had many fantastic experiences utilizing it. I got here throughout it just a few years in the past while in search of volunteer alternatives all over the world. I rapidly discovered it to be an excellent useful resource for home sitting too.
One of many predominant search choices on Workaway is for home sitting and it’s come in useful for me just a few occasions when in search of placements. What’s necessary to recollect is that hosts might solely record their property on one web site, so it’s a good suggestion to maintain your choices open with not less than a few totally different platforms.
Workaway is a good selection and could be a wonderful string so as to add to your home sitting bow. With a low annual value of $50 a 12 months or $30pp when a pair joins, it’s an reasonably priced choice to have at hand. The app and web site are easy to make use of, and I’ve discovered that energetic hosts all the time reply promptly to inquiries.
5. Home Carers
There are many glorious home sitting alternatives ready for you at Home Carers. Whereas it might not have the sheer quantity of listings that Trusted Housesitters boasts, it does provide a considerable variety of present listings prepared for functions.
Within the curiosity of maintaining your choices open, the cool factor about Home Carers is you can create a profile and browse listings with out spending a dime. Whenever you encounter a home sit that piques your curiosity, you’ll must improve to a full-paying membership, which is a really affordable $50 per 12 months.
In the event you’re contemplating changing into a home sitter in Italy, Home Carers is a unbelievable platform to discover all that house-sitting web sites have to supply and get a really feel for the whole course of. With its user-friendly interface and an reasonably priced membership charge, it’s a good way to get began.
Private Expertise Housesitting in Italy
Round 5 years in the past, my first home sitting stint in Italy occurred unexpectedly. Whereas doing a Workaway language trade with an Italian couple from Brescia, we fashioned an immediate connection. A lot in order that they invited my husband and me to care for his or her little farm for per week that summer season.
We had quite a lot of enjoyable taking good care of their 30+ chickens, 6 sheep, and a deaf canine referred to as Ringo who saved us entertained along with his day by day antics across the different animals on the farm. We’ve remained shut with our Italian associates, and have visited them not less than half a dozen occasions since.
Upon leaving the UK in January 2022, Italy was the primary level of name. Stimigliano, a small city north of Rome, was the placement for the primary home sit of the 12 months. The host, a stunning Scottish expat named Pleasure, had a house and backyard that required some hearty repairs. We, after all, knew this forward of time and loved working outdoors just a few hours every day – the spectacular valley views we had had been simply the icing on the cake.
A spritely canine referred to as Alfie was additionally a part of the discount and he was a enjoyable man to take care of. The home was nicely stocked with wine and Pleasure had advised us to assist ourselves! The beautiful little city and neighbors had been a delight that solely added to our constructive expertise. We had been invited most evenings for sundown aperitivo drinks someplace shut by.
Greatest Areas to Home Sit in Italy
There are a lot of actually fantastic elements of Italy simply ready to be explored. Listed below are just a few locations that I’ve just lately seen energetic home sitting alternatives for.
1. Rome
Rome is probably the obvious selection when contemplating home and pet sitting in Italy. The nation’s capital, often called the ‘Everlasting Metropolis’, repeatedly has ample home sitting alternatives with quite a few listings out there. You’ll be able to anticipate to see extra flats listed centrally, while additional out of city, larger farms and villas repeatedly search sitters.
Rome is certainly one of my favourite cities on the planet; the overwhelming historical past on each nook is in contrast to wherever else. With the ability to seize a ‘cafe portare by way of’ (that’s a takeaway espresso to me and also you), and see the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountains, and the Pantheon all earlier than your drink will get chilly is a singular expertise.
Rome is a bustling metropolis and might develop into very busy throughout peak seasonal journey occasions across the summer season. Don’t overlook home sits on the outskirts of the town. Frascati, Velletri, and Stimigliano are only a handful of the gorgeous little cities away from the hustle and bustle however shut sufficient for a fast prepare trip in for a slice of pizza and some glasses of wine.
Location: Rome is situated about midway down the nation, in direction of its western shoreline. Nice prepare companies hyperlink it with the entire nation. Naples is underneath 90 minutes away, as is Florence. Milan can also be reachable in underneath 4 hours by way of direct prepare companies.
2. Turin
Turin is commonly overshadowed by its extra well-liked Italian siblings but it surely affords an genuine style of the nation with out the overwhelming vacationer crowds. A home sitting placement right here will situate you amidst grand structure and picturesque piazzas while the native delicacies and considerable aperitivo choices make it a culinary expertise unto itself.
When leaving the UK, Turin was my first level of name. I’ve all the time liked the former Italian capital metropolis for its breathtaking monuments, the gorgeous River Po that flows via it, and the gorgeous Duomo that dominates the skyline. It’s an important metropolis to easily stroll round and discover.
Turin is the birthplace of the Aperitivo, which is actually an Italian completely satisfied hour with plenty of small snacky meals plates – perfection. In the event you step out for an early night drink anticipate to be stuffed earlier than you even make it to your dinner reservation. The town has a vibrant really feel while sustaining an area spirit. Tourism is energetic right here but it surely’s nonetheless a homely place to safe home sit.
Location: Turin is located in northwest Italy. The northern cities of Genoa and Milan are each reachable inside just a few hours by automobile or prepare. Montgenèvre Go, a standard crossing level into France, is round 87 miles (140 km).
3. Brescia
I’d guess that Brescia has not often cropped up in many individuals’s lists of Italian cities to go to. In any case, Milan, Venice, Lake Garda, and Verona are all very shut by. However it’s for this very purpose that Brescia must be excessive up on everybody’s record, particularly for home sitting alternatives.
It’s the right spot for basing your self and exploring additional afield. Brescia was the placement of certainly one of my first ever home sits and is a spot I proceed to return to repeatedly. It looks like a little bit of an untapped tourism gem. With the ability to hop on a prepare to so many gorgeous locations is an unbelievable perk, however Brescia itself is a tremendous place.
The town has a giant college which lends itself to a bustling metropolis vibe. An enormous medieval citadel dominates the skyline whereas the town middle boasts not one however two cathedrals! You’ll additionally discover many nice eating places and that cafe tradition for which Italy is so liked.
Location: Brescia is situated fairly centrally within the northern part of Italy. The closest airport is Milan Bergamo which is round 1 hour away. The lakes of Garda and Iseo are each underneath an hour away. Nice prepare companies join Brescia with all of Italy.
4. Sicily
Sicily has actually been on my home sit wishlist for a very long time. I visited a number of years in the past for a summer season trip and completely liked my time on the southern Mediterranean island. Though technically nonetheless classed as Italy, Sicily is its personal impartial area with round 5 million inhabitants.
The 2 main cities of Palermo and Catania stand out as nice home sitting places, while lots of the smaller coastal cities make for dream places to safe a posting. I discovered all of the locals to be extraordinarily welcoming and pleasant. Even with a translation barrier my husband and I had been invited to barbecues, and pool events, and had been purchased drinks on quite a few events.
The island is residence to the highest energetic volcano in Europe. This may increasingly trigger concern for some, however good warning methods and the space from many civilian areas imply Sicily is protected to go to always of the 12 months. I’ve climbed Mount Etna and walked on the cooled lava fields of a current eruption. It was a loopy expertise and one I gained’t be forgetting any time quickly.
Location: Sicily is an island within the South Mediterranean Sea, situated simply 1.9 miles (3 km) from the mainland of Italy. Rome is round 620 miles (1000 km) north. The island nation of Malta is round 60 miles (93 km) off Sicily’s southern shoreline.
5. Florence
Florence is an unbelievable place to accommodate sit and having hiked a lot of the area, I can verify any rumors you’ve heard of Tuscany’s magnificence are true! Nestled within the coronary heart of Tuscany, Florence stands as a residing testomony to the Renaissance period. It’s an excellent metropolis with a wealthy historical past and luxurious structure – it’s no shock that it’s thought-about a jewel in Italy’s crown.
Florence was a bustling middle for artwork and science within the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The town’s museums, such because the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery, home masterpieces by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Botticelli to call however just a few. The Ponte Vecchio is sort of a gateway to the previous, with many small outlets and market stands lining the previous bridge over the River Arno.
Past its apparent creative attraction, Florence is a foodie’s dream to discover. The Mercato Centrale is a feast for the senses with big shows of native produce, cheeses, and meats. The various glorious trattorias discovered throughout the town serve up conventional Tuscan meals with native wines to enhance the meals. What’s to not love?
Location: Florence is located ideally for accessing a lot of Italy. With nice prepare hyperlinks, guests may be in Rome to the south or Milan to the north inside 1.5 – 2 hours. The world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa is simply over an hour to the east of Florence.
Is Italy Protected?
Italy is mostly thought-about a protected vacation spot for guests. It boasts a strong vacationer infrastructure and environment friendly important companies. Nonetheless, petty theft is very prevalent in busy vacationer areas resembling Rome, Florence, Naples, and Venice. I’d advise warning and contemplate leaving valuables at residence.
Scammers and peddlers of counterfeit items may be present in lots of the main cities. Remember that vacationers may be topic to fines for buying inauthentic objects. Widespread begging, notably by older Romani ladies with kids, can conceal a syndicated exploitation community. Think about doing your personal analysis earlier than donating to charitable causes.
Pure occasions resembling flooding, although irregular, can pose a threat. Lively volcanoes resembling Mount Etna and Mount Vesuvius shouldn’t be ignored as a attainable security concern or journey disruptor. At all times keep alert for climate warnings and make sure you observe native steerage to make sure a protected and clean go to.
The varied Mafia clans energetic all through quite a few Italian cities very not often influence vacationers in any method.
Professionals and Cons of Being a Home Sitter in Italy
There are a lot of constructive elements of home sitting in Italy and naturally just a few unfavorable elements too. From my very own expertise, I’ve outlined some execs and cons to pay attention to earlier than accepting a place home sitting in Italy.
Professionals of Home Sitting in Italy
- Cultural Richness: Italy has a wealthy cultural historical past of artwork and structure. Home sitting in Italy affords an immersive expertise in a rustic that has influenced world tradition for hundreds of years.
- Culinary Paradise: Italian delicacies is famend worldwide. From pasta and pizza to regional specialties, spending an prolonged interval in Italy means having quick access to among the greatest meals on the planet.
- Laid-Again Way of life: Italians put an emphasis on having fun with life. The tempo is notably slower, and there’s a deal with savoring the second. Lengthy lunches and lazy espresso breaks make it an important place for anybody looking for a relaxed way of life.
- Gorgeous Landscapes: From the rolling hills of Tuscany to the Amalfi Coast’s dramatic cliffs, Italy has many various and breathtaking landscapes. Home sitting right here will enable quick access to among the most lovely surroundings on the planet.
- Mediterranean Weight loss plan: Italy’s conventional weight loss plan, wealthy in olive oil, recent greens, and lean proteins, is related to numerous well being advantages.
- Festivals and Celebrations: Italians actually know the best way to have fun life and festivals, and occasions are quite common. You’re more likely to see all the pieces from conventional Christmas and Easter celebrations to very large summer season concert events.
- Proximity to Different European Nations: Italy’s central location in Europe makes it handy for journey. You’ll be able to simply discover neighboring nations, and expertise various cultures only a quick journey away.
- Pretty Locals: Italians are identified for his or her heat and robust sense of household and neighborhood. Home sitting in Italy gives the chance to kind relationships with neighbors and locals and make actual long-term connections.
- World-Class Wine: Italy is famend globally for its wine. Whether or not you’re selecting up an inexpensive bottle from the grocery store or forking out for a fancier choice at dinner, you may relaxation assured the wine in Italy is classy.
Cons of Home Sitting in Italy
- Bureaucratic Hurdles: Italy is understood for its forms, which may be time-consuming and generally irritating. Coping with paperwork for visas, healthcare, or different administrative issues will virtually actually require endurance.
- Language Barrier: English is broadly taught, particularly in city areas and among the many youthful inhabitants, however some areas do pose a language barrier. There are a lot of dialects of Italian; in rural areas generally even fundamental Italian doesn’t minimize it.
- Value of Residing: In main cities and vacationer locations, the price of residing may be comparatively excessive. I’ve discovered that gas, eating out, and sure items and companies are dearer in comparison with different nations I’ve visited – particularly within the north of the nation.
- Political Instability: Italians like to passionately focus on politics. Largely as a result of Italy has skilled intervals of great political instability. Staying knowledgeable in regards to the political local weather is a good suggestion.
- Healthcare System: Whereas Italy does have a public healthcare system, the standard and effectivity of healthcare companies can range. Entry to English-speaking medical professionals can also be restricted in sure areas, particularly additional south.
- Pure Catastrophe Dangers: Italy is liable to seismic exercise, particularly in areas like Naples and Sicily. Whereas stringent constructing codes and monitoring methods assist decrease dangers, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions can and do happen.
- Driving Points: Though lots of the predominant roads are easy to navigate, driving in smaller cities and busy cities generally is a problem. In the event you’re unfamiliar with the driving practices, the locals might nicely offer you some direct suggestions.
- Pace Traps: The Italian police love a velocity lure and are identified for fining for something they will discover flawed together with your driving or automobile; they most certainly will challenge you with a ticket for those who get pulled over. My recommendation: study the principles and follow the velocity restrict always.
- Visa Restriction: Home sitting in Italy long run could also be a difficulty for non-EU residents who sometimes can solely keep within the European Schengen Zone for 90 days each 6 months.
Home Sitting in Italy: FAQs
Listed below are some solutions to probably the most generally requested questions on home sitting in Italy:
Sure, having insurance coverage is essential when visiting Italy. Whereas many home and pet sitting platforms might present protection for host cancellations inside their memberships, it’s important to not overlook healthcare bills in Italy. Guaranteeing protection for medical conditions is crucial, as even minor medical occasions can incur a considerable value.
To develop into a home sitter in Italy, your preliminary step is to register on a home or pet sitting platform. There are glorious choices out there with quite a few listings at the moment in search of sitters in Italy. All range barely and have membership costs to go well with all budgets. My most well-liked decisions are Trusted Housesitters and Thoughts My Home.
Usually, you gained’t be paid to be a home sitter in Italy. As an alternative, the association typically revolves across the trade of your home and pet sitting companies for the chance to remain in a pleasant residence, offering you with a cushty base to discover the encompassing areas.
It’s a mutually helpful understanding the place the main target is on the expertise and the cultural immersion fairly than monetary transactions.
Sure, there are certainly listings for home sitting in Italy with out pets. On numerous web sites, you’ll find listings the place the first accountability is overseeing a property whereas the hosts are away. Nonetheless, it’s price noting that within the majority of circumstances, the association sometimes contains the care of a number of pets as a part of the general settlement.
How lengthy you may keep in Italy whereas home sitting depends in your visa sort and nation of origin. It’s essential to conduct thorough analysis earlier than committing to any home sitting engagements. Overstaying your visa may end up in a tremendous, fast deportation, or perhaps a ban from coming into the European Schengen Zone for a major interval.
I’ve discovered home sitting in Italy to be a mix of cultural immersion, scenic magnificence, and culinary delights. From the historic wonders of Florence to the sun-soaked seashores of Sicily, every area affords a singular expertise.
While residing amidst smaller native communities I’ve made some lifelong connections. Caring for lovely pets has added a heartwarming and memorable side to each itemizing I’ve undertaken. Home sitting in Italy means that you can actually stay someplace and expertise it on a a lot deeper stage, in comparison with merely visiting for a trip.
In a way, sure, you may home sit in Italy without cost as, sometimes, postings don’t contain an trade of cash from both facet. However that’s depending on customers having already signed up and paid a small membership charge with a home sitting web site. While some websites enable a free profile choice, you’ll have to develop into a full-paying member to use.
Costs begin from as little as $29/12 months (Thoughts My Home) and even Trusted Housesitters with its 7,000+ energetic listings has a top-tier all-inclusive yearly membership that’s cheaper than 2 nights in a mean resort!
To be a home sitter you might want to be dependable – in spite of everything, somebody goes to go away you in command of their residence, pets, and worldly possessions. Flexibility and flexibility are additionally necessary, each in regard to arrival and departure dates, duties it’s possible you’ll be requested to do, and new environment that might not be what you’re conversant in.
Consideration to element is one other necessary ability for changing into a profitable home sitter. The hosts might depart particular requests for his or her residence with regard to vegetation or pets and these should be adopted to a tee. Being an outgoing and pleasant particular person will guarantee your hosts really feel completely satisfied and assured when heading off leaving you in command of their residence.
In Conclusion
I’ve maybe seen extra of Italy than I’ve my very own nation. It’s one place that I’ve actually missed having such quick access to since leaving the UK. Being able to jump over from Stansted Airport on an inexpensive Ryanair flight for the weekend was a luxurious I took benefit of many occasions.
Home sitting in Italy over the previous couple of years, has allowed me to immerse myself much more within the tradition of such an exquisite nation. Whenever you spend time within the ‘actual’ Italy you get to see a lot greater than the vacationer spots can provide. And though these spots are equally fantastic, it’s the depth of home sitting experiences that really make them memorable.
There are a whole bunch of Italian houses at the moment ready for functions, so get your self signed up at present.
