The worst part about a holiday is always coming home.
Back in the day, Tony and I would drive home to Yorkshire from a sunshine-and-wine-drenched holiday in France, griping all the way. You could guarantee the sky would turn grey somewhere in the middle of the Channel. And why was it that French motorway service stops sold lovely crusty baguettes, while the best ours could do was a tuna pasta bake with not a vestige of tuna in the bloody thing? I searched, believe me!
Once, we turned off the motorway in despair. Surely there was a nice country pub somewhere nearby? There was, with a big sign outside saying ‘chef needed’. Back to the M1 then. In the rain, no doubt.
Having your next trip in the pipeline always helps. Having a whole series of them booked and in the diary is even better. But even I can’t justify going away every week. So you need something warm, waggy and welcoming to make coming home worthwhile. You may even look forward to getting back!
Now, let’s be clear, when I say coming home, I don’t mean staying at home. Oh no, one of the great things about dogs is that they can be easily trained to like the things that you like. Hence 15 year-old Henry is never happier than when he’s lording it in a nice country pub, graciously accepting treats and pats from all and sundry. Almost 2 year-old Lizzie is growing out of her car sickness and will soon be the perfect traveller, hurrah!
‘We should really take the dogs somewhere nice’ actually works in situations where ‘I really need a weekend away’ would elicit a grunt or a sarcastic comment. Resulting in more travel opportunities. We’ve done doggy breaks in Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wales, Sussex, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Shropshire, to say nothing of France (a whole other blog). Did I say how much I love my dogs?
The UK is really accommodating to our furry friends. Having lived for a long time in Australia, where dogs generally aren’t welcomed in hotels and restaurants, I appreciate the many options we have. My personal favourite is the dog-friendly pub with rooms. Preferably an upmarket one. With a good gin selection. There are lots of them around, happily.
Where to find the perfect dog-friendly venue? I often start with booking.com (there’s a pet-friendly filter), but always check the individual website and sometimes call before booking, just to make sure I get the right room. Ground floor preferred, with separate entry if possible (easier for midnight toilet breaks – for the dogs, not me!) Extras like bowls, towels, treats are often provided. Maybe even sausages for breakfast.
Quite often when travelling with a dog, you will be the most popular person in the whole venue, as a stream of staff and customers arrive bearing treats or offering pats. If there are other dog owners present, you have something in common. It’s very sociable, sometimes a bit too much so for Tony – he’s wary of dog bores! We have stayed in places where there’s been a dog in every room. It can get a bit much when they all start woofing.
There are some places that claim to be dog friendly but actually aren’t very. In Bournemouth, I didn’t appreciate Tony and I having to eat breakfast separately as dogs weren’t allowed in the dining room. False advertising in my book and I let them know about it. Best to phone ahead if the website is less than effusive about pets. It saves falling out with the hotel owner!
On the whole though, our experiences of doggy weekends have been fabulous. So, fellow travellers, my advice is to get a dog as soon as you can. Home will become more appealing, and you’ll probably see more of your own country too. And then start hunting for (a) some amazing dog-friendly venues and (b) a great dog-sitter for when you just have to go further afield! The food at UK motorway services is still rubbish but you can’t fix everything.
Steph's Travels 