As the weather gets nicer, COVID-19 mandates ease, and a sense of normalcy returns, the desire to travel increases.  A lot has changed over the last two years, but one thing is for certain: people are ready to start travelling again.  Only this time, your travel buddy might have four legs instead of two.  With many airlines reaching their pre-pandemic flying numbers, the future for travel looks promising, especially if you plan on travelling with a pet!

Pet parents, here’s what you can expect for pet travel in 2022:

Leave no fur baby behind

Ask any pet owner and they’ll tell you that their pet is one of the family, and the latest trends for travel reflect that sentiment.  According to Hilton Hotel’s recent 2022 travel trends report, travellers are expected to bring their pets along with them as they travel the globe.  It’s no surprise, considering 3.7 million homes in Canada welcomed a new pet since 2020.  As well, 7 in 10 Gen Z and Millennial pet parents say they are more likely to travel in the future if pets are welcome, and we all know that many millennials are wanderlusters.

Pet-friendly accommodations on the rise

If you’ve travelled in the past, you know that finding a pet-friendly accommodation was a challenge.  However, in 2021, “pet-friendly” was the third most popular search term on the Hilton website.  That’s telling, especially for the hotel and vacation rental industries, and many of them have taken note.  One hotel chain – Homewood Suites by Hilton – has now become 100% pet-friendly (we’re sure Paris Hilton’s adoration for dogs had nothing to do with that).  Heads up though, we recommend packing a pair of earplugs as things may get noisy!  Also, don’t forget to pack your pet’s life jacket and other travel necessities they’ll need for their getaway.

Some restrictions remain

Accommodations may be becoming more pet-friendly, but travelling with a pet is still not a “free for all”.  Many countries still have restrictions in place when it comes to importing animals, so it’s important to stay informed.  We recommend checking the appropriate government website for the country you plan on visiting to learn about what’s needed for your pet to enter the country as well as what is required for your pet to return home from that country. Not every country is the same, and it can take some time to get everything prepared, so we recommend looking into this as soon as you have a destination in mind.

We’re thrilled that travelling with a pet is becoming easier, but there’s still a lot to know when it comes to entry requirements and preparing your pet for travel.  With over 20 years in the game, Worldwide Animal Travel is your trusted partner in pet relocation services.  Leave the paperwork to our experts – contact us today to receive a free quote and start your trip off right with a smooth, hassle-free experience!