Backpacking in Europe
Why travel with your dog?
I'm asked this question a lot by non-dog owners or from people who have dogs but never thought about vacationing with them. I know growing up we'd always board our dog when we went on vacation - it's just what you do. But that doesn't have to be the case anymore.
It has gotten increasingly easier to take your dog with you when you go on a trip. It can just be a short getaway to a dog-friendly beach, or a multi-city trip to Europe. Either way, hotels have gotten more accepting of pets and airlines have upgraded their services for pets. And most dogs I know love riding in the car. So it doesn't seem fair to leave them behind. There's really no more excuses.
Of course, if your pet is highly nervous or has a medical condition then you still might want to find a caring home for him while you are away. But otherwise, with some minor travel adjustments, you should be able to travel where you want with your dog.
It is most often times cheaper to take your pet with you than if you boarded them in a kennel. Most kennels charge at least $25-40/night which is usually lower than what the hotel will charge for your pet. So its even economical to take your pet with you!
Plus it is much more rewarding to bring your dog on vacation than to leave them behind. My dog loves exploring new places and going on "adventures". He's stayed in a castle in Poland, ran around the beach in Croatia and even explored a German bunker at Normandy! Dogs really are accepted (almost) everywhere!
It does take some extra planning to make sure the hotel is pet-friendly, and to find fun stuff for your dog to do while on vacation. It's not fair to leave him alone in the hotel room day after day so look for dog parks, dog bakery's, and other outdoor areas to take your dog. He will appreciate it!
So next time you start planning your vacation and are about to pick up the phone to call your local kennel, rethink your holiday plans. There is sure to be room for all members of your family to vacation together - including the four-legged variety!
Comments
Hello: Great article! I am Janine Franceschi, the National Pet-Friendly Travel Examiner and I'd like to invite your readers to visit my articles on Examiner.com Each article reviews a pet-friendly hotel with links to more information for booking. I think your readers will find it a useful resource! Keep up the great work!
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