Nothing is harder than having to leave your beloved pet behind when traveling the globe—unless you take them with you! If you’re planning to hit the road post-Covid with your dog, there are an abundance of pet-friendly cities in Europe, America, and Asia that make traveling with your pet all the more enjoyable.
However, taking your pet along as you embark on a cross-country or international journey can be challenging if you aren’t prepared. Below are a few tips that can make your dog-centric adventure worry-free.
You’ll Need to Bring Documents
Some airlines or hotels will require proof of vaccination if you check in with your dog as an additional guest. Thus, you should schedule a visit with your veterinarian beforehand and get your four-legged friend’s shots up to date.
While these vaccination requirements will vary depending on where you’re traveling to, you’ll want to prioritize rabies shots.
Dog-Centric Apps Can Go a Long Way
There are thousands of mobile apps available for travel, several of them being entirely dog-centric. These include:
- BringFido: Are you having trouble identifying dog-friendly destinations? BringFido provides information on every dog-friendly restaurants, beaches, attractions, and accommodations you probably didn’t even know existed.
- VetFinder: This vet-finding aggregator directs you towards clinics near you. You can filter them out according to species, location, and specialty.
- All Trails: If you and your dog are fans of the great outdoors, All Trails has the largest collection of dog-friendly hiking trails on the app market!
There are More Pet-Friendly Hotels Than You Think
Nowadays, you won’t come across a shortage of pet friendly accommodation across the state. However, some cities are more welcoming of canine companions than others and therefore aren’t likely to charge additional fees for four-legged guests.
While some destinations will charge up to $250 for a dog, accommodations in places like Denver, Austin, or San Diego won’t even ask for an additional cent! As a rule of thumb, however, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with hotel policies, no matter how pet-friendly they claim to be!
Your Choice of Airline Matters
Depending on what airline you’re traveling with, you may be able to take your dog with you on-flight. However, most commercial airlines will more often than not require travelers to place their dogs in an on-flight cabin or with the rest of the cargo.
If you can only afford the latter, ensure that you stow your dog in a spacious crate and familiarize them with it. Ensure that you pack their favorite food—especially if they’re picky eaters.
You’ll Need to Pack Wisely
Naturally, when traveling with your pet, you’ll want to pack essential items like their daily meals, leash, harness, and toys. However, you can’t pack everything they use on a daily basis. Instead, you’ll want to pare down essentials into travel sizes and consider using multipurpose items.
If your dog has a sensitive stomach, knowing what to feed them can make for a happy travel companion. Refer to this guide for feeding your pup on the go.
The Bottom Line
Traveling with your dog forces you to take on a different perspective to cultural experiences, international attractions, and how you interact with people. By preparing well in advance, you can learn to appreciate the wonders of the world in ways you’d never anticipated!
Photo by ROMAN ODINTSOV from Pexels
