Pet Travel Essentials

Are you trying to plan a trip and wondering what are the best pet travel essentials? Check out a list of my favorites to see what works for you!

As an a person who loves to travel with my dogs, I’ve learned the value of top travel resources. From packing essentials where to stay and how to get there, it’s always easier to have a list set out in front of you.

These are the resources I use and love. I would never recommend something I do not believe in.

Best Hotel Deals

Booking.com – Great booking platform with accommodations worldwide. Filter for pet-friendly

Expedia.com – Another great booking platform. While they have properties listed worldwide, they seem stronger in the US. Filter for pet-friendly

Pet-Friendly Accommodations

VRBO – Vacation rental booking site. I generally prefer staying in vacation rentals for 2+ days because they tend to have more pet-friendly features like yards and can be left for a little while. Select pets under the drop-down menu for the number of people in your group.

Pet Sitter

Trusted House Sitters – If you need to find someone to stay with your pet at your home for free, this is a great option. You can also use it as a sitter and go care for other pets while you explore the world.
Use my code for a 25% OFF discount: PETSATW25

Tours – Pet Friendly on an Individual Basis

Trip Advisor – Find popular tours and activities in the places you are visiting. Many top options are worth leaving Fido behind, but others actually allow pets

Get Your Guide – Great place to find tours especially for Europe. Check the fine print to see if dogs are allowed

How To Book Cheap Flights

This one is a little tricky. While there are plenty of ways to book cheap flights, I do not recommend using a third-party website for a flight with a pet.
If you are flying with a pet, it is essential for you to book directly with the airline and also to call and confirm your pet can go on that particular flight.

If you want to fly with your big dog in the cabin with you in the US, use my referral code to get $20 off your first flight on JSX  VAK10E

What is JSX? Read more to see if it would work for you.

If you would like to know which airline will work best for your dog, download our free airline comparison chart

You may also be interested in our guides to flying with big dogs and flying with a dog in the cabin

🛍️ We curated a list for you of all our favorites on our Amazon Storefront

Best Dog Travel Gear For Planes

Crates and Carriers – You will want to crate train your dog starting as soon as possible

Under the Plane

✅ Petmate Sky Kennel Pet Carrier – our top recommended all-around flying under-the-plane crate
✅ SportPet Designs Plastic Kennels Rolling Plastic Wire Door Travel Dog Crate – wheels aren’t necessary because you can use airport carts, but if they are helpful to you, this is our top suggestion
✅ Impact Collapsible Dog Crate – not cheap, but one of the few crate brands that have an option for giant breeds

In the Cabin

✅ Sherpa® Original Deluxe™ Airline Approved Pet Carrier – this bag is an amazing option. It’s affordable, meets all the airline requirements and is a well-constructed trusted brand.
✅ Mr. Peanut’s Gold Series Double Expandable Pet Carrier – carriers don’t offer a lot of room, so this is a great option to expand the space for your pet
✅ SturdiBag Pro 2.0 Pet Carrier XL – this is a popular choice for the small dogs who don’t quite fit in the standard airline carrier dimensions
✅ Mr. Peanut -Tahoe Expandable Backpack– this carrier is a backpack instead of a shoulder bag format. It slightly exceeds the standard airline requirements, but it is incredibly useful for taking your pets on all forms of public transportation

Other useful gear for flying

✅ Airtags – keep track of your dog’s crate during transit. It will help give you peace of mind.

✅ Washable pee pad from Pet Parents
✅ Disposable pee pads
✅ Dog diaper (female) or belly band (male) 

Best Dog Travel Gear For Cars

Car containment

✅ Sleepypod Air – this small crash-tested crate fastens into a seatbelt to contain and protect your pet. This is what we use for Denver
✅ Sleepypod Clickit – this crash-tested harness fits larger small dogs all the way to big dogs, but not giant breeds.

Help getting into the car

✅ PetSafe Happy Ride Folding Dog Ramp
✅ Portable Dog Stairs for Large Dogs – recommended by my dog trainer
✅ Large Dog Sling for Rear Legs

To learn how to use these tools, check out the guide to getting large dogs in the car

Favorite Dog Goodies

✅ Pet Snuffle Mat – slows down eating and helps dogs use their nose. I often feed my dogs kibble in their snuffle mat. Recommended by our trainer.

✅ Hide A Squirrel Plush Dog Toy – My jack, Thandi was obsessed with this toy. I’ve never seen so much joy and excitement as when we brought this out.

✅ Chew/Bully Stick Holder for Dogs – Sam loves to chew bully sticks but they can be a choking hazard if they get too small. This tool keeps the dog safe from swallowing the stick when it gets down to the nub. Recommended by our trainer.

✅ Bully Sticks

When you travel with your dog, the whole community will benefit from learning about your experience!