By World Animal Protection Animal Influencer Christina Prejean
Two things bring us endless joy: our little rescue pup, Bella, and exploring the world. At first, we thought the two were completely incompatible. But who says traveling and having a companion animal are mutually exclusive?
Eleven years ago, we rescued Bella (or, as some might say, she rescued us). We always felt guilty leaving her even for a couple of days, so after years of doing this, we were determined to figure out a better solution.
Two years ago, we sold our home and have been traveling nonstop with Bella ever since. She comes with us almost everywhere we go. She has her own EU Pet Passport and has traveled to nine countries, two World Wonders, 12 US states, and countless cities.
It’s not always easy, but it’s very doable, and sometimes even more affordable than paying to board or have someone watch her (the going rate is currently around $30 per day).
Here are our top tips for how we recommend traveling with your companion animal:
Flying With Your Companion Animal
Most airlines allow small cats or dogs in the cabin for a fee, and sometimes vaccination certificates from a vet are also required. Also, if your companion animal is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) or service animal, they can fly in the cabin free of charge, regardless of their size, as long as you provide supporting documents to the airlines beforehand.
If your companion animal isn’t an ESA or service animal, US airlines charge around $125 to $200 per flight, and EU airlines usually charge $50-$70.
Choosing a Dog-Friendly Airline
Before booking flights, research which airlines are most dog-friendly.
We’ve flown on these airlines with Bella, all of which were very dog-friendly:
Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airlines, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Volotea (European travel).
Where to Go: Dog-Friendly Places
Before deciding where to go, research which places are dog-friendly. A simple Google search of “Which country is the most dog-friendly?” revealed that France is the most dog-friendly nation in the world. So, the first place we took Bella outside the US was France, and she absolutely loved it. France allows dogs in most places, except for grocery stores and some parks (which also serve as outdoor gyms for many locals).
These nine countries have all been very welcoming and dog-friendly (no quarantine required for entry):
France, Italy, Mexico, Andorra, Spain, Monaco, Vatican City, San Marino, and of course, the US (with the exception of Hawaii).
Once you’ve decided where you’re traveling to, research dog-friendly hotels, Airbnbs, VRBOs, or any other accommodation before booking. Expedia, Airbnb, and VRBO all have “pet-friendly” filters for when you’re looking for a place to stay.
Certain US states, such as Hawaii, require a two-week companion animal quarantine process. Upon arrival at the airport, your companion animal is taken from you and placed in an isolated quarantine. Although we’d love to explore the Hawaiian Islands, we think it’s best not to subject Bella to this.
Documentation Required for International Companion Animal Travel
Before traveling abroad, research the country's requirements. We recommend traveling only to countries where no companion animal quarantine is required. Mexico and countries within the EU (France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Germany, to name a few) do not require quarantines. The USDA has a great website to use as a reference. There, you can click on the country you’re interested in traveling to and find out what documents are required.
Once in the EU, traveling between countries is as easy as traveling between most US states. So, we decided to enter the EU through France, considering it’s the most dog-friendly nation, knowing it would be easier that way.
France requires (1) an ISO microchip, (2) Rabies vaccination, (3) an EU Health Certificate from an approved Veterinarian, and (4) Taking the EU Health Certificate to the USDA of your state for APHIS endorsement.
We’ve decided not to travel to certain places that we’d love to explore, but require a companion animal quarantine. South Africa, for example, requires a quarantine.
EU “Pet Passport”
Once in the EU, we recommend getting an EU passport. It isn’t required, but it lasts for the life of your companion animal and is fairly simple to get. Take your companion animal to an EU veterinarian, who will inspect it, and after paying a fee, they’ll mail you the Pet Passport.
The benefit of having an EU Pet Passport is they can easily fly within the EU.
Respecting Your Companion Animal’s Stress
We understand that not every animal feels calm enough to travel. We highly recommend not taking your companion animal on an airplane if it has to go in cargo, as this can cause extreme stress and anxiety. Our recommendation is to start small. Try small road trips nearby to see how your animal is able to adapt to the changes. Get to know them well enough before beginning to travel with him or her. If they are small enough, we recommend introducing them to their travel carrier weeks or days before needing to use it for travel, as their familiarity with their carrier may help reduce their stress and anxiety while traveling. Ultimately, if your companion animal does not respond well to travel, there are many dog-watching services, such as Rover and TrustedHouseSitters, where the person watching them can stay at your home, so your companion animal doesn’t have to change their environment.
Travel Gear
Getting the right travel gear makes life much simpler. Some gear we use regularly and highly recommend: a TSA-approved carrier backpack, collapsible water, and food bowls, Tupperware for food storage, and snacks/treats.
And You’re Ready!
I’ve had the honor of being a dog mom for eleven years to my bundle of joy rescue pup, Bella. Now, she’s a dual US and EU citizen, so she gets to travel everywhere with me. We share memories that I’ll forever cherish. My hope is that you and your pup can, too!
For more on Christina, Eric, and Bella’s adventures, follow their Instagram account.
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