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.
Silvi and Lucas saved thousands on their recent trip around the world
The pair stopped off at an alpaca farm where to do some house sitting 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.
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.
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 couple were given a quick lesson in how to care for alpacas
They also cared for the more standard pets like cats and dogs 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 â 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.
Do your research before heading out of the country to house sit and check your visa requirements first 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.
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
Flying Eze'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
The couple took care of all sorts of animals from dogs to alpacas



