House Sitting vs. Hotels: The Long Term Traveller’s Dilemma

Travelling long-term comes with one unavoidable question: where do you sleep without spending a fortune or losing your sanity?

Over the past few weeks while travelling through the Northlands of New Zealand, I’ve tried a mix of house sitting, motels, and what I can only describe as a home-stay-but-also-a-hotel experience.

Each has its perks. Each has its pitfalls. And each has taught me something about what I truly value in accommodation; mainly, my own space and a bed that doesn’t have to be shared with a dog, a cat, or my husband (if possible).

Here’s the breakdown, because if you’re travelling for any length of time, you’ll probably find yourself facing similar choices.

House Sitting: Free but Not Really

House sitting is one of those things that sounds brilliant in theory. Stay for free! Enjoy a home away from home! Cuddle a cute dog! 

And it is great. Mostly.

What’s Good:

✅ It’s free. Let’s be honest, this is the main reason anyone does it. Accommodation isn’t cheap in most places these days, and house sitting lets you stretch the budget further.

✅ You end up in unexpected places. We started our trip in Waipu, for example. Never on my radar, but suddenly, I’m knee-deep in the fascinating history of Scottish settlers who trekked halfway around the world to build a new life.

And not just any Scots—these were hardcore emigrants who left Scotland in the 1800s, sailed to Nova Scotia (as you do), found it too harsh, then packed up again and made the long voyage to New Zealand.

Imagine making that journey twice in an era where long-haul travel meant months on a cramped wooden ship, surviving on salted meat and hard biscuits.

And now their descendants run bakeries serving some of the best pies in New Zealand. History with a side of steak and cheese – I love discovering stories like this!

✅ Pets! A big plus. I love dogs, and having a furry friend around is a bonus.

✅ You can cook. No endless takeaways or sad service station sandwiches.

What’s Not So Good:

❌ Cleaning. You’re living in someone else’s house, so you have to clean it like it’s your own. I don’t mind vacuuming, but I hate scrubbing toilets.

Also if you get a house that doesn’t quite meet your standards of cleanliness, whether you like it or not, you will find yourself cleaning out fridges, deep cleaning bathrooms etc, just for the time you’re staying there!

❌ Plants. If you want to guarantee a slow and painful death for your houseplants, ask me to take care of them.

❌ Pets come first. Want to go on a spontaneous all-day adventure? Too bad. Fluffy needs her lunchtime walk.

❌ You’re often in the spare room. Which means minimal space, possibly a sofa bed, and zero room for your stuff.

❌ Cleaning. Did I mention cleaning?

It doesn’t mean I won’t house sit as on the whole the pros outweigh the cons. But in small doses. It certainly wouldn’t make up my whole nomadic strategy.

My favourite part of House Sitting!

Hotels & Motels: The Sweet, Clean Escape

After a few days of house sitting, there is nothing more glorious than stepping into a hotel room and knowing you don’t have to clean it.

What’s Good:

✅ You choose your comfort level. Before booking, you can inspect photos, read reviews, and decide if it’s up to scratch. No surprise lumpy beds.

✅ No chores. No vacuuming, no wiping down counters, and absolutely no toilet scrubbing.

✅ Everything you need is just there. Towels, shampoo, tea, coffee – no rummaging through your bag to find that tiny bottle of conditioner you swore you packed. Hairdryer? Sorted. Extra pillow? Just ask.

In New Zealand and Australia they even supply milk in the fridge or ask if you want some when you’re checking in. Which for a tea addicted Brit like me is luxury! (I’m fairly easy to please 😂)

✅ Freedom. No pets, no plants, no obligations. Want to wander town, grab a drink, and stay out late? Go for it.

View from our room in The Distinction Hotel – Whangerai

What’s Not So Good:

❌ The price. Hotels prices in many countries can be eye-watering, and the longer you stay, the more painful it gets.

❌ Sometimes you pick a bad one. We picked a corker of a motel in Kaitaia. On first inspection it looked fine. Unfortunately it was only after I paid I tested the woeful pillows (or rather minimal bits of cushion fluff in a pillow case), and noticed the toilet could do with a deeper clean. Thankfully we were only there for one night.

The Perfect Motel

For me, the sweet spot is a mid-range motel with a kitchenette and a small lounge. Not too posh, not too basic, but comfortable, clean, and spacious enough to avoid stepping on my husband’s shoes in the middle of the night. Bonus points if there’s an extra bed to claim as my own.

The Home Stay: Fancy But… Personal?

I’ve never stayed in accommodation that explicitly markets itself as a home stay, but I did book what was advertised as boutique accommodation in Russell. Which as it turned out, it was a kind of high-end guest house run by very lovely (but very involved) hosts.

What’s Good:

✅ Beautiful setting. The place was stunning – an old restored house, gorgeous views, and every detail carefully thought out.

✅ Breakfast. Not just a bit of toast or cereal, but a surprise each morning cooked by one of the hosts, while you’re enjoying a starter of fresh fruit or homemade muesli.

On one morning I had fresh poached eggs on sourdough, with a homemade tomato paste, some type of pesto sauce and followed by specialty breads and locally made jams. (Couldn’t stay there for too many nights or would come away the size of a house!)

✅ Personalized service. The hosts helped book trips, recommended restaurants, and genuinely wanted to make our stay amazing.

View from our room at the Arcadia Lodge Russell

What’s Not So Good:

❌ Less privacy. The bathroom was private, but not en suite, which meant creeping out into the corridor in my PJs at night. Not ideal.

❌ Shared kitchen access with all guests. If I wanted to make a late-night or early morning cup of tea, I had to go downstairs. Plus the milk I stored there was gone in a day. This wasn’t an issue as there was plenty in the fridge, but it did it made me feel a bit uncomfortable.

❌ Encouraged spending. The hosts were very keen for us to book activities through them, drink their (expensive) wine, and dine at their recommended restaurants. Very nice of them, but the recommended Italian restaurant wasn’t that great (and very expensive for what it was), I booked what I considered to be a much better value for money boat trip (and had an absolutely brilliant day), and I’m all good with a cheaper, but nice bottle of plonk from the Liquor Store!

❌ Breakfast. Yes the breakfasts were lovely and personally I did enjoy the surprise element, but… Breakfast was between 8 – 8.30 sharp every day, and you got what you were given.

As I said this worked for us this time around, but once again that lack of self-choice sneaks in there just enough to make it less favourable for me.

Would I stay in a home stay again? Probably not. I like autonomy and my own privacy too much.

Final Verdict: What’s Right for You?

If you love animals, don’t mind cleaning, and want to save money – house sitting is great – just know your limits.

If you need a break from responsibilities and don’t mind paying – hotels and motels are a safe bet.

If you want a high-end, unique experience and don’t mind a bit of socialising – try a home stay – but be ready for some interaction and house rules.

For me, motels win—specifically, the kind with a kitchenette, a lounge area, and no hidden expectations.

House sitting? Best in short bursts.

Home stays? Not my vibe.

But that’s just me. What’s your take?


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