Staycations are more popular than ever.  After Covid-19 grounded flights and briefly made overseas travel a thing of the past, many of us looked to holiday closer to home.  As people soon discovered, staycations can be every bit as exciting, rewarding, and fulfilling as a trip abroad, and they come with a number of benefits and advantages over the more traditional alternative.

Flights, and the whole airport experience in general, can be stressful and hectic.  Rushed affairs that seriously impact your entire vacation. Staycations, on the other hand, can let you go at your own pace, set your own schedule, and take things as they come, with the added bonus of avoiding tricky language and cultural barriers.

While children will accompany us abroad more often than not, what about our furry friends? Taking a dog on a flight is impractical to the point of impossibility, so leaving our pet at home or in a kennel is usually the only option.  Not so with the staycation, many of us are choosing to bring our dogs along on these domestic holidays.  If you’re planning to include them, what should you know before taking your dog on your staycation?

Get Insured

A holiday can be an exciting time, full of adventure and exploration.  Your dog will be right in the midst of the action, and unfortunately may be susceptible to picking up an injury during the rough and tumble.  The last thing you want is to have to contend with vet bills when you’re away from home and enjoying yourself, so ensure your dog is insured before taking him away with you.

Providers such as petgevity insurance offer a comprehensive dog insurance plan with cover for pre-existing conditions, up to £15,000 in vet fees, and no upper age limit.  By making sure your dog has proper insurance cover ahead of time, you’ll both be able to enjoy your stay worry-free.

Be Prepared

Packing for a vacation can be tricky, it’s easy to forget something important, so packing in an organized, systematic manner is always recommended to ensure you don’t leave something important behind.

When we’re bringing a pet along with us, we have even more we need to remember.  Your dog’s lead should be top of your list, many places have specific laws requiring dogs to be kept on leads, so always make sure you have one to hand.  Remember their food and water bowls too, especially if you’re travelling in the summer heat.

Does your dog have any dietary or medical requirements? This is crucial, don’t count on being able to access the same products or services where you are, so always bring what you need plus a little extra.

Furthermore, dog road trip essentials.

Plan Your Activities

As much as we’d like them to, dogs can’t do everything we can.  Keep this in mind when booking activities and things to do on your staycation.  A dog won’t be able to go white water rafting, snorkeling, or rock climbing, and they certainly won’t be welcome to sit at the table in a posh restaurant.  For these kinds of activities, you’ll need to arrange for your dog to be looked after.  Better yet, organize something that the whole family, dog included, can take part in.

Conclusion

If you’re planning to bring your pooch on your family staycation, there are a number of new factors to consider.  By following the above tips, you’ll ensure you’re well prepared and that you can safely bring the beloved family pet along for the ride, which will certainly make it that bit more special for everyone.