With the holiday season around the corner many of us will be considering traveling to various locations around the country as well as the globe, and starting our holiday travel plans. However, many of us will also be fretting about our furry friends at home … wouldn’t it be much easier if we could just take them along with us?

Compare the Market has commissioned new research into the most pet-friendly countries and airlines around the globe, so you can take your dog, cat or whatever your pet with you over the holidays (or whenever). They’ve also produced a definitive list of the most famous globetrotting animals to give you inspiration, and shed light on the unlucky pets who are less likely to be able to join their owners on holiday.

Pets on location

Of course, great transport options are only part of your pet’s holiday experience. The location is always the most important part of any holiday, and some countries are more likely to welcome fluffy travellers than others. Compare the Market found some of the most surprising pet-friendly destinations for a trip away were:

  • New York – The Big Apple was the most pet-friendly destination, with no bans on pets of any breed. Pets also don’t need their own passport to travel to NYC, and only dogs will need a vet’s certificate proving they’ve had a recent rabies vaccination. Working dogs from certain destinations, including Mexico, may also need to prove that they’ve been vaccinated for tapeworm.
  • Tokyo – Your furry friend won’t need a passport to travel to Japan, but you will need to make sure they’re chipped and that you’ve filed an Advanced Notification Form with the Animal Quarantine Service 40 days before you travel. A vet must also complete a Japan Veterinary Certificate before travel, confirming that you’ve had your pet inoculated against Japan’s list of illnesses, including hepatitis for dogs and calicivirus for cats.
  • Seoul – Korea is also a fan of pets, and doesn’t require a pet passport if your pet has been properly chipped. While a list of banned animals isn’t published, it is worth enquiring with your travel agent before you book just to make sure, and all animals travelling must be vaccinated against rabies.

When looking into travelling with pets, it is always advisable to look at getting them their own passport, as a third of destinations will require one. An EU passport is your best bet for speedy pet transfers, with most European countries including Spain, Germany and the Netherlands accepting these. Microchips are also required in a whopping 90 percent of countries, while almost all countries will require your pet to be vaccinated against rabies. Having these three musts up-to-date is a great starting point for globetrotting pets.

Passport-less pets

Unfortunately, not every pet will be welcome in every country you might want to go to. Due to restrictions around dog breeds perceived as ‘vicious’, there are a few stand-out pooches who’ll find it more difficult than most to accompany their owners abroad. The most difficult pets to get into the most popular travel  countries include:

  • Pitbulls – Suffering from a bad reputation rather than a bad attitude, pitbulls are the more likely to have difficulties travelling – collected from 20 of the most popular travel destinations we found that nine countries have banned them outright and a further two only allows them restricted areas.
  • Staffordshire Terrier – American Staffordshire Terriers and Staffordshire Terriers alike find themselves unwelcome in a high variety of countries, with outright bans in seven and eight countries respectively.
  • Mastiffs – Mastiff pups have been outright banned in six separate countries, and are only allowed to visit Ireland under certain restrictions, such as that of wearing a muzzle at all times.
  • Rottweilers – Rottweilers also have an unlucky reputation, which sees them banned in five of the countries researched and only allowed to visit another three under strong restrictions.

If you’re an owner of an adorable but misunderstood breed, or just don’t fancy waiting at quarantine for days while your pet gets checked out, it’s worth remembering that some countries do have very strict laws around which animals are allowed to enter. Several Asian countries, including China and Thailand, will need permits for pets under almost all conditions, while some European countries including France and Turkey have in-depth lists of banned pets and inoculations.

Jet-set pets

Wherever you’re travelling in the world with your pet, there’s no such thing as too much information – whether it’s transport to your destination, which country to choose, or even whether your pet will be able to accompany you on your next adventure.

For full research on Jet Set Pets and where to take them, visit Compare the Market’s handy guide for a quick rundown of the best places for ‘petsetters’.