Vacation For Life: other

Say Yes to Crossing the Border for a Flight from Tijuana

Cross Border Xpress US Entrance Tijuana Airport Bridge and Volaris

Living in San Diego, we have a very convenient international airport which has a pretty good flight selection. We also have LAX, which sometimes has better prices and non-stop flights that we don’t have, including flights to our neighbor to the south, Mexico. But San Diegans, and Southern Californians, have another choice -- the Tijuana Airport. It may sound difficult to cross an international border to catch a flight, but, surprisingly, it is super easy with the Tijuana airport bridge, the Cross Border Xpress, and possibly faster than flying out of the San Diego airport. And, with airlines like Volaris, there’s a whole world of destinations available with super low airfares, many of which are reachable with a non-stop flight.

Cross Border Xpress Entry Tijuana Airport Bridge and Volaris

There was a lot of buzz when the CBX Tijuana airport bridge was being built. Before that, flying out of the Tijuana airport for San Diegans would have been a game of Russian roulette, dependent on the amount of time the border crossing would take, plus there would be taxi fare once the border was crossed. Even more concerning was how long it would take to come back across the border into the United States. For a reasonable price, CBX was going to provide a quick and easy enclosed skywalk bridge over the US-Mexican border straight into the Tijuana airport.

Cross Border Xpress Passage Tijuana Airport Bridge and Volaris

The CBX airport border crossing has now been open for two years, but some are still too nervous to take the leap and cross the Tijuana airport bridge to fly out of the Tijuana airport. Is it really a time-saver? Could it actually take a really long time just to cross before even getting to the airport and checking bags and going through security?

When researching flights for our trip to La Paz, Mexico, I found that flights out of San Diego were not only expensive, they also had two or three stops, meaning a whole lot of travel time to travel a relatively short distance. But when I checked into fights out of Tijuana with Volaris Airlines, I found flights for half the price, and non-stop too. The Volaris non-stop flight from Tijuana to La Paz is just under two hours, a huge time savings compared to the flights with layovers or the option of flying to Cabo and then driving for two hours. It was time to try flying out of the Tijuana airport.

Cross Border Xpress Crossing Tijuana Airport Bridge and Volaris

The first test was the commute to the airport. We live 10 miles south of downtown San Diego. The commute to the San Diego airport is about 20 minutes. But as soon as you get off the freeway, there is usually a backup of traffic to the airport, and it can get pretty crowded when someone is dropping you off at one of the terminals, and there’s usually a security person telling you to move if you stop for more than 30 seconds. Don’t get me wrong, I love our airport and it’s one of the easier ones. Driving to the CBX border crossing was a breeze. Once off the freeway the roads are a little bumpier and the worse for wear, but there was no traffic and when we arrived at the drop-off and pick-up zone, it was easy to pull up to the curb and we didn’t have to rush to get all our stuff out of the car. So far so good.

There are a few different ways to purchase CBX tickets. CBX tickets can be purchased at the CBX crossing. When purchasing airfare through Volaris, they can also be purchased through the airline at the same time as air tickets. The easiest and cheapest way is to purchase them ahead of time through the CBX website.

Immigration Form Tijuana Airport Bridge and Volaris

The steps for crossing the Tijuana airport bridge are quick and easy. Upon entering the building, we filled out our immigration forms. You can save even more time by filling them out and printing them out ahead of time online. With those in hand, along with our passports, Volaris airline tickets, and CBX tickets, we entered the CBX crossing and took the walk across the border via the CBX sky bridge. A total of 30 minutes passed from filling out the immigration forms to arriving at the gate for our flight. During that short 30 minutes, we crossed the Tijuana airport bridge, checked our luggage in the Tijuana airport at the Volaris desk, and passed through security. We also used the restroom and stopped a few times to take pictures. That is probably commensurate to the amount of time it would take at the San Diego airport from getting in the baggage drop line to arriving at the gate.

Cross Border Xpress Sky Bridge Tijuana Airport Bridge and Volaris

There were more benefits of flying out of the Tijuana airport. There was no wait to go through security, we didn’t have to take our shoes off, and we didn’t have to take out all of our electronics. Thank goodness, because we had two bags filled with multiple cameras, lenses, a drone, and tablets.

The return was even faster, and that’s the real test since we had to pass through customs. Based on my text messages with my sister, exactly 23 minutes passed between when I texted her that we had landed (and we were still on the plane waiting for it to empty) to when I texted her that we were at the Cross Border Xpress curb. 23 minutes to deplane, pick-up luggage at baggage claim, cross the Tijuana airport bridge back into the United States, and pass through customs. It is doubtful that it would have been that quick at the San Diego airport. It would never be that quick at LAX.

Volaris Display Tijuana Airport Bridge and Volaris

Speed and ease is one reason to fly from the Tijuana airport. Another is price. Volaris is one of the airlines that flies from the Tijuana airport. Volaris is a discount airline which services approximately 40 destinations in Mexico and also flies out of some airports in the United States, including LAX. Because Volaris targets people who have never flown before and can only gain their business if their flights are cheaper than bus fare, Volaris offers very reasonable airfares. Volaris’ fares have actually decreased as time has passed because their focus is making travel possible for more people. They also have five hubs in Mexico: Tijuana, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Cancun, so not all connections have to go through Mexico City.

Volaris Airplane Interior Tijuana Airport Bridge and Volaris

As Volaris is a discount airline, it comes with discount airline features. Choosing seats ahead of time costs extra. So does carryon and checked luggage. However, if you pay for a heavier carryon, it also means you’ll get on the plane earlier. Legroom is minimal, which is fine for shorter flights, but cross your fingers the person in front of you doesn’t decide to recline. There are some seats with extra legroom available for an additional cost. During our two-hour flight, cups of water were distributed while other drinks and food were available for purchase. Our flight had no onboard entertainment. These are the sacrifices one makes in exchange for deeply discounted airfares.

Volaris Airplane Exterior Tijuana Airport Bridge and Volaris

Volaris has a monthly subscription program called v.club which provides lower fares, exclusive promotions, and last-minute deals. Volaris also holds a contest every year to name planes after customers, and those customers get free flights for a year for themselves and one companion. Volaris recently signed a codeshare agreement with Frontier Airlines, which means they’ll be able to provide even more routes.

Volaris isn’t the only airline flying from the Tijuana airport. The airport is also serviced by Aeromexico, Hainan Airlines which provides non-stop flights to China, and Calafia Airlines which has nonstop flights to Loreto.

Just in case you’re planning a Tijuana taco run, passengers crossing the Tijuana airport bridge can leave the airport before an outbound flight, but they can’t leave the Tijuana airport after a return flight if crossing via the Cross Border Xpress.

We received a lot of questions about flying from the Tijuana airport both before and after our trip because people are very curious and interested, but also a little unsure. We were unsure at first too, but after our first experience of using the Cross Border Xpress to fly out of the Tijuana airport with Volaris, we are sure we will be doing it again.

Thank you to Volaris and the Cross Border Xpress for hosting our flights and crossings and making this article possible. As always, all opinions are our own.

Travel the World: Using the Cross Border Xpress Tijuana airport bridge to fly from the Tijuana airport with Volaris can be a huge time and money saver for San Diego and Southern California.

Did You Know? 3 Reasons to Choose Viking Ocean Cruises

Most people think of river cruises when they hear the Viking Cruises name. Did you know Viking has ocean cruises too? Viking only recently, in 2015, joined the ocean cruise ranks with the Viking Star, yet they are on track to be the largest small-ship ocean cruise line by 2019 and already one-third of their revenue comes from their ocean cruises. Viking has been named the world’s #1 ocean cruise line by Travel + Leisure and Cruise Critic. What is the secret of their success? They know who their customer is and they do everything to make sure that customer gets the best experience possible. Viking has reinvented ocean cruising. Here are three reasons to choose Viking Ocean Cruises for your next ocean cruise.

Review: What It’s Like to Cruise with Viking River Cruises

Viking Ocean Cruises’ Ships are Comfortable and Elegant

Viking Sun Atrium Did you Know? 3 Reasons to Choose Viking Ocean Cruises

As soon as you board one of Viking’s ocean cruise ships, which are all exactly the same, you can see the difference between Viking and other cruise companies. You aren’t surrounded by gold and mirrors and crystal chandeliers. The Viking Living Room, as it is called, is understated elegance; a wood staircase wider yet reminiscent of those in their river cruise ships, a slideshow of photographs taken by their resident photographer from Viking’s destinations around the world, and multiple levels with lots of wood, leather railings, and the minimalism of Scandinavian design.

Viking Sun Main Pool Did you Know? 3 Reasons to Choose Viking Ocean Cruises

There are lots of public spaces around the ship perfect for quiet relaxation. At the top of the ship are a sports deck, pool with lounge chairs, outdoor seating areas, and the Wintergarden where afternoon tea is served. Scattered around the ship are cozy seating areas, some with shelves of books nearby.

Viking Sun Did you Know? 3 Reasons to Choose Viking Ocean Cruises

All staterooms on the ship have a veranda and are quite similar to the rooms on Viking’s river cruise ships. No interior rooms or tiny porthole windows. Bathrooms are small, providing just enough room to be comfortable, but not taking away room from where it’s important and not wasting space. Just like the Viking river ships, the bathroom floors are heated, one of my personal favorite features.

There are some things you won’t find on Viking’s ocean cruise ships: casinos, children under 18, umbrella drinks, photographers hawking photos, art auctions, formal nights, and smoking.

Viking Ocean Cruises Provides Experiences

Viking Sun World Cafe Did you Know? 3 Reasons to Choose Viking Ocean Cruises

Viking’s focus is not keeping guests on the ship to spend money, but rather providing them with amazing travel experiences. Because of this focus, their ocean ships are small, holding only 930 guests. Because of the ships’ smaller size, they can sometimes dock rather than having to shuttle passengers by boat. When only one day is spent in a destination, the ship arrives very early in the morning so guests have more time on land. They also sometimes overnight at a destination, allowing even more time on land.

Viking Sun Mamsen's Did you Know? 3 Reasons to Choose Viking Ocean Cruises

Viking Ocean Cruises destinations include the Baltic, northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia, Australia, Central America, and South America. They even have an epic World Cruise, the first of which sailed out of Los Angeles on January 5, 2018. The 930 guests onboard the Viking Sun will spend 120 days visiting 27 countries. Some of those guests boarded 21 days earlier and visited destinations in Central America. Viking also has itineraries for a mix of both river and ocean, the best of both worlds.

Viking Sun The Kitchen Table Did you Know? 3 Reasons to Choose Viking Ocean Cruises

Even on the ship, Viking provides experiences. Local music and lectures about destinations are offered. The restaurants offer both standard fare and local specialties. There is also an excursion offered that visits a local market where passengers can sample new things and ask questions, and then return to the ship in the evening to have a meal prepared with what they discovered at the market.

Viking Ocean Cruises Offers a Truly All-Inclusive Package

Viking Sun Explorer's Lounge Did you Know? 3 Reasons to Choose Viking Ocean Cruises

One of the things founder and Chairman Torstein Hagen hates is that cruise companies fleece their passengers once onboard. He believes that cruises should be all-inclusive with no hidden surprises. Viking’s ocean cruises include in the price one free shore excursion in every port; unlimited Wi-Fi; spa access; beer, wine, and soft drinks at meals; specialty coffees and teas; port taxes and fees; alternative dining (including the Chef’s Table); 24-hour room service; ground transfers with purchase of airfare; and free laundry machines. Not included are extra excursions, liquor and premium wines, and tips.

Chairman's Choice Poached Norwegian Salmon Did you Know? 3 Reasons to Choose Viking Ocean Cruises

Dining at any of the ships' restaurants is included in the price, just some require a reservation. This even includes the Chef’s Table. One thing I noticed on the Viking ocean ship that is different from the river ships is that there are a number of two-person tables in the restaurants.

Viking Sun Nordic Spa Did you Know? 3 Reasons to Choose Viking Ocean Cruises

While there is a charge for spa treatments, all passengers can use the Nordic spa and workout facilities for free. The Nordic spa includes a pool with a water vapor fireplace, a steam room, a sauna, a snow grotto, a polar plunge pool, and even one of those showers where you pull on a rope and a bucket tips over, dumping freezing cold water over you, the quintessential Nordic experience.

Torstein and Karine Hagen Did you Know? 3 Reasons to Choose Viking Ocean Cruises

One more note about Viking Cruises, not specific to its ocean cruises. Viking is a family business. Torstein Hagen founded the company 20 years ago, and his daughter Karine Hagen, SVP, will one day head the business. The importance of family can be glimpsed in Mamsen's, the ship's Norwegian deli named after Torstein's mother and serving her recipes on replicas of her dishes. They care about their 2,000,000+ customers, and they care about their 6,000+ employees, and they want to be the best company they can be for both groups. The plan is to always stick to their high standards and provide the best experiences on oceans, rivers, and land for decades to come.

So now you know.

A Tale of an Arab Village, ER Visit, and Israeli Kindness

I may look like I'm posing, but I'm really trying to get into the fetal position and not faint.

It was only our second day in Israel. We had such big plans, so much food to eat, so many pictures to take, so much ground to cover. But then it was all thrown off when I got really sick, fainted, and spent part of the night in the emergency room.

The day started simply enough with a drive from Tel Aviv to Kibbutz Maagan Michael. This was the start of Abraham Tours’ Caesarea, Kibbutz, and Arab Village 2-Day Tour. We spent the morning touring the kibbutz and had lunch in the communal dining room. Afterward, we drove to Jisr az-Zarqa, an Arab fishing village.

I was so excited to explore Israel’s only Arab village on the water. Despite its location, Jisr az-Zarqa is no resort town. You wouldn’t be alone if your first impression of the town made you think it was poor, a bit run down, and maybe even not safe. Jisr az-Zarqa has a lot going against it. The highway that passes by doesn’t even have an exit for the town, so if you want to visit, you have to go quite a bit out of the way.

We came to this village because Abraham Tours, along with Juha’s Guesthouse, is trying to make Jisr az-Zarqa a tourist attraction and bring it out of poverty and into popularity, similar to what has been done for Nazareth. Progress has already been made. For instance, the people of the town used to burn their trash in the middle of the streets, causing black acrid smoke and the inability to travel through. Now they burn the trash outside of town. Also, when outsiders came to visit, the children used to run away, not being used to seeing strangers in their town. Now the children greet visitors in the street and smile. Don’t be surprised if they yell towards you, “Jews!” Because this is an Arab town a bit off the beaten track, the only other people they know of are Jews, so they think all visitors are Jews.

As we walked along the streets of Jisr az-Zarqa learning more about the town and people, we stopped at a small store for some snacks and drinks. I was starting to feel tired and assumed it was jet lag kicking in. I decided to get a Coke for some sugar and caffeine. I took a few big gulps, but started to feel even funnier.

We continued wandering through the town, leaving the busy main thoroughfare to the quieter neighborhood streets where kids ran around and played ball, where we got inquisitive glances which turned into smiles when we smiled and said hello. We saw new construction amongst the already established homes with laundry hanging to dry. Some little girls who yelled “Jews!” at us were excited to be part of a selfie with one of our fellow travelers, Jenn.

We took a turn and started heading along a sandy trail towards the water. The trail was leading us to the fishing part of Jisr az-Zarqa. I started to feel hot even though it was cold outside, I was breaking out into a sweat, and I felt slightly dizzy and nauseated.

We were surprised to learn that there are remainders from Roman times here. A significant portion of a Roman aqueduct runs across the shoreline towards the water.

Another Roman remnant is a small piece of a mosaic floor peeking out from the sand. I knelt down, partially to examine the mosaic more closely, but mostly because crouching helped relieve the dizziness and nausea, if just for a moment.

By the time we got to the rocky cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the fishing boats of Jisr az-Zarqa, I knew it was no longer a matter of if I was going to throw up, but of when. I just hoped it would wait until we got back to the guesthouse.

As we started walking down the hill towards the fishing boats and fishermen, I realized I wasn’t going to make it. Did I mention we were traveling with a group of nine other people, all of whom we had just met that morning, many of whom would be with us through much of our journey through Israel? They had barely met me. I really wasn’t ready to puke in front of them all. And I didn’t want to be the cause of their day ending early or messing up anything that was planned.

Arab Fishing Village Jisr az-Zarqa Israel

I finally lost the good fight and had to duck behind a rock mass to relieve my stomach of some of its contents. Or actually, a lot of its contents. Thankfully this was done without our travel mates having to see. Rome came to check on me in the midst of my bout of sickness and I quickly reminded him that beets were part of my lunch before he worried that things were worse than they actually were.

Kid Looking Out a Window Jisr az-Zarqa Israel

Hoping that would be it, we caught up with the others. Rome explained to our tour guide Genevieve what was going on. She started to provide Rome with walking directions back to Juha's Guesthouse. I tried to assure her I would be okay with a weak smile on my face, when a wave of sickness hit me again. I desperately tried to find a place that would shield me from view, but there was nothing and I found myself doubled over, puking into the sand in front of the others as well as the fishermen sitting along the beach who, just a few seconds earlier, had been enjoying the calming view of the sea.

Genevieve, extremely anxious, offered to call someone from the town to pick us up and drive us back to the guesthouse immediately. We accepted. Not to get too graphic, but I then realized it was imperative I reach a restroom ASAP. There was one in a building on the beach. A concerned Genevieve warned me that it would not have the amenities I was used to, but I didn’t care. I was greeted by a small bathroom which became enveloped in complete darkness when I closed the door, equipped with a toilet and a sink, and a spray nozzle in place of toilet paper.

When I emerged, a gentleman had arrived in his car, completely unknown to us, ready to drive us back to the guesthouse. Rome and I got in and I prayed I wouldn’t have another incident during the drive. When we pulled up to the guesthouse, thankfully incident free, I pulled out some money and offered it to the gentleman whose name we hadn’t even learned. He looked at it, then up at me, shook his head, and said no, he wouldn’t take it, he hoped I felt better, and welcome to Jisr az-Zarqa.

The plan for the evening was to be guests of the guesthouse owners for dinner in their home. They would be preparing a traditional Arab dinner for us. There was no way I was going to make it, but I figured with some rest I’d be fine, and I wanted to at least see pictures and hear descriptions of the food, so I sent Rome off with the others. I stayed behind and slept, drank a little water, and tried to feel better.

When the group came back from dinner, Rome asked me if I wanted to come out and say goodbye to Genevieve as we would have a different guide in the morning. I pulled on my boots and slowly walked outside. As I was waiting to talk to Genevieve, I started to feel a little woozy and sat down on a rock wall. It just got worse, so I stood up to go back into the guesthouse. I recall stumbling along the porch, weaving back and forth and grabbing at the wall and bamboo shade, and attempting to punch in the code to open the door.

I woke up to my feet being propped up on a chair, and I wondered why people were trying to awake me from my wonderfully deep sleep. As I became more aware, I realized that I was laying on the ground, my head and shoulders on the floor of the guesthouse room, my legs out on the porch resting on the aforementioned chair. Later Rome would tell me that when he ran up, I was frozen on the ground, eyes open, hands and arms clenched.

Genevieve called for an ambulance. While we waited, she made sure Rome gathered our passports and printout of our travel insurance. When the ambulance came, the EMTs took my vitals and started asking questions. They gave me the option of whether or not to go to the hospital, but I said that if they suggested it, I wanted to go. Rome got in the ambulance with me, and Ahmed, the owner of Juha’s Guesthouse, followed behind in his car.

This was my first ever ride in an ambulance. The EMT that rode in the back with me struck up a conversation. I learned from him that the Jisr az-Zarqa beach has great tide pools and otters can frequently be spotted in the water.

When we arrived at the emergency room, the EMTs waited with us, as well as Ahmed, until I was finally put into an ER bed. I also had to pay the ambulance bill, which was 485 shekels, or $131.

Caught in the act of taking photos by the ER doctor.

The ER doctor came to see me and ordered some blood tests and an IV. Yet another first for me, one I had really hoped to avoid. Ahmed waited a couple hours, but when the doctor told him it might still be a few more hours, he asked us if we were okay with him leaving, and he gave us his phone number so he could come pick us up when I was released.

The doctor determined that I had acquired some sort of stomach bug and that being sick had caused me to become severely dehydrated. Once I felt a little stronger and was able to walk on my own two feet, I was released from the hospital, a little after midnight. We called Ahmed who said he would pick us up in 15 minutes and we paid the hospital bill, which was 1,283 shekels, or $346.

As Ahmed drove us back, we thanked him for everything and told him that all things considered, the hospital experience had been good. He shared with us that it was one of the worst hospitals in Israel, which surprised us. It felt similar to the hospital near our house, where Rome had spent almost a week after his appendectomy.

The humble Juha's Guesthouse.

The next morning, I joined the others for breakfast and everyone was happy to learn I had returned from the hospital. Ahmed came to check on us, and he had also let Abraham Tours know what had happened, as they called us via his phone to check on me and to offer to take us back to Tel Aviv if we wished. While I was still feeling pretty weak, I really didn’t want to miss what was planned for the rest of our time in Israel. So continue on we did and had an amazing trip, though you won’t be reading any food posts because I just wasn’t able to enjoy food for much of the trip.

When we got home from Israel, it was time to work on getting reimbursed from our World Nomads travel insurance for the medical costs. World Nomads doesn’t require that a claim be submitted immediately thankfully, so we were able to wait until we returned home. Once I submitted the claim, I received a request for copies of our round trip itinerary, itemized bill, medical report, and payment documentation. The request that surprised me was that for proof of submitting the medical expenses to my primary medical insurance and their Explanation of Benefits.

I assumed my health insurance wouldn’t cover an international medical expense. After all, isn’t that what travel insurance is for? Truth be told, it kind of irritated me, but I submitted the expenses to my health insurance company, Universal HealthCare. Imagine my surprise when after a couple weeks I received a response that $429 of the $477 claim would be covered! I submitted the information to World Nomads and in about a week I received a check for the remaining $48.

We learned quite a few lessons from this experience. Listen to your body. If you get sick, make sure you stay hydrated and get some electrolytes. Make sure everyone in your party knows where the passports and travel insurance documents are. Know the local emergency numbers. Learn what your health insurance covers and consider supplementing with travel insurance. But what we will always carry with us from that day is the extreme kindness that can be received from total strangers, which made a situation that could have been extremely scary into an unfortunate incident that turned into a story we could share.

Thank you to Abraham Tours and Abraham Hostels for hosting our trip to Israel and making this post possible. As always all opinions are our own. This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them it costs you nothing extra and we earn a small commission which goes towards running this website and bringing you more travel stories.

Travel the World: An afternoon touring Jisr az-Zarqa, an Arab fishing village in Israel, ending in an unexpected trip to the hospital, became a showcase of Israeli kindness and hospitality.

Pet-Friendly Vacations: 10 Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry and Charlie in New York City.

For some of us, our pets are like our family and we don’t like to be separated from them for too long. When we travel, the only thing that really makes us want to come home is being able to see our two tiny dogs again. So, while we don’t always travel with our pets, we are always looking for travel opportunities like weekend getaways where we can bring our dogs along. However, traveling with pets is no walk in the park. Here are our 10 tips for traveling with dogs to make your pet-friendly vacations as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.

Call Ahead for the Hotel’s Full Pet Policy

Henry Glamping Buellton Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry trying out glamping in Buellton.

Sometimes hotels advertise themselves as pet-friendly, but the hotel website doesn’t always list all the terms of their pet policy and sometimes those pet-friendly hotels are anything but. One of our pet peeves (pun intended) is when “pet-friendly” hotels won’t allow pets to be left unattended in the room. We don’t like to leave them alone all day, but it’s rare that you can take your pets with you for every single activity, especially meals, like breakfast or dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. Also, exorbitant pet fees like $150 per pet per day indicate to us that the hotel isn’t really interested in having our pets visit.

Charlie Glamping Buellton Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Charlie likes glamping too.

We find it best to call the hotel ahead of time and ask for the terms of their pet policy, including (1) can they be left alone in the room, (2) are they required to be contained in a crate or pen when left alone, (3) what are the pet fees, and (4) are there any dog friendly restaurants and activities nearby. Listen for other restrictions, like pets not being allowed on the furniture or not being allowed in common areas. Get the name of the person you talk to. Once we called the hotel ahead of time and were told pets were allowed to be left unattended, but when we arrived we were handed a policy saying the exact opposite. Since we had called ahead of time and I was able to give the name of the person who had told me the policy, we were allowed to leave them unattended as long as we left a phone number so we could be reached immediately if there were any complaints. We loved that when we checked out, our hotel bill had a note saying it was a pleasure to have our very well-behaved dogs visit.

Henry and Charlie Grand Canyon Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry and Charlie at the Grand Canyon.

Our favorite dog-friendly hotel chain is Loews Hotels. Loews loves pets (it says so on their dog bowls) and they even have a separate room service menu for dogs, cats, and even birds. We have also had good luck with Radisson, Best Western, and Holiday Inn Express, though the pet policy varies among properties, so be sure to call about the pet policy before booking a room.

Booking.com

Bring Extra Delicious Food and Treats

Loews Loves Pets Room Service Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Loews loves pets and has a pet room service menu.

If your pet eats as soon as a bowl is put in front of him or her, feeding during a trip may not be a problem. Our dogs self-feed throughout the day when they are home, rather than having scheduled meal times, plus everything is new and distracting, so it can be difficult to get them to eat their food on demand when they have the opportunity. We bring a Tupperware of chicken we cooked at home to mix into their food in small amounts to entice them to eat when we want. Just be sure the extra treats you bring are something your pet is used to, is healthy, and isn’t too rich, as you don’t want them becoming sick.

Henry and Charlie in Portland Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry and Charlie in Oregon.

Charlie has a very bad habit of sometimes howling for a few minutes when we leave. This can be disconcerting and embarrassing for us, and surely is annoying to other hotel guests if they happen to hear him. We have found that giving him a Greenie, a chewy treat that takes a few minutes for him to eat, keeps him occupied for long enough that he forgets to be upset when he’s done.

Bring the Appropriate Equipment

Henry and Charlie in Dog Pen Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry and Charlie feel safe when confined to their pen.

Even if a hotel doesn’t require pets to be crated when left alone in the room, we have found that we have the best results when we confine our two small dogs in a dog pen. They get nervous when staying in a place that is unfamiliar. They are much more relaxed when we enclose them in their familiar pen with potty pads, food and water, and their favorite dog beds and toys.

Henry and Charlie in Pet Car Seat Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

A pet car seat keeps pets safe while driving.

If heading out on a road trip, we suggest using a pet car seat or pet seatbelts to keep your pet safe in the car. While our dogs would prefer to sit in our laps, this isn’t the safest place for them. We use a pet car seat that is stabilized with the seatbelt plus has leads connected to it to attach to their harnesses. For larger dogs, you can use pet seatbelts to keep them in place and safe.

Henry and Charlie Road Trip Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry and Charlie keep an eye out while we take photos.

It is important to use the right equipment when traveling by plane with pets as well. When our friend moved cross country, she brought her cat with her on the plane. The airline’s online pet policy said to use a hard-sided crate, but when she arrived at the airport she learned it actually needed to be soft-sided so it could slide under the seat. We have used soft-sided pet carriers when we have traveled by air with our pets, as they can travel in the cabin with us. Pets that have to travel in the cargo hold need to be contained in hard-sided crates.

Charlie by the Pacific Ocean Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Sometimes Charlie's a daredevil.

It is important to keep dogs hydrated. We carry with us a water bottle and collapsible water bowl so our dogs always have access to water and a squeeze water bottle with a built-in bowl that drains back into the bottle for the car.

Henry and Charlie at Mission San Xavier del Bac.

While we have our dogs take care of business outside whenever possible, we always bring a supply of dog potty pads for the hotel room. This way, if they do decide to take care of business inside, they have a place to do so without damaging the hotel carpet.

When we bring our dogs on trips with us, we bring a bag dedicated to their supplies. We bring dog bowls for food and water, water bottle, collapsible water bowl, Ziploc bag of dog food, Ziploc bag of treats, Tupperware of cooked chicken (which we store in the hotel room refrigerator), potty pads, sweaters or jackets in case it gets cold, travel-size dog shampoo and conditioner for when they get filthy, and their favorite blankets and toys which make them feel more at home.

Walk the Perimeter

Henry and Charlie on Bridge at Arroyo Hondo Vista Point Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Fancy free on the bridge at Arroyo Hondo Vista Point.

This might seem like an odd tip for pet travel, but it really works. Have you ever noticed that your dog walks the perimeter of your yard? Dogs do this because they want to ensure that the borders of their family pack have not been breached by an intruder. This makes them feel secure and able to relax. We tested this theory with our dogs when staying at hotels. Staying at an unfamiliar hotel in a strange room can be stressful. We found this was especially the case with our Yorkie, Henry, who is an alpha dog and is very protecting of his four-member pack. When we arrive at a new hotel, we walk the dogs around the perimeter of the hotel so they can become familiar with their new temporary home. We’ll also take a walk up and down the hallway where our room is located. We have found that our dogs are calmer and get comfortable in the room quicker after we have walked the perimeter.

Build in Dog-Friendly Activities

Charlie in Sedona Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Charlie goes from white to orange in Sedona.

No pet wants to travel with their family just to be left in the hotel room alone all day. If traveling with dogs, be sure that your travel itinerary includes a number of fun dog-friendly activities so your pet feels included and can have fun traveling too. We like to take them on a walk or hike in the morning, keeping them active, so when we do leave them alone in the afternoon to visit museums or go out to eat, they are tired, ready to nap, and don’t mind that we’re leaving them alone. We also try to find dog-friendly restaurants so we can leave them alone as little as possible. It’s an added bonus when we find museums that allow dogs. Many wineries are dog-friendly, which is fun for both us and them.

Slow Down

Henry and Romeo in Kingman Arizona Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Photos mean a break from walking.

When traveling with dogs, you may need to travel at a slower pace than usual. When we travel, we like to do a lot and have full itineraries. However, this doesn’t work so well when traveling with the dogs, so we slow down, plan fewer activities, and build in fun walking time for the dogs. Also, frantic owners make frantic pets, so doing everything in a calm and collected manner helps keep your pets relaxed so they can enjoy their travels too.

Pay Attention to the Weather

Henry in Snow at Crater Lake Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry's not sure about the snow at Crater Lake.

It’s a lot harder to travel in extreme weather situations with pets. It’s important to know what the weather will be like before you go and when making the decision whether or not to bring your pet. If it’s going to be hot, it won’t be safe to leave them alone in the car. It might be hard for them to walk because the hot pavement might burn their feet. You’ll also need to make sure to carry plenty of water so your pet doesn’t get dehydrated. Extreme cold can also be stressful on dogs that aren’t used to that type of weather. You may want to bring sweaters or jackets for dogs that aren’t fans of cold weather.

Henry and Charlie at Monument Valley Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry and Charlie brave the wind at Monument Valley.

Weather is also extremely important to consider when flying with pets. Airlines won’t allow pets to fly in the cargo hold if the temperature is going to be below or above certain points at any time during the day.

Make Sure Your Pet is Healthy Enough to Travel

Henry in the Car Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry's favorite part of a road trip is looking out the window . . . and the french fries.

Before traveling with your pet, make sure it is up-to-date with all its vaccinations and certifications. Your pet will be exposed to more opportunities for catching something while traveling than at home and the stress of travel may also make it more susceptible to getting sick. If your pet is already in poor health, it may not be a good candidate for travel. Senior dogs may also have a harder time traveling as a lot of walking might be hard on their joints and they may not be as active as they were in the past. Conversely, older dogs are sometimes easier to travel with because they are more relaxed and don't mind taking advantage of some in-room alone time.

Bring a List of Emergency Veterinarians

Henry and Charlie at Montezuma Castle National Monument Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry and Charlie at Montezuma Castle National Monument, just before Charlie inhaled a foxtail and we had to find a vet.

On a recent road trip, one of our dogs became ill. We were up all night with him and it was an incredibly stressful situation. At 5:00 in the morning I made the decision to take him to a veterinary emergency center I had found prior to leaving for our trip. The last thing you need is the added stress of having to find someplace to take your pet when something goes wrong. Before you leave, do a little research and make a list of veterinarians in every town you will visit, preferably that are near your hotel. Be sure this list includes an emergency vet hospital that is open 24-hours a day.

Consider Leaving Your Pets at Home

Henry and Charlie Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry and Charlie won't speak to us if we go without them.

We love traveling with our pets, but sometimes it is better to leave them at home. While our dogs love to be with us, traveling can be stressful for them. Staying in an unfamiliar room is stressful. Being left alone in the room or the car is stressful. Not being on their regular day-to-day schedule is stressful. As pets get older, walking long distances becomes more difficult and can be painful. Traveling with dogs can also be stressful on the humans, which can make for a less enjoyable trip. We stress that they are going to bark at an inappropriate moment. We stress that we’ll get a call from the hotel about bad behavior when leaving them alone. We stress they might have an accident. If the trip will be enjoyable for both the humans and pets, by all means, bring them along. But if traveling with dogs will be more stress than fun, leave them at home.

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Travel the World: 10 tips for traveling with dogs and having successful pet-friendly vacations.

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