Taking Dog to Europe

anewme

Any recommendations for taking pets to Europe on Holiday - France, Spain, anywhere in Europe that is dog friendly.

Ferry /flight and pet friendly accomodations welcome.

Dog wont go in the kennel so will have to stay with me travelling.

Marcusm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058258328/taking-dog-to-europe

Didn't see this until now so might be late responding. We took our Golden retriever (6 years) to Portugal in June and returned in October. Brittany Ferries have a number of pet friendly cabins on the Connemara and Pont Aven ferries. Pont Aven also has kennels, Armorique is their other Irish ferry which accepts dogs only in the owner's verhicle.

We went outbound on Connemara to Bilbao which was a 33 hour journey. The ship itself is described as "economie" which is code for old, tired and lacking in facilities. The pet friendly cabins have access to an outdoor walkway just at the end of the corridor. IOty'sd s smwll space niot much wider than a domestic corridor/hallwsy. There were plenty of dogs on board and all in same corridor (8 or 10 cabins). Muzzles "must" be worn but this is pretty much disregarded after first 10 minutes. The walk from car to cabin is more or less outdoors.

It's a long journey. From early next year there will be a replacement for this ferry which promises a mnore uptodate experience. THis ferry also does Rosslare0-Cherbourg

Ont he return we took the Pont Aven from Rosscoff to Cork. This a is a 12-14 hour overnight ferry and is much habndier to manage. The Pont Aven is their flagship and a lot more comfortable. Originally it just offered kennels with a great dog space outdoors to socialise etc. Now it also has a set of cabins (maybe as many as 24) on deck 6 which accept pets. There is a pet exercise area at the end of this corridor which is much smaller than the one available to the kennelled dogs.

Access to thge pet cabins is through the ship as normal and muzzles must be worn. Pets come up and then do not have access to areas of the ship other than the small exercise area which is a pity.

On the return we stayed in hotels, apart hotels and chambres d'hotes all of which we were set up for dogs with minimal or no extra charges. Generallt restaurants with out doors terraces in Portugal, Spain and France are happy to welcome dogs.

anewme

Thanks a lot for the feedback. Will definitely look at for next year. I went on the one of the first sailings of Pont Aven in 2004.

Not interested in leaving him in Kennels on board, so will have to be dog friendly option

Irish Stones

Please, remember that you need a European Pet Passport up to date with rabies shots and dog's details.