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The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have now introduced the pet passport pilot scheme allowing British dogs and their owners to visit Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway (not Spitzbergen), Portugal, San Marino, Spain (including Canaries but not Ceuta and Melilla) , Sweden, Switzerland and the Vatican. Provided their vaccinations and papers are in order, they don't have to go into quarantine.
Now that pets no longer have to stay behind when the family goes off to the Continent, PetPlanet.co.uk sent Rover the Roving Reporter off to sniff out some of Europe's best dog-friendly hotels. And he warns to make sure you book your ferry or shuttle place in advance; there is no 'turn up and go' with pets - they have to be pre-booked.
On the Continent it is normal for families to take their dogs on holiday, as long as the weather is suitable. Continental hotels are eager to accept British dogs (and cats) and in France, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands and Luxembourg almost every small country hotel welcomes well-behaved pets. But what happens if you want to stay in a city, or push out the boat for a celebration weekend?
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Pas de problem (Rover is becoming very European). In large cities and up-market resorts Rover has found hotels that think dogs are part of the family. It is usual to make a small charge for dogs - but food is often included in the price. At the Hotel des Thermes in Brides-les-Bains there is even a special 'Menu Chien' (dog menu card), and Rover spent hours deciding if he wanted his meat minced or in morsels, and should he have chicken, or beef, or fish - and did he want rice and carrots, or green beans. Decisions - decisions. Eventually he ticked all the boxes and room service delivered a huge meal.
You might think international hotel chains are very snooty and won't accept dogs, but Rover's dog bone classification gave top marks to the Hilton and Novotel/Sofitel chain hotels. Instead of impersonal modern decor, many of these chain hotels are built in old houses with lots of local character. If you are looking for something extra special, Relais & Chateaux hotels are a consortium of small, up-market owner-managed hotels; most are very dog friendly, and allow dogs everywhere except in restaurants.
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Most hotels in the countryside and mountain villages will take dogs; many have hotel dogs of their own. However, some hotels in our guide only accept small dogs. Others may have changed their booking policy and no longer accept dogs - so please check first. Rover says he managed to make himself understood at all the hotels, but they do speak English as well. |
Switzerland is very welcoming to dogs and dog owners, but there are penalties if you don't clear up after your dog - and Swiss citizens will ensure this is carried out. Don't forget if you go to Martigny in the summer to make time to visit the original Hospice where St. Bernard dogs used to rescue travellers. Swiss trains are an easy way of getting round the country, and dogs are welcome. Regulations say for each dog you would need to purchase a half price 2nd class ticket for your intended journey. If you hold one of the following: Swiss Pass, Swiss Transfer ticket, Swiss Card or Swiss Flexi Pass it is cheaper to purchase a second class version of that pass and in the space reserved for the passengers name you need to write "DOG". You can reserve a seat for the dog as well as yourself and the dog is allowed to sit on the seat as long as it has been covered with paper, a towel or a blanket.
Spain has always been very keen on paperwork, so make sure you keep your pet's papers with you at all times. Remember, it can be very hot there in the summer, particularly in the south.
Readers might ask why is Spitzbergen excluded? Because it is a special area of Norway, with links with Russia, which has not been subject to Norwegian veterinary controls so cannot be guaranteed to be rabies-free.
Rover is a great fan of Lesley Schultz in the Tourism Flanders office; she told him to call up WOEF, the Belgian dog magazine, on www.woef.be. Her telephone number is 09001-887799 if you want more information about Belgium, one of the most dog-friendly countries in the world. The world's first Police Dog force was founded in Ghent, and in this town they have animal fountains; a tall column with drinking bowl on the top for birds, a trough at waist level for horses and a bowl down below for dogs.
Don't be surprised if you see dogs in restaurants, particularly in France and the Netherlands. As long as the dog sits quietly under the table, owners can bring them in to many places that serve food.
So take Rover to the vet for his vaccinations and tests, then head off to Europe and try out some of the many dog-friendly hotels; there are all prices and types, and where possible we have put in email addresses.
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French Hotels
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Chateau Hotel Mont Royal, La Chapelle en Serval |
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Just a short drive from Paris is this hotel in the heart of the forest of Chantilly. Step outside its doors and there are walks galore in the woods; it is so dog-friendly that Catherine Maligne says many clients come here regularly for short breaks 'to give the dog a holiday'. One 82 year old and his sheepdog are regular features of the hotel. mtroyal@concorde-hotels.com. |
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Hotel Ermitage, Evian |
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Built in what the French call the 'charming English country style', this hotel is surrounded by gardens, and famous for its restaurant. reservations@domaine-royal.danone.com |
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Grand Hotel de la Reine, Nancy |
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If you haven't visited Nancy, the main square of Place Stanislas is a treat in store, and the hotel occupies an 18th century palace on the corner. Stanislas was a King in exile, who made this city, and in particular this square, his pride and joy. Wrought iron gateways and fences surround the perimeter, gilded so that they glisten like fairy cobwebs. As the hotel says, its '48 rooms are lovingly furnished in the Louis XV style'. 00 33 3 83 35 03 01 |
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Lille makes a very good stop on the way to and from the Channel ports, and Vera Dupis, the Tourism Officer, is a member of the Whippet Club of Great Britian (00 33 3 20 21 94 21) and can recommend superb dog-friendly B & Bs with antiques, en-suite bathrooms etc. The following hotels are dog-friendly: |
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| Hotel Carlton |
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03 02 13 33 13 |
| Mercure Lille Centre |
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03 20 147 147 |
| Grand Hotel Bellevue |
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03 20 57 45 64 |
| Hotel De La Paix |
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03 20 54 63 93 |
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Italian Hotels
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Camping Levico |
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Camping Levico is an award winning camp site by the side of the Levico Lake, where guests return year after year. As you check in you see on the wall a large notice listing guests expected that week who are coming for their tenth time or more. The lake has every sort of water-sport, and of course good swimming, and is ideally placed for superb walks in the mountains, visiting the city of Trento, etc. campingLevico@valsugana.com |
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Self-catering - 00 39 0577 576 330 |
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The Cuendet Agency specialise in self-catering farm villas, flats and even castles, in quiet areas. 60% of the properties have a swimming pool. According to owner Andre Cuendet, "our clients, above all, want peace and tranquillity". He and his wife have two Newfoundlands, and have produced a special DOgs Welcome brochure. Unlike most agencies they charge for their inch-thick brochure (£3) with a superb selection of properties. Each year Cuendet guarantees to plant trees equivalent to the amount used printing their brochure, and the companies' policy of charging ensures that people don't ask for a brochure just to throw it away. You can order the brochure by credit card. sales@cuendet.com |
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Swiss Hotels
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Lenk |
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The tourist board in Lenk is so dog-friendly that they sponsor dog sled races every January, where guests can spend the previous week learning how to 'mush', and then join the novices in the races - leaving the top ones to the pros. Dogs walk up and down the streets, and there are wonderful walks in the mountains. Taking a cable car trip one summer's day, every family we looked down on had a dog with them. The following hotels can all be booked through the Tourist Board on 00 41 33 733 31 31. |
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Sporthotel Betelberg |
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Has a reputation for good food amongst the locals, and prices are much less than in Britian. All of these hotels are dog and family-friendly, and have deals and discount cards for the Spa baths, cable cars etc. Lenkehof, Simmenhof, Wildstrubel, Krone, Residence, Waldrand, Mittaghorn, Zum Grade, Simmenfalle, Garni-Hotel Alpenruh, Garni-Hotel Alpina, Garni-Hotel Edelwriss. |
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Hostellerie de la Vendee Petit-Lancy (Geneva suburbs) - 00 41 22 792 0411 |
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Mr Jo Righetto, the owner, speaks excellent English with a lovely sense of humour. We fell into this hotel by chance, and luckily were too tired to go back into the centre of Geneva for dinner. Sitting in the Conservatory, all came right with the world when a bottle of delicious Swiss wine appeared, followed by a superb meal. Double with buffet breakfast £88. Dogs £6. There is a garage. |
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Hotel Carlton, Interlaken |
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Owner Werner Affentranger likes dogs and speaks perfect English. The hotel has a welcoming lounge with English language books to read. Good buffet breakfast sets you up for the day. Moderate prices for a hotel in the centre and near to the Jungfrau Railway station. 33 822 38 21 carlton@tcnet.ch |
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Hotel Royal St. Georges, Interlaken - 00 41 33 822 75 |
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With Tosca, who belongs to the Kurzen family, as resident 'guest relations manager', other canines are made very welcome. There is a lovely garden bordering the river, and the famous Hoehematte, the protected open space that was bought by the townsfolk, is within a minute's walk. It's elegantly furnished in turn-of-the century Art Nouveau style, and is run by the Kurzen family. There is a buffet breakfast, and children are also welcome. Double with bath 160 - 290 Sfs. |
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