You may have asked your local boarder or house sitter how much it would cost to look after your dog while you go away and been slightly taken aback by the £££s figure that came back.
I know when I’ve been budgeting for holidays, dog care can bump the cost up quite considerably.
But before you decide:
“Sod that, the dog’s coming with us.”
…it’s worth looking at the whole picture.
Because taking your dog abroad isn’t necessarily the cheap option either.
And not all of the costs are monetary.
Some are measured in stress levels, grey hairs and crossed words with the other half.
First: you ARE allowed to go on holiday without your dog
I’ve spoken before about the fact that I like holidays both with and without Luna.
I was exactly the same with Riley.
Not every destination or occasion is suitable for every dog.
And also…
You are allowed a proper break from your responsibilities. Dog included.
There.
I said it.
Rich and I don’t have children and have chosen not to for various reasons.
We’ve always joked that if we ever changed our minds, we’d adopt anyway.
But we are Auntie and Uncle to — last count — around 19.
Yes.
Nineteen.
Not all of them are “official”, and whenever somebody trots out the outdated:
“Blood is thicker than water.”
…I do have to stop my eyes rolling a full 180 degrees backwards into my head.
Maybe one day I’ll explain why.
But I can hear you already:
Alright. Life story. Get on with it.
My point is that not every cost in life is financial.
Children cost money.
Dogs cost money.
But they can also cost you sleep, patience, stress, grey hairs and the occasional heated discussion with the person you live with.
And sometimes you just want a holiday.
If you’re one of those people saying:
“Oh my goodness, I could NEVER leave my dog at home!”
Probably stop reading here and save yourself some time.
Any comments to that effect will probably be met with something along the lines of:
Good for you. But that’s not me.
I met my husband nearly 20 years ago.
We were a couple before we were dog parents.
The same probably applies to plenty of you, whether you’re parents to humans, dogs or both.
You may even be a prospective dog owner doing the incredibly sensible thing of researching what you’re actually signing up for before bringing one home.
And yes, I know what some of you may be thinking:
You run a dog bakery. Surely you should be encouraging everyone to get a dog?
Umm…
No.
I’m a person first.
A friend.
A dog owner.
And someone who genuinely cares about the wellbeing of both dogs and people.
I would never let the fact that I happen to own a dog business override that.
So strap in.
You’ll get honesty from me.
And if you don’t like that…
Find another blog. :-D
So.
We have established:
YOU ARE ALLOWED TO GO ON HOLIDAY WITHOUT YOUR DOG.
Guilt free.
As long as they are being properly cared for and you’re actually going to be able to relax without spending the entire holiday wondering what they’re doing.
Go.
Enjoy yourself.
But if you’re sitting on the fence about whether to board them or bring them along, this is where the maths gets interesting.
The obvious costs of taking your dog abroad
There are a few costs that will apply to pretty much everyone travelling from the UK into Europe.
Animal Health Certificate
At the moment, you’re looking at roughly:
£99–£180 per trip
for an Animal Health Certificate covering up to five pets.
Prices vary enormously.
We’ve written a separate blog about AHCs, including cheaper options near Dover if you’re brave enough to add another moving part to your travel day.
Personally?
Not there yet.
My paperwork will continue to be completed in advance, safely tucked into a folder and checked approximately seventeen times.
Thank you very much.
The crossing
Then you need to actually get your dog across the Channel.
LeShuttle charges an additional fee for pets.
Ferry companies also usually charge for dogs on a Dover–Calais crossing.
And if you’re using a longer or overnight ferry, things can get significantly more expensive because you may need to book a pet-friendly cabin.
So immediately, your dog has started adding to the holiday budget before they’ve even set one paw onto continental Europe.
“But why does LeShuttle charge for the dog if they stay in the car?”
A fair question.
Your dog sits in your vehicle.
They don’t get a seat.
They aren’t ordering a coffee.
They aren’t demanding Wi-Fi.
So why are you paying extra?
Well…
Pet Reception costs money.
Staff need paying a fair wage.
There’s administration.
Paperwork.
Audits.
Facilities.
And presumably plenty of ongoing headaches every time pet travel rules, passports or Brexit arrangements change.
The ferry companies have similar costs.
Paperwork.
Cleaning.
Dog-friendly areas.
Facilities.
And not forgetting the fabulous little agility area I have mentioned approximately 48 times because apparently it was one of the highlights of my life.
As a business owner myself, I know all too well how quickly these little things add up.
Somebody has to pay for them.
Spoiler:
It’s us.
The AHC fee still pains me slightly
This one I struggle with more.
I can only assume there are costs for the vet behind the scenes and, to be fair, the paperwork does take time to complete.
But when you actually see the certificate…
Good lord.
Several A4 pages.
Very official.
Very serious.
And I pretty much guarantee approximately 98% of us have never actually read the whole thing.
We clutch it protectively.
Check the dates.
Make sure the important boxes are filled in.
Put it in our little folder.
Done.
Then there’s the vet before you come home
Your dog normally needs the required tapeworm treatment before returning to Great Britain.
Which means finding a vet abroad.
Booking the appointment.
Paying for the consultation.
Having the treatment administered.
And getting the right bit of your paperwork filled in correctly.
I would budget at least around £30, although we’ve certainly seen higher prices depending on where we are.
Again, not a fortune on its own.
But we’re adding things up here.
Accommodation: where it can really start mounting up
So.
You’ve landed on the continent.
You’re heading to your campsite, Airbnb or hotel.
And this is where the costs can start getting sneaky.
A lot of accommodation adds a dog surcharge or additional cleaning fee.
Sometimes per stay.
Sometimes per night.
Sometimes per dog, per night.
And I do understand why.
Dogs leave hair.
They bring dirt in.
Some owners allow dogs onto beds and sofas.
Some dogs cause damage.
And some owners are, frankly, gross and leave dog mess behind or allow their dogs to dig up gardens.
We once caught Luna digging in the garden of an Airbnb.
The air was BLUE.
Naturally we fixed everything before we left and she was never allowed out of our sight in that garden again.
But not everyone is as careful.
And guess what?
Those of us who are responsible end up paying for those who aren’t.
Dog charges can vary wildly.
We’ve seen anything from about £5 to more than £20 per night — per dog.
Do that over a two-week holiday and suddenly it’s not such a little surcharge anymore.
“Dogs £20. Kids go free.”
This always makes me chuckle.
Slightly controversially.
You’ll see:
DOGS: £20 PER NIGHT
Then somewhere nearby:
KIDS GO FREE!
Excellent.
I’ll keep my thoughts to myself.
Although then my business brain kicks in and reminds me that hotels and resorts can usually recoup plenty of the costs associated with children elsewhere.
Food.
Drinks.
Kids’ clubs.
Activities.
Ice creams.
The inevitable gift-shop tat that no child has ever successfully walked past.
Luna, meanwhile, isn’t going to order a £9 mocktail and demand a unicorn inflatable.
So I get it.
Mostly.
Public transport & Car Hire
This is another one people forget.
Care hire companies are quite strict about this, and will charge additional cleaning fees, or not allow dogs at all - check the small print!
Small dogs can often travel free on certain forms of public transport if they’re sitting on your lap or safely tucked away.
Unfortunately, if you have an awkward teenager-type dog like Luna, the lap option isn’t really happening.
She would be deeply offended.
And so would my legs.
Larger dogs can need their own ticket depending on the country and transport operator.
On trains in particular, this can add up.
Not necessarily enough to ruin a holiday.
But enough that it should be in the budget.
Taxis and Ubers
Then there are taxis.
Pet-friendly taxis can cost more.
The last time we looked at a pet-friendly Uber option, it was at least 20% more expensive than a regular one.
There was also a much longer wait.
Again:
Not enormous in isolation.
But if you’re relying on taxis throughout a city break, it starts adding up.
The really hidden costs
Then there are costs that don’t make it onto your original spreadsheet.
For example…
I’m not a huge tipper.
I’ll leave a modest tip for good service.
But if somebody makes a massive fuss of Luna?
Fresh bowl of water.
Treats.
Moves us somewhere more comfortable.
Generally acts like she is the most important customer in the building?
You can pretty much guarantee I’m leaving more.
Another dog tax.
Entirely self-inflicted.
And what if your dog gets ill?
This is probably the one you really need to consider.
Dogs can get ill abroad.
They can injure themselves.
Eat something they shouldn’t.
Cut a paw.
Get bitten.
Pick something up.
And depending on where you are, veterinary costs can vary considerably.
Hopefully you never need a vet other than for the return paperwork.
But you need to be financially prepared for the possibility that you might.
Travel insurance or pet insurance may help depending on your policy, but check before you go rather than assuming you’re covered.
And then there are the non-financial costs
This is the bit I think gets ignored.
Taking your dog away changes your holiday.
Sometimes for the better.
Sometimes not.
You need to think about:
Where they can go.
Where they can’t.
Hot weather.
Restaurants.
Beaches.
Activities.
Toilet stops.
Exercise.
Transport.
Other dogs.
Leaving them alone.
And if you have a more complicated dog?
All of that gets amplified.
There have absolutely been times on holidays with Luna where I have thought:
WHY did we bring the dog?!
There.
Another thing dog bloggers apparently aren’t supposed to admit.
Have I ever regretted taking Luna?
Occasionally.
I’m not going to sugar-coat it.
Luna has been one of the biggest challenges of my life.
I have shed a ridiculous number of tears of frustration over that dog.
She has broken my heart several times.
But thankfully, we are well and truly past that stage now.
And despite all of it, she is probably the single most rewarding “challenge” I have ever had.
And I’ve had a few.
We stuck with each other.
We both changed.
We both learnt.
And eventually, the trust appeared on both sides.
I’d like to think she now feels about me the way I feel about her.
Which is utterly, stupidly soppy.
She is my ride-or-die travel buddy.
And I wouldn’t change a damn thing.
So… is taking your dog cheaper than boarding them?
Sometimes.
But absolutely not always.
By the time you add up:
AHC.
Channel crossing.
Return vet.
Accommodation surcharges.
Transport.
Potential vet costs.
And all the little extras…
That quote your local dog boarder gave you suddenly doesn’t look quite so outrageous, does it?
And that’s before putting any financial value on the freedom of being able to go somewhere your dog couldn’t.
So if cost alone is the reason you’re debating whether to take your dog abroad, I hope this gives you a slightly more realistic picture.
Sometimes bringing them is absolutely worth every penny.
Sometimes leaving them somewhere they are safe, happy and loved — while you go and have a proper break — is worth every penny too.
Neither makes you a better dog owner.
Choose the holiday that works for you.
And for your dog.
