How far ahead should you book a pet sitter? A holiday guide for 2026-27
By Darcie Nolan
Book as soon as your travel dates are firm. That is the simple rule for how far in advance to book a pet sitter, and it matters most for Christmas, spring break and summer. In 2027, Nanaimo-Ladysmith and Comox Valley schools are on spring break from March 15 and reopen March 30. I am already taking bookings into 2027.
Key takeaways
- Book a pet sitter as soon as your travel dates are firm, especially for Christmas, spring break and summer.
- In 2027, Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools (SD 68) and Comox Valley Schools (SD 71) are on spring break from March 15, and schools reopen Tuesday, March 30.
- Schools in SD 68 and SD 71 close for winter break from December 21, 2026, and reopen Monday, January 4, 2027.
- The Government of British Columbia says Easter Sunday, Easter Monday and Boxing Day are not statutory holidays in B.C.
- Stay Sit Snuggle posts availability by date ranges, is already taking bookings into 2027, and holds a meet and greet before a new client's first booking.
This guide has affiliate links to Amazon.ca. As an Amazon Associate, Stay Sit Snuggle earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. How affiliate links work here.
School breaks and long weekends are when many families plan trips at the same time. This guide lists the 2026-27 school breaks and B.C. holidays for Nanaimo, Ladysmith and the Comox Valley, so you can pick your dates and ask about pet care early.
How far in advance to book a pet sitter for the holidays
Book your sitter in the same week you book your travel. If you wait until the trip is close, the dates you need may already be taken.
It is fall 2026 as I write this, and I am already taking bookings into 2027. Summer 2026 was my busiest in years, with a record eight new clients. So if you know you are going away at spring break or next summer, it is not too early to ask now.
A simple guide by season:
- Christmas and New Year: ask as soon as your plans are set. Schools in both districts close from December 21 to January 1.
- Family Day weekend: ask by early winter. In 2027 it falls on Monday, February 15.
- Spring break 2027: ask now. It runs from March 15 to Easter, and schools reopen March 30.
- Long weekends in May: ask in early spring. Victoria Day is Monday, May 24, 2027.
- Summer 2027: ask as soon as you book flights or ferries. Classes end Tuesday, June 29, 2027.
When are the busy dates in Nanaimo, Ladysmith and the Comox Valley?
The busiest weeks follow the school calendar. The table below uses the 2026-27 calendars from Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools (SD 68) and Comox Valley Schools (SD 71, calendar dated May 13, 2026). Both were checked on October 3, 2026.
| Busy period | Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools (SD 68) | Comox Valley Schools (SD 71) |
|---|---|---|
| Remembrance Day | Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | Wednesday, November 11, 2026 |
| Winter break | Last class Friday, December 18. Winter break December 21, 2026 to January 1, 2027. Schools reopen Monday, January 4. | Winter break December 21 to 31, 2026, then New Year’s Day on January 1. Back to school Monday, January 4. |
| Family Day weekend | Pro-D day Friday, February 12, and Family Day Monday, February 15, 2027 | Family Day Monday, February 15, 2027 |
| Spring break and Easter | Spring break March 15 to 26, 2027, which includes Good Friday (March 26). Easter Monday March 29. Schools reopen Tuesday, March 30. | Spring break March 15 to 25, 2027. Good Friday March 26. Easter Monday March 29. Back to school Tuesday, March 30. |
| Victoria Day weekend | Curriculum implementation day Friday, May 21, and Victoria Day Monday, May 24, 2027 | Non-instructional day Friday, May 21, and Victoria Day Monday, May 24, 2027 |
| Start of summer | Last day of classes Tuesday, June 29, 2027 | Last day of school Tuesday, June 29, 2027 |
Both districts are off for the same two weeks at spring break, so those dates matter for families from Ladysmith to the Comox Valley. The Victoria Day weekend runs four days in both districts, and so does the Family Day weekend in SD 68. Long weekends like these are popular for short trips.
Districts can change their calendars during the year. Check your school’s own calendar before you lock in dates.
B.C. statutory holidays, fall 2026 to summer 2027
These dates come from the Government of British Columbia’s statutory holidays page, checked October 3, 2026:
- Remembrance Day: Wednesday, November 11, 2026
- Christmas Day: Friday, December 25, 2026
- New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1, 2027
- Family Day: Monday, February 15, 2027
- Good Friday: Friday, March 26, 2027
- Victoria Day: Monday, May 24, 2027
- Canada Day: Thursday, July 1, 2027
- B.C. Day: Monday, August 2, 2027
How do you find a pet sitter for the holidays?
Start early, then take your time choosing. Holiday trips leave less room to fix a bad fit, so do the checking before you pay for flights or a ferry.
AnimalKind, the BC SPCA’s pet services standards program, puts it plainly: “Pet care services are unregulated in B.C.” So the questions are up to you. Take these steps in order:
- Send your dates first. Ask what is open before you book anything else.
- Book a meet and greet. Your pets meet the sitter at home, and you see how they get along. Read what happens at a pet sitter meet and greet.
- Ask good questions. AnimalKind suggests asking whether a pet care provider asks “about your pet’s typical behaviour, fears and favourite rewards,” and whether they “willingly answer all your questions.”
- Write down the routine. Meal times, hiding spots, habits and vet details all go on one page. The pet sitter checklist covers what to leave.
For a longer walk through the whole search, read how to find a pet sitter you can trust.
Do pet sitters charge extra for holidays?
Some do and some do not. Each sitter sets their own prices, so the only way to know is to ask. Some add a holiday rate for days like Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. Others charge the same all year.
Ask about holiday pricing in your first message, along with your dates. That way you can compare sitters fairly and there are no surprises later.
For Stay Sit Snuggle, rates depend on your dates and pets. Send me your dates and I will reply with my availability and rates.
How does my availability work?
I post my availability by date ranges. If your trip fits inside an open range, I set up a meet and greet with you and your pets before the booking.
When I sit, I stay overnight in your home so your pets keep their same routine. Their own beds, their own meal times and their own windows stay the same while you are gone. I care for cats and dogs on Vancouver Island and in Vancouver and Edmonton. See the pet sitting services page for details, or the local pages for pet sitting in Nanaimo and Ladysmith and pet sitting in the Comox Valley.
What should you send when you ask about dates?
A short message with the basics gets a faster answer. Include:
- Your exact dates, including the days you leave and come home
- Your town
- How many cats and dogs you have, and their ages
- Anything special about their care that a sitter needs to know
- Your ferry or flight times, if a late return is possible
- Whether you have already booked your travel
You can send all of this through the booking inquiry page. If you are still planning the rest of the trip, the vacation checklist with pets walks through the two weeks before you leave.
Everything in this guide
Affiliate links to Amazon.ca. Prices and sizes change, so check the listing before you buy.
Questions people ask
Are Boxing Day and Easter Monday statutory holidays in B.C.?
No. The B.C. government says, "Easter Sunday, Easter Monday and Boxing Day are not statutory holidays in B.C." Many people still take those days off, so plan for them as busy travel days.
Do I need a meet and greet before a holiday booking?
Yes. Every new client starts with a meet and greet before the first booking. It gives your pets a chance to meet me at home before I stay over, so leave time for it before a holiday trip.
Do you pet sit in Vancouver and Edmonton too?
Yes. Stay Sit Snuggle cares for pets on Vancouver Island and in Vancouver and Edmonton. The school dates in this guide are for Nanaimo, Ladysmith and the Comox Valley only, so check your own school district calendar if you live elsewhere.
Can I ask about dates before my trip is booked?
Yes. Send the dates you are thinking about and I will tell you what is open. Booking the sitter early and the trip second is a good way to avoid a gap in care.
Sources
- Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools (SD 68), 2026-2027 School Calendar (PDF), checked
- Comox Valley Schools (SD 71), District School Calendar 2026-2027 (PDF, May 13, 2026), checked
- Government of British Columbia, Statutory holidays in British Columbia, checked
- AnimalKind (BC SPCA), Pet care services, checked
Published
Going away? Ask about your dates
Send your dates, your town and a note about your pets. Darcie will reply to confirm availability and set up a meet and greet.