From A dog’s travels to France & Spain & Switzerland by Hamish– the Westie

Traveling as a family, with everybody along…what could be more priceless? In today’s changing world, traveling with pets is becoming more and more possible. All week we have shared tips and stories about pet travel, from the best dog parks to pet-friendly hotels to pre-trip packing and preparation tips. Today we highlight international travel with pets, with a special focus on traveling within Europe.

Hamish– the Westie, a unique Realtraveler, is a west highland terrier who got to travel through Europe with his parents and his fellow dog brother. Along with other adventures through France, Spain, and Switzerland, his trip coincided with the World Cup! As you can see in the below excerpt from Pau, France, a blog from a dog’s point-of-view has a special sort of charm:

“Tom Tom leads us directly to the door of the Hotel Rocevaux which is slap bang in the centre of Pau. We notice 2 things….things seem rather quiet and …. there is rather a lot of bunting around the place…of course Cup du Monde! It’s the world cup final evening…the big final match between France and Italy. Oh how exciting!!!..I can get my football out and bark ‘allez allez Thierry Henry!!’ VaVa Voom!!!” (more…)

Here are some travel tips for traveling with pets outside the United States. They are by no means exhaustive, so be sure to consult your vet, airlines, and the Embassy or Consulate of any and all your destination countries, including the one to which you’ll be returning!

Pet Passports

Yes, animals need them too. The needed documents will vary from country to country, even within the EU, so be sure to check what you’ll need. Regulations do change, and the Embassy or Consulate will give you the most current information. While visiting the vet for your pre-trip vet checkup, as recommended in our Preparing for Pet Travel article, obtain any necessary health certificates you may need. You may need additional vaccinations in order to clear customs. Note that all documents are valid for a limited time period, so you will need to find this out and determine how it coincides with your trip.

Visit these links for more information:
Pet Passport Info
Official USDA Certification

Following the Rules of the Road

You’ll also want to think not only about getting there, but also about what methods of transportation you’ll be using within your destination country, and contact each service to find out their regulations. This includes airlines as well as train travel. You’ll also need to consult with each Embassy or Consulate about their quarantine policies. There’s likely a cost involved, and you may need advance reservations.

For information on bringing your pet into the United States, whether from another country or on your return trip back home, visit the Pets and International Travel US Government Site.

Visit these links for more information:
Traveling Europe by Train with Pets
Airline Transport Association
Airline Travel Rules with Pets

Finding Accommodations

Pet-friendly hotels are cropping up more and more in Europe and around the world. The following directories speak for themselves, so click on an individual country to find your destination. Calling the hotel to verify their policies is always recommended.

Pet-Friendly Hotels in Europe
Pet Friendly Hotels in Paris
Pet-Friendly Hotels in Amsterdam
Worldwide Pet Travel Hotel Guide

Having Fun

Paris is known for its dog-friendly atmosphere. Most restaurants will allow well-behaved dogs to sit at their owner’s feet while they dine, and if boutique, bakery, and post office staff are amenable, dogs can join in there, as well.

Small dogs in their carrying bags can ride the Paris Métro and bus, and some taxis will let dogs of any size ride in their cars (call ahead to be sure). For a custom ride through town, try Taxi Dog, a taxi company that specializes in dog transportation. If you speak French, Il Partent Avec Nous is a helpful site for pet travel in Paris.

All pet owners love to find parks to let their dogs get their play time! In Paris, the south end of Luxenbourg Gardens is a popular spot. In Amsterdam, another dog-friendly city, Oosterpark is a popular spot with locals and just off the beaten path for tourists. It is part of the grounds adjoining the Tropenmuseum and has a picturesque, quiet atmosphere, plus is divided into dog and non-dog zones for childrens’ safety. Vondelpark Amsterdam’s largest and best known park and also a fun place to bring your dog.

Dog Parks Outside the United States:

Paris Parks Guide
Public Open Spaces for Dogs in Australia
Dog Parks in Canada
Sampling of City Parks Around the World - popular parks to walk your dog

Additional Resources:

Europe Travel Guide
Etiquette Guide to Dining Out with Your Pooch
Dog Park FAQ
ABC’s of Air Travel with Pets

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From The Devil’s Throat (Garganta do diablo) by Mike & Madeline

Today’s travel photo of the day comes from Iguazu National Park, where the impressive Iguazu Falls are a photographer’s dream. Devil’s Throat, a horseshoe-shaped, 700 meter long cliff, is one of the most breathtaking sights of all. It marks the border between Argentina and Brazil.

British Realtravelers Mike & Madeline visited this spectacular place recently, and along with snapping this great photo, wrote about it in their blog:

“The following day we caught the incredibly cheap bus to Iguassu Falls, on the Brazilian side. Caught the bus from the visitors centre to the start of the falls trail. We walked following the river where we got our first look at the falls on the Argentinean side of the river. Beautiful, tonnes of water dropping down a hundred plus feet but not the epic sight that we had expected. We continued the trail thinking that we had been ripped off, then walked up some steps then ‘Holy crap!’ we saw the Devil’s Throat falls, millions of tonnes of water hurling itself off the top of the falls with so much force mist was travelling hundreds of feet into the air! Amazing!

We continued the trail with led us to various view points, then finally a long gantry almost dropping you into the falls, we were nicely cooled off in the spray. We went for food after going up the less than exciting panoramic lift and saw a Quati, racoon type of chap, heading straight for our food. Luckily a ranger saw it heading our way and chased it off! We headed back along the trail and were followed by numerous butterflies and a gang of Quati’s. The sights seemed even better second time round!” (more…)

To learn more about this destination, or to plan a trip of your own, visit:

Iguazu Falls Travel Guide
Brazil Travel Guide
Argentina Travel Guide
Foz do Iguacu Pictures

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