CASHING IN
Couple who travelled the world reveal how they saved thousands with clever accommodation ‘hack’
Plus, Sun Travel team reveal our top three tips for flying with budget airlines
ONE adventurous couple have managed to save thousands while travelling with a simple money-saving hack.
The couple went globetrotting for an entire year after leaving their jobs behind and claimed that one simple thing saved them lots of cash.
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Silvi Drebenstedt, 29, and Lucas Roth, 33, ticked off bucket list destinations and have managed to save thousands along the way.
How they managed it was to either house-sit or pet-sit wherever they went rather than staying in pricey hotels, using the app Trusted Housesitters.
But it wasn't just cats and dogs - in Hawaii, the couple looked after a herd of alpacas, and when they travelled to Australia, they took care of a budgie.
In Indonesia, the pair hopped aboard boats and helped out fishermen.
Read More on Money-Saving Tips
Silvi and Lucas insisted it had been the key to saving money as they said accommodation is usually "one of the biggest expenses".
Silvi added: “Looking after the alpacas in Hawaii was definitely the highlight of our pet-sitting journey so far."
She went on to explain how the owner, Christine, gave them an introduction on how to care for the alpacas.
The oldest of the animals, Dorothy, even required a little extra care with special food.
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Detailing an unforgettable experience, Silvi added she and Lucas helped weigh Rose, a newborn alpaca.
They also learned the art of spinning wool and insisted that they must have saved at least "several thousand euros" through house sitting for Christine.
The Sun's Travel Editor Lisa Minot shares her favourite destination dupes
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![Story from Jam Press (Alpaca Farm Housesitting) Pictured: Silvi Drebenstedt with Lester the cat in Hawaii. VIDEO: 'We ditched our jobs for a year to travel the world WITHOUT paying for pricey hotels ¿ this is our secret money-saving hack' A couple have revealed how they ditched their jobs for a year to travel the world by using a clever money-saving hack. Silvi Drebenstedt and Lucas Roth have visited bucket list destinations without breaking the bank. The couple, 29 and 33 respectively, have been able to save thousands by avoiding pricey hotels. Instead, they house or pet sit ¿ including looking after a herd of alpacas in Hawaii, hanging out with a budgie in Australia and helping fishermen in Indonesia. ¿Accommodation is usually one of the biggest expenses while traveling, so house sitting made a huge difference for us,¿ Silvi told Luxury Travel Daily. ¿Looking after the alpacas in Hawaii was definitely the highlight of our pet-sitting journey so far. ¿Christine, the owner, was incredibly kind and gave us a thorough introduction to caring for the alpacas. ¿Dorothy, the oldest alpaca, was especially dear to us ¿ she required special soft food and had such a calm, wise demeanour. ¿One unforgettable moment was helping weigh Rose, a newborn alpaca, with Lucas holding her in his arms on the scale. ¿Christine even taught us how to spin wool, which was so fascinating. ¿We definitely saved a lot [by housesitting] ¿ while it¿s hard to give an exact number, I¿m sure it was several thousand euros.¿ The couple ¿ who took time out of their office jobs during their travels ¿ used the app Trusted Housesitters to help match them with people looking for someone to take care of their home and pets while they were away. Aside from their alpaca adventure, they spent a Christmas dog-sitting in New York, trekked across glaciers while staying in Argentina and enjoyed trips to Mexico, Taiwan and Switzerland. They are now back home in their native Germany but still enjoy regular housesitting adventures. Silvi said: ¿That year was completely a year out of work for us. ¿We took a break from our jobs to fully immerse ourselves in the adventure. ¿We still enjoy staying in hotels sometimes but house sitting remains a big part of how we travel. ¿We have [since] done a lovely sit in Switzerland, which was a wonderful experience. ¿Since we¿ve mostly done sits in more expensive countries, like the US, Australia, and Switzerland, the savings have definitely been substantial. ¿House sitting has allowed us to visit these places without constantly worrying about the cost of accommodation ¿ which is often a big barrier for travellers.¿ ENDS EDITOR¿S NOTE: Press must include mention of Trusted Housesitters, at the case study¿s request, and digital press are asked to include a hyperlink where possible: http://www.trustedhousesitters.com/ Video Usage Licence:(EXCLUSIVE) We have obtained an exclusive licence from the copyright holder. A copy of the licence is available on request. Video Restrictions: None.](https://machibet.online/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Jam_Press_JMP648902jpg-JS982168822.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
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Along with caring for alpacas, Silvi and Lucas also did dog sitting in New York for some extra cash.
They then went on to explor Argentina and enjoyed trips to Mexico, Taiwan and Switzerland.
Since their epic year-long trip, the pair have returned to their home in Germany.
But Silvi added that "house sitting remains a big part of how we travel".
She continued: “House sitting has allowed us to visit these places without constantly worrying about the cost of accommodation – which is often a big barrier for travellers.”
For anyone considering house sitting like Silvi and Lucas for their next trip, we do have some words of warning.
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With Trusted Housesitters, you provide free house and pet care in exchange for free accommodation and the opportunity to travel - which is allowed.
However, if you are earning money by house sitting this is technically a job and you wouldn't be able to do this on a tourist visa.
There have also been a few cases where people have been stopped at border control as house sitting is considered work, but this doesn't happen very often.
Being paid would also mean you could be taxed, this all depending on your tax residency, the specific country's tax laws, and whether the house sitting is considered work.
If you think you might be caught out, one couple used a home-swapping site HomeExchange.
The couple swapped homes with others at the same time so they could travel, and it saved them thousands.
Read More on The Sun
There are other success stories of house sitting across the world too.
One woman managed to stay in luxury properties while travelling by house sitting and saved £16,000.
Three Top Tips From Sun Travel For Anyone Flying With A Budget Airline
The Sun's travel team have revealed their best tips for flying with budget airlines...
Let’s be honest, the main reason for flying budget is to keep costs to a minimum, so a bit of research to find the best deal will make a world of difference. Comparison sites like Skyscanner are a godsend when I’m planning a personal getaway with pals or family. If you have some flexibility then you can filter by the cheapest month to fly and the nifty Skyscanner calendar will lay out the lowest price on each date - Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
Not a single person I know would describe me as a risk taker but I do like to play 'check-in chicken' before flying with Ryanair or Wizz Air. While I never pay to reserve a seat, I will often check-in before the last possible moment to try and get an extra legroom seat without having to dust of my debit card. I tried the hack out on several occasions and managed to nab an entire emergency exit row to myself when I flew to Leipzig, Germany, last November. On other occasions, I've been rewarded with an aisle or window seat - Hope Brotherton, Travel Reporter
If you ever see me on a flight, I'll be that person spritzing a face mist on the two-hour hop to Spain. But I love trying to make my budget Ryanair flight feel that bit fancier. I'll always make sure to have the cosiest clothes - so think brushed cotton trousers, my softest jumper and some hotel slippers I snaffled from my last trip - Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
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