| Thinking of traveling with your pet internationally? | | | | My little Shih Tzu named Ruggles and I lived there for |
| Here are the TOP TEN international destinations to | | | | a while, and there was virtually no place he was not |
| travel with your pet, and information that will make | | | | welcome. If you need exercise there is a small |
| entering these countries easy and without quarantine. | | | | partially outdoor gym where Ruggles would lie in the |
| We are also including information that will help you | | | | shade and wait for me. Down at the beach were |
| pass through immigration with ease if you are visiting | | | | dozens of small patio restaurants where Ruggles and |
| another country. Keep in mind that this information is | | | | I would share lunch. |
| subject to change. You can always send an email to | | | | On at least one occasion, we took the deluxe |
| Pet Travel inquiring about the latest requirements for | | | | inter-city bus from Playa Del Carmen to Cancun. |
| travel to an international destination with your pet. | | | | Ruggles occupied the seat next to me. Not sure if it |
| The travel industry knows that pets mean profits. | | | | was legal but no one said a word about it either way. |
| The airlines also want your business as many as 95% | | | | Nearby by are the Mayan Temples of Chichen-Itza. I |
| of the world's airlines will now transport your pet. If | | | | do not believe that pets are allowed inside the |
| your dog or cat is small enough you can even take it | | | | grounds. |
| in the cabin with you on many airlines. | | | | Within two or three kilometers are several caves |
| The grand cities of Europe are all very pet friendly. | | | | with underground pools of water. I saw several pets |
| Here are four countries and cities that deserve to be | | | | during my visit to these caves. |
| on the top ten list. | | | | COSTA RICA is a popular destination for traveling |
| Belgium, France, Switzerland and Italy are four of the | | | | pet owners. Going through customs with your pet is |
| most pet friendly countries we have visited. Traveling | | | | little more than a wave of the hand. If you are |
| with your pet in Europe is easy as there are no | | | | looking for exciting gambling and night life, then San |
| longer any borders, so you can travel freely. | | | | Jose is the place for you. There are plenty of pet |
| Distances are small between the cities and even | | | | friendly hotels in the city. |
| between countries. Getting around is easy as almost | | | | Most people who visit Costa Rica head for the rural |
| all European trains, buses and ferries accept pets on | | | | areas where tall trees, beautiful birds and magnificent |
| board. | | | | waterfalls are around every corner. Of course, don't |
| PARIS is easily the most pet friendly city we have | | | | forget the rain forest where the brilliant blue |
| visited in Europe. You can dine at any of the | | | | butterflies flitter about the lush vegetation. |
| thousands of sidewalk cafes in Paris, and you will see | | | | Accommodations in these areas are less elegant but |
| pets sitting by their masters or under the tables in | | | | you will find several who will welcome you and your |
| nearly all of them. What's more, in this the city of | | | | pet. |
| lights well behaved pets can dine inside the restaurant | | | | Immigration: |
| with their owners. | | | | To enter pet friendly Costa Rica you will need a |
| On a Sunday morning you will see well-dressed men | | | | certificate of good health indicating that your pet if |
| and women walking with their very well-groomed | | | | free from disease and has been properly vaccinated. |
| pets on a leash out for a Sunday stroll and headed | | | | Dogs must be vaccinated for rabies, distemper, |
| for the nearby park. | | | | hepatitis, lestospirosis, and parovirus, and cats must |
| Visit the Montmartre district where artists have set | | | | be vaccinated for rabies. |
| up their easels on the sidewalk. For a few francs an | | | | Rounding out our top ten favorite pet friendly |
| artist will create an original painting of your favorite | | | | destinations, we travel to the United States. You can |
| pet. | | | | bring your pet into the US with only a health |
| Immigration into France: To take your pet into France | | | | certificate stating that it is healthy and has been |
| from the United States, Canada, or Mexico, you need | | | | vaccinated for rabies. |
| just three things. Your pet must be micro chipped | | | | KEY WEST is probably the most pet friendly city in |
| with an ISO 15 digit microchip, be vaccinated for | | | | the States. This small town can only be called "laid |
| rabies, and have the EU form of a veterinary health | | | | back" where life goes at slower place. Your pet will |
| certificate for France. The immigration officer will just | | | | be welcome in virtually every hotel, bed and |
| pass you through. | | | | breakfast and motel in the city. Every restaurant has |
| LAKE LUCERNE in Switzerland is well known for its | | | | an outdoor dining area where your pet will be |
| beauty and the quality of its skiing. Rent a chalet for | | | | welcome and some restaurants even allow small well |
| you and your pet near the lifts and you will have a | | | | behaved pets inside. |
| great ski vacation. Just down the street will be a | | | | I visited the city a few years ago and while Ruggles |
| sidewalk cafe with a pet under nearly every table. If | | | | and I were out for a walk I stopped in front of a |
| your pet does not have a thick coat, you will want | | | | somewhat elegant restaurant. I was studying the |
| to purchase it a nice warm coat to wear. | | | | menu and the maitre de came out to speak to me. I |
| While visiting Switzerland you will want to see the | | | | asked if Ruggles would be welcome and his response |
| famous banking capital of Zurich. But Zurich is famous | | | | was: does he like beef or chicken? |
| for more than banks it is the home to many of the | | | | THE BIG APPLE - NEW YORK deserves a place on |
| famous watch makers and chocolatier's. | | | | our list. It seems that everyone living in this bustling |
| Switzerland is one of those countries where pets are | | | | city has a pet. There are so many that the pet |
| just a part of everyday life. Due to its location it is | | | | walkers will each have six or eight at one time on |
| just a short drive in a rental car or by train to either | | | | leashes out for their morning stroll. Sunday in Central |
| France or Italy. | | | | park is doggie heaven. Your pet will meet and greet |
| Immigration into Switzerland: To take your pet into | | | | a hundred other pets during your stroll. Then you can |
| Switzerland from the United States, Canada, or | | | | stop at one of the outdoor cafes for "coffee and a |
| Mexico, you need just three things. Your pet must | | | | roll". |
| be micro chipped with an ISO 15 digit microchip, be | | | | This is also the city for the elegant hotel and |
| vaccinated for rabies and have the EU form of a | | | | nowhere is pets more welcome than in an elegant |
| veterinary health certificate for Switzerland. The | | | | hotel. The higher the price of the room, the more |
| immigration officer will just pass you through. | | | | welcome the pet. However, there is a wide range of |
| BRUSSELS is also on our list of top ten destinations. | | | | places where your pet will be welcome. Pet Travel |
| Although your pet may not be welcome in the | | | | lists over a hundred hotels that welcome pets. |
| museums, it will be welcome almost everywhere else. | | | | A few years ago Ruggles and I stayed at one of the |
| This is a walking city, and if you stayed for a month | | | | nicer hotels on Central Park. Late in the afternoon I |
| you would never run out of different places to visit | | | | went down to the bar for a cocktail and took |
| with your pet. There are magnificent parks | | | | Ruggles along. We were sitting in the bar when the |
| everywhere, take a walk through the famous antique | | | | manager came in. He gave Ruggles a little pat and |
| flea markets, or stroll into Belgium's past at | | | | said "I would much rather have a well behaved pet in |
| Cinquantenaire Park. | | | | my hotel than a small child who is not well behaved. " |
| Have you ever ridden a Segway? They look like an | | | | This hotel, like many others, sent a bellman up to my |
| oversized skate board with a handle and an electric | | | | room each morning to take Ruggles for a walk. |
| motor. Brussels is famous for the availability of these | | | | Some of the hotels in New York even have room |
| little devices that will scoot you around the city at a | | | | service menus for pets! |
| speed suitable for your pet to run alongside. | | | | ASHEVILLE, North Carolina well deserves a place on |
| Brussels is also known for its exotic night life but you | | | | the top ten list. More than 50% of the |
| will need to hire a pet sitter as pets are not allowed | | | | accommodations in Asheville accept pets attesting to |
| in the night clubs. | | | | its claim as one of America's most pet friendly cities. |
| Immigration into Belgium: To take your pet into | | | | For the traveling pet owner who loves golf this is a |
| Belgium from Mexico you need just three things. | | | | top choice. |
| Your pet must be micro chipped with an ISO 15 digit | | | | During the summer Asheville features a number of |
| microchip, be vaccinated for rabies and have the EU | | | | outdoor concerts, street fairs, and festivals where |
| form of a veterinary health certificate for Belgium. | | | | your pet will be welcome. |
| The immigration officer will just pass you through. | | | | SAN DIEGO is only a short distance from our border. |
| MADRID is one of Europe's oldest cities and worthy | | | | This metropolitan city on the ocean has not one but |
| of a ranking in our top ten pet friendly places to visit. | | | | two "doggie beaches". There are hundreds of pet |
| This is a city of plazas with fountains and statues | | | | friendly accommodations in the city and in the |
| everywhere. Spaniards love their pets, and they will | | | | surrounding areas. On a recent visit with my new pet |
| love yours too if it is well behaved and friendly. | | | | also a Shih Tzu whose name is Bear; we stayed at |
| Take your pet on a walk to the Plaza Mayor the | | | | the Sophia Hotel which could not have been more |
| so-called "aristocratic centre" of Madrid, home to the | | | | pet friendly. The young women who manned the |
| stunning Royal Palace, a 17th century monument that | | | | front desk always stopped to talk with Bear and |
| combines Baroque and Classical styles. Next to the | | | | even offered to babysit him. |
| palace you can find the Plaza de Oriente (square), | | | | Each day we walked to one of the dozen or so |
| the Opera House and the modern Almudena | | | | outdoor cafes for lunch or dinner. Almost the first |
| Cathedral, consecrated in 1993 by Pope John Paul II. | | | | thing they would do was to bring Bear a bowl of |
| Another option while visiting Spain is the beautiful | | | | water. |
| Costa del Sol with beautiful white sand beaches | | | | BEING A COURTEOUS TRAVELING PET OWNER |
| running as far as the eye can see. And yes, your pet | | | | The range of accommodations and traveling options |
| will be welcome on most of the beaches in the area | | | | available to the traveling pet owner continues to |
| so if you have a water dog, they will have a chance | | | | expand because these businesses recognize the |
| to sample the warm waters of the Mediterranean. | | | | value of your business. However, you have a |
| Immigration into Spain: To take your pet into Spain | | | | responsibility to be a courteous and caring pet owner. |
| from the United States, Canada, or Mexico, you need | | | | Don't let your pet be a nuisance by letting it roam |
| just three things. Your pet must be micro chipped | | | | loose or by barking. And, rule number one, be sure to |
| with an ISO 15 digit microchip, be vaccinated for | | | | pick up after your pet. |
| rabies and have the EU form of a veterinary health | | | | Visiting these pet friendly cities will make for a |
| certificate for Spain. The immigration officer will just | | | | vacation that you will never forget. Be sure and book |
| pass you through. | | | | your airline tickets early if you are traveling by air. |
| The hotels in Europe are much more likely to make | | | | Most of the airlines have a limit to the number of |
| your pet welcome as it is such a common practice to | | | | pets per flight. In addition, call or email the pet |
| take ones pet along on holiday. Or, you can book a | | | | friendly hotel you are staying in to confirm their pet |
| lovely home or apartment, which are readily available | | | | policies so there will be no surprises at check in. Email |
| if you are staying for a week or longer. | | | | us at with any questions. We wish you nothing but |
| PLAYA DEL CARMEN in Mexico is a great destination | | | | happy travels. |
| for the lover of brilliant blue waters and white sand. | | | | |