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Copyright @2012 How To Travel With Pets

Today How To Travel With Pets is taking a slight detour from the usual and participating in the Pet Blogger Challenge. Inspired by Go Pet Friendly and Will My Dog Hate Me, I thought it a good opportunity to take a look back and forward for How To Travel With Pets at the top of the year.

When Did You Begin Your Travel Blog?

How To Travel With Pets is actually my third travel blog, launched about two years after foXnoMad, right before Travel Blog Advice, and prior to Tech Guide For Travel.

What Was The Original Purpose Of Starting A Blog?

Having added a dog and cat to my travels, I decided the topic needed it’s own site I could dedicate to pet travel.

Is Your Current Purpose The Same?

Yes; hopefully continuing to help people with pets travel with and without them in the smartest ways possible.

If So, How Do You Feel You’ve Met Those Goals?

I try to make sure each of my posts answer a specific question about traveling with pets using my firsthand experience.

Do You Blog On A Schedule Or As The Spirit Moves You?

I continue to follow a schedule for all of my travel blogs, including How To Travel With Pets. Although this post is an exception, I typically post on the first of each month.

What Techniques Do You Use To Stick To It?

I maintain an editorial calendar for all of my sites, which are nice reminders to schedule out ideas for the next couple of posts. I also keep a running ‘idea-list’ where I keep a long list of possible post topics.

Are You Generating An Income From Your Blog?

Blogging is my business and my sites fund my travels – along with pug and gracefully aging cat.

If So, How?

I sell advertising across my sites, am a member of several affiliate programs, and have two travel eBooks that continue to be read.

What Do You Like Most About Blogging In General And Your Blog In Particular?

I enjoy writing, teaching people ways to travel smarter, and showing them places in the world they might not have yet been. I think How To Travel With Pets accomplishes those things and shows people that traveling with pets isn’t impossible.

What Do You Like The Least?

Maintaining boring tasks like taxes and budgets.

How Do You See Your Blogging Changing Or Growing In 2011?

I hope to have more international and destination-specific posts as well as more of my own photography. I don’t feel like I have enough pictures with my posts!

I encourage you other pet bloggers to take the challenge as well and let me know if there’s anything you’d like to see more (or less) of here on How To Travel With Pets.

[photos by: soapbeard (Japanese boxing monkey doll), aboutmattlaw (cat typing on keyboard)]

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Copyright @2012 How To Travel With Pets

Bringing your pets into Turkey from abroad is a fairly routine affair when arriving from many countries around the world. The process is not all-too-different than entering a western European nation with your cat or dog. You might be wondering what it’s like to actually travel in Turkey with your pets, whether you’re planning a summer vacation or relocating for a longer period of time.

Here’s what to expect logistically, culturally, and practically when contemplating bringing your pets to Turkey.

3 Months Is A General Rule

Since Turkey is a popular vacation spot for many tourists, it’s worth pointing out that most European countries and the United States have blood test and vaccination requirements that generally need to be done 3 months prior to return. Bringing your pets to Turkey on a vacation less than 3 months is usually out of the question so unless you can confirm otherwise, it’s best to leave your cat or dog at home. For longer trips though, assuming you’ve got the proper vaccinations (which are relatively standard), entry into Turkey with pets is almost always a straightforward process.

Cities vs. Vacation Spots

Both the major Turkish cities and various tourist hot spots along country’s Aegean and Mediterranean coasts will be well prepared for your pets. Veterinarians, pet stores, and pet supplies are easily found while most vets are aware of the requirements for transporting your pets outside of Turkey if needed. Pet food varieties tend to be very limited, however most pet shops can and are willing to order any specific brands you may be looking for.

• Outside of the larger cities and tourist hot spots it will be much more difficult to find a good pet store; and to a lesser extent veterinarian.

It’s a good idea if you’ll be heading to a more rural part of the country to try and get pet-supply information from someone in the area beforehand. Otherwise, you should bring at least 2 days of food just in case there isn’t anything close by or easily accessible. Again, finding pet stores and veterinarians in most mid-to-large Turkish cities isn’t an obstacle.

Dog And Cats In A Turkish Cultural Context

Most people in Turkey don’t keep dogs as pets and they don’t quite hold the same place in the home as in many Western societies. Although things are changing and this view shifting (along with an increase of toy dogs!) most people won’t keep them inside their houses. This means that when looking for a place to rent, many renters may be put off if you have a dog. Most apartments also don’t allow dogs and it is something you should mention to any potential landlords.

• Dogs, by many Turks, are considered ‘unclean’ animals; an impression that makes people and landlords weary of them in general.
• That said, many restaurants will allow you to bring small dogs if sitting outside. This is especially true in many of the large western Turkish cities.
• Finding pet-friendly hostels or hotels is still difficult for the most part.

Cats on the other hand are typically seen as clean animals and have a unique place in both Turkish and Islamic culture. Landlords might be slightly more on edge even with a cat, but for the most part you’ll have much less explaining to do. (As opposed to assuring that your dog is a canine angel.)

A Quickly Changing Landscape

Perhaps the biggest obstacle to traveling with pets in Turkey is finding accommodation, but that is changing quickly. More foreign travelers are bringing their pets to Turkey for longer stays and many more Turks are embracing life with pets. This combination is proving to rapidly open up the pet-friendly (travel) market throughout Turkey – a lovely place for both you and your pets.

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Copyright @2012 How To Travel With Pets

These are some of the most pet friendly international cities, with pet friendly hotels, parks, restaurants, and malls. Ideally a good pet travel city lets you take your dog (in particular) to more places than less. Many of these places listed are in Western Europe, probably the most pet friendly region in the world.

1. Paris

Parisians are known for taking their dogs everywhere but unfortunately for letting them poop everywhere as well. Make sure to clean up after your four-legged friend and you’ll enjoy Paris’ dog friendly parks, restaurants (many allow dogs inside), and shops with your pet.

2. Hamburg

Germany in general is very dog friendly, and you’ll find there are very few places that don’t allow dogs. While sightseeing many churches and museums don’t allow pets but they’re welcome most everywhere else.

3. Amsterdam

This city literally has hundreds of pet friendly hotels and even more pet friendly restaurants, cafes, and bars. Amsterdam has a very liberal pet policy and they are welcome in many museums and other tourist attractions.

4. Rome

Most Italian cities are open to dogs of all shapes and if you’ve got a dog small enough to carry you can bring them almost anywhere, including public transportation (larger dogs need to be bought an extra ticket).

5. Toronto

Hundreds of pet-friendly accommodations, several off-leash dog parks, and plenty of emergency veterinarian services (just in case) Toronto is one of the best cities in North America to travel with your dog.

6. The US West Coast

San Diego, Seattle, and Portland are all great cities to travel with your pet. There are the usual off-leash parks and pet friendly hotels, but also great hiking and outdoor activities right outside of town that will enhance any trip to these cities for you and your pet.

For those of you traveling with pets from the US to Europe, make sure you call the embassy to confirm you’ve got all of the necessary papers to bring your pets in each individual country, even if it’s a member of the EU.

[photos by: TaylorMiles, TheManWithoutHair, Claudio.Ar, Giampaolo Macorig, swisscan, Leopoly]

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Copyright @2012 How To Travel With Pets

Traveling with pets from the United States to Europe, in particular the European Union nations, is a process that is simple once you know what to expect. Finding good information about the requirements prior to your trip is the most difficult part of the entire trip and most of the work is upfront. Importing your pets and getting through customs is the easy part.

First Steps: Where Are You Going?

This seems like a basic question to ask but you need to take be absolutely sure with the answers to these questions:

• What are all of the cities you’ll be in, including layovers?
• When is your trip? (You’ll need at most 30 days, at a minimum of 1 week depending on how current vaccinations are.)
• Is your country in the European Union?
• Which airline or airlines will you be flying and do they have any airline breed restrictions?
• Crate dimensions? The airlines will require this before you can make reservations for your pets.
• Cabin or not? If your pet is under a certain weight (i.e. 12lbs) you may be able to have them in the cabin with you. Airlines often only allow 2 pets per plane so call them early to ask. Also, if your pet doesn’t do well traveling and defecates, yowls, or has trouble when being transported, to the vet for example, consider having them fly as baggage where most larger animals are.

Many travelers often focus on the import of the pets and don’t thoroughly research these basics. Also, if you’re traveling with an animal other than a dog or a cat make sure there aren’t any prohibitions against importing them at your destination. Don’t just take the word of your vet or the airlines.

Check The Embassy Website

Like I mentioned above, do not get your pet travel information anywhere other than the embassies of each country you will be traveling to. Almost every single EU country will have information about what you need to bring pets in from the United States on their embassy websites. You can find contact information for every embassy in the world using EmbassyWorld and if you are unclear about anything feel free to give them a call.

What You’ll Need

This information is subject to change and is a general overview of what you’ll need to take your dog or cat from the US to the EU.

• A microchip
• A pet passport (that can be downloaded from the specific embassy’s website) – This ‘passport’ is a certification of health from your vet with the most important piece of information being that a rabies vaccination has been current for at least 30 days. So long as you’ve been keeping up to date on all of the US and state-required vaccinations you should be fine.
• This passport must be signed and stamped with your state’s agriculture department. Your vet will be able to let you know where to send it.

Again, you need to verify all of the specific information for each country your animals will be going to and stopping along the way.

How Much Will It Cost?

Flying with your pets from the US to the European Union will hit your pocketbook on several fronts.

1. The Airline: The price per pet is usually around the $200 range from the US.
2. The Vet: A checkup plus any required vaccinations can run anywhere from $75-300.
3. State Stamps: Shipping rates vary but you’ll usually find yourself sending a $50 check for each pet. That’s the fee required to stamp and process your vet certificates of health and EU pet passports.
4. Crates: The airlines usually have restrictions on the type (i.e. plastic), size, and interiors of pet crates. Check with them to find out what you’ll need. New crates range on the size but start at $50 and can go up to $400.

There are also some miscellaneous costs as well like toys, treats, and chewing bones to keep your cat and dog happy for the plane ride.

Importing Usually Isn’t A Problem

When traveling from the US to the EU you generally won’t have any problems in customs with your pets. Often times they don’t even check your papers if your animals appear in good health. That doesn’t mean though you should try to skip or skimp on any of the requirements though since not having them could result in lengthy quarantines or possible deportation.

Check the requirements early, get your shots done on time, and make sure you’ve got the right crates and have informed the airline at least 10 days before your departure you’ll be booking for your pets as well. Once you’ve done all of the administrative work up front you can usually breeze through customs. The faster you’re at your destination and the quicker you get settled, the less stress your pets will face and the more enjoyable trip for everyone.

[photos by: Paul Schultz, Americatidol]

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Copyright @2012 How To Travel With Pets