Travelling with dogs

All of the Ibis Hotels along the route allow dogs.

Oh great thanks, have you done the route yourself? Just want to dogs to be safe and well 😫

Yes many many times , just make sure your dogs are on leads at all times and I am sure they will be fine. There are lots of French 'Aires'  along the way (off road parking places where you can stop for your dogs to have a wee)  O and another tip, your dogs must be secure in the car ie straps attached to the seat belts or in cages or in the very back with a guard between them and the seats, as it is illegal to have a dog loose in the car in France, and also in some parts of Spain. best wishes

I heard recently that no extra charge was incurred for a dog in French motels, of which there are many choices. However Spanish establishments charge extra, as much as €25.

Hi there,

Are you planning on obtaining European Pet Passports once you arrive in France?

I’ll also be permanently relocating our two dogs to Almeria soon when we move and my understanding is that without EPPs we are required to travel via an official Spanish port of entry….so the options are either (i) get an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) in the UK, but then get EPPs issued at a vet in France which will allow entry into Spain via car, or (ii) take the Portsmouth to Santander (or Bilbao) ferry & use the AHC to enter Spain at that official port of entry. Personally, I’m choosing the latter for a more relaxing trip with the extra cost being offset by what it would cost to travel to, then through France, paying for EHCs, accommodation, tolls etc.

I’m really happy to be educated if I’m mistaken as it will help me too!

https://www.mapa.gob.es/en/ganaderia/temas/comercio-exterior-ganadero/desplazamiento-animales-compania/dogs-cats-ferrets.aspx

If you travel thru France into Spain (driving) there are no boarder/customs checks between the 2 countries you just drive straight thru. So once you get your Pets Passports issued in France your ready to go and your dogs will then be legal in Spain.

I believe the Pet passport is no longer required just a valid health certificate and up to date 

vaccinations 

Yes, the AHC lasts 10 days, though according to what I’ve read, you’re supposed to take pets into Spain using an AHC via the official port of entry unless you have a European Pet Passport (ie, issued in an EU country) in which case you can use the road. Perhaps I’m being anally retentive, but it’s better than risking having the dogs put into quarantine….I’ve never driven into Spain from France, but I presume there’s a checkpoint border where passports & paperwork are checked? 

No there is no check point, boarder control nothing, between Spain and France you just drive straight through. They are both EU countries. It might change in the future as Spain is becoming very strict about who enters, but at the moment nothing.