I'm very lucky in the fact that when Mark and I go on vacation I have my mom close by to come in and look after my kitties, however there have been times when we have taken vacations and my mom has gone with, like to Disney for 2 weeks, that's when I have someone who I trust with my life come in to take care of the cats. I have never boarded and I'm not sure that I would only because I want the cats to be where they are most comfortable and that would be in there own home.