Tail-Wagging Travels: How to Plan the Best Dog Friendly Vacations

Top Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Thinking about taking your dog on a cross-country road trip, a plane ride to a new country, camping in the wilderness, or exploring a new city? Don’t book your reservations yet! There is more to planning successful dog friendly vacations than just packing a bag and your pup’s favorite chew toy. 

This comprehensive travel guide will give you the best tips for a memorable, stress-free, dog-friendly vacation. We’ll cover everything you need to know from picking the best pet friendly accommodations, activities, travel methods, and what to pack.

We invite you to join our Facebook group for Traveling Pet Owners for a supportive space to ask questions and share ideas about dog-friendly travel.

Should I Take My Dog on Vacation?

There are many reasons to bring your dog on vacation, but I’ll be the first to admit that not every trip is dog-appropriate. Sometimes, it’s best for everybody if they stay home.

When deciding whether you should bring your dog on holiday, there are several factors to consider. Your decision should be based on where you are going, what you plan on doing, where you want to stay, and the time of year you’ll be traveling. 

Each season has unique challenges when traveling with your pup. For more details on how best to prepare for your upcoming dog friendly vacation according to the different times of the year, I’ve put together the following travel guides:

• Winter Dog Tips
• Tips for Traveling in Spring with Your Dog
• Summer Tips for Dogs
• Autumn Tips for Dogs

Basically, if your travel plans include extreme weather, flying, or lots of visits to non-dog-friendly places like high-end museums and art galleries, it might be better to leave your pup at home. Don’t forget to consider any local breed restrictions, your dog’s species requirements, and their capabilities. 

Not every trip will be ideal for your pup and that’s okay! As much as we love having our dogs with us, we know sometimes they should stay home. If you decide it would be better for your furry friend to stay with a pet sitter instead, here’s our guide to set your pet sitter up for success.

How to Plan a Dog-Friendly Vacation

Now that you’ve decided to bring your pup along, it’s time to start planning your pet friendly vacation! This process involves deciding where, when, and how long you go. 

You also need to plan activities, how you’ll get there, what to bring, and how to properly prepare your furry friend. I know it seems like a lot, but we’ll break it down step by step to make traveling with your pup as easy as possible.

Picking a Dog-friendly Destination

Choosing the right destination is key to a successful vacation with your dog. The ideal dog-friendly destination will have both pet friendly lodging and activities appropriate for your pup.

Choosing Activities for Your Dog-friendly Vacation

It’s your dog’s vacation too so it’s important to include activities they’ll enjoy. Bringing your pup with you on outings will help them with the stress of being in a new place. It can also prevent undesirable behaviors due to pent-up energy.

Most dog-friendly activities are outdoors like hiking or visiting a dog beach. If you plan on going out to eat, look for a dog friendly restaurant or a place with outdoor seating. Don’t forget to try to find at least one or two pet friendly indoor activities in case there’s bad weather. 

If you have problems finding something to do indoors, try contacting locally-owned museums or haunted and historic buildings. I found both of these types of attractions are more likely to be pet-friendly than large-scale attractions.  

Finding a Place to Stay on Your Dog-friendly Vacation

When planning dog friendly vacations, you must find a place to stay that fits your pup’s needs. Depending on your destination, you could go camping, book a cabin, hotel, or private rental like an Airbnb or VRBO. If you know someone in the area, you could even stay with a friend or family member!

The best lodging when traveling with your dog will change based on factors from everything to your dog’s personality, weather, location, and the activities you will be doing.

Camping When Traveling With Your Dog

Going camping is one of my favorite ways to travel with my dogs. It’s cheaper and much more pet-friendly than most other types of accommodation. Whether you rough it in a tent or get an RV, camping is a great way to bring your dog on vacation while enjoying the great outdoors.

Pros for Camping with Your Dog

• Campgrounds typically have fewer restrictions than other types of pet friendly lodging. This is great for a dog owner who travels with bigger or multiple dogs.
• When you camp, you can have as much space as you need between you and your neighbors. You can even choose to have no neighbors if you go backcountry camping or choose a primitive campsite. 
• RV camping with your dog will give you many of the same bonuses of staying at a hotel without the stress of high activity outside your room.

Cons for Camping with Your Dog

• Your dog can never be left unattended. Leaving your furry friend alone even for a short time can be disastrous because they can easily escape a tent since it doesn’t have solid walls. 
• You have to set aside extra time to set up and break down your campsite which can make late-night arrivals difficult. 
• You are at the whims of the elements. Extreme weather and temperatures can easily derail your plans, so staying on top of the weather report is especially important.

Use our tips for taking your dog camping to help prepare for your upcoming overnight outdoor adventures.

Hotel Stays During Your Dog Friendly Vacation

Hotel stays are full of conveniences you don’t get when camping. Depending on the weather and activities planned, a hotel may be better for your dog friendly vacation than other options. Unfortunately, not all hotels are pet-friendly and have rules to follow if you bring your pup. 

Pros of Taking Your Dog to a Hotel

• You get a real bed, bathroom, air conditioning, heat, and running water. 
• Some hotels are extra dog-friendly and have special amenities like a dog park. (The DogHouse Hotel in Columbus Ohio is spectacular!)
• Some hotels allow you to leave your dog alone in your room for short periods if they aren’t disruptive to other guests.

Cons of Taking Your Dog to a Hotel

• The constant noise and activity in hotels may be overstimulating for your pup. 
• Most hotels have a pet policy that includes breed and size restrictions, and a limit on how many animals are allowed per room. 
• Some businesses charge you extra fees if your animals are traveling with you.

If you are worried about an upcoming hotel stay, here are our top tips for taking your dog to a hotel post.

Booking a Cabin or a Vacation Rental for Your Dog Friendly Vacations

Staying at a dog-friendly cabin or other type of vacation rental will have the same advantages and drawbacks as getting a room at a hotel. You’ll have solid walls, electricity, and running water. But you will also have to follow the rules about breed restrictions, pet limits, and pet sizes.

Pros of Cabins and Private Rentals 

• They can be more flexible in their breed restrictions and number of pets per stay, especially if you have great previous guest reviews.
• Most of these rentals allow you to be in a private building so you will have peace and quiet.
• Some rentals have a fully fenced-in yard, allowing your dog some fun and safe off-leash playtime.

Here is our guide on staying at a private vacation rental so you can be confident that your hosts will leave you a good review.

Staying With Friends During Your Dog Friendly Vacations

If you are lucky enough to have friends or family in the area, you may be able to stay with them. This option is great when traveling with your dog because it’s free and generally less stressful for everyone. 

Pros of Staying with Friends or Family 

• Free! No extra deposits, pet fees, or rental charges are needed.
• You have a potential available dog sitter. Someone in the house might be happy to hang with your pets while you go out, so your furry friend isn’t alone.
• Less stress. The less stressed you are, the less stressed your pup is. Your dog will be even more comfortable if they know the people you are staying with.

Cons of Staying with Friends or Family

• New house rules. You and your dog will have to follow the house rules no matter what they are. 
• Potentially more stressful. Staying at a house with breakable items or other animals could be more stressful than it’s worth. This is especially true if your dog doesn’t get along with the other animals in the house. 
• Potentially strained family relationships. If the person you are staying with isn’t an animal person, it could put a strain on your visit or even relationship depending on how any incident is handled.

Transportation During Your Dog Friendly Vacations

A big part of planning a vacation with your dog is figuring out transportation. Not only will you have to decide on how you both will be getting to and from your vacation spot, but also how you will get from place to place while you are there. 

Depending on where you will be traveling with your dog, you may be able to drive, fly, or take a boat, train, rideshare, or taxi. The best choice of course will depend on your pup.

Traveling with Your Dog in a Car

In most cases, the easiest way to travel with your dog is in a car. Road tripping gives you the ultimate control over when you can stop for meals, bathroom breaks, and anything else you and your dog may need. It also gives you more flexibility during your vacation if you need to change your plans at the last minute.

We have several travel guides to help you prepare for your pet friendly road trip:

• Road trip supplies for your dog– So you will have everything your dog needs when you hit the road.
• The safest way for your dog to travel inside the car– To help you figure out whether your dog should ride up front with you, in a crate, with a seatbelt, etc.
• How to use the restroom when you are road-tripping with your dog– One of the main concerns a dog owner will have while traveling.

Traveling with Your Dog in an Airplane

Sometimes the only way to get to your desired destination is to fly. Though it’s usually much faster than driving, this can be a stressful experience for both you and your dog. It also involves extra work to research and prepare for the current restrictions and requirements each airline and country has for pets. 

Most airlines will require proof of vaccinations or even a health certificate from a veterinarian that says they are healthy enough to fly. The pet policy will include breed and weight restrictions and outline the check-in process. Your pet carrier will also have to meet the proper requirements.

Small dogs are usually allowed to ride in a travel crate inside the cabin of the plane however larger dogs fly in the cargo section. If you want your dog to stay with you during your flight no matter their size, you will have to book a charter flight.  

JSX  is an affordable public company that allows dogs of all sizes in the cabin with you. Bark Air is another company, though their prices tend to be much higher.

Traveling with Your Dog in a Lyft, Uber, or Taxi

If you need a ride during your vacation, you may wonder what your options are. You can still use taxis or ride shares when traveling with a dog. No matter which company you choose, they all allow pets to join their owner on rides BUT they let each driver decide whether they want animals in their vehicle.

This means that when you request a ride with a company like Uber or Lyft, you need to reach out to your driver right away to let them know you have a pet with you. For taxis, call the company and let them know you need a pet-friendly cab. This way you can find a driver that allows animals in their vehicle.

Traveling with Your Dog on Public Transportation-Buses, Trains, and Boats

Public transportation is great, especially in high-traffic areas or if you are traveling longer distances. But when traveling with an animal, using it can be a little tricky. This includes vehicles like buses, trains, ferries, and boats

Pet policies and restrictions make it difficult if you are solely dependent on these transportation methods or need flexibility for last-minute travel changes. This is because every city and company has its own set of rules and regulations when it comes to traveling with your dog.

For example, Amatrack only allows dogs and cats under 20 lb. (including their travel crate) on trips 7 hours or less. Make sure you research ahead to learn what options will be available.

Research the Area that You Will be Traveling with Your Dog

It’s always a good idea to research where you are traveling. If you take the time to learn about the environment you and your dog will be in during your trip, you will have a better idea of what you need to bring and do so your pup is comfortable and safe. This is especially true when you are traveling with your dog! These are the types of things you should investigate:  

• Check the Weather- Know the average temperature and expected weather to know if your pup will need coats, towels, rain gear, etc.
• Learn About Potential Natural Disasters- Find out if the place that you’re traveling to is at risk for any extreme natural events or storms so you can prepare an emergency plan if you need it.
• Research the Local Wildlife– Find out what animals live nearby so you can take any extra steps needed to keep your pets safe. This way you will know what to look out for and if you need extra precautions.
• Research the Area’s Toxic Plants, Nuts, and Fungi- Learn what the plants look like and what symptoms your dog might show if they ate something bad. In severe cases, the quicker you can act, the better the outcome will be for your pup.

Get Travel Insurance for Your Dog-friendly Vacation

Travel insurance is becoming increasingly necessary in today’s world. Did you know that companies like Travel Insurance Master recognize the importance of making sure your pet is covered too?

Adding your pup to your travel insurance can also help cover things like emergency vet visits and overnight stays that are needed on your dog-friendly vacation. It also helps recoup the cost if you have to end your vacation early (or cancel it) because your pet is sick. 

For more information, check out this post about Travel Insurance for Dogs.

Preparing Your Dog for Vacation

Once your vacation plans have come together, you should prepare your dog for the trip. Getting your dog ready for vacation is more than just packing their gear- even though that’s important too. Here’s a quick list to make sure your pup is ready to hit the road:

• Address all medical needs- Talk to your vet and make sure your dog is healthy, up to date on vaccinations, and you have refills of all their medications.
• Check and carry identifying information- Carry a recent photo of your pets and check that their microchip and ID tag information is current.  
• Brush up and train important behaviors before vacation– Put in some extra training time so important behaviors like their recall and leave-it commands are in good shape. 
• Get your pup ready for upcoming activities- Practice and train for any activity your dog doesn’t normally do like being in large crowds or doing longer hikes.

What to Bring on Your Dog-friendly Vacation

Here are some basic supplies you should pack when going on a dog-friendly vacation. This list will change slightly depending on your travel plans:

• ID Tag or Pet Travel ID to attach to their harness, leash, collar, or backpack in case they go missing.
• GPS tracker– to help you find your pup if they go missing. Here’s a guide to help you choose the best one for you and your dog.
• Food/ Medication/Supplements/Water/ Portable bowls
• Standard Collar/Leash
• Poop bags
• Dog Crate

We also bring each of their Pup Memory Passports on the trip. The Passports give us quick access to their vet information including a list of current medication in case of an emergency vet visit as well as photos.

Quick Tips for Traveling with Your Dog for the First Time

If you are traveling with your dog for the first time it can be overwhelming. Here are some quick tips to help you on your way!

• Keep your trip short (2-3 days) for your first overnight and stay close to home. This will be your trial run. 
• Bring a crate even if you think your dog doesn’t need one. That way you have one if you end up needing it.
• Get a room or campsite in a low-traffic area. Your dog will be less stimulated with less activity going on around them.
• Practice makes perfect! Traveling with your pup is a learning experience for both of you. It will get easier with every trip.
• Set your dog up for success! Don’t force your pup into or stay in stressful or dangerous situations. Always do what’s best for your dog!

Cheapest Way to Travel with Your Dog

I live firmly in the budget travel camp. The less money spent, the more trips you get to go on! Here are the cheapest ways you can travel with your dog:

• Stay with a friend or go camping instead of hotels or private rentals.
• Explore the outdoors. Take a trip to a dog beach, state park, or dog friendly national park.
• Road trip! Save money on extra pet fees and drive.

If you are looking for more ways to save money on your upcoming trip, here’s a post with our low-budget travel tips.

Happy Trails and Wagging Tails!

So, there you have it- all my best tips to help you get started planning some epic dog friendly vacations! The most important thing to remember is to be flexible, plan ahead, and put your dog’s needs and limitations first.

There will always be challenges, but the joy of sharing new experiences and adventures with your pup is totally worth it if you weigh those pros and cons first. Once you’ve decided your dog will go on your trip, it’s time to do your research, pack, and get your pup ready to hit the road. 

Every trip will make the next one easier! Take notes and lots of pictures. And don’t forget to enjoy and learn from each experience. Happy trails and tails to you and your pup!

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