house and travel

How to House Sit Your Way Around the World

Amy Hornsby is a freelance writer from the U.K. who writes about travel, yoga, and more. Amy has contributed to Lonely Planet, the Calvert Journal, and other publications.

House Sitting Sites

Applying for Your First Sit

Important Things to Consider

House sitting has become increasingly popular in recent years, combining temporary accommodation, travel, and animal companionship all in one. In exchange for taking care of somebody’s house and, more often than not, pets while they are on vacation, you get to stay in their home.

House sits can range anywhere from a few days to several months. Available worldwide, they are a fantastic way to travel to many different places; many use it as a way to slow travel, meaning you spend a lengthier time in each area and focus on more of a local experience rather than a jam-packed weekend of sightseeing. There is more to house sitting than simply free accommodation, however, and this guide can help you get started.

The best and easiest way to secure house sits is through a subscription site. There are many to choose from, depending on the location you are aiming for, your budget, and how often you want to use them. These are just a few of the most popular sites.

Trusted Housesitters

Trusted Housesitters is often at the top of the list of sites to use, although for $129 a year, it runs at one of the highest membership fees to sign up as a sitter. If you know an existing member, it’s easy enough to obtain a referral fee for a 25 percent discount, opening up a variety of available international house sits. The interface is easy to use with plenty of filters to help refine your search, the ability to build your profile, and quality support 24/7. Although international, it’s mostly useful for the U.K., Europe, and North America.

MindMyHouse

Started back in 2005, MindMyHouse was one of the very first house sitting sites. The "mom and pop" business has fewer options than others, but as membership is $20 for sitters and free for owners, it's a great option to have. The sits are mostly within Europe and the U.S., although there are more than 80 countries listed on the dropdown search. The interface is basic but easy to use, and the site remains popular within the house sitting community.

House Sitters America

If you’re staying within the U.S., House Sitters America is arguably your best bet. The annual membership fee is $49, for which you can search nationwide with an extensive list of filter options including region and locale, house type, amenities, sit length, and type of pet. House Sitters America has been up and running for more than 12 years, and has established itself as one of the top house sitting sites for the U.S., with a huge variety of available sits.

Running on the higher end of membership fees at $89 per year, Nomador comes with the added benefit of a free trial that’s good for up to three applications. Originating in France for European house sits, it now operates globally with a focus on Europe and the Americas.

Kiwi House Sitters, Aussie House Sitters

If you’re heading to New Zealand or Australia, these house sitting sites are recognized as some of the top in their respective countries. Members of House Sitters America will find the exact same layout and search functions on these two associated sites, which provide multiple filter options and a large choice of sits in all areas of each country.

Applying for Your First Sit

Once you’ve signed up, it’s important to spend time on your profile. Add plenty of photos that represent who you are, and because you will likely be taking care of pets, include as many as you can of you with animals. Then, fill out the rest of your profile fully, verifying your ID through the site, and adding a description about who you are and why you want to house sit. If you have prior experience taking care of pets or houses, get a reference and add it to your profile.

Before applying for a sit, read through the details completely, making sure that you fit the requirements, which may include gardening, taking care of multiple pets, and sometimes having a car. Craft your message to the homeowner and show that you’ve read their post; ask questions, point out a common interest, outline any relevant experience you have, and mention where you are currently located.

If the homeowner is interested, the next step is to organize a video chat, or at the very least a phone call. Housesitting is a two-way system, so it’s important that you both get a good vibe when you talk to each other. Think of this as an interview, for them and for you, and ask all the questions you have about the home, pets, your responsibilities, and the area. Trust your instincts: If there are red flags or you get an uneasy feeling during the call, don't be afraid to pass on an offer.

It’s not free accommodation: If you’re looking for a way to get free digs while you travel, this isn’t it. House sitting is an exchange and you are selected as a responsible person to take care of someone’s house and pets. This means keeping the house secure and clean, taking in mail, and treating it as you would your own place.

You must love animals: While you can find house sits that come without pets, for the most part, people are looking for someone to take care of their beloved animals. This can mean taking dogs out for daily walks, administering medicine for an elderly cat, or cleaning up bird poop—being an animal lover is paramount.

Communication is key: Stay in contact with the homeowner, even after you’ve secured the sit. Keep an open line of communication where you and the homeowners can stay up to date, share photos of the animals, and ask any questions—especially for longer sits. Be honest about anything within the house that has broken or gone wrong so that there are no surprises when they return.

Not all house sits are alike: There are many variables within house sitting—not only with the type of house and pet you may be taking care of, but what the owners are flexible on. Some welcome couples, families, and people traveling with their own pets. Others even offer payments, which is more likely to happen when you're looking after multiple pets or a garden that requires meticulous care.

Be adaptable: Be prepared for anything, whether it’s a cancellation, a change in dates, or a pandemic! Always have a backup plan and maintain communication with the homeowners so that if things change, you can talk things through.

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Solo Traveler

Solo travel tips, destinations, stories... the source for those who travel alone.

How to Rent Your Home and Go Traveling

November 28, 2018 by Janice Waugh

Renting your home to go traveling is a great way to make your travel dreams come true.

Whether you live in an apartment as Elizabeth does in the example below, or have a house to offer as I did when I took a 10-month trip, it helps significantly.

In this post we'll explore why and whether renting your home on a short-term basis is right for you. Then we'll explore many ways and many details to consider, so that your experience is a positive one.

Table of Contents

Why Rent Your Home for Travel Money?

Whether it's for a weekend, a week, a month, or longer, renting your home can bring in good money to help pay for your travels.

Many years ago, I did a 10-month trip with my family. We had our youngest with us full time who we home-schooled. Various combinations of our older sons joined us along the way. To help pay for our trip, we rented our home for the ten months we were away. With four bedrooms (two in the basement) that rental brought in $25,000 which, as you can imagine, was significant in helping pay for our trip. This was before Airbnb and we managed the rental ourselves. This DIY method may still make sense for a 10-month rental depending on where you live and because it saves the fees that a rental platform charges.

By contrast, my friend, Elizabeth, has rented her apartment a number of times to go traveling for shorter but equally significant trips. Her longest trip was 9 weeks. The revenue from renting her apartment on Airbnb helped cover the cost of her monthly rent while she was gone, and then some. On her latest trip it covered her rent and her car rental for the month-long trip.

So, renting your place can help pay for your travels. Let's explore how to do it, but first, let's evaluate whether it's right for you.

photo, image, edmundston, how to rent your home and go traveling

Is Renting Your Home Right for You?

Renting out your home is not for everyone. You need to decide if it is right for you.

Do you get stressed by the idea of someone living in your home and using your stuff? Then it's not for you.
Are you easy-going about your things? If you will travel and not worry about your home, go for it.
Are you allowed to rent your home? If you rent or live in an apartment or co-op, you need to ensure that you can legally sublet.

Money is one thing. Peace of mind and operating within the terms of any contracts you may have signed are also important. Consider these questions carefully.

The result of renting my home for 10 months was not perfect. But it was acceptable. We returned from our trip and there was some minor damage to our home. But it was the type of damage that could have easily happened with our family living there as well. My conclusion? Overall, it was a good experience and the $25,000 was very helpful!

Renting Your Home through Airbnb and Other Options

When you want to rent your home and go traveling there are a variety of home rental platforms for you to consider. Some people use them all, which requires maintaining the calendars for them all as well. It can be a bit of a hassle. Elizabeth only uses Airbnb and has found it adequate. Use all or one, that's up to you.

Airbnb – Airbnb is to apartment and home rentals as Kleenex is to tissue. It's the number one site for renting your home and for renting a home. Click here to become an Airbnb host. Airbnb has recently added their Host an Experience feature to their site. This allows you to earn more by offering experiences to your guests as well. Click here to rent on Airbnb and you'll get a $25 credit .
Homeaway and VRBO – VRBO stands for Vacation Rental By Owner. It is owned by Homeaway. They both offer rooms, apartments, houses, and even hotels. The same search on both sites produces the same results. Click here to list your home on VRBO and Homeaway.
TripAdvisor and Flipkey – Like the relationship between VRBO and Homeaway, Flipkey is owned by TripAdvisor. Click here to list your home on Flipkey and TripAdvisor .

Before posting your own home on one of these platforms it's probably a good idea to try them from a traveler's perspective first. This has two advantages: you get to see what the experience is like for yourself which will help you be successful when you rent your own home, and you will be able to get a review from your host on the rental platform. Reviews are how the system keeps quality up and will increase the number of people wanting to rent from you.

How To Be a Successful Airbnb Host

Elizabeth has been renting her apartment a few times a year for a number of years. I asked for her best tips for success. Here they are.

House rules – Determine your own house rules. You can go onto other listings and see what house rules are being published by others to help you come up with your list.
Define your cancellation policy – Again, do a bit of homework and make your own decision.
Photography – Elizabeth first listed with her own photos, which produced some results. But once the Airbnb photos were up, interest was much greater. In Toronto, they'll send a free photographer. Accept the service.
Pricing – She prices her apartment above the average rate on Airbnb for a similar place. She says that her rate should be $70/night. She charges $99/night and she still receives inquiries. Be prepared to negotiate the price for longer stays, though not everyone does this.
Reviews – She gives reviews every time she rents or hosts and requests that the person on the other side of her transaction does the same. Reviews increase rentals.
Anecdote: On one occasion she was renting to a single man coming to Toronto for Pride. He looked like a good bet but Pride generally means partying. She told him that she had really nosy neighbors and there should be no one but him in the apartment. He assured her that all would be fine and that he would leave the place cleaner than he found it. And he did.
Edit the house – Before your renter arrives, clear out all personal items, empty a few drawers for people to use, clear out your fridge so that people can store their own fresh food, take personal soaps, etc. out of the bathroom and replace with new product for your renter and make sure there is a first-aid kit in plain sight.
Add a welcoming touch . Ask about the people's needs. Do they drink coffee? Would bread and milk be appreciated? You don't have to spend a lot but having a few supplies in for your renter on their first day makes a great impression and results in great reviews. A few chocolates and fresh flowers make a positive impression too.
Check-in . If you can't be there to check your guest in yourself, have someone who lives nearby do so. There are a few people in Elizabeth's building who rent through Airbnb now and then and so they help each other with this. By having someone who is nearby do the check-in it will be less of an inconvenience if the renter is held up by a flight delay.
Schedule a cleaning person . You can charge for this so always schedule a cleaning person to come after your renter departs. Even people who are really clean and tidy may leave behind subtle messes you don't want to deal with. Elizabeth spoke about one renter who seemed to leave her place immaculate but then she found the woman's long hairs here and there for about a week.
For more tips on preparing your home for a tenant, read the How to Prepare Your Home for your Renter

DIY Renting Your Home Starts with Finding the Right Renter

Renting your apartment or house yourself, directly with an individual rather than through a network like Airbnb, is a little more stressful. In fact, after trying to rent our home for months, we didn’t find our renters (we rejected a number of prospects) until two weeks before we left. Fortunately, the renters we found were perfect.

I learned a lot from that experience. Here are some takeaways that may be of help to you. Start by identifying the type of person or people you want to rent your home.

Specify your criteria regarding smoking, pets, and any other detail that is important to you.
Decide what you will include in your rental, such as utilities or technology.
Remove items that you will not include in the rental before showing it to prospective renters.
Clarify whether you are willing to rent to a number of people on a short term basis or if you are only willing to work with one renter for the entire time you are away.

Once you know the type of person you want to rent your home:

Create a mini website that shows off your home. Google “make a free website” and you'll find that you can do this yourself at no cost.
Let friends and family know that you are looking to rent your home. Let them know your criteria and share your website with them.
Use an online service like SabbaticalHomes.com to list your home. If you want to stay in one place, consider trading places with a service like Home Exchange . It won't bring you in extra money for travel but it will cover the cost of your accommodation. Read Free Accommodation: Try a Home Exchange
Post your home with a faculty newsletter or notice board of a local university or college to find academics on sabbatical.
Many neighborhoods have websites for local news, shops, and classified ads. Post your listing there.
Try Craig's List and Kijiji. They have been successful for some people.
If you’re not having success or not comfortable managing the process yourself, find a real estate agent to do the job for you. Unfortunately, they'll make more from a sale of a house than by renting yours, so they are not likely to work at it very hard.

When you've found a prospective renter, check them out thoroughly. You're going away. You don't want any headaches. You need financial, business, and personal references.

Do a credit check. Read How to Run a Credit Check .
Confirm that they are employed and talk with their boss. You want to find out how reliable and responsible they are. Don't do this by email. Chat with them by phone long enough that they start to care about you before you ask the tough questions. Leave pauses in the conversation. People tend to fill dead air and you may find out more this way. You should always ask: “if you wanted to rent your home, would you rent it to him/her?”
Try to get more than one business reference. Personal checks can be valuable too but friends say nice things anyway. A second business reference is more valuable.

How to Prepare Your Home for Your Renter

Make sure that the lease you sign with your tenant is airtight in terms of which utilities are covered and which are not, responsibilities for repairs, insurance requirements, and more. You will want to keep your insurance on the property and your contents. Editors note: as reader segacs adds in the comments below “… Here in Quebec, things like damage deposits and last month's rent are very, very illegal. When you sublet, you're essentially becoming a landlord for a short period of time; read up on all the local laws and make sure you don't violate them or else you could come home to a nasty surprise in the form of being dragged in front of your rental board.” Now, back to the tips…

Take a damage deposit and last month’s rent.
Arrange for automatic deposits of their rent payments into your bank account.
Arrange for automatic payments for all expenses that you are covering from your bank account or credit card.
Check with your insurance broker to ensure that you don’t have to change your policy.
Arrange for a local representative to manage problems should they arise. This person should be able to authorize repairs to your home. I chose my brother rather than a professional as I knew I could trust him completely to protect my interests.
Divert your mail to a friend or family member.
Arrange for someone to take care of regular details like checking to make sure that your mail is not accumulating (which it can do even if you have requested a redirect), cutting grass, raking leaves, shoveling snow… This time, I hired my eldest son who only traveled with us for a couple of weeks.
Request a disconnect of your landline phone and a hold on your number so that you can use the same number on your return.
Talk to your neighbors. Give them the contact numbers for your local representative to call if they see something amiss.
Put away all personal belongings. This is a great time to purge things you don’t really need. Rent a storage unit if necessary.
Clean everything.
Take photos or, preferably, video of every detail of your home. Keep a copy and give copies to the tenant and your local representative.
Make copies of the keys for yourself and two local representatives.
Give your representatives multiple ways to get in touch with you in case of an emergency.
Introduce your new tenant to a neighbor or two. This can be seen as you being helpful. In fact, it lets your tenant know, subtly, that they have moved into a community that sees what is going on.

There are a lot of details involved with renting your home but the effort is well worth it. It can make the difference between traveling and not.

Sharing is caring!

Publisher Janice: info @ solotravelerworld.com

Editor Tracey: tracey @ solotravelerworld.com

Sales Simon: simon @ solotravelerworld.com

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Packing List for House Sitting

You’re getting ready for a house sit and you don’t know what to pack.

Maybe it’s your first house-sitting gig. Maybe it’s just the first time you’ll be sitting for more than a couple of days.

No matter why you’re unsure about a packing list, we’ve got you covered.

This article will discuss the items you should (and shouldn’t) pack!

Table of Contents

What Should I Pack When House Sitting?

You should pack everything you think you’ll need. Don’t expect the homeowner to leave anything for you to use.

Many homeowners will let you use some of their food and hygiene items. If you’re packing light, you can ask about this ahead of time.

You can also run to the store if you need something simple. But some personal items aren’t easy to find.

If you’re a digital nomad, you probably have all of this figured out. Newer house sitters might be wondering where to start!

House Sitter Packing Checklist

Digital nomads may have everything they need in a couple of suitcases. If you don’t travel constantly, you might need some advice for packing.

This packing checklist covers all the essential items!

Most importantly, you’ll want to pack clothes. To decide which clothes to pack, consider where you’re going.

Will you be house-sitting on the beach? Maybe you’ll be in a city where you’ll do a lot of walking.

Also, consider the weather. You’ll pack different items of clothing for winter in Canada than you would for summer in Arizona.

You should only need to pack a couple of outfits. Ask the homeowner if you can use their washing machine when you need clean clothes. If not, you can find a local laundromat.

If you won’t be able to wash clothes, then you may need to pack an outfit for every day.

It’s good to have a collection of clothes that cover all your bases. You may want comfy outfits and dressy clothes if you plan to explore the area.

Most professional house sitters will bring their food. Fortunately, you don’t have to pack this in your suitcase!

You can visit a local supermarket to stock up on the foods you will need during your house sit.

Homeowners may even let you use some of their pantry staples or any refrigerated food. Always check with the homeowner before making yourself at home.

Also, ask about their kitchen appliances. You may need a kettle if you make tea every day.

While some homeowners won’t mind if you use their shampoo, it’s nice to bring your toiletries.

This ensures that you have what you want and don’t use up all of theirs.

We recommend using shampoo bars instead of liquid shampoo. Do this with any item that you can find a solid version of!

It can be hard to travel with liquid toiletries. And travel-size bottles aren’t always enough.

Not only will it save space, but it will also save money and reduce plastic!

You may also want to bring some first aid supplies. You don’t want to search the house for a bandage when you’re bleeding profusely.

Don’t forget to pack any medicine you use! You don’t want to go without any prescribed medication. And if you use allergy meds regularly, it would be nice to have them handy when you need them.

Electronics

Make sure you can communicate with others while you travel.

If you are house-sitting abroad, you should check with your current phone provider. Many phone carriers will allow you international calling options. Others are not as convenient.

Fortunately, with wi-fi, you can communicate globally pretty easily. However, you can’t always count on having wi-fi.

You might also want to bring a laptop for work or in case something happens to your phone. A laptop sleeve will help keep it safe so you don’t need to worry about any broken laptop issues!

If you don’t speak the local language, you may also want to download some communication apps. This will help you to get around more easily.

While most homeowners will let you use their bed and bedding, it’s good to double-check first.

If you’re particular about your pillow or blanket, you may want to bring your own anyway.

What Should I Pack For A Long-Term House Sit?

For a long-term house sit, you will pack the same types of items. However, you may need to pack more of them.

If you like to pack a lot of clothes, consider using compression packing cubes. If you can cut down on the number of suitcases, you can also lower your luggage fees!

If you plan to go from house to house, look up digital nomad essentials and find a great digital nomad packing list. This will make it easy for you to travel without having a home base.

An important digital nomad packing trip: try your best to pack items that have multiple uses.

Athletic shoes that also look cute with a dressy outfit? Perfect!

A sweater that will keep you warm on the airplane but matches each of your outfits? Great!

A phone that can be used for literally thousands of important tasks? Better pack that!

What Should I Not Pack When House Sitting?

Pet sitters shouldn’t need to pack anything for the pets. The homeowner should provide anything their furry friends need.

However, you could pack a few pet toys or even treats. Just ask the pet owner if you can feed them special treats while they’re gone.

The biggest digital nomad packing tip is to only lug around the stuff you use. If you might use it a few times, just go without it.

The concept of house-sitting provides the perfect opportunity for a digital nomad life. House sitting provides incredible opportunities for anyone who wants to travel for free or full-time.

You can spend a couple of days in a dream house. Then spend a few weeks in an amazing city.

Whether you incorporate many travel days or just want to save money on rent, house-sitting is a great way to do this.

And now you know how to pack for your first house-sitting opportunity!

Author: Britt I am Britt I have been house sitting and pet sitting for the past 7 years. I have cared for 25 dogs, 35 cats 1 turtle, and 1 rabbit over 80+ houses in 15 countries.

The opportunity to experience different homes, cultures, and communities has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Through house sitting platforms like Aussie House Sitters, and Trusted House Sitters, I’ve connected with homeowners seeking reliable sitters. This unique way of living has not only allowed me to save money on accommodation but also offered a plethora of cultural exchange opportunities.

Being a member of these platforms has not only broadened my horizons but also opened doors to short and long-term house-sitting jobs. I’ve found joy in providing excellent pet care and ensuring the home is well maintained.

I get many questions about how to get start as a house sitters, so if you have any questions please reach out! I want everyone to enjoy this incredible lifestyle as well! You can read more about about Jay and me here! Or connect with me on Facebook or in our house sitting community on Facebook

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Should You Buy A House Or Travel The World? Why Not Both?

Are you one of those who prefer traveling the world to buying a house? Or do you think owning a home is more important? What if you were able to accomplish both? If your roof is growing algae, mold, or moss, you may need to hire residential siding contractors for professional remediation or, in severe outbreaks, a full roof replacement.

According to a recent U.S. survey, the percentage of people under 35 who own homes has been progressively declining over the past few years.

Should You Buy A House Or Travel The World?

While some people find fulfillment in home ownership, others desire to see as many breathtaking locations as possible while still having the energy and opportunity to do so. Others may as well want to invest in real estate such as owning properties while travelling the world. Learn about terminal capitalization rate if you are one of those people who want to step into the world of real estate investing.

Let’s also take a comprehensive look at buying a house and traveling the world and how you can do both. However, planning to live in The Lone Star State, Texas? It is frequently thought of as having a traditional lifestyle, conservative traditions and strong religious beliefs. Check out these conservative cities in Texas where you can choose from.

Should You Travel The World?

Some people find it incredibly monotonous to live in the same city for an extended period. For instance, they enjoy seeing new places and learning about diverse cultures, art, and people.

You can start making travel arrangements once you have your passport and visa (depending on the nation you wish to visit and how long you intend to stay).

Traveling the world doesn’t have to cost a fortune, we’re living proof of that. You can travel to cities on a tight budget and explore as much or as little as you want.

Instead of booking pricey hotels, consider Couchsurfing , house sitting, or renting an apartment as ways to reduce expenses. Most of the time, Couchsurfing and home sitting are less expensive, provide free meals, and promote socialization because you typically interact with more people.

Finally, cook your meals instead of eating out at expensive restaurants to keep more money in your pocket.

Should You Buy A House?

While purchasing a home offers convenience, flexibility, and security, it has become more challenging compared to earlier times. The amount of money you have available for a down payment on a decent property for yourself is one of many factors to consider when trying to purchase a home. If you’re looking for luxury real estate, Hillock Green Lentor presents a comprehensive lifestyle and entertainment suite including swimming pools, BBQ spots, and a clubhouse equipped with gym facilities.

A consistent income is one of the requirements to be eligible for a mortgage. If your income is reliable, you can look into several home mortgage options and choose one that fits within your budget.

If you intend to start a family in the future and want a home where you can create memories with your family, buying a house may also be a wise investment.

Having additional privacy is yet another benefit of owning a home. While enjoying the convenience and solitude of your own home, you can protect yourself from curious neighbors and obnoxious landlords.

Buy A House And Travel The World

Everyone has different goals and priorities in life. For example, when compared to Generation Z, millennials would rather purchase a home than travel, while many in Gen Z tend to prefer to live more of a nomadic lifestyle .

While some people find travel therapeutic , others find having a home of their own more soothing. Regardless, there are neither good nor terrible options; it depends on your preferences, abilities, opportunities, and interests. The most important thing to consider is that there are numerous benefits to owning a home and having the freedom to travel, however, most of us don’t have the means to do both.

You Can Choose To Do It One After The Other

Some people prefer to travel first, find a decent settling place second, and buy a home third. This way, you have your pick of which part of the world you want to live in.

Conversely, some people opt to buy a home first, rent it out or sell it, then put the money towards a round-the-world trip . Renting helps because you would make some residual monthly income to cover travel costs.

Determining if you should buy a house or travel the world will generally come down to having the money to explore both alternatives. Typically, however, making wise financial decisions early in life makes it simple to do one after the other.

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Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow: The Best of Moscow!

I just got back from one week in Moscow. And, as you might have already guessed, it was a mind-boggling experience. It was not my first trip to the Russian capital. But I hardly ever got enough time to explore this sprawling city. Visiting places for business rarely leaves enough time for sightseeing. I think that if you’ve got one week in Russia, you can also consider splitting your time between its largest cities (i.e. Saint Petersburg ) to get the most out of your trip. Seven days will let you see the majority of the main sights and go beyond just scratching the surface. In this post, I’m going to share with you my idea of the perfect travel itinerary for one week in Moscow.

Moscow is perhaps both the business and cultural hub of Russia. There is a lot more to see here than just the Kremlin and Saint Basil’s Cathedral. Centuries-old churches with onion-shaped domes dotted around the city are in stark contrast with newly completed impressive skyscrapers of Moscow City dominating the skyline. I spent a lot of time thinking about my Moscow itinerary before I left. And this city lived up to all of my expectations.

Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow

Day 1 – red square and the kremlin.

Metro Station: Okhotny Ryad on Red Line.

No trip to Moscow would be complete without seeing its main attraction. The Red Square is just a stone’s throw away from several metro stations. It is home to some of the most impressive architectural masterpieces in the city. The first thing you’ll probably notice after entering it and passing vendors selling weird fur hats is the fairytale-like looking Saint Basil’s Cathedral. It was built to commemorate one of the major victories of Ivan the Terrible. I once spent 20 minutes gazing at it, trying to find the perfect angle to snap it. It was easier said than done because of the hordes of locals and tourists.

As you continue strolling around Red Square, there’s no way you can miss Gum. It was widely known as the main department store during the Soviet Era. Now this large (yet historic) shopping mall is filled with expensive boutiques, pricey eateries, etc. During my trip to Moscow, I was on a tight budget. So I only took a retro-style stroll in Gum to get a rare glimpse of a place where Soviet leaders used to grocery shop and buy their stuff. In case you want some modern shopping experience, head to the Okhotny Ryad Shopping Center with stores like New Yorker, Zara, and Adidas.

Day 2 – Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Tretyakov Gallery, and the Arbat Street

Metro Station: Kropotkinskaya on Red Line

As soon as you start creating a Moscow itinerary for your second day, you’ll discover that there are plenty of metro stations that are much closer to certain sites. Depending on your route, take a closer look at the metro map to pick the closest.

The white marble walls of Christ the Saviour Cathedral are awe-inspiring. As you approach this tallest Orthodox Christian church, you may notice the bronze sculptures, magnificent arches, and cupolas that were created to commemorate Russia’s victory against Napoleon.

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Unfortunately, the current Cathedral is a replica, since original was blown to bits in 1931 by the Soviet government. The new cathedral basically follows the original design, but they have added some new elements such as marble high reliefs.

Home to some precious collection of artworks, in Tretyakov Gallery you can find more than 150,000 of works spanning centuries of artistic endeavor. Originally a privately owned gallery, it now has become one of the largest museums in Russia. The Gallery is often considered essential to visit. But I have encountered a lot of locals who have never been there.

Famous for its souvenirs, musicians, and theaters, Arbat street is among the few in Moscow that were turned into pedestrian zones. Arbat street is usually very busy with tourists and locals alike. My local friend once called it the oldest street in Moscow dating back to 1493. It is a kilometer long walking street filled with fancy gift shops, small cozy restaurants, lots of cute cafes, and street artists. It is closed to any vehicular traffic, so you can easily stroll it with kids.

Day 3 – Moscow River Boat Ride, Poklonnaya Hill Victory Park, the Moscow City

Metro Station: Kievskaya and Park Pobedy on Dark Blue Line / Vystavochnaya on Light Blue Line

Voyaging along the Moscow River is definitely one of the best ways to catch a glimpse of the city and see the attractions from a bit different perspective. Depending on your Moscow itinerary, travel budget and the time of the year, there are various types of boats available. In the summer there is no shortage of boats, and you’ll be spoiled for choice.

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If you find yourself in Moscow during the winter months, I’d recommend going with Radisson boat cruise. These are often more expensive (yet comfy). They offer refreshments like tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and, of course, alcoholic drinks. Prices may vary but mostly depend on your food and drink selection. Find their main pier near the opulent Ukraine hotel . The hotel is one of the “Seven Sisters”, so if you’re into the charm of Stalinist architecture don’t miss a chance to stay there.

The area near Poklonnaya Hill has the closest relation to the country’s recent past. The memorial complex was completed in the mid-1990s to commemorate the Victory and WW2 casualties. Also known as the Great Patriotic War Museum, activities here include indoor attractions while the grounds around host an open-air museum with old tanks and other vehicles used on the battlefield.

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The hallmark of the memorial complex and the first thing you see as you exit metro is the statue of Nike mounted to its column. This is a very impressive Obelisk with a statue of Saint George slaying the dragon at its base.

Maybe not as impressive as Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl Tower , the skyscrapers of the Moscow City (otherwise known as Moscow International Business Center) are so drastically different from dull Soviet architecture. With 239 meters and 60 floors, the Empire Tower is the seventh highest building in the business district.

The observation deck occupies 56 floor from where you have some panoramic views of the city. I loved the view in the direction of Moscow State University and Luzhniki stadium as well to the other side with residential quarters. The entrance fee is pricey, but if you’re want to get a bird’s eye view, the skyscraper is one of the best places for doing just that.

Day 4 – VDNKh, Worker and Collective Farm Woman Monument, The Ostankino TV Tower

Metro Station: VDNKh on Orange Line

VDNKh is one of my favorite attractions in Moscow. The weird abbreviation actually stands for Russian vystavka dostizheniy narodnogo khozyaystva (Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy). With more than 200 buildings and 30 pavilions on the grounds, VDNKh serves as an open-air museum. You can easily spend a full day here since the park occupies a very large area.

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First, there are pavilions that used to showcase different cultures the USSR was made of. Additionally, there is a number of shopping pavilions, as well as Moskvarium (an Oceanarium) that features a variety of marine species. VDNKh is a popular venue for events and fairs. There is always something going on, so I’d recommend checking their website if you want to see some particular exhibition.

A stone’s throw away from VDNKh there is a very distinctive 25-meters high monument. Originally built in 1937 for the world fair in Paris, the hulking figures of men and women holding a hammer and a sickle represent the Soviet idea of united workers and farmers. It doesn’t take much time to see the monument, but visiting it gives some idea of the Soviet Union’s grandiose aspirations.

I have a thing for tall buildings. So to continue my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow I decided to climb the fourth highest TV tower in the world. This iconic 540m tower is a fixture of the skyline. You can see it virtually from everywhere in Moscow, and this is where you can get the best panoramic views (yep, even better than Empire skyscraper).

Parts of the floor are made of tempered glass, so it can be quite scary to exit the elevator. But trust me, as you start observing buildings and cars below, you won’t want to leave. There is only a limited number of tickets per day, so you may want to book online. Insider tip: the first tour is cheaper, you can save up to $10 if go there early.

Day 5 – A Tour To Moscow Manor Houses

Metro Station: Kolomenskoye, Tsaritsyno on Dark Green Line / Kuskovo on Purple Line

I love visiting the manor houses and palaces in Moscow. These opulent buildings were generally built to house Russian aristocratic families and monarchs. Houses tend to be rather grand affairs with impressive architecture. And, depending on the whims of the owners, some form of a landscaped garden.

During the early part of the 20th century though, many of Russia’s aristocratic families (including the family of the last emperor) ended up being killed or moving abroad . Their manor houses were nationalized. Some time later (after the fall of the USSR) these were open to the public. It means that today a great many of Moscow’s finest manor houses and palaces are open for touring.

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There are 20 manor houses scattered throughout the city and more than 25 in the area around. But not all of them easily accessible and exploring them often takes a lot of time. I’d recommend focusing on three most popular estates in Moscow that are some 30-minute metro ride away from Kremlin.

Sandwiched between the Moscow River and the Andropov Avenue, Kolomenskoye is a UNESCO site that became a public park in the 1920’s. Once a former royal estate, now it is one of the most tranquil parks in the city with gorgeous views. The Ascension Church, The White Column, and the grounds are a truly grand place to visit.

You could easily spend a full day here, exploring a traditional Russian village (that is, in fact, a market), picnicking by the river, enjoying the Eastern Orthodox church architecture, hiking the grounds as well as and wandering the park and gardens with wildflower meadows, apple orchards, and birch and maple groves. The estate museum showcases Russian nature at its finest year-round.

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If my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow was a family tree, Tsaritsyno Park would probably be the crazy uncle that no-one talks about. It’s a large park in the south of the city of mind-boggling proportions, unbelievable in so many ways, and yet most travelers have never heard of it.

The palace was supposed to be a summer home for Empress Catherine the Great. But since the construction didn’t meet with her approval the palace was abandoned. Since the early 1990’s the palace, the pond, and the grounds have been undergoing renovations. The entire complex is now looking brighter and more elaborately decorated than at possibly any other time during its history. Like most parks in Moscow, you can visit Tsaritsyno free of charge, but there is a small fee if you want to visit the palace.

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Last, but by no means least on my Moscow itinerary is Kuskovo Park . This is definitely an off-the-beaten-path place. While it is not easily accessible, you will be rewarded with a lack of crowds. This 18th-century summer country house of the Sheremetev family was one of the first summer country estates of the Russian nobility. And when you visit you’ll quickly realize why locals love this park.

Like many other estates, Kuskovo has just been renovated. So there are lovely French formal garden, a grotto, and the Dutch house to explore. Make sure to plan your itinerary well because the estate is some way from a metro station.

Day 6 – Explore the Golden Ring

Creating the Moscow itinerary may keep you busy for days with the seemingly endless amount of things to do. Visiting the so-called Golden Ring is like stepping back in time. Golden Ring is a “theme route” devised by promotion-minded journalist and writer Yuri Bychkov.

Having started in Moscow the route will take you through a number of historical cities. It now includes Suzdal, Vladimir, Kostroma, Yaroslavl and Sergiev Posad. All these awe-inspiring towns have their own smaller kremlins and feature dramatic churches with onion-shaped domes, tranquil residential areas, and other architectural landmarks.

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I only visited two out of eight cities included on the route. It is a no-brainer that Sergiev Posad is the nearest and the easiest city to see on a day trip from Moscow. That being said, you can explore its main attractions in just one day. Located some 70 km north-east of the Russian capital, this tiny and overlooked town is home to Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, UNESCO Site.

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Sergiev Posad is often described as being at the heart of Russian spiritual life. So it is uncommon to see the crowds of Russian pilgrims showing a deep reverence for their religion. If you’re traveling independently and using public transport, you can reach Sergiev Posad by bus (departs from VDNKh) or by suburban commuter train from Yaroslavskaya Railway Station (Bahnhof). It takes about one and a half hours to reach the town.

Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is a great place to get a glimpse of filling and warming Russian lunch, specifically at the “ Gostevaya Izba ” restaurant. Try the duck breast, hearty potato and vegetables, and the awesome Napoleon cake.

Day 7 – Gorky Park, Izmailovo Kremlin, Patriarch’s Ponds

Metro Station: Park Kultury or Oktyabrskaya on Circle Line / Partizanskaya on Dark Blue Line / Pushkinskaya on Dark Green Line

Gorky Park is in the heart of Moscow. It offers many different types of outdoor activities, such as dancing, cycling, skateboarding, walking, jogging, and anything else you can do in a park. Named after Maxim Gorky, this sprawling and lovely park is where locals go on a picnic, relax and enjoy free yoga classes. It’s a popular place to bike around, and there is a Muzeon Art Park not far from here. A dynamic location with a younger vibe. There is also a pier, so you can take a cruise along the river too.

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The Kremlin in Izmailovo is by no means like the one you can find near the Red Square. Originally built for decorative purposes, it now features the Vernissage flea market and a number of frequent fairs, exhibitions, and conferences. Every weekend, there’s a giant flea market in Izmailovo, where dozens of stalls sell Soviet propaganda crap, Russian nesting dolls, vinyl records, jewelry and just about any object you can imagine. Go early in the morning if you want to beat the crowds.

All the Bulgakov’s fans should pay a visit to Patriarch’s Ponds (yup, that is plural). With a lovely small city park and the only one (!) pond in the middle, the location is where the opening scene of Bulgakov’s novel Master and Margarita was set. The novel is centered around a visit by Devil to the atheistic Soviet Union is considered by many critics to be one of the best novels of the 20th century. I spent great two hours strolling the nearby streets and having lunch in the hipster cafe.

Conclusion and Recommendations

To conclude, Moscow is a safe city to visit. I have never had a problem with getting around and most locals are really friendly once they know you’re a foreigner. Moscow has undergone some serious reconstruction over the last few years. So you can expect some places to be completely different. I hope my one week Moscow itinerary was helpful! If you have less time, say 4 days or 5 days, I would cut out day 6 and day 7. You could save the Golden Ring for a separate trip entirely as there’s lots to see!

What are your thoughts on this one week Moscow itinerary? Are you excited about your first time in the city? Let me know in the comments below!

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24 comments.

Ann Snook-Moreau

Moscow looks so beautiful and historic! Thanks for including public transit information for those of us who don’t like to rent cars.

MindTheTravel

Yup, that is me 🙂 Rarely rent + stick to the metro = Full wallet!

Mariella Blago

Looks like you had loads of fun! Well done. Also great value post for travel lovers.

Thanks, Mariella!

I have always wanted to go to Russia, especially Moscow. These sights look absolutely beautiful to see and there is so much history there!

Agree! Moscow is a thousand-year-old city and there is definitely something for everyone.

Tara Pittman

Those are amazing buildings. Looks like a place that would be amazing to visit.

Adriana Lopez

Never been to Moscow or Russia but my family has. Many great spots and a lot of culture. Your itinerary sounds fantastic and covers a lot despite it is only a short period of time.

What was their favourite thing about Russia?

Gladys Parker

I know very little about Moscow or Russia for the\at matter. I do know I would have to see the Red Square and all of its exquisite architectural masterpieces. Also the CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE SAVIOUR. Thanks for shedding some light on visiting Moscow.

Thanks for swinging by! The Red Square is a great starting point, but there way too many places and things to discover aside from it!

Ruthy @ Percolate Kitchen

You are making me so jealous!! I’ve always wanted to see Russia.

Moscow is in my bucket list, I don’t know when I can visit there, your post is really useful. As a culture rich place we need to spend at least week.

DANA GUTKOWSKI

Looks like you had a great trip! Thanks for all the great info! I’ve never been in to Russia, but this post makes me wanna go now!

Wow this is amazing! Moscow is on my bucket list – such an amazing place to visit I can imagine! I can’t wait to go there one day!

The building on the second picture looks familiar. I keep seeing that on TV.

Reesa Lewandowski

What beautiful moments! I always wish I had the personality to travel more like this!

Perfect itinerary for spending a week in Moscow! So many places to visit and it looks like you had a wonderful time. I would love to climb that tower. The views I am sure must have been amazing!

I was lucky enough to see the skyline of Moscow from this TV Tower and it is definitely mind-blowing.

Chelsea Pearl

Moscow is definitely up there on my travel bucket list. So much history and iconic architecture!

Thumbs up! 🙂

Blair Villanueva

OMG I dream to visit Moscow someday! Hope the visa processing would be okay (and become more affordable) so I could pursue my dream trip!

Yup, visa processing is the major downside! Agree! Time and the money consuming process…

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How first-time homebuyers put down roots without giving up their travel goals

We talked to a first-time homebuyer in Houston about her and her husband’s decision to settle down (without giving up their dream to visit Antarctica), putting less than 20% down, and finding their dream “Cowboy House” after years of looking.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself.

A: I'm a 27-year-old public school teacher and an avid home cook, fiction novel reader, and square foot gardener. My husband is 29 and does digital marketing for a nonprofit. We love to travel to other countries and then come home and balance out the adventure with a good dose of homebody – binge watching The Bachelor(ette) or Big Brother with a pepperoni/pineapple pizza.

Q: Did you and your husband always know you wanted to own a home?

A: There was a time when we thought we would never own because we were worried about putting all our eggs in one basket and being stuck. We’re pretty adventurous and we tend to move around. Before we bought the house, we even talked about living abroad for a while. There’s something different about our generation. It’s not that we don’t want commitment; it’s just about having freedom.

Q: How did you ultimately come to the decision to buy?

A: The finances finally made sense. We realized we could afford a monthly mortgage and it would be the same as paying rent on an apartment. It also came from the desire to have kids and wanting to have that stability before that.

When we got married, we set a goal to travel to all seven continents before having kids. And those trips can be really expensive (how do we get to Antarctica?). In the end, we decided not to give up on goals like that just because we’re choosing to put down roots in Texas. We made a bucket in our budget for our travel goals and vowed we wouldn’t “steal” from it, even though we were also saving to do home renovations. It comes down to following through. Our house is important but there are other things we want to do with our lives too.

Q: How did you decide where you wanted to live?

A: We'd been saving for a down payment and looking at homes for a long five or six years, but our search stretched far and wide. We went to college in Lubbock, Texas (Wreck 'Em!) and moved to Denver, Colorado when we graduated around 2012. That was like total sticker shock. West Texas offers huge yards and handsome, ranch-style homes for a modest price. Denver has a rapidly moving inventory of the most charming, nugget-sized, $400K houses. As two young professionals trying to get our footing in a hot job market, we felt too broke (and not cool enough) to own a home in Denver. Seriously though, we were like, "it's freezing, and we will never be able to afford a house in Colorado," so we moved back to Texas. Houston has been home since 2015.

Q: How did you figure out how much house you could afford?

A: We scoured the internet for mortgage calculators and always estimated prices to be way over what we actually expected (if it said closing costs would be $5K, we'd estimate $10K). We also organized our finances after getting married. We use an online budgeting tool which helped us truly see our monthly take home and what expenses we could afford. Having all of our financial accounts organized was also hugely helpful throughout the loan application process.

About a year ago, on a friend’s recommendation, we went to see a local mortgage broker. We wanted him to tell us how much we could get approved for, what interest rates would really be like for us, and if we were looking in the right price range for a home (about $250K). We had been spot on estimating the mortgage costs and price range, but were shocked at how expensive closing actually was! ("You have to pay for someone to broker your loan? What does broker even mean?!") We left thinking we needed to save for about one more year.

In the end, we decided the sound option was to spend a comfortable amount on the down payment, and then to keep the total monthly mortgage payment (including the mortgage insurance, taxes, and interest) to less than 30% of our monthly take home. This is the final equation that worked for us: on a $275K house, we could put about 5% down, cover closing costs, and have some money left to do small fix-ups around the house before moving in.

Q: How did you feel about putting less than 20% down?

A: We both come from very financially conservative households. My husband's parents have always bought their homes outright with cash (yes, you're reading that right) and my mom has always been insistent that a down payment should be 25% of the home's price. We came to the realization that it's 2018, and we wouldn’t be able to play by those Leave It to Beaver rules. If we waited to get to 20% down, we’d still be saving for ten years. We knew putting less down would mean we’d have to pay mortgage insurance, but it was either that or continue renting for another decade.

Q: How did you go about your home search?

A: We had rented apartments in a few different parts of Houston, our favorite being right on the edge of Hermann Park. Eventually, we decided that we were tired of paying for someone else to own land. So with about two months left on our lease, we started to use a Texas real estate site more seriously. We set up a search area and filters and signed up for daily email alerts for what’s for sale. We also drove around the neighborhoods we were most interested in and started attending open houses by ourselves. When it came to picking a house, we were really shopping for the location. Houston is huge, and location dictates the kind of schools your kids go to, the amount of flooding that happens, and the traffic you have to deal with.

Q: Tell us about the home you ended up buying. Was there any competition to win the bid?

A: At first we found the perfect house really quickly. It was about $20K less than what we wanted to spend, zoned to a highly rated elementary school (one of the best public schools in a giant, not-so-awesome district), and didn't need any cosmetic work before moving in. We called and had been beaten to it – it was already option pending.

But then we looked across the street. There was a "coming soon" sign in the yard, along with a John Wayne silhouette leaning up against the pine tree, complete with a red bandana. We called the realtor and let them know we were interested. The woman who owned the house was in her nineties – she had bought it right it when it was built in 1955 and had been the only owner. The house was at the top of our price range, 3 br/1ba, and available to see TOMORROW. They told us there was a cash offer on the table, but the sellers wanted to continue showing it for one weekend to see if they could get asking price. We got pre-approved on Better that night (sooo fast!), went to see it, and made an offer. By the end of that weekend, we were under contract on The Cowboy House!

Q: If you could go back in time, is there any advice you would give to yourself?

A: I honestly wish we had heard about Better Mortgage sooner. It's the advice I've been giving everybody I know that's interested in buying a home. It saved us a bunch of money at closing and made the antiquated process of applying for a mortgage feel less stressful and more intuitive.

Q: Why did you choose Better as your lender?

A: We were pretty intimidated by the process at the beginning. I think that’s how a lot of people in our age bracket feel. We chose Better over the broker we spoke to previously because it made the mortgage origination cheaper, it used an interface we were comfortable with, it saved us time by uploading all the documents (we would've been driving back and forth to an office in Sugar Land during Houston rush hour), and it was way faster than the traditional route.

I was surprised that a computer-based service could feel so personal and trustworthy. The website and branding are really well done, but the customer service and representatives we worked with were all so communicative, helpful, and real! You would think that it would be a lot of rigmarole to call customer service to answer a question, but it was easy. People emailed back the same day. If I had questions about a specific task, I could just send a message for that task. It was really seamless. Right now we’re purchasing cabinets online, and keeping track of those emails has been way more challenging!

This interview has been edited lightly for clarity.

Want to share your home buying story with better mortgage.

Email us at [email protected]

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Big Agnes Wyoming Trail 2 Tent

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How to Sell Everything You Own & Travel the World

T hough the very thought of what I’ve done would have shocked my former self years ago, I now take pride in having sold all of our possessions not once, but twice now. During our combined 2.5 years of nomadic wanderings, it was liberating to know that nothing collected dust in a storage bin, or sat in cluttered piles in my in-laws basement. It was all gone , save for the possessions in our 28-litre backpacks.

But what if you don't want to get rid of absolutely everything ? No problem! This post will help you effectively de-clutter and sell your stuff, even if only some of it. After all, every dollar earned is another dollar towards a flight, a bus ride, a hotel – one dollar closer to your dream adventure.

Our experience

Twice now we have sold all of our possessions with the objective of getting the money back in the bank, ridding ourselves of crap, and inflating our travel savings. Everything described here is from our own experiences .

The first time we sold everything we owned in 2012 (and I truly mean every single last thing!), we made $6,500 CAD total in cash. We earned an additional $5,500.00 selling our car. That's a grand total of $12,000 from two people living in a two-bedroom apartment over three years. Yep, we had a lot of crap!

The second time we sold all our belongings (2014), we made approximately $1,000 after minimalist living in a one-bedroom apartment for a year in Australia. In that time, our possessions had all been either given to us for free or bought used. We pretty much broke even or made slightly more than what was spent acquiring those items. Cumulatively, that’s a grand total of $13,000.00 and let me tell you, for any savvy traveller, that money will take you far .

The cleansing process from our condo in Toronto.

Selling all of your life’s possessions is not easy. It just isn't. Humans like stuff, and we accumulate a lot of it. The reality is, some of that “stuff” can hold us back from the things we want to do, like travel or move cities. This guide will concisely lays out the steps to selling everything – or at least some things – to maximise profit and minimise the stuff that is holding you back from adventure.

“But here's the thing–no matter how many possessions you have, you never feel secure. As soon as you get one thing, there is always something else you “need”.” ― Karen Kingston

Step 1: Detach from your attachments

The utmost important step of selling items is not the actual selling, but your commitment to passing it on. And remember – that’s all it ever is. Not dumping, not getting rid of, not wasting – you’re passing something on . In an era where we senselessly burn through resources in the name of consumerism, passing things on is a good way to make money and help the environment.

Our car filled with the final stuff pile to pass onto friends and family

I won't spend much time rambling on how to detach from your “things”. Just know that the more you sell, the more you’ll feel smothered by the remaining items that are unloved, unused, and just unnecessary .

Next, rest assured that you will most likely not miss that item . Hell, I can't remember 90% of the crap we sold! Besides, nearly everything is replaceable and/or can be re-bought cheaper second hand.

We've always thought it was senseless to place items in storage where they would only depreciate in value. My view is to purge everything you can part with. You may as well make the maximum profit while an item is more current. It's not going to get any newer.

If you want more in-depth and convincing help on ridding your belongings, I recommend reading Vagabonding: An uncommon guide to the art of long-term world travel , Life Nomadic , and Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up (The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up)

Step 2: Sell early, sell often

Having had two very different experiences selling our possessions, I strongly advocate for giving yourself as much time as possible to maximize profit . In our first sell-off in 2012, we began selling three months pre-departure .

I cannot emphasise enough the value of time . Without it, you will end up purging items by the bag load to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army. Not that donating is bad (it's great!), but you are missing out on monetising on at least some of your possessions if you need the cash.

When you have time, you have patience . Sorting and pricing requires mental energy. Create designated evenings or weekends where it’s “stuff sorting” time – possibly accompanied by music and beers if you so wish to pump yourself up for your impending travels (usually effective til about beer #3).

Our selling routine went something like this:

Determine if item is sell, donate, or keep *. (*If it’s keep, ask yourself why. Is it irreplaceable? Choose your keeps CAREFULLY ! Re-visit your “keep” pile on several occasions. It gets easier to pass on as you revisit)
If selling, take a few quality photos. Photograph the front, sides and back as appropriate. Take clear photos in bright light (natural sunlight is best). Good photos often determine not just if an item sells, but whether it looks deserving of the listed price.
Don't be lazy with postings. Detailed description paint a clear idea of the item for buyers. It will not only improve your likelihood of selling, but getting your asking price. Be convincing and specific . State an item's true condition, features, colour, and any freebies or extras you're willing to include. Help the buyer envision its quality and potential use (e.g. “would make a great gift for the holidays” or “a lovely piece to brighten up any living space”). Finally, make sure to include a link to a mass album or a page of all your listings to say something like, “I'm selling many more items as I'm going away overseas, feel free to check them out here: ____”.
Physically sort items and have clear piles for what’s what. It’s ideal to keep your “for sale” items together. If interested buyers are picking up from your house, you can then welcome them in to show your other items for sale. On average in our experience, half of buyers who see our other stuff will buy something else too, especially if a bundle price is offered.

Once you have a clear routine, you’ll get efficient at sorting and selling. For many, this is the most painful part of the process, but it is where you will likely make the biggest chunk of savings for your trip. It pays to sort and sell ahead!

Step 3: Research and price properly

Researching and properly pricing items is key to getting the most money back in your pocket. Are you starting to see a pattern here? Take time to research. Research grows those savings!

As you choose items to sell, try and confirm the regular retail price (RRP). If you’re always guessing, you could be really underselling a piece, and it takes hardly any time to do a quick Google search. Check Amazon or eBay to see going rates for your item in new condition.

Now: pricing . I usually sell somewhere around half price of an item, with a 10% buffer above or below . If you’re totally unsure, especially with larger items, search locally on Kijiji or eBay to see prices of similar items.

When in pricing doubt and when you have the time, start higher (time permitting) and see if you get any bites. I usually give big-ticket items 1-2 weeks before price-dropping . As you can see, this is why having the time on your hands is essential to maximise earnings!

Step 4: Sell everywhere

The less venues you’re using to sell your items, the less potential buyers are seeing them. If you have the patience and hours, post on all venues possible that are used in your local area, including:

Craigslist (USA, Canada, Europe)
VarageSale (Canada, USA, Australia)
Facebook albums, Facebook marketplace (global)
eBay (global)
Etsy (global – more for craft goods)
Decluttr (USA, U.K.)

After having tracked literally every transaction from our first sell-everything-you-own-experience in Toronto, most of our buyers were from Facebook friends, Kijiji, and Craigslist respectively.

A photo album on Facebook of the items we were selling made it easy for friends to see and call dibs on, which was hugely successful. Kijiji and Craiglist, though tiresome due to no-shows, were effective too. Personally, I never wasted my time delivering items to buyers. Only on a handful of times we met people in a public place that was convenient. Not to mention, with pick-ups you can invite people in and sway them to buy something else if you have more for sale.

In our second experience selling everything in Sydney, we had less success via Facebook and sold most items via Gumtree (Australia’s equivalent to Kijiji). Hence, you need to figure out what's common in your community.

Step 5: Stay strong!

The final important note of selling everything you own is to simply stay strong – mentally and emotionally. Don’t mourn for the pieces of plastic and metal that were once shelf ornaments, dish sets, or a TV stand. You no longer need them in your life. You’re off on an adventure, remember?!

My travel memories have – and always will have – significantly more value than any physical item I've owned. As I've wiggled my toes in the white Galapagos sands or burned my thighs climbing the slopes of Machu Picchu, I have never longed for my IKEA wall frames or designer shag rug. Rest assured, you WILL NOT miss your crap!

Inspiring De-Clutter Reads

Need that continued push as you sort through the seemingly insurmountable? Here are some of the most practical ones we recommend:

Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up (The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up)
Vagabonding: An uncommon guide to the art of long-term world travel
Life Nomadic

The Thrifty Gist

Sort & sell everything you don't need. Give yourself plenty of time & be patient!
Put a good effort into taking bright, quality photos & provide detailed descriptions in your postings. Don't be lazy!
Post on every platform used in your community – Facebook, Kijiji , Gumtree , Craigslist , Decluttr , VarageSale being common ones

Materialism is seemingly impossible to avoid in our modern world, but freeing yourself of it can be your primary financial means to travel. Keep at it, and chase your dreams!

Love this!!! Can you maybe take requests and write one on finding the cheapest ways to get around (fly etc) as a four person family??

Cool article, thanks. I am really curious on what did you guys took with you on your trip. My heart does not belong too much on stuff besides consumer electronics e.g. MacBook or iPhone. Did you take such things with you?

Hi Pascal, thanks for reading! We each had a 28L backpack and we each did take electronics including 1 Macbook air each, 1 iPhone each, and one Sony camera. This allowed us to snap photos, edit, and blog on the go to capture our memories which I’m glad we did. It’s never the same to try and blog something in retrospect months later.

Our bags were very small – only the essentials & when we got bored of clothes we donated them in exchange for buying a new shirt for example. In the future I’ll be writing an entry on what to pack & how to pack light!

Thanks for the very fast reply. That is an impressive small backpack. I am curious on your future block entry, since I wasn`t be able so far to pack under 40 L by also carrying sleeping bag, tent and equipment for cooking. Looking forward and thanks quite a lot 🙂

No problem Pascal! Yes it’s VERY small and to be honest I’m not sure I could travel that light again, but who knows! It sufficed for 6 months of generally warm weather through South America, Europe, and Japan. It’s important to note we did not have camping gear with us. Either way I hope my future post on packing light will be helpful. 🙂 Take care & safe travels wherever you may find yourself! 🙂

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Iranian attack on Israel expected ‘sooner rather than later’, says Joe Biden

President said US are ‘devoted to the defence of Israel’ as he urged Tehran to show restraint

Joe Biden has said he expects an Iranian attack on Israel “sooner rather than later” and issued a last-ditch message to Tehran: “Don’t.”

“We are devoted to the defence of Israel . We will support Israel. We will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed,” Biden told reporters on Friday.

Earlier the White House national security spokesperson John Kirby warned that the threat of a significant Iranian attack on Israel remains “viable” despite Washington-led efforts, including calls to Tehran from the UK and Germany, to deter a serious escalation in the conflict in the Middle East.

The White House comments came as several countries, including India, France , Poland and Russia, warned their citizens against travel to the region and Israel’s defence minister, Yoav Gallant, said his country was “prepared to defend [itself] on the ground and in the air, in close cooperation with our partners”.

Later CBS, quoting two unnamed US officials, reported that a substantial missile and drone attack could be launched as early as Friday evening, as a number of countries urgently warned their nationals of the risk of escalating violence in the region, and Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, convened a security assessment.

Appearing to underline that report, Javad Karimi-Ghodousi, a member of the Iranian parliament’s national security and foreign policy commission, said: “After punishing the Zionist regime in the coming hours, this villain will understand that henceforth, wherever in the world it attempts to assassinate figures of the resistance front, it will again be punished with Iranian missiles.”

German airline Lufthansa said on Friday its planes would no longer use Iranian airspace and extended its suspension of flights to and from Tehran until Thursday.

Qantas has paused its non-stop flights from Perth to London because the 17-and-a-half-hour flight is possible only by using Iranian airspace.

Iran has threatened reprisals against Israel for a strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria on 1 April, in which seven members of the Revolutionary Guards including two generals were killed, sparking fears that an already volatile climate in the Middle East could quickly spiral further.

Tehran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, said on Thursday that Iran felt it had no choice but to respond to the deadly attack on its diplomatic mission after the UN security council failed to take action.

Speaking to reporters, Kirby said the prospect of an Iranian attack on Israel was “still a viable threat” despite concerted efforts by Israel and the US in recent days to deter it .

“We are in constant communication with our Israeli counterparts about making sure that they can defend themselves against those kinds of attacks,” Kirby said. He confirmed that the head of US Central Command, Gen Erik Kurilla, was in Israel talking with defence officials about how Israel could be best prepared.

Israel has said it is strengthening air defences and has paused leave for combat units.

On Friday, France ordered the evacuation of diplomats’ families and warned nationals in several other countries, including Israel and Lebanon, and alerts were issued by Canada and Australia. The US also restricted travel within Israel for US diplomats and their families.

In its strong warning on Friday, the French foreign ministry advised citizens against travelling to Iran, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories and said French civil servants were banned from conducting any missions there.

The advisories followed a number of media reports that Israel was preparing for the prospect of an attack from Iran, possibly as soon as this weekend.

A US official told the Wall Street Journal that American intelligence reports indicated an Iranian retaliatory strike “possibly on Israeli soil” as opposed to against Israeli interests elsewhere, adding that the strike could come within 24 to 48 hours.

The same report, however, also reported an individual briefed by the Iranian leadership as saying no final decision had been taken by Tehran.

While analysts had initially speculated that Iran may not rush into a response, concern has grown in the last two days over the potential for direct conflict between Iran and Israel after years of proxy conflict between the two enemies.

More recently experts have suggested that Iran now feels it is required to act militarily to restore its balance of deterrence with Israel.

On Wednesday, Joe Biden said Iran was threatening a “significant attack” against Israel and that Washington would do all it could to protect Israel’s security.

The US president’s comments in turn followed a televised speech by Iran’s leader saying the attack in Damascus was equivalent to an attack on Iran itself. “When they attacked our consulate area, it was like they attacked our territory,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said. “The evil regime must be punished, and it will be punished.”

The Israeli military said it was fully prepared for any strike. Israel was “on alert and highly prepared for various scenarios, and we are constantly assessing the situation,” the Israel Defense Forces spokesperson, R Adm Daniel Hagari, said at a press conference. “We are ready for attack and defence using a variety of capabilities that the IDF has, and also ready with our strategic partners.”

According to reports in the Israeli media, the IDF believes that Iran or one of its proxies are most likely to attempt to strike a military target rather than civilian centres, although some sites such as the Kirya, Israel’s defence headquarters in Tel Aviv, are located in city centres next to shopping malls, offices and restaurants.

Concern over a significant escalation in the Middle East conflict, which has already drawn in Hezbollah in Lebanon, pro-Iranian groups in Iraq and Yemen’s Houthis, came as Israeli forces continued to fight Palestinian militants in the north and centre of the Gaza Strip.

Residents of al-Nusseirat refugee camp in central Gaza said dozens were dead or wounded after Israeli bombardment from air, land and sea that had followed a surprise ground assault on Thursday, and that houses and two mosques had been destroyed.

Middle East and north Africa

More on this story

Middle East crisis: threat of Iranian attack on Israel ‘still viable’, says White House – as it happened

Aid ‘still not reaching Gaza’, as top US official warns famine has started

US seeking to deter Iran from strike on Israel, officials say

Hamas says it does not have 40 hostages who fit criteria for deal with Israel

Biden vows ‘ironclad’ US commitment to Israel amid fears of Iran attack

Germany faces domestic lawsuit over its arms sales to Israel

Israel’s security at core of German foreign policy due to Holocaust, ICJ hears

‘A new abyss’: Gaza and the hundred years’ war on Palestine

‘This cannot be Eid’: Gaza’s survivors mark the end of Ramadan in the shadow of war

Hamas leader repeats Gaza ceasefire call after sons and grandchildren killed

Renting Your House for a Year While You Travel The World. The Reality.

by Liz Deacle | Last updated Apr 9, 2024

B efore you begin the process of renting your house to another family, shifting your whole life into the loft so that you can live out your latest dream and travel the world for a year with your family, you will wrongly assume that you are living a sort of normal, clean, unattached life.

You will have this illusion that possessions mean nothing to you , that you’re a hippy chic that could wipe around her relatively clean and tidy house with a bleachy cloth and be out of the door and on the next plane to Florida before the sun sets.

And oddly enough, other people will have this misconception of you too.

They will come round to your house for dinner, see a clean-on-the-surface house; but will never be allowed to venture into the bedrooms.

They may see a dog that has just been walked and so doesn’t sit there with her teeth chattering when someone picks up her ball.

Or they might see kids that have just been rolllocked and warned that if they get their phones out at dinner, there will be hell to pay.

And finally, they will see a husband and wife that always seem so relaxed and chilled but who actually downed half a bottle of rum before you arrived.

You and I have a lot in common. Let’s be friends.

The Reality of Renting Your House Furnished While You Travel the World For a Year.

When I initially approached Brian with the idea that we could leave everything behind for a year and take the kids around the world, I remember him asking me what we would do with the house.

“Rent it, of course!” I had ever so smugly replied.

I recall him commenting that the cost of storage for all our furniture would be astronomical, and again I retorted with my already thought-of answer;

“No, we will just rent it fully furnished. Plus, we are going to save stacks of money and travel for free by housesitting .”

In my m mind I had it all sorted. Easy peasy.

(This post contains affiliate links. They cost you nothing but we make a small commission)

Travelling & renting Your house? Easy Peasy. Or is it?

I honestly believed that we would just pack a few bits and pieces into a wine box- is there any other sort of box?- and pop it into the loft.

What could we possibly have that we wanted to keep or that we even cared about?

At the most, that old pair of maternity pyjamas that I couldn’t bear to part with ’cause they’re comfy (and still fit me actually) and the one royal Doulton teacup that your Aunty bought you for the Queen’s Jubilee.

I pictured us four, handing over the keys to our furnished house. Passports in hand, smiling and relaxed. Excited at the thought of our year of freedom.

No more work, no more homeschooling and working . Just us four, smelling of coconut oil. And roses.

Three weeks it took us. Three bloody weeks. That’s a long time to put a pair of pyjamas and a teacup into the loft.

Luckily, Brian spent a weekend boarding out the roof space. Putting boards across the beams so we wouldn’t fall through the itchy fibreglass and into the bathroom.

It was a good job he did.

The space that used to house three boxes of Christmas decorations, a rocking horse and my old nip and fluff books from the 1970s is now bulging at the seams.

There’s a whole housing estate up there. A Chinese supermarket, and a charity shop.

You don’t want to know what is in that roof space. There’s an entire housing estate up there. And a Chinese supermarket.

Eighteen banana boxes.

The image of the hippy chic and the coconut oil was fading fast.

Three weeks.

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a travel blog about renting your house for a year while you travel the world with your family.

Renting Your House. The Cleaning. The Packing. The Cleaning.

And yes, we had help. My mum was an absolute star.

Mums are always the best at cleaning, aren’t they?

Sadly, though, I will never hear Tessa say those words about me.

I didn’t realise what a sh*t tip my spare room wardrobe was before my mum attacked it with her bottle of bleach. She brought her own bleach with her from her own house. To spray those filthy skirting boards in the spare room.

I would have done it sooner, the cleaning, I mean, but what’s the point of cleaning the house when you’re all still living in it?

Ridiculous idea. I tried it, and it was a nightmare.

One weekend, I had a funny turn, and I cleaned the pantry from top to bottom. Only to watch in horror when, five minutes later, my teenager lazily reached for a tin of beans -while at the same time texting on the phone – and proceeded to knock all the zillions of poppy seeds out of the container, filling the little cracks down the side of the pantry door.

I spent the next 40 minutes wiping them up so it didn’t look as though we had an ant infestation.

After that, I gave up and waited for the bleach police to arrive with her extra strong supplies.

How Renting The House Affected The Family

Brian (husband).

Brian turned into a raving lunatic.

We all did in fairness, but Brian. Well, let’s just say I’m surprised he didn’t make the kids go and wipe down the bark of the trees in the driveway with a bleachy cloth. Bloody, filthy those trees. Filthy. Rotton. Dirty.

Renting your home while you travel the world

When Brian gets it into his head we are going to clean, then we are going to clean. Mind you. Look at the difference between the tiles that have been done and those that haven’t. Embarrassing really…

Liz (Me. Wife)

The woman who ever so gaily announced that she would be leaving all of her ornaments for the new family to enjoy suddenly turned into a compulsive hoarder.

“Shall we throw away this piece of driftwood with a pebble as an eye, or shall we leave it on the fireplace covered in cobwebs?”

“Oh no, no, no, that’s special. That has to go in the loft. And don’t leave the metal robin bird with the broken leg I bought from the National Trust 10 years ago. He reminds me of my brother. Get that packed.”

Another banana box, please.

“What shall we do with these old knickers that look like something Rose West would wear? Bin?”

“No, no, no. Pack them away, please. They’re the only ones I can wear in the middle of the month when I get my bloated beach whale stomach”.

The kids were no different.

In fact, now, at least, I know where they get it from. Ramming broken bits of Thomas the Tank engine track into the box behind the Rose West knickers and then trying to camouflage it by putting their onesie they got for Christmas on top of everything. It doesn’t fit now, so God alone knows what it’ll look like in 12 months’ time. Tessa will look like that giant kid out of the Ready-Brek advert.

The pantry was a nightmare. It’s not until you pull out the marshmallows that you’ve been saving for bonfire night for three years that you find the hidden gremlins.

The Stowaways. The bits and pieces that were hoping to make it through another year without being booted out.

I tell you, for a woman who cooks spaghetti bolognese and chicken in the pan twenty times a week, I certainly have a lot of dried shiitake mushrooms and orange blossom water.

The newly discovered hoarder in me found it torturous to throw them into the open mouth of the bin.

I’ll admit. I kept lots of things. Just in case.

The Sichuan peppercorns, for example, lived to see another year. We are from New Zealand, and anyone who knows anything about money knows that the cost to live in New Zealand isn’t cheap.

I searched all over Wellington to find those peppercorns. They cost me a small fortune.

They went in with the Rose West knicks, the broken Thomas train and the fleecy pink rabbit onesie.

Renting Your House For a Year is Emotional

One word of advice.

If you do ever rent your house furnished, get someone else – preferably your mum, who likes to throw out all your stuff ’cause it’s filthy’ – to go through your photographs.

Or even better just get a big black bag and tip them into it.

Don’t do what I did. Don’t sit there crossed-legged in the middle of the banana boxes blubbing over the photo of Sonny when he had his first burp.

Pity I didn’t remember back to when the actual photo was taken; ironically, I was also blubbing. Through sleep deprivation and the fact that I wasn’t able to cough without wetting my knickers.

I left the sofas, just. I mean, it did say furnished I suppose. But not before I had cleaned them with the leather wipes I’d been stupid enough to buy the day before.

Leather Wipes.

In reality, just baby’s bum wipes with a picture of a posh couch on the front and six dollars for the pleasure. All they did was make the leather wet, and then when it dried, it looked exactly the same.

Once all the zillion of banana boxes were in the loft – I swear, I thought I could see one peeping out of the chimney – we started to tackle the garden.

More boxes… Don’t be deceived by the tiny entrance. When you are renting your house out, make sure you have storage!

“If it’s immaculate when they move in it will have to be the same when they move out.”

Brian in his slightly manic Jack Nicholson voice.

I must have heard that about twenty times a day in those three weeks.

Immaculate? It was like a bloody palace. Even the basket that sits at the side of the toilet, the one that holds the toilet rolls, the ‘Which” magazine and my nose spray, was cleaned of all its worldly belongings.

I’m telling you. It. Was. Gleaming.

Even The Garden Didn’t Escape

Luckily the garden maintenance involved a chainsaw and some hedge trimmers.

For some reason, under sergeant majors’ orders, the hedges had to have a nice tight haircut before the day of the big move.

I’m surprised we didn’t have to polish the leaves. I convinced Brian to entrust Sonny with this job but Brian, who was far too busy building a safety rail along the deck to stop the little kids falling into the sheep field and polishing the wood basket, probably didn’t hear me.

He couldn’t possibly have heard me say:

“Shall we let Sonny cut the hedges with the hedge trimmers? Oh, and by the way, he’s got his earphones in and is listening to his Ricky Gervais podcast”.

Whatever. He didn’t answer. He just stood there – glaring at the sheep to see if they needed a good drenching of bleach – so I rammed the hedge trimmers into Sonny’s joyous arms and went back to my business.

There are only a few things that will keep a teenage boy quiet. One is Snap-chat with unlimited data, two is his Grandma’s fridge, and three is having free reign of the hedge trimmers with miles of hedge just sitting there quivering, waiting for the testosterone monster and his machine to attack.

There’s one thing that will make a teenage boy happy. Free reign of the hedge trimmers.

Yes, Brian had a point. Yes, the hedge did look a bit bald in some places, and yes, we know its taken you seven years to fill in all those wobbly bits – but – it saved us a ton of time, and I for one was proud of my boy.

Of course, I was.

He’s my boy. The lad can do no wrong. Unless it involves poppy seeds. Anyway. It will always grow back.

It felt as though it would never end.

So much for just renting the house furnished and swanning over to my mums with our rucksacks – smelling of coconut oil.

Instead, we looked like the Hillbillies as we drove away from our bulging house. We stunk of bleach, chainsaw oil and banana boxes.

Us four. A Man with a twitchy eye, a wife with a bulging belly and no knickers to soothe it, a teenage boy with ringing ears and quivering biceps, a teenage girl with an attitude, a confused dog with chattery teeth and three feral cats.

Hello mum. We are here to stay for a couple of weeks. The adventure begins.

Would you like to

24 Comments

Loved this post, and what an adventure – have an amazing time!

Thank you Jennifer 🙂

Awesome Liz – wish we could have helped ?

You helped massively by keeping Tessa entertained Leanne, thank you! x

Shit you make me laugh! Bum we never got a coffee in but maybe it was for the best. You’re doing it!!!!!! Legendary matey legendary!

Oh, my lovely!! I have been flying around and haven’t had time to call you… We will save it until next year… We will have stacks to talk about then I bet! Good luck with the house build! X

Still v v excited for you! Love this post! Such funny moments mixed all together with emotion I expect. Loving the new look to your site btw. I’m looking forward to reading about your first adventure. Sophie xx

Ah! Thanks, Sophie!xx

This was great to read. We have considered doing something similar for long-term travel. It’s awesome to see some of the logistics behind what goes into it.

hope I didn’t put you off, Kevin!

Wow! I’ve been traveling for five years, three with a blog and definitely thought about this option when I finally buy a house. Thank you for being so candid about the experience!

Besides I only live by myself in a small apartment, I did practically the same… It IS quite the adventure, and it is a bit emotional to leave your own house, your “home” behind. But it is definitely worth it, considering the adventure that waits for your from the moment you actually leave it 😉

Safe travels!

I have been looking at being a housesitter these last few weeks and its interesting to read this from the point of view of someone letting out their property.

Oh, how I feel for you! We’ve done it twice. First time in 2006, when we packed everything into a storage shed and sold the house for a good profit – which in 2008 the GFC ate up. And then again in 2013, when we left for our current trip. This time around we sold more because from the first trip we had learned that there wasn’t enough worth keeping and paying storage for. This time I boarded up the garage to store tools and a few other things we feel are valuable enough (mostly for memorabilia sake). We worked extremely hard until the last hour – or actually beyond the last hour…

That kind of stressed me out. Mainly cause I am a minimalist or at least think I am. My mom has always been a hoarder and I like my stuff. But after many of us lost everything we owned after Hurricane Katrina came to New Orleans, I learned that stuff was just stuff and I try to get rid of most things that dont hold real memories. I think though I would be like Brian cleaning and storing stuff cause I can get a bit OCD when putting stuff away. Good luck on this great bucket list adventure with your family!

Oh you made me laugh today! I can just picture it. We have moved many times, so I know what you went through. But getting the house ready for someone else must have been something else. I loved the image of you sitting on the floor blubbing through mountains of photos – I do that each time we move – and conveniently forget the hard yards at the time. Have a great adventure!

I’m glad it’s not just me then!Thank you for your comment Jo x

Thank you very much for the honesty here. I must admit this is something that I have thought of doing from time to time.

We have never considered long-term travel and I cannot imagine what it must be like to leave your home, your belongings to someone else. I’m pretty sure I’d see a very different side of myself (and a possessive one at that) if I were in a similar situation as yours!

Hilarious – I am hoping to persuade my husband to do just this next year – but never mind 3 weeks of packing up, we are on YEAR FIVE of our downsizing and decluttering journey. Currently getting the photos we have decided to keep in one album. I threw out thousands 4 years ago (the ones you will never have out on the mantlepiece) and we are still sifting them. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now and we are well past the blubbing and oohing and ahhing stage thank goodness. Now it is agreed that one album, immediate family, in chronological order as a legacy for our children. And the Victorian/Edwardian ones of complete strangers that we don’t want but know they are special will form part of an archive project for someone else. What resonated with me was the contents of the pantry – we live on chicken traybakes and pasta dishes so why do I have 2 types of bloody quinoa in there? Baffling, as we had emptied it 2 years ago when the builders moved in and we moved out. I also think (hope) that the packing up will not be as onerous as it was for you because I have spent five years getting rid of stuff. Although stuff does seem to keep creeping in. Why is that? Who keeps buying these books? Oh, that would be me….

Haha! Thank you Coral! My pantry makes me look like a goddess in the kitchen but like you all we ever eat is chicken and veg! Keep your hopes up… where there’s a will there’s a way!

Amazing!! Loved your post. How did you handle landlord/property management type stuff while away? My husband and I are trying to plan a trip for my but are unsure if it’s worth paying a property management company…but may have to if there’s a potential to not have cell reception all the time. So many things to consider!

This was a fun read! I can relate so much to Brian, I would do the exactly the same about cleaning, its just the way I am, maybe because I am a Virgo but I do that with stuff I lend to my friends as well. Like if I lend them a bowl and they use it, wash it, then bring it, well it doesn’t matter! I will wash it once more myself 😀

Glad that you enjoyed it Steve! If you are ever in New Zealand give Brian a call and he’ll get the bleach out and a nice cup of tea…🤣

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White House says Kamala Harris will travel to Arizona after state Supreme Court abortion ban ruling

Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Arizona on Friday, the White House announced Tuesday, shortly after the state Supreme Court upheld a near-total abortion ban .

Harris will travel to Tucson, the White House said in an advisory, "to continue her leadership in the fight for reproductive freedoms." It noted that it will be the vice president's second trip to Arizona this year and her fifth time since being sworn in.

"Last month, the Vice President visited Phoenix, AZ to highlight how extremists in states across the country have proposed and enacted abortion bans that threaten women’s health, force them to travel out of state to receive care, and criminalize doctors," the White House said.

The White House said that the trip was part of Harris' nationwide "Fight for Reproductive Freedoms" tour "that included stops in Wisconsin, California, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, and Minnesota."

Vice President Kamala Harris at Planned Parenthood

Since the Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, Harris has held more than 80 events on reproductive rights in 20 states, the White House added.

The announcement about her upcoming trip came just about an hour after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that a 160-year-old near-total abortion ban still on the books in the state could be enforced. Under the law from 1864, anyone who performs the procedure or helps a woman access that care could face felony charges and up to two to five years in prison. The law — which was codified in 1901, and again in 1913 — includes an exception to save the woman’s life.

President Joe Biden, Harris and Democrats in general are hoping that existing abortion bans and threats to expand them nationwide will help them win their races in this November's general election.

Rebecca Shabad is a politics reporter for NBC News based in Washington.

Watch CBS News

Biden is canceling $7.4 billion in student debt for 277,000 borrowers. Here's who is eligible.

By Aimee Picchi

Edited By Alain Sherter

Updated on: April 12, 2024 / 3:29 PM EDT / CBS News

The Biden administration on Friday said it's canceling $7.4 billion in student debt for 277,000 borrowers, with the recipients scheduled to receive emails today to alert them to their loan discharges.

The latest effort extends the debt relief provider under President Joe Biden after the Supreme Court last year blocked his administration's plan for broad-based student loan forgiveness. With the latest batch of loan cancellations, the White House said it has forgiven about $153 billion in debt for 4.3 million student borrowers.

Biden, who had made student loan relief a major campaign pledge, is tackling an issue that affects about 43 million Americans with a combined $1.7 trillion in student debt. It's a burden that some borrowers and their advocates say has harmed their ability to save for a home or achieve financial milestones, an issue that was echoed by Education Secretary Miguel Cardona in a conference call with reporters.

"I talked to a teacher in New York this week who took out a loan for $30,000," Cardona said Friday, "and after over a decade of paying and being a teacher the debt was $60,000, and she was saying that the interest was so high that the payments that she was making wasn't even touching her principal."

He added, "We are fixing a broken system. We're relentless and taking steps to transform a broken system into one that works people across the country."

Here's what to know about who is eligible for the latest round of forgiveness.

Who qualifies for the student loan forgiveness?

Three groups of people qualify under the latest round of debt relief, the White House said.

$3.6 billion for 206,800 borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan.

About $3.6 billion will be forgiven for nearly 207,000 borrowers enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, an income-driven repayment program, or IDR, that the Biden administration created last year.

The White House said borrowers who are getting their debt discharged under SAVE had taken out smaller loans for their college studies. The plan allows people to receive forgiveness after they made at least 10 years of payments if they originally took out $12,000 or less in loans to pay for college; borrowers with larger loans are eligible after 20 or 25 years of repayment, depending on what types of loans they have.

"You sacrifice and you've saved for a decade or more to make your student loan payments, and you originally borrowed $12,000 or less, you're going to see relief," Cardona told reporters. "An overwhelming number of those who qualify for SAVE were eligible for Pell grants and come from low- and middle-income communities."

$3.5 billion for 65,700 borrowers in income-repayment plans.

These borrowers will receive forgiveness through "administrative adjustments" to repayment plans where loan servicers had made it tougher for some borrowers to qualify for relief.

"These are people who paid for a long time but were being deprived of relief because of administrative and servicing failures," Cardona said. "These people met the contract of their loan" and will receive forgiveness.

$300 million for 4,600 borrowers through Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

The PSLF program is designed to help public servants like teachers and government employees achieve debt forgiveness after 10 years of repayment. It's a program that started in 2007 but had been plagued with complex rules that effectively hampered people from getting their debt discharged, with only 7,000 receiving loan forgiveness prior to the Biden administration.

With the latest round of discharges, the Biden administration has forgiven $62.8 billion in loans for 876,000 borrowers through PSLF.

Are there legal challenges to Biden's debt forgiveness plans?

In two separate lawsuits, Republican attorneys general in 18 states are pushing to have the SAVE plan tossed and to halt any further student debt cancellation. They say the SAVE plan oversteps Biden's authority and makes it harder for states to recruit employees. They also contend the plan undermines a separate cancellation program that encourages careers in public service.

It's unclear what the suits could mean for loans that have already been canceled. A court document filed by Kansas' attorney general says it's "unrealistic to think that any loan forgiveness that occurs during this litigation will ever be clawed back."

—With reporting by the Associated Press.

Biden Administration
Student Loan

Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.

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Discover the World

17 Top Tourist Attractions in Moscow

The capital of Russia is an incredible place to explore. Visitors to Moscow come away spellbound at all the amazing sights, impressed at the sheer size and grandeur of the city. Lying at the heart of Moscow, the Red Square and the Kremlin are just two of the must-see tourist attractions; they are the historical, political and spiritual heart of the city – and indeed Russia itself.

A fascinating city to wander around, stunning cathedrals, churches, and palaces lie side-by-side with bleak grey monuments and remains from the Soviet state. In addition to its plethora of historical and cultural tourist attractions, Moscow is home to world-class museums, theaters and art galleries.

Renowned for its performing arts, fantastic ballets and amazing circus acts, catching a show while in Moscow is a must. The wealth of brilliant restaurants, trendy bars, and lively nightlife means there is something for everyone to enjoy.

17. Tsaritsyno Palace

Once the summer residence of Catherine the Great, the stunning Tsaritsyno Palace is now a museum-reserve. The architecture is magnificent and there is a lovely park surrounding it for visitors to explore.

Located in the south of Moscow, the palace was commissioned in 1775 and recent renovations mean its lavish interior looks better than ever before with its elegant halls and beautiful staircases.

The exhibits on display look at the life of the empress as well as the history of Tsaritsyno itself. The huge palace grounds are also home to some other delightful buildings with the elegant opera house and wonderful brickwork of the Small Palace being particularly impressive to gaze upon.

Starting out in 1935 as the ‘All-Union Agricultural Exhibition’, VDNKh has slowly morphed over the years into the fascinating open-air museum of today. Remarkably, over 400 buildings can now be found within its confines.

The huge park complex has numerous pavilions representing former Soviet republics on show, such as those of Armenia and Turkmenistan and the distinctive architecture of each of the buildings is always interesting to gaze upon. In addition to this there is the fascinating Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics which is dedicated to space exploration and the fun Moskvarium aquarium even offers you the chance to swim with dolphins.

With lots of eateries scattered about and numerous entertainment options such as horse-riding and zip-lining, there is something for everyone to enjoy; the Friendship of Nations fountain truly is wonderful.

15. Kremlin Armoury

One of the oldest museums in the city, the Kremlin Armoury has a wealth of treasures; highlights include the ornate Grand Siberian Railway egg, the historic Cap of Monomakh and the stunning Imperial Crown of Russia which often has a crowd of tourists around it, jostling to take a photo.

Once the royal armory, there are loads of fascinating objects on display. Perusing the many sabers, jewelry, armor and more is as interesting as it is educational and entertaining and the swords are so finely crafted that you’ll almost wish you could pick up one and wield if yourself.

Established in 1851, the museum is situated in the Moscow Kremlin.

14. GUM Department Store

Standing for ‘Main Universal Store’ in Russian, GUM is stunning. Its wonderful skylights and beautiful facades mean it doesn’t look out of place alongside its illustrious neighbors on Red Square.

With over 200 shops, boutiques and upmarket eateries inside, it is a shopaholic’s heaven and concerned partners will be glad to find more affordable options alongside luxury brands such as Dior and Prada.

The main department store in the city, GUM was opened in 1893. The stunning architecture makes it well worth a visit even if shopping isn’t your thing.

13. Moscow Metro

It’s not often that public transport looks like a work of art. So many stops on the Moscow Metro will astound visitors with their beauty and elegance.

Decked in marble and with frescoes covering the walls, the stations are amazing to gaze upon and are part of one of the longest metro systems in the world, with the first stations opened in 1935.

Using the metro is the quickest and easiest way to get around Moscow and braving the crowds of commuters is well worth it for the beauty all around you.

12. Arbat Street

An elegant yet lively street, Arbat is full of impressive architecture and was once a popular place to live for aristocrats, artists, and academics.

A historic place, it is down Arbat Street that Napoleon’s troops are said to have headed on their way to capture the Kremlin.

Nowadays, there are many cafes, restaurants, and shops, as well as various monuments and statues to former residents such as Alexander Pushkin who was reputed to be a lover of the Russian Empress due to his massive influence in court.

11. Novodevichy Convent

Drenched in history, the Novodevichy Convent is located in a striking building that was once a fortress. This captivating place is well worth visiting when in Moscow.

Founded in 1524, the convent houses four cathedrals; Smolensk Cathedral is the undoubted highlight due to its delightful 16th-century frescoes.

Wandering around the grounds is like stepping back in time. The Novodevichy Cemetery is where many famous leaders of the Soviet Union are buried, such as Yeltsin and Khrushchev.

10. Pushkin Museum

Despite its name, the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts actually has no connection at all to the famous poet other than that it was named in his honor after his death. A delight to visit, its extensive collection focuses on European art with masterpieces by Botticelli, Rembrandt, and van Gogh all featuring.

Sculptures, graphic art, paintings and more can be found in its beautiful galleries; various sections look at themes and epochs such as the Renaissance, the Dutch Golden Age, and Byzantine art.

Among the many highlights are the clownish characters which can be found in Cezanne’s Fastnacht (Mardi Gras) and the twirling ballerinas who look so elegant in Degas’ Blue Dancers. Picasso’s Young acrobat on a Ball is also well worth checking out for its interesting use of shapes and colors.

9. Christ The Savior Cathedral

This gorgeous Russian Orthodox cathedral is located on the banks of the Moskva River, just a stone’s throw away from the Kremlin.

The church as it stands today was consecrated in 2000, as the original church that stood here was destroyed on the command of Josef Stalin in 1931 due to the anti-religious campaign.

With its delightful golden dome, spires and dazzling white facades, the Christ the Savior Cathedral is stunning. The interior is just as captivating to wander around, with its beautifully tiled floors and impressive altar.

8. Lenin Mausoleum

Opened to the public in 1924, Lenin’s Mausoleum is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Moscow. The red granite structure is located at the heart of the city in Red Square.

Lenin’s embalmed body lies in a glass sarcophagus; it is a somewhat eerie experience walking past the former leader of the Soviet Union but is well worth doing as you understandably can’t do it anywhere else in the world.

After visiting the mausoleum, head to the Kremlin wall right next to it for more graves of important communist figures such as Stalin and Brezhnev.

7. Tretyakov Gallery

Home to the most extensive and impressive collection of Russian fine art in the world, the State Tretyakov Gallery is definitely worth visiting when in Moscow for the wealth of amazing art pieces that it has on display.

Having started out as the private art collection of the Tretyakov brothers, there are now over 130,000 exhibits. Highlights include the iconic Theotokos of Vladimir which you will almost certainly recognise despite probably not knowing the name and Rublev’s Trinity which is considered to be one of highest achievements in Russian art.

An absolute must for art lovers, the State Tretyakov Gallery will delight visitors with all that is has to offer.

6. Kolomenskoye

Once a royal estate, Kolomenskoye is now a museum-reserve and lies a few kilometers outside of the city center. A captivating place to visit, there is a plethora of history on show and the site overlooks the Moskva River.

Consisting of four historical sites, there are extensive gardens for visitors to explore, as well as loads of interesting old buildings, the former village of Kolomenskoye itself and the impressive Palace of the Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich – once considered the Eighth Wonder of the World by contemporaries.

Among the many stunning sights, it is the brilliantly white Ascension Church that is the undoubted highlight – dating back to 1532.

5. Gorky Park

Lying alongside the Moskva River, the huge Gorky Park is a lovely place to visit. Its extensive gardens are home to numerous cultural institutions and visitors should definitely check out the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art and while the eclectic exhibits may not always feature such incredible sights as a balloon-covered rider on a zebra; they certainly always succeed in pushing back the boundaries of art.

Pop-up exhibitions and festivals can be found from time to time in the park itself and there is an open-air theatre and numerous eateries alongside a plethora of leisure activities.

Whether it’s cycling, table tennis or yoga that you are after or beach volleyball and rowing, Gorky Park certainly has it. In winter, there is a huge ice rink for visitors to enjoy.

4. Bolshoi Theatre

The Bolshoi Theatre is the main theater in the country. The amazing opera and ballet performances it has put on over the centuries go a long way in explaining Russia’s rich history of performing arts.

While the Bolshoi Ballet Company was established in 1776, the theater itself was opened in 1825. The glittering, six-tier auditorium is lavishly and decadently decorated; it is a fitting setting for the world-class performances that take place on its stage.

Spending a night watching a performance of such classics as The Nutcracker or Swan Lake at the Bolshoi Theatre is sure to be a memorable experience and the beauty all around you only adds to the sense of occasion.

3. Moscow Kremlin

This famously fortified complex is remarkably home to five palaces and four cathedrals and is the historic, political and spiritual center of the city. The Kremlin serves as the residence for the country’s president. It has been used as a fort, and this fact is made clear by its sheer size. The Kremlin’s outer walls were built in the late 1400s.

Under Ivan III, better known as Ivan the Great, the Kremlin became the center of a unified Russian state, and was extensively remodeled. Three of the Kremlin’s cathedrals date to his reign that lasted from 1462-1505. The Deposition Church and the Palace of Facets were also constructed during this time. The Ivan the Great Bell Tower was built in 1508. It is the tallest tower at the Kremlin with a height of 266 feet (81 meters).

Joseph Stalin removed many of the relics from the tsarist regimes. However, the Tsar Bell, the world’s largest bell, and the Tsar Cannon, the largest bombard by caliber in the world, are among the remaining items from that era. The Kremlin Armory is one of Moscow’s oldest museums as it was established more than 200 years ago. Its diamond collection is impressive.

The Kremlin’s gardens – Taynitsky, Grand Kremlin Public and Alexander – are beautiful. The Kremlin has also served as the religious center of the country, and there is a tremendous number of preserved churches and cathedrals here. The collections contained within the museums include more than 60,000 historical, cultural and artistic monuments. Those who enjoy the performing arts will want to consider attending a ballet or concert at the State Kremlin Palace. Completed in 1961, it is the only modern building in the Kremlin.

2. Red Square

Lying at the heart of Moscow, Red Square is the most important and impressive square in the city. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions due to its wealth of historical sights and cultural landmarks.

Drenched in history, the huge square is home to incredible sights such as the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral and Lenin’s Mausoleum, among others. Consequently, it is not to be missed when in Moscow as it really is home to the city’s most stunning monuments.

It is here that many important moments in Russian history took place; the former marketplace has hosted everything from Tsar’s coronations and public ceremonies to rock concerts and Soviet military parades. Wandering around the massive square is a humbling experience and undoubtedly one of the highlights the city has to offer.

1. Saint Basil’s Cathedral

Located in the impressive Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral is gorgeous; its delightful spires appear as if out of a fairytale. The most recognizable building in the country, the cathedral is very much a symbol of Russia. No visit to Moscow is complete without having taken in its unique and distinctive features.

Ivan the Terrible ordered the cathedral’s construction in the mid-16th century, and legend holds that Ivan put out the architect’s eyes so that he would be unable to build another cathedral more glorious than St. Basil’s. Designed to resemble the shape of a bonfire in full flame, the architecture is not only unique to the period in which it was built but to any subsequent period. For various reasons, both Napoleon and Stalin wanted to destroy the cathedral but fortunately did not succeed.

Known for its various colors, shapes and geometric patterns, St. Basil’s Cathedral houses nine different chapels that are all connected by a winding labyrinth of corridors and stairways. On the lower floor, St. Basil’s Chapel contains a silver casket bearing the body of St. Basil the Blessed.

Throughout the cathedral are many beautiful murals, frescoes, wooden icons and other art works and artifacts. Outside the cathedral is a lovely garden with the bronze Monument to Minin and Pozharsky, who rallied an all-volunteer Russian army against Polish invaders during a period of the late 16th century known as the Times of Troubles.

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Summary of Activities

Travel paid for, or reimbursed, by a person or entity other than you is considered a gift and subject to the House Gift Rule and the prohibition on soliciting gifts. [1] Topics discussed in this section are

I. Prohibition on Solicitation
II. Additional Requirements and Fees
III. Officially-Connected Travel Paid for by a Private Source
IV. Official Travel

V. Travel for Political Purposes

Vi. mixed-purpose travel, vii. travel for personal purposes, viii. business site visits, ix. point a to point a travel, x. travel paid for by federal, state, or local governments, xi. travel allowed by other gift rule exceptions, xii. travel paid for by a foreign government, xiii. travel on non-commercial aircraft, xiv. miscellaneous considerations, i. prohibition on solicitation.

You may not solicit anything of value for yourself or others, including travel. [2] If you asked to attend a trip, or someone else asked for you, you may not participate in the trip. Additionally, you may not invite others to participate in a trip sponsored by an outside organization or allow your name to be used to solicit travelers. [3] If you have any questions on this prohibition, please contact the Committee’s Advice and Education staff at 202-225-7103 or [email protected] .

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II. Additional Requirements and Fees

Trip sponsors may have additional requirements, including an application or specific timeframes to book travel. Be sure to follow any additional requirements the trip sponsors have, in addition to following the requirements here.

Trip sponsors may occasionally ask you to pay for your own travel expenses upfront and then be reimbursed by the trip sponsor. As long as you are reimbursed for the full amount you spent, even if after the fact, the trip sponsor is the one paying for your travel.

If you are asked to spend personal funds for travel in your official capacity, and you will not be reimbursed, please call the Committee for further guidance.

III. Officially-Connected Travel Paid for by a Private Source Ethics Committee Travel Regulations [4]

a. ethics committee pre-approval.

You must submit your travel requests to the Committee no later than 30 days before the start of the trip. The Committee has a travel calculator to calculate your due date.
You are responsible for submitting your travel requests. The Committee does not accept travel requests directly from a trip sponsor.
You must submit a complete submission to be considered “on time.” Changes or revisions that must be made during the review process do not change the initial submission date.
A “complete submission” is the Traveler Form, the Primary Trip Sponsor Form and its attachments, Additional Sponsor Forms, and your invitation.
The Committee will only accept travel requests through the Committee’s email at [email protected] or hand-delivered to the Committee’s office. If you would like to hand-deliver your submission, you must submit two copies of your request.
Officers and staff may submit late requests only for exceptional circumstances
Media request
Request to be a substitute speaker at an event
Staffer accompanying a Member who submitted a permissible late request
An office closing due to inclement weather
Late invitation from the trip sponsor except for media requests
Forgetting to submit a travel request on time
Waiting for complete forms
The Committee will only approve travel requests that comply with the Committee’s Travel Regulations . [5]
You must receive Committee pre-approval before accepting privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel.
If you do not receive Committee pre-approval before accepting privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel, either your office will need to pay for the trip or you could request retroactive approval. The Committee does not guarantee that retroactive approval will be granted, and all requests are highly fact-specific.
If your office must pay, the Member may be able to use the MRA or committee funds, principal campaign committee funds, or the Member’s own personal funds. [6]
Officers and employees may not use their own personal funds to pay for an officially-connected trip.

B. Post-Travel Disclosure

Within 15 days after returning from your trip, you must file post-travel disclosures with the Legislative Resource Center for public disclosure. Forms that must be submitted are

Traveler Post-Travel Disclosure Form
Trip Sponsor Post-Travel Disclosure Form
Approved version of the Traveler Form
Approved version of the Primary Trip Sponsor Form and its attachments
Approved version of any Additional Sponsor Form
Letter approving travel request signed by Ethics Committee Chairman and Ranking Member
Approved version of the trip agenda
Updated trip agenda showing any changes made since receiving Committee pre-approval
Approved version of the invitee list
List of confirmed attendees
Copy of the invitation

Adjustments to your travel after you received Committee pre-approval, such as shortening the trip or not bringing an accompanying relative, should be reflected on the Traveler Post-Travel Disclosure Form. If you would like to make changes to your travel request, you must contact the Committee prior to making any adjustments.

If you file annual financial disclosure statements, you may also need to report privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel on Schedule H (“Travel Payments and Reimbursements”) of your statement.

C. Travel Related to Official Responsibilities

All privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel must relate to the traveler’s official or representational duties. [7] The Committee reviews each request on a case-by-case basis based on the information provided in the travel request and additional communications with the traveler and trip sponsor.

The traveler’s official responsibilities
Whether the trip relates to matters within Congress’s legislative or policy interests
The amount of officially-connected activities during the trip, not including any recreational activities [8]
Whether the traveler’s employing Member certifies the relationship to official duties
Attendance at a meeting or conference
Speaking at a conference or on a panel
Participating in a fact-finding trip
Delivering a speech or accepting an award in your official capacity

The Committee will not approve privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel to conduct official business [9] or personal activities.

Conducting field hearings
Conducting general oversight functions
Performing a core function of official duties
Attending meetings where only congressional Members and staff are present
Recreational activities
Personal travel
Charitable or political fundraising
Professional development activities, including continuing education courses
Networking activities

Your employing Member must certify that your travel request is related to your official responsibilities.

For a Member, the Member certifies. [10]
For personal office staff, the Member certifies.
For majority-side committee staff, the chairman of the full committee certifies.
For minority-side committee staff, either the chairman or the ranking member of the full committee certifies.
For staff of a non-partisan or bipartisan committee, the chairman of the full committee certifies.
For staff of a joint committee, the highest ranking House Member certifies.
For staff of an office not overseen by a Member, the House Officer, or highest-ranking employee if not overseen by an Officer, certifies.

D. Length of Travel

i. general time limits.

Travel within the continental United States may not exceed 96 hours, wheels up to wheels down.

Travel outside the continental United States may not exceed 7 days, not including travel to and from the destination. Travel outside the continental United States includes travel to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and any other U.S. territory or commonwealth. Days spent in whole or part traveling to or from the destination do not count towards the 7 day limit. Travel within a foreign country or between foreign countries does count to the 7 day limit.

Travel sponsored by an organization that employs or retains a registered federal lobbyist or foreign agent is limited to events on a single calendar day. [11] You may accept travel to and from the destination and a single night’s lodging. The Committee may approve a second night’s lodging if needed for you to practically participate in the one-day event. [12]

Generally each day must include a full day of programming. Officially-connected programming means meetings or sessions related to the primary purpose of the trip. Officially-connected programming does not include entertainment or recreational activities, time for personal telephone calls, “executive” or personal time, or meals without substantive programming.

ii. Further Considerations for Time Limits

The Committee will only approve necessary travel expenses. [13] Necessary travel expenses are expenses reasonably necessary to accomplish the purpose of the trip. The Committee may require adjustments to travel plans based on the trip’s agenda.

On rare occasions, the Committee may approve extensions of the 96 hour or 7 day limit. [14] The Committee will not extend the time limit for trips sponsored by organizations that employ or retain registered federal lobbyists or foreign agents. Any request to extend the time limit must be for truly exceptional circumstances such as travel from a destination so remote it only receives air service every 10 days. An extension for convenience or because a larger conference may last longer than the time limit is not an exceptional circumstance. [15]

E. Private Sponsors in General

Generally any non-governmental entity may be a trip sponsor. A trip sponsor is any private entity that

Plans or organizes trip activities;
Pays for all trip expenses with its own funds; or
Pays for trip expenses using funds from other organizations, in whole or part.

A Primary Trip Sponsor is the organization that is primarily responsible for planning, organizing, and paying for the travelers’ expenses and activities. Trips may have multiple Primary Trip Sponsors.

Additional Sponsors are organizations that assist the Primary Trip Sponsor. Assistance can be monetary or in-kind. Examples of assistance from Additional Sponsors are

Providing a grant to the Primary Trip Sponsor to support the trip
Providing funds to the Primary Trip Sponsor that are earmarked or specifically designated for the trip or congressional travel in general
Paying for individual events or activities during the trip
Assisting with planning or organizing the trip or activities during the trip

Registered federal lobbyists, foreign agents, and lobbying firms may not be trip sponsors. [16]

Private Foundations have limits on their ability to sponsor travel. [17] Those limits are

May not be the Primary Trip Sponsor for an international trip, including travel to territories or possessions of the United States; and
May not have a role in selecting trip participants for an international trip, including travel to territories or possessions of the United States.

F. Private Sponsors with Lobbyists/Foreign Agents

Organizations that employ or retain registered federal lobbyists or foreign agents may sponsor travel, with limits.

The limits do not apply to sponsors that are public or not-for-profit private colleges or universities, even if those colleges or universities employ or retain a registered federal lobbyist. [18] These limits also do not apply to sponsors where lobbyists are involved with the organization, as long as those lobbyists are not registered to lobby for that organization. [19]

Limits for trips sponsored by organizations with registered federal lobbyists or foreign agents are

Travelers may only participate in one calendar day’s worth of activities,
Lobbyist or foreign agent involvement many only be de minimis, and
Lobbyists or foreign agents may not accompany travelers on any segment of the trip. [20]
Accompanying travelers between the city of departure and the destination is prohibited.
Accompanying travelers on local transportation to events or locations within the destination is allowed.

De minimis involvement in planning or organizing a trip is

Responding to a trip sponsor’s request for names of House Members, officers, or employees who might be interested in an issue; or
Sitting on the board of, or volunteering for, the trip sponsor, without any involvement in planning or organizing the trip.

Involvement that is more than de minimis includes

Determining or suggesting, without request, which House travelers should be invited on a trip
Extending or following up on invitations to House travelers
Signing the trip sponsor forms provided to House travelers
Being mentioned in or on an invitation extended by another individual or entity
Setting or recommending, without request, any part of the trip agenda
Making travel arrangements for House travelers

G. Additional Sponsors

Additional Sponsors assist the Primary Trip Sponsor with planning, organizing, or paying for the trip.

Only Additional Sponsors that are organized under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code may provide monetary assistance without having a direct role in planning or organizing the trip. [21]

All Additional Sponsors that provide assistance to the Primary Trip Sponsor without receiving a tangible benefit in return must complete Additional Sponsor Forms and be disclosed. Examples of tangible benefits include

Receiving advertising at an event and free tickets in return for sponsorship
Paying for and receiving booth space at a trade show
Being named publicly as a sponsor of a large conference

H. Involvement of United States Governments or Foreign Governments

If a federal, state, or local government entity is assisting a trip sponsor with paying for, planning, or organizing a privately-sponsored, officially-connected trip, that government entity does not need to be disclosed as an additional sponsor.

If a foreign government is assisting a trip sponsor with paying for in-country expenses, or assisting with planning or organizing a privately-sponsored, officially-connected trip, the foreign government’s assistance must be disclosed. Specifically,

The Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act must allow the in-country expenses, and
The Primary Trip Sponsor must disclose the foreign government and the type of assistance on the Primary Trip Sponsor Form.

For more information about foreign government involvement, see Travel Paid for by a Foreign Government .

I. Locations of and Events during Travel

i. purpose of travel.

Privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel will either be arranged or organized without regard to congressional participation or with regard to congressional participation.

Without regard to congressional participation means travel where your participation is incidental to the larger purpose of the event. Examples include

Business or trade association annual conferences
Meetings of professional societies
Symposiums, seminars, roundtables

With regard to congressional participation means travel that is specifically for your participation, or where your participation is crucial to the success of the event. Examples include

Fact-finding trips
Site visits
Educational conferences or briefings designed for congressional attendance
An evening or interview with a Member as the sole event

For travel without regard to congressional participation, the location of the trip is presumptively valid. You must still demonstrate your participation is related to your official or representational duties and attend sufficient activities on each day of the trip.

For travel with regard to congressional participation, the trip destinations must be directly related to the officially-connected purpose of the trip.

ii. Distance of Travel

Generally privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel may not be used for local travel. [22]

Within 35 miles of the U.S. Capitol, or
Within 35 miles of the nearest district office.
The Committee measures distance in a direct line, or “as the crow flies.”

You may accept privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel within the district if House travelers from at least two other districts are also attending.

J. Acceptable Travel Expenses

You may only accept reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred for privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel. [23] Generally you may accept 1) transportation expenses, 2) food and lodging expenses, and 3) miscellaneous expenses.

You may accept economy or business class air or train travel
If you wish to accept first class air or train fare or charter airfare, your travel must meet certain conditions laid out in the Travel Regulations [24]
If you drive your own vehicle, you must be reimbursed for mileage [25]
Personal funds
Travel promotional awards or points
Principal campaign committee funds, as permitted by the FEC [26]
Lodging and meals commensurate with what the other attendees will receive
Maximum per diem rate for that location [27]
Proximity of the lodging to the sites being visited
Availability of lodging to accommodate the number of participants or conference requirements
Security concerns
Special needs of House travelers
Recommendation of a U.S. embassy for international travel
Maximum per diem rate for that location
Room rental fees
Conference admission fees and materials
Interpretation fees
Security costs
Traveler’s insurance
Informational materials

K. Accompanying Relatives

You may bring one accompanying relative at the trip sponsor’s expense if that relative was invited by the Primary Trip Sponsor. [28] Accompanying relatives are over the age of 18 and

Children or step-children
Parents or step-parents
Siblings or half-siblings
Grandchildren
Mother- or father-in-law

If you would like to bring anyone else at the trip sponsor’s expense, you must write to the Committee for formal approval.

Even if the overall expense would be less for the trip sponsors to bring multiple relatives, you may only bring one accompanying relative at the trip sponsor’s expense.

Example. A Member is invited by organization Y to give a speech in Dallas on Saturday. Organization Z issues an unrelated invitation to the Member to address its members in Dallas on Sunday. Each group offers to pay expenses for the Member and one family member. The Member may bring only one family member to Dallas at the sponsors’ expense. The Member may not bring the Member’s spouse at the expense of organization Y and a child at the expense of organization Z. This arrangement would violate the allowance for one accompanying relative.
Example. A Member is invited to give a speech. The sponsoring organization offers the Member and the Member’s spouse business class airfare. The Member would also like to bring the Member’s child. The Member may not trade in the two business class tickets for three economy class tickets. Even if the total expense for the trip sponsor would be less, the Member may not bring two accompanying relatives at the trip sponsor’s expense. The Member would need to pay all of the travel expenses related to the child.

You may bring guests at your expense without formal approval from the Committee. You or your guest is responsible for all expenses related to the guest. You must receive approval from the Primary Trip Sponsor to bring additional guests.

Accompanying relatives must travel with you. [29] Therefore, an accompanying relative may not take more personal days, as discussed below, than you do. Accompanying relatives may depart from and return to a different location than you, or arrive after or depart before you, but otherwise must accompany you during the trip. [30]

L. Changes at Personal Expense

i. extending at personal expense.

You may add personal days to the beginning or the end of a privately-sponsored, officially-connected trip. To extend at personal expense, the primary purpose of the trip must remain officially-connected.

To accept round-trip airfare from the trip sponsors, the maximum number of calendar days you may extend must be equal to or less than the number of full calendar days of programming with the trip sponsor.
If you would like to extend longer, you will be responsible for half of the transportation expenses.
In all cases, you must pay for lodging and meals on the additional days. [31]
If you add personal days to the start of a trip, the 30 day deadline will move up.
Example. On an international trip, all of the travelers arrive at the destination on Monday afternoon. Monday evening the travelers participate in a two hour dinner with the trip sponsor. Tuesday through Friday the travelers spend 6-8 hours a day engaged in activities with the trip sponsor. Saturday morning the rest of the travelers will return home, but Traveler A would like to stay a few extra days. Because the trip had 4 full days of programming, Traveler A may stay 4 days and still accept roundtrip airfare from the trip sponsor. However, if the roundtrip airfare is more expensive than for the other travelers because of the new travel dates, Traveler A must pay the difference personally. Traveler A must request this extension on Traveler A’s Traveler Form due no later than 30 days before the start of the trip.
Example. On a domestic trip where the trip sponsor employs a lobbyist, the travelers arrive at the destination Thursday evening before the officially-connected events begin Friday morning. The rest of the travelers will return home Friday evening, but Traveler B would like to stay at the destination through the weekend. Because Traveler B will be extending for more than one calendar day, Traveler B must pay for the return transportation, as well as the meals and lodging during the additional two days. Traveler B must request this extension on Traveler B’s Traveler Form due no later than 30 days before the start of the trip.

ii. Changes to Travel Itinerary at Personal Expense

You may depart from or return to a different location than the rest of the travelers. You are responsible for any increase in trip costs, including any change fees, over what the trip sponsor is paying for the other travelers.

M. Stacking Trips

You may travel beyond the 96 hour or 7 day limit for multiple trips that are consecutive but distinct. The Committee calls these consecutive but distinct trips “stacked.” To stack trips, the sponsors, the purpose, and participants must truly be distinct. Common examples include

Participating in two privately-sponsored, officially-connected trips where the first trip ends the same day that the second trip begins.
Participating in a privately-sponsored, officially-connected trip, then leaving for personal vacation.
Participating in a trip paid for by a state government agency and then a privately-sponsored, officially-connected trip, where the state agency’s trip ends the day the privately-sponsored, officially-connected trip begins.
Participating in a CODEL or STAFFDEL and a privately-sponsored, officially-connected trip, where the private sponsor offers to pay for a side trip, and the purpose of the side trip is completely unrelated to the purpose of the CODEL or STAFFDEL.

If you are invited on, or plan to take, two or more trips that abut each other, please contact the Committee’s Office of Advice and Education at 202-225-7103 for guidance on what to report and how.

N. Travel for Members and Staff Leaving Office

Departing Members or staff wishing to travel after adjournment sine die should contact the Committee to determine whether a particular trip would still be related to the traveler’s official or representational duties. For example, travel to give a speech may still be related, but travel for a fact-finding mission may not.

IV. Official Travel

a. general provisions.

Official travel is travel paid for or authorized by the House. Official travel includes travel paid for with the Members’ Representational Allowance (MRA) or committee funds, CODELs, and STAFFDELs.

The Committee on House Administration oversees travel paid for with MRA or committee funds. If you or your Member would like to travel within the United States and use House funds, you may contact the Democratic staff at 202-225-2061 or the Republican staff at 202-225-8281. The Committee and the Committee on House Administration also issued joint guidance about official travel.

CODELs and STAFFDELs are official travel to a foreign country and must be authorized by the Speaker or a committee chair. [32] For questions about CODELs and STAFFDELs, please call the Office of Interparliamentary Affairs at 202-226-1766.

Travel paid for with official funds does not need to be pre-approved by the Committee or reported on your annual financial disclosure statement. [33]

B. No Private Subsidy of Official Travel

As discussed in the privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel section , outside entities may not pay for official travel, whether monetary or in-kind. [34]

House funds and privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel may not be co-mingled. For example

Example. A committee chairman decided to fund Member travel to a conference with committee funds. The sponsor of the conference offers to provide lodging and meals for the Members without charge. The Members may not accept the sponsor’s office. Because official funds will be used for the airfare, the trip is an official trip. Therefore, acceptance of the sponsor’s offer would be an impermissible private subsidy of official activity.
Example. A Member plans to travel to a conference using MRA funds. The sponsor of the conference invites one of the Member’s employees to travel to the conference at the sponsor’s expense. The employee may not travel to the conference at the sponsor’s expense. Because the Member is using official funds, the Member determined that attendance at the conference is an official activity.

You may accept gifts that are allowed under the House Gift Rule, even while on official travel.

Example. At the same conference as the previous example, the conference sponsor instead offers to comp the Member and employee’s registration fees. Assuming attendance at the conference meets the requirements for a widely-attended event, the Member and employee may accept the comped registration fees, but still pay for transportation, lodging, and meals outside the conference using official funds.

Please see the Committee’s guidance on gifts for further information.

C. Official Travel Using Campaign Funds

Generally, a Member may pay for official travel for the Member or the Member’s employees using the Member’s principal campaign committee funds. [35] The Member may pay for travel for personal office staff and for committee staff using principal campaign committee funds.

D. Official Travel Using Personal Funds

Members may use their own personal funds to pay for official travel. Members may pay for their own travel, or travel of their employees.

Employees may not use personal funds to pay for official travel. [36] The employee’s Member must reimburse any expenses that employee incurs for official travel.

You may accept travel paid for by a political organization for a political fundraiser or campaign event sponsored by that political organization. [37] For the purpose of the House Gift Rule. political organizations are those recognized under § 527(e) of the Internal Revenue Code. [38]

If you are traveling for a campaign or political purpose and your campaign committee, or another candidate’s campaign committee is paying for travel expenses, you may not make the travel arrangements in the official, congressional office or using any congressional resources.

Example. A Member is traveling for a campaign fundraiser. The Member asks the official, congressional scheduler to help make travel arrangements. The official, congressional scheduler may not make those arrangements while on House grounds (including the district office), or using congressional resources. The official, congressional scheduler may, in his or her own time, schedule the Member’s campaign-related travel. The congressional scheduler must be willing to assist the campaign and may not be told to schedule that campaign-related travel as a condition of the scheduler’s congressional employment.

If you are a financial disclosure filer, you will only need to report travel paid for by a federal political organization on your annual financial disclosure statements if that federal political organization did not properly report the travel on its FEC expenditure reports. You will, however, have to report travel paid for by a state or local political organization on annual financial disclosure statements.

If you are offered travel on a non-commercial aircraft for campaign purposes, please call the Committee and the FEC . As discussed in Travel on Non-Commercial Aircraft , travel on private planes for campaign purposes is very restricted.

If you are traveling for a campaign or political purpose, but a third party offers to pay for the travel, please contact the FEC , or the state’s election authority if for a state campaign purpose. Payment by the third party could be considered a campaign contribution.

You may participate in travel with more than one purpose. For example, you may want to extend a privately-sponsored, officially-connected trip at personal expense, or you may want to participate in campaign activity at the end of an official trip paid for with House funds. To determine which funds pay for which activity, you should determine which purpose is the primary purpose of the trip.

The funds associated with the primary purpose should pay for the transportation to and from the destination, and the other travel expenses related to that purpose. The funds associated with the secondary purpose should pay for the expenses related to that secondary purpose.

Although you may determine the primary purpose and any additional purposes, you should make that decision in a reasonable manner. Possible ways to make that determination include

The number of days devoted to each purpose
The main reason for taking the trip
Whether you would be in that location if not for the trip

You may also stack trips together that have separate and distinct purposes. If you would like to stack trips, please contact the Committee to determine how to split expenses. You may also need to contact the Committee on House Administration or the FEC .

As discussed in privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel , you may not stack campaign-related travel with privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel. You also may not extend a privately-sponsored, officially-connected trip for a campaign purpose.

Example. You plan to travel to the district for official meetings. During one evening of that trip, you plan to assist with a political fundraiser for your Member. You would like to know whether you may use the MRA to pay for any portion of your travel expenses, including your plane ticket and your hotel room. You should call the Committee on House Administration to ask whether and for what you may use the MRA. You might be able to use your Member’s principal campaign committee funds for any expenses the MRA may not cover. You should also call the FEC ’s congressional liaisons to ask whether you could also use principal campaign funds.

A. Travel Paid for by Relatives

You may accept travel offered by a relative. [39]

If, however, your relative is only the conduit, meaning another entity offers you travel, but through your relative, the gift would still come from the other entity. In that instance, you may not rely on the gift exception for gifts from a relative. But, you may be able to accept the travel under a different gift exception.

B. Travel Offered on the Basis of Personal Friendship

Personal friends may offer to pay for your travel expenses for personal purposes. Personal purposes do not include conducting House business or campaign activity.

Just like with other gifts of personal friendship, if the travel is more than $250, you must write in to the Committee for formal permission to accept the gift. If the travel is $250 or less, you may determine for yourself that your friend offered it based on personal friendship. The Committee expects you to use the same criteria the Committee does to determine if the offer was made based on personal friendship. [40] When determining the value for travel, you should look at the trip as a whole. Consider the transportation and any lodging or meals not covered by the personal hospitality exception.

If you file financial disclosure statements and you accept a trip based on personal friendship that is above the reporting threshold, you must report that trip on Schedule G (“Gifts”) of your annual statement.

C. Lodging and Meals under Personal Hospitality

You may accept lodging and meals in someone’s home in certain circumstances. [41] The home or building may not belong to a registered federal lobbyist or foreign agent. [42] Additionally, the home or building may not be used for business purposes, including for official meetings or if the residents rent out the home for vacation rentals.

This exception only applies to staying in the home and meals eaten in the home. The exception does not apply to going out to dinner while staying at someone’s house. A meal outside the home would need to meet a different gift exception.

D. Travel for Professional Development Opportunities or Fellowships

You may be able to participate in professional development or fellowship opportunities that pay for travel expenses or scholarships. Common examples of professional development and fellowships include

Young Leaders programs
Continuing education opportunities
Networking opportunities
Exchange programs

Travel that is completely unrelated to your House employment is discussed in Travel Related to Outside Activities .

If your House position was a factor in the decision to offer you travel for professional development or a fellowship, you must write in to the Committee and receive formal permission to accept the travel expenses. [43] Examples of your House position potentially being a factor include

Submitting your resume with your application
Listing your House position on an application
Being nominated by someone you’ve worked with officially
Submitting letters of a recommendation from a Member, officer, or employee with your application

The Committee recommends you request approval as soon as the program’s sponsor offers to pay for your expenses to ensure the Committee has sufficient time to review your request.

E. Travel to Attend Charity Fundraisers

You may be able to accept lodging and transportation in connection with a charity fundraiser. To accept, the event and the offer of travel expenses must meet the following criteria.

All of the net proceeds of the event must benefit a § 501(c)(3) organization,
The transportation and lodging expenses must be paid by the benefitting § 501(c)(3) organization, and
The offer to attend the event must be extended by the benefitting § 501(c)(3) organization. [44]

You may accept expenses that are reasonably necessary to participate in the event. Generally that means you may accept one night’s lodging.

You may only accept transportation and lodging expenses directly from the benefitting § 501(c)(3) organization, not from a sponsor of or participant at the fundraiser. Additionally, you may not accept transportation and lodging expenses from the benefitting § 501(c)(3) organization if those expenses would be paid for using donations that are earmarked for congressional participants. [45]

Although organizations that are not § 501(c)(3) organizations may organize events that meet the charity fundraiser exception to accept an offer of free attendance and a meal, those non-§ 501(c)(3) event organizers could not pay for your travel expenses under this exception. [46]

Example. You are invited to a charity fundraiser in another city. The event organizer is a corporate sponsor, but the event will benefit an organization that is recognized under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The event organizer offers to pay for your airfare and lodging to participate in the event. Although you may accept the offer of free attendance, you may not accept the transportation and lodging expenses because the event organizer is not a § 501(c)(3) organization.
Example. A nationally-recognized charity is having its annual gala in another city. The charity offers you two tickets to the fundraiser and lodging and airfare to attend the event. The charity also offers lodging and airfare to your spouse. You and your spouse may accept the lodging and airfare, in addition to the offer of free attendance at the event.

F. Travel to Accept Honorary Degrees

If you are offered an honorary degree, you may also accept travel expenses that may be offered for the degree’s presentation. [47] The travel expenses you may accept include transportation, lodging, meals, refreshments, and entertainment.

G. Travel Related to Outside Activities

If you are offered travel that is unrelated to your official position, you may be able to accept the offer if it was not offered or enhanced because of your position with the House. [48]

i. Outside Activities

You may accept travel expenses related to your outside activities. [49] The travel expenses must be the same that are offered to others similarly situated.

Example. You are on the board of a charitable organization. Each quarter the charitable organization pays for its board members to travel to its headquarters for the quarterly board meeting. All of the board members are offered the same travel expenses. You may accept those travel expenses.
Example. You recently wrote and published a book. The Committee approved your publishing contract. [50] Now your publisher is planning a book tour to promote your book and will pay for your travel expenses. The publisher plans to pay for the same travel expenses it would for any other author of similar fame and stature. You may accept those travel expenses.
Example. Same example as before, but you would like to stay a few extra days before returning home. You may extend your trip if the publisher allows other similarly-situated authors to extend their travel on similar terms.
Example. Your child is a scout. All of the local scout troops are going to the Grand Canyon for a weeklong trip. The regional scout organization offers to pay your airfare if you will chaperone the scouts during the trip. You may accept those travel expenses.

If you file annual financial disclosure statements, you must report these travel expenses on Schedule H (“Travel Payments and Reimbursements”) if the value of the travel expenses exceeds the reporting threshold.

ii. Prospective Employers

You may accept travel expenses from a prospective employer that are customarily provided by that employer for bona fide employment discussions. [51] If you file annual financial disclosure statements, you must report these travel expenses on Schedule H (“Travel Payments and Reimbursements”) if the value of the travel expenses exceeds the reporting threshold. [52]

iii. Accompanying Spouses

You may accept travel expenses to accompany your spouse on trips related to your spouse’s employment or outside activities. [53]

Example. Your spouse is a lawyer with a private law firm. Each year, the firm invites all of its lawyers and their spouses to a weekend retreat at a resort hotel. This retreat is offered to your spouse regardless of who you are. You may accompany your spouse and accept the law firm’s payment of travel expenses.
Example. Your spouse is a flight attendant with an airline that offers free travel all of its employees and their immediate families when seats are available. You may accept the free flights.

You and a guest may accept local transportation to visit a business site in your official capacity. [55] Specifically, you may accept

The travel must not start or end in the District of Columbia
Includes travel from the local airport or other terminus to the business site
Local transportation means within 35 miles.
Meal must be on that business’s premises
Meal must be in a group setting with employees of the organization, not just board members
Example. A local business invites you to tour its facility. Part of the tour includes a cafeteria where all of the facility’s employees eat lunch together. You may eat lunch in the facility’s cafeteria with the other employees as part of the business site visit.
Example. A local business invites you to tour its facility. The invitiation includes an offer to staff the tour to the facility, as well as guests that anyone may want to bring. You may bring one guest of your choosing.
Example. Your district relies heavily on the local waterways, including an extensive locks system. The company that manages the locks invites you to tour the locks system. To see the entire system, you must travel by boat through the locks. You will board the boat at the north end of the system and disembark at the south end of the system. You may accept that local transportation as part of the business site visit.

For travel expenses that are more than just local transportation and an on-site meal, you may need to seek pre-approval for privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel .

You may accept Point A to Point A travel. Point A to Point A travel is travel that begins and ends in the same location, without any intermediary stops. To accept Point A to Point A travel, you must be traveling in your official capacity on behalf of the House. Point A to Point A travel that complies with these restrictions does not have monetary value.

Example. A local organization invites House staff to tour a local river to see how federal funds have helped the health of the river improve. The local organization offers to take the staff on its boat, which will depart and return to the same dock without disembarking during the tour. Because the staff will participate in their official capacities and the boat tour will not make intermediary stops, staff may accept this Point A to Point A travel.
Example. A lumber company in the district invites a Member to tour its operations. Because the lumber company’s land is so vast, the best way to view it is from the air. The lumber company offers to take the Member in the company’s helicopter to view the site. The helicopter will depart from and return to the same location, without any stops. The Member may accept this Point A to Point A travel.
Example. A local non-profit is planning a whistle-stop tour across the district to recognize the 100th anniversary of a regional railroad. The tour will be on a restored train and will stop at local train depots throughout the region. The non-profit invites a Member to travel with them on the tour. Because the train will make stops along the way, the Member may not accept this travel as Point A to Point A travel. The Member may be able to accept the travel under a different section discussed in this manual.
Example. A Member is invited to an aircraft test facility in her district. The test facility offers to let the Member ride in the cockpit during a test flight, which will take off and return to the same location. She may accept travel on the private aircraft during the test flight because it is Point A to Point A. Because the test flight will take off and land in the same location, she may accept travel on the private aircraft during the test flight.

The mode of transportation for Point A to Point A travel does not change this guidance. As long as the travel meets these requirements, the Point A to Point A travel can be in a car, on an airplane, in a boat, on a helicopter, or on a train. Point A to Point A travel can be on privately-owned modes of transportation, including privately-owned aircraft.

You may accept travel that is paid for by a federal, state, or local governmental entity, or secured under a government contract. [56] You do not need to seek prior approval from the Committee to accept this travel. Under this exception, you may accept transportation, meals, and lodging from the government entity. If you file financial disclosure reports, you do not need to report travel paid for by a federal, state, or local governmental entity, or secured under a government contract.

You may only accept these travel expenses directly from the government entity, not through a third party such as a registered federal lobbyist, or where the government entity is merely a conduit for the third party. [57]

To determine if an entity is a governmental entity, the Committee looks to whether the entity is treated as a government agency for other purposes.

The Committee considers these entities to be government entities.

United States federal government
United States state governments
United States municipal governments, including municipal airports
Commonwealths and territories of the United States
Smithsonian Institute
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
Tennessee Valley Authority
California Joint Powers Authorities such as the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California [58]
Public universities, including Pennsylvania state-related universities [59]

The Committee does not consider these entities to be government entities.

Native American tribes [60]
Amtrak [61]
Regional Federal Home Loan Banks

These lists are not exhaustive. Please contact the Committee if you have any questions about whether an entity is part of the government.

A. Local Transportation for Widely-Attended Events and Charity Fundraisers

You may accept local transportation from the event organizer of a widely-attended event or a charity fundraiser, assuming the event meets all of the requirements. [62] Local transportation means within 35 miles of the U.S. Capitol or the nearest district office.

B. Widely-Available Opportunities

You may accept local transportation that is routinely offered to a group or class unrelated to your House position. [63]

Example. You were invited to speak on a weekly news show. The television station routinely sends a car to pick up its guests staying nearby. The television station offers to pick you up from your home that is near the station. You may accept the offer of local transportation from the television station.

C. Less than $50

You may accept travel expenses, including transportation and meals, if the total for the travel expenses is less than $50 per person, and the organization sponsoring the travel does not employ or retain a registered federal lobbyist. [64]

Example. You were invited on a tour of healthcare facilities in the immediate DC area. The sponsoring organization does not employ or retain a registered federal lobbyist. The sponsoring organization would like to pay for a bus for the day and provide lunch. The total value of the bus and lunch per person is $40. You may accept the offer.

The Emoluments Clause of the Constitution limits your ability to accept travel from foreign governments. The Emoluments Clause prohibits you, as a federal government official, from receiving “any present . . . of any kind whatever” from a foreign government or its representative without the consent of Congress. [65]

Congress consented to travel from foreign governments in two main ways, the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act (FGDA) and the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act (MECEA). [66] House rules also allow you to accept travel from a foreign government under FGDA or MECEA. [67]

A trip under FGDA or MECEA may not be turned into a privately-sponsored, officially-connected trip by changing who manages the trip planning. [68] If a foreign government contracts with a private organization to plan or organize travel, the private organization operates at the direction of the foreign government. As a reminder, you, as a Member, officer, or employee, are subject to the Emoluments Clause and other Constitutional provisions discussed throughout. Therefore, you are responsible for ensuring you only accept permissible gifts.

Foreign government entities can mean much more than just the foreign federal government. Foreign governments include foreign state or municipal governments, quasi-governmental organizations that are closely affiliated with or funded by foreign governments, and private organizations that are closely affiliated with or funded by foreign governments. [69]

B. Travel under FGDA

The FGDA gave the Committee the authority to issue regulations that apply to all House Members, officers, and employees. [70]

Under FGDA, “foreign government” means

Any unity of a foreign government, including national, state, local, and municipal governments;
United Nations
European Union
North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO-PA
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe;
An agent or representative of the government or organization while acting in that capacity;
Quasi-governmental organizations closely affiliated with, or funded by, foreign governments. [71]

You may only accept travel from a foreign government under FGDA if you are already outside the United States and you are traveling in your official capacity.

You may accept

In-country travel expenses, including lodging, meals, and in-country transportation; or
Transportation leaving or returning to different a foreign country to visit the host country.
Example. You may accept local transportation from the host country to inspect a site near where you are traveling on a CODEL or STAFFDEL.
Example. You may accept lodging and a meal from the host country before addressing that country’s legislature.
Example. You may accept in-country airfare from the host country to visit another area of the country for fact-finding purposes while on a STAFFDEL.
Example. You may accept transportation from the host country to leave or return to a different foreign country to visit the host country.

You may not accept

Travel leaving from or returning to the United States to visit the host country;
Transportation or lodging in the United States;
Travel expenses, including in-country expenses, from the host country while on personal travel, campaign travel, or an academic exchange; or
Travel expenses from a registered federal lobbyist or foreign agent. [72]

You may not circumvent the limitations on travel under FGDA by traveling to a location just outside the United States and having the foreign government then pay for your transportation. You must have an official reason for being in the location where the foreign government begins paying for your travel expenses.

Your spouse or dependent children may also accept travel expenses from a foreign government under FGDA if they are traveling with you. [73] Your spouse and dependent children also may not accept travel for purely personal purposes.

You do not need Committee pre-approval, but you must report any FGDA travel within 30 days of leaving the foreign country. You must report FGDA travel regardless of the value of those travel expenses. When you return from your trip, you must complete the FGDA Disclosure Form and return it to the Committee. The Department of State makes FGDA disclosures public in the Federal Register each year. [74] If you file annual financial disclosure statements, you do not need to disclose FGDA travel on your annual statement that is properly reported to the Committee on the FGDA Disclosure Form.

Example. The Chinese Agricultural Ministry invites the Members of the Agriculture Committee on a ten-day tour of Chinese farm cooperatives. The tour is not part of an approved MECEA program. The Members may, consistent with FGDA, accept expenses for themselves and their spouses while they are in China. The Members and the spouses may not accept airfare to and from China at the expense of the Chinese government. The Members must disclose the receipt of these expenses for themselves and their spouses on the FGDA disclosure form within 30 days of leaving China. The Members do not need to report the trip on their annual financial disclosure statements.

C. Travel under MECEA

You may accept travel to a foreign country from a foreign government that has a MECEA agreement with the United States. [75] MECEA travel is for cultural exchanges. The Department of State negotiates MECEA agreements with foreign governments. Therefore, any travel offered under MECEA must comport with the agreement on file with the Department of State. You may not accept MECEA travel within the United States.

You do not need Committee pre-approval for MECEA travel and MECEA travel is not subject to the same time limits as privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel. You should, however, contact the Department of State to ensure the travel you were offered is covered by the MECEA agreement with that foreign government. If you file annual financial disclosure statements, you must report any MECEA trips on Schedule H (“Travel Payments and Reimbursements”) of your annual statement.

Only you may accept MECEA travel. MECEA agreements do not allow your spouse, children, or any other accompanying guests to travel with you at the expense of the foreign government. [76]

Example. A public university in Germany invites a Member to attend a two-week seminar and discussion series with German leaders at the school. The trip falls under an approved MECEA agreement. The Member may accept expenses for travel to and from Germany and related expenses for the Member’s two-week stay. If the Member would like to bring a family member, the Member must do so at personal expense. The Member must disclosure the trip on the Member’s annual financial disclosure statement.

Generally, you may not travel on non-commercial aircraft unless the House Rules allow it. [77]

Travel on non-commercial aircraft is very strictly regulated, and very fact-specific. Non-commercial aircraft includes chartered aircraft, leasing services such as NetJets, and privately- or corporate-owned aircraft. Additionally, candidates for the House may be even more limited in their ability to accept travel on non-commercial aircraft. [78] Although ways to accept travel on non-commercial aircraft are discussed in this section, we highly recommend you call the Committee before accepting any travel on non-commercial aircraft.

A. Reimbursement for Travel on Non-Commercial Aircraft

House Rule 23, clause 15 governs reimbursement for travel on non-commercial aircraft. Although this rule allows reimbursement in certain circumstances, you may still need to check with the Committee on House Administration or the FEC if you would like to use something other than personal funds to reimburse for travel on a non-commercial aircraft.

Under House Rules, you may reimburse for travel on a non-commercial aircraft when [79]

The aircraft is operated by an air carrier or commercial operator with a proper license from a government ( e.g. , travel on a commercial airline or chartered aircraft);
The flight is offered to the Member, in the Member’s personal capacity, by a personal friend or another Member;
The aircraft is operated by a federal, state, or local government;
The aircraft is owned or leased by a Member or a family member [80] of a Member; or
Including an aircraft owned by an entity that is not a public corporation where the Member or the family member has an ownership interest, provided that the Member does not use the aircraft any more than the Member or family member’s proportionate share of ownership allows.
The owner or operator of the aircraft is paid a pro rata share of the fair market value of the normal and usual charter fare or rental charge for a comparable plane of comparable size as determined by dividing the cost by the number of Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner, officers, or employees of Congress on the flight.
For example, if a non-commercial aircraft flight cost $25,000 and only one Member is on the flight, the Member’s pro rata share of the flight is $25,000, regardless of the number of non-congressional travelers on the plane.

B. Gifts of Travel on Non-Commercial Aircraft

Gifts of travel on non-commercial aircraft are considered gifts under the House Gift Rule. Therefore, you may only accept travel on non-commercial aircraft without reimbursement if the gift meets one of the gift exceptions . [81]

i. Acceptance of Travel Provided by a Relative

You may accept gifts from your relatives. [82] If you are a candidate for the House traveling for campaign purposes, however, “relatives” means only the candidate and the candidate’s immediate family, including a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or parent-in-law. [83]

Example. Your father owns a private plane and offers the use of that plane for commuting back and forth to the district. You may accept the flights on that private aircraft from your relatives.

ii. Acceptance of Travel Provided on the Basis of Personal Friendship

You may accept travel on non-commercial aircraft that meets the requirements for gifts based on personal friendship. Additional considerations include

As a general matter, the personal friendship provision only applies if the aircraft is owned by the individual, and does not apply to a flight on an aircraft owned by a corporation or other entity, where the individual does not have access to the aircraft for personal purposes.
The Committee must formally approve gifts based on personal friendship that exceed $250. Practically any flight on a non-commercial aircraft will exceed $250 in value and will require Committee approval. [84]
A flight may not be accepted on the basis of personal friendship when the primary purpose of the trip is either to conduct House business or engage in campaign activity.
Example. Your personal friend owns a private plane and asks you to accompany her on vacation. The travel will occur between two airports that have regularly-scheduled commercial service. You may accept the flight on the private aircraft to go on vacation with your personal friend, if the Committee approves. Because the travel will occur between two airports with regularly-scheduled air service, the value of that flight will be the cost of the first-class ticket between those two airports. If the value of that first-class ticket is more than $250, you must receive written permission from the Committee.
Example. Your personal friend owns a private plane and asks you to accompany him on vacation. Although you could get to the general location of the vacation on regularly-scheduled air service, the particular airport where your friend will depart does not have regularly-scheduled air service to the destination airport, even through connecting flights. You may accept the flight on the private aircraft to go on vacation with your personal friend, if the Committee approves the request. Unlike the example above, the value of this flight will be the full cost of chartering the same or similar aircraft for the flight. This is because the two airports do not have regularly-scheduled air service.

iii. Acceptance of Travel Provided by Another Member or Employee

You may accept a flight on a non-commercial aircraft from another Member, officer, or employee of the U.S. House of Representatives or U.S. Senate that is not related to travel for, or on behalf of, a candidate for the House. Remember, generally superiors may not accept gifts from their employees unless those gifts are for special occasions such as marriage, retirement, birth of a child, birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays. [85]

Example. A Member owns a private plane and would like to invite other Members or staff to fly on that plane in order to attend an official meeting. Members and staff may accept gifts from other Members, including travel on non-commercial aircraft owned by the other Member for official purposes.
Example. Instead, the Member would like to invite other Members or staff to fly on his plane for personal purposes. Members and staff may also accept gifts from other Members for purely personal purposes, including travel on non-commercial aircraft.
Example. A Member owns a private plane and offers it to a Senator to go on vacation, as long as the Senator pays for the costs associated with the flight. If the Senator would like to accept the Member’s offer, the Senator should contact the Senate Ethics Committee for further guidance. Conversely, if you would like to accept travel on a Senator’s private plane, please contact the Committee for further guidance.

iv. Acceptance of Travel Resulting from Outside Business, Employment, or Other Activities

You may accept travel on a non-commercial aircraft while participating in travel resulting from outside business, employment, or other activities if two conditions are met.

The non-commercial aircraft was not provided or enhanced because of your official position, and
Such travel is customarily provided to others in similar circumstances. [86]

v. Acceptance of Travel Paid for by Federal, State, or Local Governments

You may accept a flight on a non-commercial aircraft that is paid for by a federal, state, or local governmental entity. [87]

Example. The governor would like to fly the state’s congressional delegation to the state to view an area impacted by a natural disaster. The governor would provide transportation on a state-owned plane for the Members. Members and staff may accept travel on a non-commercial aircraft owned by a federal, state, or local government.

vi. Acceptance of Travel Paid for by a Foreign Government

You may accept a flight on a non-commercial aircraft that is paid for by a foreign government if the flight complies with the requirements of either the Foreign Gifts of Decorations Act (FGDA) or the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act (MECEA). The requirements of those statutes, including that travel paid for under the FGDA must take place totally outside the United States and be related to an official purpose, must be met for you to accept the travel.

For more information, see Travel Paid for by a Foreign Government .

vii. Privately-Sponsored Travel

Members, officers, and employees participating in privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel may not accept travel on a non-commercial, private, or chartered flight unless the trip sponsor demonstrates exceptional circumstances in writing. See Acceptable Travel Expenses .

viii. Acceptance of Travel under Committee’s Waiver Authority

In special circumstances, you may ask the Committee to exercise its waiver authority to allow travel on private aircraft. [88] You must seek and receive permission before traveling on the private aircraft. [89]

Example. A natural disaster ravaged a Member’s district. Due to the extent of the damage, commercial and chartered flights are not available. The Member is invited to travel on a private aircraft, for free, to survey the damaged areas of his district. After consultation with the Committee, it does not appear that any exception to the House gift rule would apply. However, the Member may write in to the Committee and request a waiver. Both House Rule 23, clause 15(c) and House Rule 25, clause 5(a)(3)(T) allow the Committee to grant a waiver to these rules in unusual circumstances.

C. Honest Leadership and Open Government Act Prohibitions

Acceptance of travel for campaign activity .

House candidates, and those traveling on behalf of a House candidate, generally may not fly on private aircraft, whether reimbursed or not. [90] If you are not acting in your capacity as a candidate for the House, or in support of a House candidate, you may accept travel on a non-commercial aircraft if offered by a political organization in connection with a fundraiser or campaign event sponsored by that political organization. [91] The question of travel on non-commercial aircraft for a campaign purpose is very fact-specific, and you should consult with the Committee and the FEC before accepting travel.

Example. A Member is traveling to a fundraiser for her re-election campaign. One of her supporters offers her travel on the supporter’s private plane to that fundraiser. The Member may not accept travel on that private plane. Generally, candidates for the House may not accept travel on private aircraft for campaign purposes. Please contact the FEC congressional liaisons for additional information concerning travel on private aircraft for campaign-related purposes.

A. Use of Government Rate

As a general matter, you may only book plane tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, etc., at the “government rate” if you are traveling in your official capacity and your travel is being paid for with House funds.

You may not use the government rate if you are paying for your travel with personal or campaign funds. Additionally, if you are participating in a privately-sponsored, officially-connected trip, the trip sponsor may not book travel using the government rate.

Only Members, officers, and employees may use the government rate for travel. For example, Members’ spouses and children may not use the government rate.

Members may make multiple reservations for official travel, using the government rate, if the airline allows. [92]

You may, however, accept a discount that is offered to all government employees, or all federal employees, as a widely-available benefit. [93]

B. Frequent Flier Miles Earned Through Official Travel

Please contact the Committee on House Administration for questions about using frequent flier miles earned through official travel.

[1] House rule 25, cl. 5; 5 U.S.C. § 7353

[2] 5 U.S.C. § 7353.

[3] Id. ; 31 U.S.C. § 1301(a); Comm. on House Admin., Members’ Congressional Handbook (official resources may only be used for official purposes).

[4] All guidance related to Privately-Sponsored, Officially-Connected Travel can be found in the Ethics Committee’s Travel Regulations . Following an intensive review, the Committee revised its Travel Regulations on December 27, 2012. The Committee subsequently revised the Travel Regulations on December 9, 2020. The 2020 Travel Regulations will be effective for all trips starting on or after April 1, 2021. The current version is available here .

[5] The Committee highly recommends that anyone wishing to sponsor privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel read the Committee’s Travel Regulations .

[6] For requests to use the MRA or committee funds, please call the Committee on House Administration . To use principal campaign committee funds, please call the FEC ’s congressional liaisons.

[7] “[T]ravel [must be] in connection with the duties of [the] individual as an officeholder and would not create the appearance that the [Member, officer or employee] is using public office for private gain.” House Rule 25, cl. 5(b)(3)(G).

[8] “[E]vents, the activities of which are substantially recreational in nature, are not considered to be in connection with the duties of [the individual] as an officeholder.” See House Rule 25, cl. 5(b)(1)(B).

[9] House Rule 24, cls. 1-3 prohibit outside supplementation, both monetary and in-kind, for official House business. For guidance on proper funding sources for official travel, please see Official Travel .

[10] A Member may authorize an employee to sign for the Member, but in no instance should that employee authorize the employee’s own travel.

[11] House Rule 25, cl. 5(b)(1)(C).

[13] House Rule 25, cl. 5(b)(1)(A).

[14] House Rule 25, cl. 5(b)(4)(A).

[15] Time limits for privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel were imposed out of concern for “the public perception that such trips often may amount to paid vacations for the Member and his family at the expense of special interest groups.” House Bipartisan Task Force on Ethics, 101st Cong. Report on H.R. 3660, 101st Cong., 1st Sess. (Comm Print 1989), reprinted in 135 Cong. Rec . 30740, 30742 (daily ed. Nov. 21, 1989).

[16] House Rule 25, cl. 5(b)(1)(A). The gift rule provides that the term “registered lobbyist” means “a lobbyist registered under the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act or any successor statute,” and the term “agent of a foreign principal” means “an agent registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.” House Rule 25, cl. 5(g).

Because you may not accept travel from an individual who is a registered lobbyist, you likewise may not accept travel from a lobbying firm. As a general matter, the Committee does not consider a corporation, trade association, labor union, or other entity that retains or employs lobbyists to represent only the interests of the organization or its members to be a “lobbyist” for purposes of the prohibition.

An organization with registered federal lobbyists or foreign agents who only sit on its board or volunteer for the organization, but are registered to represent other organizations, is not considered an organization that employs or retains a registered federal lobbyist or foreign agent. 2020 Travel Regulations § 204. The restrictions discussed in this section apply to organizations with registered federal lobbyists or foreign agents registered to represent those organizations.

[17] See 26 U.S.C. § 4941.

[18] House Rule 25, cl. 5(b)(1)(C)(i). These colleges and universities must meet the definition of “institutions of higher education” under the Higher Education Act of 1965. For-profit colleges and universities do not meet this definition. See 20 U.S.C. § 1001.

[19] Lobbyists themselves still may not be involved in more than de minimis activities, but the one day rule would not apply.

[20] A trip segment is transportation to or from the city of departure, or return, and the trip destination. Local transportation to attend events or visit locations at the trip destination itself is not included in the definition of a trip segment.

[21] In previous versions of the Committee’s guidance and travel regulations, the Committee only allowed sponsors who played “a significant role in organizing and conducting a trip, and that also have a clear and defined organizational interest in the purpose of the trip or location being visited.” Comm. on Standards of Official Conduct, Travel Guidelines and Regulations , at 3-4 (Feb. 20, 2007), reprinted in 2008 House Ethics Manual at 399-400; see Comm. on Standards of Official Conduct, Investigation of Financial Transactions participating in and Gifts of Transportation Accepted by Representative Fernand J. St. Germain , H.R. Rep. 100-46, at 5-6 (1987).

On December 27, 2012, the Committee issued new travel regulations that allowed additional sponsors to provide monetary assistance, as long as the sponsors 1) are recognized under IRC § 501(c)(3) and audit or review their grants to the primary trip sponsors to ensure compliance with the grant terms, and 2) are publicly disclosed. Comm. on Ethics, Travel Guidelines and Regulations § 104(i) (Dec. 27, 2012) [hereinafter 2012 Travel Regulations]. The current Travel Regulations continue this practice.

[22] See House Rule 24, cls. 1-3. Because official allowances are available to cover travel expenses for Members and staff within Washington, D.C., and between Washington, D.C. and the district offices, House travelers may not accept private subsidy for that official travel. However, you may accept local transportation expenses under other exceptions to the House Gift Rule ( e.g. , local transportation for a widely-attended event).

[23] House travelers may not accept per diem payments. If an outlay is given, any unused portion must be returned. This requirement is similar to the rules under which Members and staff travel on CODELs or STAFFDELs. See House Rule 10, cl. 8(c)(2); see also Letter from Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services (May 13, 2010) in Comm. on Standards of Official Conduct, In the Matter of Allegations Relating to the Use of Per Diems on Official Trips Staff Report , app. A, ex. 1 (Dec. 30, 2010) (Staff Report).

[24] First class travel, or travel on chartered aircraft, is permitted for exceptional circumstances, such as 1) the cost of the business or first class ticket is not more expensive than the economy class ticket, 2) the upgraded travel is necessary to accommodate a disability or special need, 3) genuine security circumstances require the travel, 4) scheduled travel time including layovers exceeds 14 hours, 5) a domestic flight departs before midnight and lands after 5am the following day, or 6) exceptional circumstances exist. Exceptional circumstances do not include the unavailability of business or economy class seats or that first class or charter travel is more convenient for the House traveler’s schedule.

[25] House Rule 24 prohibits staff from supplementing officially-connected activity. If, however, you choose to drive yourself for your own convenience, rather than accept the trip sponsor’s transportation offer, you are personally responsible for those expenses.

[26] Leadership PAC funds may not be used to pay for travel upgrades for privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel.

[27] Per diem rates are set by the Department of State for international travel and the General Services Administration for domestic travel.

[28] House Rule 25, cl. 5(b)(4)(D). The provision allowing relatives to accompany you was added on January 4, 2005. See H. Res. 5, 109th Cong. (2005). Previously the gift rule permitted a Member, officer, or employee to be accompanied by a “spouse or child” but not by any other relative.

[29] The Committee previously allowed spouse only privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel through its waiver authority in the House Gift Rule. See 2008 House Ethics Manual at 102. However, now all privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel is covered by the current Travel Regulations , and the Committee will not approve spouse-only travel that is offered because of the Member, officer, or employee.

[30] If the cost of the transportation for the accompanying relative to depart from or return to a different destination is more than what the trip sponsor is paying for other accompanying relatives, the traveler or the accompanying relative must pay the difference personally.

[31] When traveling at your personal expense, you will not be able to use any rates that the trip sponsor may have negotiated for the rest of the privately-sponsored, officially-connected trip, because those discounts would be a gift to you that do not meet a gift exception.

[32] See House Rule 1, cl. 10 (Speaker authorized travel); House Rule 10, cl 8 (funding of foreign travel); House Rule 24, cl. 10 (prohibiting travel by Member not re-elected after general election or adjournment sine die ; 22 U.S.C. § 1754(b) (funding for foreign travel).

[33] Travel paid for with official funds is not subject to the Committee’s Travel Regulations and does not need to be reported within 15 days of return. Additionally, travel paid for with official funds does not need to be reported on annual financial disclosure statements.

[34] House Rule 24, cls. 1-3 prohibit outside supplementation, both monetary and in-kind, for official House business. However, local transportation expenses that Members, officers, and employees may accept under the House Gift Rule are permitted ( e.g. , local transportation for a widely-attended event). See generally House Rule 25, cl. 5.

[35] House Rule 24, cl. 1(b)(1) allows Members to use principal campaign committee funds to defray official expenses. Members, however, may not use principal campaign committee funds to defray certain enumerated official expenses. Those specific exclusions are 1) mail or other communications, 2) compensation for services, 3) office space, 4) office furniture, 5) office equipment, or 6) any associated information technology services, excluding handheld communications devices. House Rule 24, cl. 1(b)(2).

Additionally, because the Committee has overlapping jurisdiction with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) over the use of principal campaign committee funds for official expenses, anyone wishing to use principal campaign committee funds for official expenses allowed under House Rule 24 should also confer with the FEC’s congressional liaisons at 202-694-1006 to ensure that it meets the FEC’s relevant tests. The Committee understands that travel for an official purpose generally meets the FEC’s test, but travel questions are fact-specific and changes in facts could change the guidance you receive.

[36] House Rule 24, cl. 1 prohibits the use of staff’s personal funds for official activities. Members, however, are personally responsible for expenses that exceed the MRA. See Comm. on House Admin., Members’ Congressional Handbook . Therefore, Members’ use of their personal funds for official activities is not considered private subsidy of official business.

[37] House Rule 15, cl. 5(a)(3)(G)(iii).

[38] § 527 organizations are organized and operated primarily for the purpose of accepting contributions or making expenditures for the purpose of influencing the election of any individual to a public or political office. See 26 U.S.C. § 527.

[39] House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(3)(C). “Relative” means your father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, great aunt, great uncle, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, grandfather, grandmother, grandson, granddaughter, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, the grandfather or grandmother of your spouse, or your fiancé(e). 5 U.S.C. app. § 109(16). This list is a much more exhaustive than the list of relatives that may accompany you on privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel. For that list, please see the Committee’s Travel Regulations .

[40] Specifically you should consider 1) the nature of your relationship, including any previous exchanges of gifts; 2) whether your friend will use personal funds to pay for the trip; and 3) whether your friend made the same offer to any other Member, officer, or employee. House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(3)(D). Gifts offered because of your official position, or where your friend will be seeking a tax deduction or business reimbursement, are not gifts offered based on personal friendship. Id.

[41] Gifts of personal hospitality include lodging and meals “extended for a nonbusiness purpose by an individual, not a corporation or organization, at the personal residence of that individual or his family or on property or facilities owned by that individual or his family,” where the individual is not a registered federal lobbyist or foreign agent. 5 U.S.C. app. § 109(14); House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(3)(P).

[42] The Committee looks to who resides in the home. For example, if someone is renting an apartment or house, the renter may not be a lobbyist or foreign agent, regardless of who may own that building. If, however, the home is owner-occupied, then the owner of the home may not be a lobbyist or foreign agent.

[43] If you cannot say for certain that your House employment was not a factor in the decision-making process, then the gift exception for travel related to outside activities would not apply. See, e.g., House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(3)(G)(i) (allowing food, refreshments, lodging, transportation, and other benefits for outside business or employment activities if not offered or enhanced because of the Member, officer, or employee’s official position). The Committee may be able to give you a waiver of the gift rule to accept the opportunity. House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(3)(T).

[44] House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(4)(C)(i)-(iii).

[45] The prohibition on the 501(c)(3) organization using funds earmarked for congressional participants includes funds that are formally and informally earmarked for the payment of expenses related to congressional participants. Consistent with this interpretation, for example, a Member, officer, or employee traveling to a charity event under these rules may not accept a flight on a corporate aircraft that is flying corporate officials to the event, even if the charity reimburses the corporation for the flight. Aside from concerns on whether a corporation may lawfully accept such a reimbursement under Federal Aviation Administration regulations, a donor to a charity event should have no role in providing travel to a participating Member, officer, or employee.

[46] House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(4)(C). As discussed in the Gifts section of the Committee’s guidance, you may accept an offer of free attendance at a charity fundraiser, as long as you are invited by the event organizer directly and the event is to benefit an organization qualified under § 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. Free attendance includes waiver of the ticket price; the food, refreshments, and entertainment at the event; local transportation; and a second ticket for a guest of your choosing. Therefore, it is possible to accept free attendance at an event but not be able to accept an offer of long-distance transportation and lodging for that same event.

[47] House Rule 15, cl. 5(a)(3)(K). Although the rule allows you to accept bona fide non-monetary public service awards, the rule only allows you to accept travel expenses related to honorary degrees.

[48] House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(3)(G).

[49] Id. at (i).

[50] As discussed in the Outside Activity section of the Committee’s guidance, the Committee must review and approve publishing contracts for Members and senior staff. Staff who are not paid at the senior staff rate do not need Committee approval of a publishing contract, but may still accept travel expenses to promote the book, as long as those travel expenses are not offered or enhanced because of the staff’s House position and are the same expenses offered to other similarly situated authors. Members and senior staff who may have written books prior to joining the House may also accept travel expenses to promote their books, if the offer conforms with all of the same requirements. Travel expenses, whether reimbursed or paid upfront, are not the same as honoraria. Members and senior staff still may not accept honorarium, regardless of the source or purpose. House Rule 25, cl. 1(a)(2). Staff who are not senior staff are also restricted in their ability to accept honoraria. Id.

[51] House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(3)(G)(ii).

[52] Even if you accept the prospective employer’s offer of employment, you would still need to report those travel expenses on your annual or termination financial disclosure statement, if the travel expenses were accepted while you were still on House payroll and exceed the reporting threshold.

[53] House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(3)(G)(iii).

[54] To determine value when accompanying spouses, you should look to the extra expenses the outside organization paid on your behalf. For example, if your spouse’s company would have paid for a hotel room whether you went on the trip or not, the hotel room is not a gift to you. However, your airfare, your meals, and any additional expenses related to the lodging would need to be added to determine whether the value exceeds the reporting threshold. You may include a comment on your financial disclosure statement that you accompanied your spouse.

[55] Although not enumerated in the House Gift Rule, the Committee exercised its waiver authority to allow for local transportation outside of the District of Columbia and meals incident to a business site visit. The Committee also exercised its waiver authority to allow an unsolicited guest of your choosing. Comm. on Ethics, Guest Policy Change and Reminder of Gift Rules for Attendance at Events (Sept. 19, 2022).

[56] House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(3)(O). This rule also allows Members, officers, and employees to accept gifts, including travel, that are “secured by the Government under a Government contract.” “Government contracts” under this provision mean federal government contracts. See, e.g. , 5 C.F.R. § 2635.203(7); 57 Fed. Reg. 35,014 (Aug. 7, 1992) (“The exclusion is intended to cover items the Government procures for use by its employees under a Government contract or knowingly obligates itself to pay for.”).

[57] See Comm. on Rules, Amending the Rules of the House of Representative to Provide for Gift Reform, H.R. Rep. No. 104-337, at 11 (1995).

[58] See Cal. Gov’t Code §§ 6500-6599.3.

[59] See 22 Pa. Code § 31.2 (Pennsylvania state-related universities are instrumentalities of the commonwealth).

[60] The Committee considered this matter carefully and found nothing in the legislative history of the current gift rule or its predecessors indicating an intent to treat Native American tribes as state or local government entities for these purposes. The Committee also does not consider Native American tribes to be foreign governments.

[61] “Amtrak is not a department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government. . .” 49 U.S.C. § 24301(a)(3).

[62] House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(4)(D). The requirements for a widely-attended event and a charity fundraiser are discussed further in the gifts section.

[63] House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(3)(R).

[64] House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(1)(B)(i). Gifts under the “less than $50” exception have an annual limit of less than $100. The limit is per donor, per recipient. Id. Gifts that are allowed under different exceptions to the House Gift Rule are not rolled into the less than $100 limit.

[65] U.S. Const. Art. I, § 9, cl. 8.

[66] Congress consented to other programs outside of FGDA and MECEA, including the U.S.-Korea National Assembly Exchange Program. However, FGDA and MECEA are the most common methods that foreign governments use to offer Members, officers, and staff travel.

[67] Members, officers, and employees may accept “[a]n item, the receipt of which is authorized by [FGDA], [MECEA], or any other statute.” House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(3)(N).

[68] See Comm. on Ethics, In the Matters of Allegations Relating to Travel to Taiwan by Representatives William Owens and Peter Roskam in 2011, H.R. Rep. 113-226 (2013).

[69] To determine whether an organization is part of a foreign government, the Committee looks to a number of factors including the level to which the organization is funded by a foreign government, whether the organization is controlled by a foreign government, and whether another U.S. government agency determined the organization is part of a foreign government. Organizations that meet the definition of foreign government may not offer privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel. Members, officers, and employees may only accept travel expenses from organizations that meet this definition under FGDA or MECEA. See Comm. on Ethics, In the Matter of Officially-Connected Travel by House Members to Azerbaijan in 2013, H.R. Rep. 114-239 (2015); Comm. on Ethics, In the Matters of Allegations Relating to Travel to Taiwan by Representatives William Owens and Peter Roskam in 2011, H.R. Rep. 113-226 (2013).

[70] 5 U.S.C. § 7342(g)(1). The Committee is the House’s “employing agency” for the purposes of FGDA. Id. at (a)(6)(A).

[71] To determine whether an organization is part of a foreign government, the Committee looks to a number of factors including the level to which the organization is funded by a foreign government, whether the organization is controlled by a foreign government, and whether another U.S. government agency determined the organization is part of a foreign government. Organizations that meet the definition of foreign government may not offer privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel. Members, officers, and employees may only accept travel expenses from organizations that meet this definition under FGDA or MECEA. See Comm. on Ethics, In the Matter of Officially-Connected Travel by House Members to Azerbaijan in 2013, H.R. Rep. 114-239 (2015); Comm. on Ethics, In the Matters of Allegations Relating to Travel to Taiwan by Representatives William Owens and Peter Roskam in 2011, H.R. Rep. 113-226 (2013)

[72] If a foreign government is directly paying for the travel, the foreign government is the donor and the travel must comply with FGDA or MECEA. If a registered federal lobbyist or foreign agent is using funds from its own account to pay for travel expenses or reimbursement, you may not accept those expenses or reimbursement.

[73] 5 U.S.C. § 7342(a)(1)(G).

[74] 5 U.S.C. § 7342(f)(1).

[75] 22 U.S.C. § 2458a.

[76] Id. at (a)(1)(C).

[77] House Rule 23, cl. 15(a).

[78] 52 U.S.C. § 30114(c).

[79] House Rule 23, cl. 15(b).

[80] “Family member” for purposes of this rule is defined as the Member’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, and parents-in-law. House Rule 23, cl. 15(d)(2).

[81] House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(1)(A)(i). Impermissible travel on non-commercial aircraft has been the subject of Committee investigations over the years. See Comm. on Ethics, In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Don Young, H.R. Rep. 113-487, (2014) (improper personal use of campaign funds for and improper gifts of travel on private aircraft for personal travel); Comm. on Standards of Official Conduct, Investigation of Travel on Corporate Aircraft Taken by Representative Dan Daniel, H.R. Rep. 99-470 (1986) (improper acceptance of travel on corporate aircraft for official travel). The Committee issued guidance concerning travel on non-commercial aircraft that is incorporated in this manual. Comm. on Ethics, Non-Commercial Aircraft Travel (Apr. 10, 2019).

[82] House Rule 25, clause 5(a)(3)(C).

[83] Candidates for the House, traveling as candidates, may only accept travel on non-commercial aircraft if that aircraft is owned by the candidate or the candidate’s immediate family, including a spouse, parents, children, siblings, and parents-in-law. 52 U.S.C. § 30114(c)(3)(B).

[84] The value of a flight on a non-commercial aircraft is to be determined as follows. When the travel is via a previously or regularly-scheduled flight by the owner or operator of the aircraft , and the airports between which the Member or staff person is flying have regularly-scheduled air service (regardless of whether such service is direct), the value of the use of the aircraft is the cost of a first-class ticket from the airport of departure to the airport of destination. If only the coach rates are provided between those points, the value is the coach rate. If more than one first-class rate is available, the lowest fare may be used. However, no discount fares may be used for valuation purposes.

When the flight is scheduled specifically for Member or staff person use , or when either the airport of origin or destination does not have regularly-scheduled air service, the value of the use of the aircraft is the full cost of chartering the same or similar aircraft for that flight, divided by the number of Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner, officers, or employees of Congress on the flight.

[85] 5 U.S.C. § 7351; House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(3)(F).

[86] House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(3)(G).

[87] House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(3)(O).

[88] House Rule 23, cl. 15(c).

[90] See 52 U.S.C. §30114(c); 11 C.F.R. § 100.93.

[91] House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(G)(iii). Although allowed by the gift rule, HLOGA prohibits Members, officers, and employees from accepting travel on a non-commercial aircraft paid for by a House candidate’s principal campaign committee or leadership PAC. See 11 C.F.R. § 100.93.

[92] See Comm. on Official Standards of Conduct, Multiple Reservations on Commercial Flights (Feb. 21, 2008).

[93] House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(3)(R).

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