Konrad Warzecha and his partner Caro have turned house-sitting into a full-time lifestyle, visiting 36 countries together in the past three years and staying in 12 of them through house-sitting assignments. The couple, who met while Konrad was managing a hostel in Iceland, now travel the world staying in homes that range from a French chalet in the Alps to luxury villas in Switzerland, all while spending less on travel than most people spend staying still.
From hostel burnout to a life on the move
Konrad, 38, was born in Australia to Polish parents and spent eight years travelling the world before ending up volunteering at a hostel in Selfoss, near Reykjavik, during Covid. He eventually took over the business, but by winter 2021 he had been working for 18 months non-stop without a single weekend off. 'It felt like life had lost its meaning. I had no energy and felt resentful and frustrated,' he told Metro.
It was then that Caro, a 26-year-old trainee teacher from Germany, arrived as a guest. Though there was a 'mutual attraction', Caro was in a relationship at the time, so Konrad saw her only as a guest. They stayed in touch, bonding over their love of dogs and travel plans, and when Konrad planned to shut down the hostel for two weeks as a Christmas gift to himself, Caro said she wanted to return.
A spontaneous holiday and a first kiss
Konrad gave Caro the best room, and they spent the time as 'housemates', enjoying spontaneous adventures together. A heavy snowfall trapped them in the lodge for two weeks, during which they watched movies and ate together in the yoga room. When Caro returned home, she later messaged to say she had split up with her boyfriend, and Konrad called her immediately. Within weeks, Caro visited Iceland, and they shared their first kiss at the Blue Lagoon.
After Konrad sold the hostel, he visited Caro in her hometown of Bochum, Germany. Facing the cost of a hotel – about €2,000 for two weeks – he Googled house-sitting and found a place five minutes from Caro's home. 'It was the perfect solution,' he said.
A world tour through house-sitting
The couple then booked tickets to Australia, bought a camper van, and travelled the east coast for four months, covering 19,000 km. But living in a van was cramped and didn't make financial sense, so after Caro finished her studies in 2025, they continued their world tour through house-sitting.
They earn through Caro's website, Caro's Class, which helps German educators navigate the qualification system, and Konrad's Housesitter's Guide, a free resource for learning about house-sitting. Konrad says the lifestyle lets them stay in places they could never imagine owning, with stunning views and the chance to connect with animals.
But it isn't always perfect. They once arrived at a house-sit in Greece to find an infestation, ending up with fleas and having to set up a quarantine zone. They also looked after a reactive dog that would lunge at them, and had to euthanise a sick chicken in Portugal. Despite these challenges, Konrad says nothing has been bad enough to make them reconsider house-sitting. 'We get to travel all over the world, staying in beautiful homes without having to settle anywhere. It's the best of both worlds,' he said.
Currently in Portugal, the couple plan to spend Christmas house-sitting in France. 'Everywhere we go, it feels like something amazing is happening to us,' Konrad added. 'We are so grateful to live this millionaire's lifestyle, travelling the world with nothing holding us back.'
