Guest Author - Angela Thompson
In many families, the family pet holds as a high of a status as every two legged family member. Pets are often frequent road trip travelers—and also accompany owners during train and bus trips as well as abroad both by air and sea. Should you include your pet on your next family vacation? There are pros and cons of either that families must consider as they make this decision.
Pros of Traveling with Pets
Some Pets Need the Family More than Others
Some pets suffer from medical conditions or extreme separation anxiety—especially when placed in unfamiliar surroundings. Those pets may feel more secure at your side.
Family Pets Can Be Entertaining
The family pet can often help provide a distraction to travel weary little ones during the trip. This is especially useful if the children are particularly attached to a favorite pet!
There are Advantages to Self Pet Care
Boarding and professional pet sitting may be quite expensive, especially for multi-pet households. While kennels and boarding facilities take great precautions to guard against disease and pests, there is always the risk of infection and infestation which can hold devastating results.
Pet Friendly Facilities Have Become More Popular
Many hotels and facilities have become very accommodating to well behaved pets and their families. Those traveling with pets have many more resources available today than ever before as they research pet friendly establishments.
Cons of Traveling with Pets
Research and Preparation Requirements will Increase
Pet travel requires a great deal of research and preparation. Pet friendly accommodations are more prevalent, but they are still the exception rather than the rule. If you are traveling abroad with your pet, there are a number of time-consuming tasks and requirements that must be completed before your pet will gain entry to your destination and vary greatly from country to country.
Pet Parenting Multiplies Your Vacation Parenting Duties
Pets add to the parenting responsibilities of the trip. The pet cannot spend the day in the hotel room so someone will be responsible for the pet’s safety and actions as the family explores. Expect to meet a few non pet lovers or some irresponsible ones. One little bark in a four day hotel stay may set off a traveler down the hallway or your pet may be accosted by another animal during a nature walk. Of course, the parents are responsible for keeping everything in check and this take the rest and relaxation out of the trip.
Pets Require a lot of Supplies
Pets are like babies, they need many things to be healthy and happy. The packing list increases as pet parents must ensure that all the pet’s needs will be met. Some pets will require crates and cages and of course all the basics of food, water, bedding and toys. There may be space constraints for you to consider.
Traveling with Pets Can be More Expensive.
While you may save money by not boarding your animal, hotel rates, travel requirements, and special accommodations all increase when pets tag along on a trip.
Depending on the style and destination of your family vacation, there are certainly times when the family pet can join right in. However, if the itinerary calls for long visits to less than pet friendly attractions, finding a trusted boarding facility or employing a family friend or pet sitter may be best for both the family and the pet.
