Considering travelling abroad with your dog, but put off by all the rules and regulations? Our first European adventure with my two terriers, Winnie and Gertie, proved to be far simpler than I ever imagined.

When it comes to dog friendly holidays in the UK, Winnie, Gertie and I have clocked up some miles! From Lands End to John O’Groats, few counties remain uncharted territory.
However, when we decided to take the dogs to Morzine in the French Alps, it was a whole new ball game.
Despite the 13 hour journey, I knew the distance would be no problem. After all, my two intrepid terriers love travelling more than Gulliver himself! But it was all the ‘red tape’ that had always put me off! Adhering to all the strict regulations and visiting a vet in a foreign country – it all seemed a little overwhelming!
Like anything though, once you’ve done it, it seems easy! And I can honestly say, hand on heart, the whole process couldn’t have been more straightforward.
Yes, I won’t lie, it is a tad costly (especially since we’ve cut ties with the EU), but to me, it was worth every hard-earned penny. Holidaying abroad with my girls was truly one of the most memorable and fulfilling experiences of my life.
So, if like me you struggle (in fact point blank refuse) to leave your dog behind, and you’re looking to travel abroad with your faithful canine companion, I’ve put together this handy little guide for first time travellers!

Ahead of your trip
You need to organise your Animal Health Certificate about a month (or more) in advance. This document is essential for your travel and relies on certain things being done at certain times.
- First and foremost, your dog needs to be microchipped. (Which they should be anyway).
- A minimum of 21 days before you travel, they need to have a rabies vaccination. This vaccination lasts for three years, and at the time of travel (August 2024) I paid £55 per dog.
As an aside, don’t be alarmed if your dog has a bit of a reaction. Winnie developed a large lump at the injection site. Apparently, this is a good sign as it indicates their body is responding to the vaccine.
- A vet will need to issue the Animal Health Certificate no more than 10 days before you travel.
The animal health certificate is the most expensive part of the process – we paid £285 for both the girls. Vets can charge whatever they like, but apparently, the price we paid was quite reasonable.
There are a couple of specialist vets throughout the UK who will issue a certificate for about £100. All well and good if you live near one of said veterinary practices. However, I decided to stick with our normal vet for convenience and peace of mind.
Travelling abroad with your dog
By far the easiest and most convenient way to get to France is by travelling on the Eurotunnel. The journey only takes about 35 minutes and you can stay in your car with your dog for the entire crossing.
Eurotunnel charges a fee of £22 per dog each way, so it was an additional £88 for us to take the girls.
If you want a relaxing start to your holiday, I can highly recommend investing in a Flexiplus ticket. Not only does it save you the worry of traffic hold-ups and missing your train, but it provides you with priority boarding regardless of what time you rock up on your day of travel. They also offer a pretty impressive selection of scrummy snacks for your onward journey!
On the day of travel, checking your dog in couldn’t be easier. When you arrive at Le Shuttle, head to the main passenger terminal where you will find the pet reception area. The receptionist will ask you to scan your dog, verify their microchip number, and check over your paperwork. This takes a matter of minutes, then you’re good to go.
Dogs are welcome in the reception area of the Flexiplus lounge, and there is a designated doggy exercise area next to the main terminal. Be warned though, the smell of ammonia is somewhat overpowering – particularly at 6 am! It certainly wasn’t an aroma either me or my picky princesses could stomach!
Tapeworm treatment when you’re abroad
If your trip is for longer than four days, you’ll need to visit a vet abroad so they can administer a tapeworm tablet before returning home. This is a legal UK requirement and the medication must be given more than 24 hours but less than 120 hours before you return to the UK.
I arranged our appointment over the telephone in advance, as vets abroad can have limited opening hours. [Not to mention bank holidays you may be unaware of.] I took the girls’ Droncit wormer with me to be sure Winnie and Gertie were receiving their usual tapeworm treatment.
The cost for this appointment was €75 for both dogs, so not too bad compared with UK prices!
As well as scanning your dog’s microchip number and completing the relevant section of the Animal Health Certificate, the vet will also give your dog the ‘once over.’
Both girls got a thorough MOT, which they were not overly impressed by! I’ve never seen a vet smell a dog’s ears before! And poor Winnie looked particularly horrified when the vet produced the claw clippers!
However, after a firm ‘non’ and vigorous head shaking, the vet soon got the message and hid the clippers with haste!
It is your responsibility to check that the animal health certificate is filled in correctly, so before leaving your appointment ensure that the following has been completed:
- The name of the medication that your dog has been treated with
- The date and time of treatment
- The Vet’s stamp and signature
Whilst it all sounds a little daunting, the process is very simple, particularly if you’re organised and book your appointment in advance.

Returning to the UK
The procedure when arriving in Calais is much the same as in Folkestone. The only notable difference was that it seemed a lot busier. That said, our outbound journey was at 5:30 am, so it’s little wonder it was quiet when we checked in!
On arrival at the pet reception area, you will be asked to scan your dog’s microchip using a handheld scanner. The receptionist will then will verify your paperwork and issue you with a ‘pets onboard’ sticker which you will need to display on your car windscreen.
Other useful travel tips…..
If you plan to use the French motorways, you will have to pay tolls. You can pay by card or cash at the toll booths, however, if you want to significantly streamline your journey you can buy a TAG in advance.
A TAG is a small electronic device that affixes to your vehicle’s windscreen. As you approach a toll booth, the device communicates wirelessly with the toll station, allowing you to pass through dedicated TAG lanes without stopping to manually pay the toll.
Having driven in France before, and experienced the joy of the tolls first-hand, (we always get stuck behind a technophobe who is incapable of operating the payment machine!) we decided to invest in a TAG, and it made our journey so much slicker.
The TAG works on a prepaid or postpaid basis, where toll charges are automatically deducted from your linked account.This ensures that you can travel hassle-free across the extensive network of French motorways.
Out and about with your dog in France
When it comes to dog friendly dining, France really does put the UK to shame. Winnie and Gertie were welcome in every restaurant and café, without question. It didn’t matter whether it was a local bar or a top-notch diner!
In fact, a bowl of water was often presented at our feet even before we settled in!
The French really do treat dogs as family members. There is no standing-on ceremony, no special provisions, they are just part of your clan! It’s bliss!
Dogs are welcome in nearly all shops (except grocery stores), on public transport, and on the gondolas and chair lifts. You can take them everywhere! They really can join in with the whole holiday experience.
If you want to experience some of our favourite walks first hand, click here for some of the best walking routes in and around Morzine.
Dog Friendly Accommodation in France
Originally, we were planning to take our motorhome to Morzine. However, having looked into potential campsites and touring parks I was somewhat hesitant (let alone unable) to book anywhere in advance.
And when we arrived to discover that the trend was to ‘camp out’ in the local supermarket car park, I was eternally grateful that we had decided to book an Airbnb!
Much like the cafés and restaurants, you’ll find most accommodation is dog friendly, even the hotels. And unlike a lot ofplaces in the UK, there are no rules, regulations, or additional charges for having your dog with you.

Would we do it again?
So the question is, will I take Winnie and Gertie abroad again? You bet I will! Now I know how easy it easy to explore more of the world with them in tow, there will be no stopping me! I’m already planning our next European adventure!
If you have any questions about travelling abroad with your dog, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Woofs and Wags
Kate, Gertie and Winnie
xox
This is fantastic, Kate! I’ve been dying to read about this. It would never work with our nervous Sadie, but I can see how perfect it could be for more settled dogs (although my heart was in my mouth when I got to the bit about the claw clippers! EEK! )
The photos are fantastic, and it’s a fab write up. Thank you for sharing! xx
Ahh thank you so much for taking the time to read about our travels. It was such an adventure and the girls absolutely loved it.
Definitely no more holidays for me without them from now on! xx