TRAVEL

Jet-setting pets: holidays for the four-legged

Kris Madden

Places pets can holiday ... with you!

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Fido is family, so bring him along with you on your next hols!

Leaving your four-legged friend behind when you go on holiday can be a traumatic time — as soon as they see the bags being loaded into the car the look on their faces is enough to melt your heart and even make you think twice about going. So why not take them with you next time?

Aussie pets rule

Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, with 63 percent of the 7.5 million households owning pets. According to the Petcare Information and Advisory Service Australia (PIAS), 14 percent of Australian pet owners always take their pet with them on weekend getaways, and one third of dog owners include their furry friend in their weekend escape plans. It's even possible, with careful preparation, to take your pet on a plane.

Pet-friendly hotels

Many hotels and resorts have begun to capitalise on this trend by adopting pet-friendly policies and are willing to pamper pets as much as their human guests. Caravan parks and camping grounds have traditionally been accepting of pets, but now motels, holiday houses, and five-star properties are welcoming them as well — meaning you need never say farewell to those sad eyes again.

Sydney's luxurious Observatory Hotel and sister property Lilianfels Blue Mountains are two of the most up-market establishments that are willing indulge both you and your pets in four-paw five-star treatment.

Both furry and feathered friends are welcome, (subject to availability and restrictions on size and maximum numbers) provided human guests follow a few rules — such as not leaving animals alone in the room, paying for any damages that occur if they decide to misbehave (the pet that is); keeping them on a leash or caged when in public areas; and taking dogs outside to do their business (which seems reasonable).

Unfortunately, Fido can't visit the day spa, bar or restaurant, but with their own bed, food and water bowls, special Pet Room Service menu; and multi-channel TV, they're probably just as happy to stay in.

The room service menu catering to VIPs (Very Important Pooches) includes Woof Woof — Japanese style miso soup, rice and grilled fish; and Poppie's Favourite — a delectable dish of beef steak and chunky vegetables. For puss there is Meow Meow — grilled salmon, with green beans, quail egg, tuna, potatoes and olives. Feathered friends are catered for with Tweetie's Crudites — a plate of fresh vegetable snacks, no doubt served on the hotel's signature crockery. At only $20 per dish, you might be tempted to order from the menu yourself.

Although this option is at the top-end of the market, there are literally thousands of places that will extend a warm welcome to the whole family, and State tourist offices are a good place to start with recommendations for short break holiday destinations with pets.

Guides to pet holidays

Another helpful resource is the Life. Be in it: Holidaying with Dogs and Holidaying with Cats guides, which claim to be the bible for Australian pet owners. They have recommendations for over 2000 properties in Australia and New Zealand and award five-paw ratings for pet-friendliness.

www.holidayingwithdogs.com.au

The Royal Auto Club of Queensland's Travelling with Pets guide is also filled with lots of useful information and lists over 1500 pet-friendly accommodation choices across Australia. Check out www.racq.com.au.

And if you're interested in New South Wales with the furry one, look no further. The tourism board has put together a comprehensive guide to pet-friendly holidays in NSW.

Tips for travelling with pets

The Petcare Information and Advisory Service (www.petnet.com.au) has some handy hints for holidaying with pets and offers the following suggestions for easier travel:

In general, cats travel better in a carrier, and one that allows adequate stretching room and is well ventilated.
On departure day, consider your pet's normal routine, and take this into account when planning your departure times. Always give your pet the opportunity to relieve itself before travel.
Dogs will generally be quite excited by the prospect of new territory to explore. When you arrive at your destination walk the dog around its new area and familiarise it with its holiday home.
Cats are more likely to be unsettled by travelling away from their familiar surroundings and it is important to ensure that the cat can be confined until it is relaxed and adjusted to its new environment.
If your pet should become separated from you during your holiday, it should be wearing a collar with a phone number which can be reached during your absence from home.
Ensure your pet's vaccinations are up to date.
Take a pooper scooper for dogs and litter tray for cats.
Take their favourite toy and/or blanket and pad the pet cage with familiar bedding and scents, such as one of your old shirts, to make them more comfortable.

Have you brought your four-legged friend on holiday with the family? Tell us about it.

User comments

We recently spent a couple of months travelling the East Coast in our campervan with our Scottie dog, staying in caravan parks and we did manage to find a dog friendly park in every place we stayed, but it wasn't easy. We found quite a few places calling themselves dog friendly that really aren't, when you enquire further you discover that you will basically be treated like a leper in their park, in case you upset any of their other guests - apparently it's okay to upset the dog owners like us though! I must say that every truly dog friendly park we stayed in was fantastic, the operators and other guests were reallly friendly and we all had a great time. Eating places in Australia also need to come on board with dog friendliness - we brought our dog back with us from the UK (we lived there for a while) so we are used to taking her everywhere with us. We can't believe how far behind the rest of the world Australia is when it comes to dogs. C'mon Australia, it's time to catch up!!

I agree that Australia needs to catch up with the rest of the world. Dogs are welcome in apartments, shops, cafes and on holiday in places like Paris and New York, however, in Australia, the so called laid back country there are so many restrictions regarding dogs. Families who have a dog as part of their family are not the type of people to be careless, thoughtless or destructive. Come on Australia!!

I've just come back from Germany. There nobody would think twice about taking their dog shopping, on the train, tram, bus, to the pub etc. Of course I accept that certain places should be off limit to dogs and aso that not everybody likes dogs. I also think that you should have good control over your dog when out and about and you most definitely must clean up after your dog. But I do wish Australia was a little more dog friendly, especially re taking them on holidays, shopping, to cafes etc. My friend and I went to a pub in Germany and she took her dog along. He sat under the table watching the world go by and later we took the tram home - no drama - and we weren't the only ones. How lovely is that!

We've been told more than once by dog friendly operators that pet owners are more considerate than parents with children. Pet owners will tell you if they damaged something and offer to pay. Parents are happy that little Johnny didn't cut himself when he dropped the crystal vase. Pet owners will cleanup after their pets. Parents think it's cute that little Johnny drew all over the walls with a texta.

We love going away for weekends and sometimes longer times with our dog, Ralphie a labrador. We nearly always stay at a great cabin at Canton Beach, Toukley called Lake Cabin, where our dog is most welcome inside with us. We love staying at places like this that really welcome dogs. The Wyong Shire area of the Central Coast is great as you can have your dog leash free on beaches, e.g. Lakes Beach at Budgewoi, 199metres norh of the surfclub. It is great to run and play in the surf with your dog. Other areas of NSW are not as friendly for dogs.

My two large dogs are every bit my children as small dogs are to others but I found accommodation sites very biased against large dogs. It is extremely difficult to find quality accommodation for large dogs (allowed inside). I know because I have recently spent hours on the internet looking for a suitable northern NSW beach house that will accommodate me and my two ridgebacks. I found just one house between the Gold Coast and Coffs Harbour (under $8,000 per week)! Large dogs are usually more placid, sleep more, bark less and better disciplined than small dogs. Large dogs deserve a break too!

Currently I am on a working holiday in Japan. I brought my two boys (cats) - Mr Kitty (12 yrs old) and Casper (4 yrs old) to Japan 6 months ago. Quarantine was a little difficult Japan's end and will be more so in Australia, when I return home. As my boys will have to stay in quarantine in Sydney for 30 days.

We do not travel without our dog. With a bit of research it is possible to find dog friendly holiday acommodation almost everywhere in Australia. The smart operators are realising that people who care about their pets enough to take them on holidays with them are not the type of people who have dogs which are noisy or destructive as this behavior usually goes with neglect. Most holiday beachside destinations have a dog friendly beach which means the whole family can have fun together. Without the cost of kenneling pets more money can be spent on the holiday. Win Win.

My family and our beloved two pooches have recently just spent a week at Tomakin beach on the new south wales south coast. We found a beautiful dog friendly cottage on the batemans bay pet friendly accomadation web site. we were just a short stroll to the beach and also close to shops. The beach is beautifull as well as the river. This would have been the most relaxing holiday we have ever had. Not only were the kids sad to leave but the dogs didn't want to get in the car either. This place was so nice we have already re booked again for later in the year.