Holidaying with Dogs

Travelling with a dog requires a particular kind of optimism — the kind that convinces you this trip will be calm, curated and borderline elegant. Then you buckle them into their plush little car seat and realise you’re essentially chauffeuring a small executive who expects excellence at every turn. 🐾

The Car Seat, Naturally.

It always starts in the car: your dog, elevated in their booster seat like royalty, surveying traffic with the confidence of someone who has never once paid for fuel.

They sit upright, chin slightly lifted, catching the breeze through the window like they’re modelling for a luxury pet-travel ad.

Meanwhile, you’re navigating roundabouts like a pilot on final approach. They simply blink at you, unimpressed but supportive.

It’s not effortless.

But it is, strangely, chic.

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Airlines Now Let Dogs Fly…Sort of.

Once, dogs stayed home. Now, some airlines — like Virgin Australia — let small dogs travel in the cabin, so long as they remain zipped inside an approved carry bag with a tiny viewing window. So yes, your dog can accompany you at 30,000 feet, peering through the mesh like a furry undercover agent assessing the cabin crew. They don’t bark. They don’t fuss. They just look at you with an expression that says, “Economy? Interesting choice.”

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Checking In: The Hotel Ritual

Pet-friendly hotels are expanding, which is ideal because your dog arrives with a level of confidence usually reserved for VIP guests.

They trot in like they’ve been here before, conduct their standard room inspection, then claim the bed with all the grace of someone who absolutely did not pay for it.

Sometimes there’s a pet menu.

Sometimes a water bowl.

Occasionally, a tiny bathrobe that is both unnecessary and irresistible.

The bathrobe is unnecessary, but you take a photo anyway.

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A Walk Through Town: Your Dog, the Local Celebrity

Evening strolls turn your dog into local royalty.

You wander through coastal streets or leafy neighbourhoods and suddenly

every second person turns into an enthusiastic stranger who asks the same

four things:

1. “What’s their name?”

2. “How old?”

3. “Can I pat?”

4. “Oh my god, so cute”

Your dog receives all this attention with quiet professionalism.

You pretend you’re used to it.

Beach Mornings: Where Freedom Lives

The beach is when the holiday really begins.

Cool sand, soft light, that first sprint of total freedom.

Your dog charges into the day with zoomies, returning periodically with shells and seaweed as if offering a tribute.

You realise, knee-deep in salt water, that this is the most relaxed you’ve felt in months.

There’s something about carrying a sandy dog that makes your inbox feel

irrelevant.

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Cafés, Sunlight and Your Dog Being the Main Character

Outdoor cafés become your shared routine.You order something iced.

They curl up under the table like it’s their private cabana.

Passers-by deliver compliments, pats and unsolicited guesses about the breed.

Your dog enjoys the attention.

You enjoy pretending the compliments are for both of you.

You’re enjoying your pastry before a tiny wet nose appears, reminding you that sharing is caring.

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Nights In: Movies + Minibar

Back at the hotel, you rinse off the salt, your dog curls up on the doona (despite the rules) and the night softens into something peaceful.

You choose a movie. They fall asleep immediately. You investigate the minibar like it’s treasure. It’s not nightlife. It’s better.

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The Point, Really

Travelling with a dog is not effortless.

It’s not minimal.

It’s rarely on schedule.

But it’s grounding.

It’s joyful.

It’s full of small, unplanned moments that end up becoming the entire reason you went away in the first place.

Your dog doesn’t need perfection or itineraries.

They only want to be with you — wherever ‘away’ happens to be.

A simple philosophy, delivered by an eight-kilo travel companion who refuses to sit anywhere but the window seat.

If you’re dreaming up a dog-friendly escape, bookmark this page — the planning gets easier from here. 🐾

Travel Essentials for Dogs by the Coast

Whenever we travel together, a few little essentials make life on the road easier. A collapsible silicone water bowl keeps pups hydrated during beach stops, a hands-free leash makes long walks effortless, and a treat pouch keeps training fun along the way. A sturdy pet carrier is perfect for naps on the go, and of course, flights where dogs are welcome — like Virgin Australia — make planning our trips stress-free.