For many families, taking your pet on vacation is important so I’ve come up with a helpful 5 best ways  to holiday with your pet, so you can make the most of holiday time with the whole family.

There are more options that you may think for holidaying with your pet. In 2012 it became cheaper and easier to travel abroad with your pet when new, simpler rules were introduced and now many dogs, cats and even ferrets, are micro-chipped and vaccinated (particularly a valid rabies certificate) and have their own pet passport.

So if you want to take your family’s furry four-legged friend with you on holiday, read on for some fantastic pet-friendly holiday ideas:

Go glamping with your pet

Luxury camping or ‘glamping’ is often the best choice for pet-friendly accommodation on holiday, whether at home or overseas. Glamping specialist website Glamping Hub has launched Glamping Hub for Pets, offering  unique, pet-friendly outdoor accommodation around the world.

Discover nature with your whole family but without the hassle of carrying loads of camping kit with you. You’ll also find useful tips for travelling with your pet on the website.

How about luxury tents in Dorset, England? Up to two dogs can join their owners for this incredible experience. The tents each have an en-suite bathroom with fluffy towels and handmade soap, as well as a king-sized bed with Egyptian cotton sheets.  Explore the wonderful Jurassic Coast and Dorset’s gorgeous beaches.

Or a pet-friendly tree house on the Californian coast near San Francisco? Pets are allowed off the leash around this charming cabin between the woods and the sea. Run on the beach or in the Pebble Beach Forest Reserve. Dogs are allowed to explore freely and the cabin has plenty of home comforts.

New York City with your pet

Yes you read that right; you can take your pet with you to New York City. New Yorkers love dogs and a number of hotels offer pet-friendly packages. One such is Loews Regency Hotel, near Central Park, which includes a gourmet room service menu for cats and dogs, as well as creature comforts like specialised bedding, leashes and collars, litter trays and more.

Other amenities include dog-walking route maps, pet placemats, water bowls and treats like rawhide bones, catnip and scratch poles. They even offer pet-walking and pet-sitting services.

This hotel seriously loves pets and will wait on your VIP (Very Important Pet) hand and paw. There are even complimentary puppyccinos and dog massages available from Blissed Out Barklyn.

Europe with your pet

Taking your pet with you on holiday from the United Kingdom to Europe is increasingly popular.  Ferry company DFDS Seaways transported 42,129 pets across their Eastern channel routes in 2014 and LD Lines reported a 29% increase in pet travel on its Portsmouth-Le Havre route. DFDS charges £19 per carriage for a pet.

The Eurotunnel is another great option if you are driving to your destination. It costs £16 to carry pets each way with Eurotunnel. There’s even a pet exercising space at the Folkstone terminal.

Once you get to Europe there are plenty of pet-friendly accommodation options, including many that are only a short pet-friendly drive from Calais, Dunkirk, Le Harve Caen or Cherbourg.

One example is Residence Le Green Beach near Normandy’s unspoilt coastline.  This is a relaxing, beautiful and characterful location. Discover the Second World War history, stroll along the quays, and enjoy the natural beauty of this area.

UK beach holidays with your pet

Staycationing in the United Kingdom  is one of the easiest options if you want to holiday with your pet but during the summer season a beach ban for dogs comes into force. But there are dog-friendly beaches in the UK, even in summer.

On the idyllic Devon coast, visiting dogs have access to a number of year-round dog-friendly beaches, including Babbacombe beach, Saunton Sands, Hope Cove, East Portlemouth, Thurlestone, Wonwell and Stoke Beach.

In stunning Cornwall, Whitsand Bay in the south-east and Fistral Beach near Newquay are beautiful and dog-friendly. Towan, Great Western and Watergate Bay also welcome dogs who love sandy adventures.  Near Bude, Summerleaze Beach and Northcott Mouth Beach provide year-round access for pets to frolic about in the sand and sea.

These dog-friendly beaches are often in or near designated ‘Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ and some of the UK’s beat walking trails so there is plenty to do for even the most energetic of pets.

Luxury holidays with your pet

Did you know you can even go on safari with your pet? This level of cost option will obviously not be for everyone but there are options out there for seriously luxurious pet-friendly holidays. Sit ‘n Stay Global is a US-based pet travel provider that provides certified flight attendants to care for dogs and pets on board private jets.

They take care of your pet’s safety and of course special catering. Luxurious accommodation is a given and they can provide a Pet Nanny to join you on holiday with plenty of information about dog parks, pet-friendly cafes, pet supply stores and dog-friendly walks.

Pet-friendly holidays

Offering pet-friendly accommodation is a growing trend in the travel market  these days and rising fees for kennels and other pet care can mean taking your pet on holiday is actually more cost effective. So next time you plan a holiday, keep your furry-friends in mind.

By Natasha von Geldern

By Natasha von Geldern on May 23, 2016.