If you are planning a trip with a pet, take into account the legislation regarding the travel of animals, the policies of different airlines and possible additional costs. Make sure the information is up-to-date before each trip.
Remember these before traveling with your pet
Traveling with a pet raises numerous questions. The rules can seem tortuous, and they vary from country to country and even from airline to airline. However, traveling with pets is quite common, and four-legged customers are also taken into account even better in hotels and other travel services.
When traveling from one EU country to another, the pet must have a valid rabies vaccination, a microchip tag or a clearly legible tattoo taken before July 3, 2011, and a pet passport obtained from a veterinarian. The passport shows the code of the animal’s identification mark, the given vaccinations and deworming and the owner of the pet.
Animals arriving from a country with a high risk of rabies must also have the result of a rabies antibody test. The antibody test must be done no earlier than 30 days after the rabies vaccination and at least three months before entering the country. A vaccination certificate alone is therefore not always enough. High-risk countries are, for example, Turkey and Thailand.
If you are traveling with a dog from Sweden to Finland, the pet is also required to receive echinococcosis medication and treatment against echinococcosis at least 24 hours and at most five days before arrival in Finland. The medication is always administered by a veterinarian, who must note the administered medication in the pet’s passport or health certificate.
Many Finns take their pets with them on a car trip to Norway. Keep in mind the obligations regarding Sweden if you decide to return to Finland via Sweden.
In addition, each EU country has its own legislation that applies to all animals other than cats, dogs, and ferrets and ferrets. Always check your destination country’s requirements for your pet, as they may vary within the EU as well. If you are staying in a hotel, always find out in advance about the policies related to pets.
Owner’s responsibility when traveling with a pet
When traveling with a pet, the most important thing to remember is that the passenger is always responsible for their pet and for finding out about travel restrictions. If the Travel is not possible due to insufficient information, the airline, ship, train or bus companies have no obligation to compensate.
Those planning a trip abroad should note that bringing pets back to Finland requires up-to-date documents, as pets do not have the same right to enter Finland as Finnish citizens. If there are no required documents, the pet will either be returned to the country of origin or euthanized, so you have to be really careful with the documents.
Whether it’s a trip by any means of transport, it’s a good idea to reserve your pet’s favorite toys and, for example, a blanket with familiar smells in the pet’s transport box. Items brought from home may calm the animal in a strange situation.
Always check current legal regulations and company-specific policies before each trip From the Food Agency.
Air travel with a pet
Air travel together with a pet usually causes some stress for both the animal and its owner. Unnecessary flying should be avoided – pets are less often transported on holiday trips, unless it is a longer stay in another country or, for example, a move.
When flying with a pet, you must always check the varying policies between airlines. To some countries, such as Great Britain and Ireland, pets can only be transported as cargo.
Small pets such as dogs, cats, rabbits and rodents can be transported in the cabin on a Finnair flight. The combined weight of the animal and the transport box may not exceed eight kilograms. Pets larger than this must travel in the hold of the aircraft.
Birds, snakes, lizards and insects are only transported as air cargo. The arrival of pets must always be announced in advance when making a reservation, in order to ensure the animal quota situation. Guide dogs always fly free of charge on most airlines.
Only dogs and cats can travel aboard Norwegian airline Norwegian and Latvian Air Baltic. Please note that there may be route-specific restrictions on the transport of pets.
Ryanair, on the other hand, does not transport pets at all, but the company makes some exceptions with guide dogs on certain routes.
Air Baltic
Finnair
Norwegian
Ryanair
Bring your pet on the bus trip
According to the recommendation of the bus association, accompanied pets are allowed to travel on the bus.
Pets must not be kept loose, but must be transported in the designated box on the floor or on the owner’s lap. Depending on the operating company, policies and conditions may vary, and must be checked with each trip.
The driver also has the right not to allow a pet on the means of transport or even to remove the animal if there are allergic passengers in the car or other passengers so request. However, guide dogs are allowed to travel on the bus with their owner without restriction.
Pets cannot be transported on double-decker buses on Onnibus trips, unless it is a guide or assistance dog.
Train travel with a pet
The train is usually a relatively pleasant means of travel for pets, which does not cause too much stress.
The trains have separate pet places marked with a dog tag, for which a fee of around 4–8 euros is charged. The pet must also be properly vaccinated and clean inside. Animals cannot be sent alone, the owner must travel with them.
With the exception of dogs, pets must travel on the train in their transport boxes. Animals can also travel in a sleeper car if the entire cabin is reserved for the same party.
Read VR’s instructions for pet owners
The pet can travel on scheduled ships
You can take a pet on board most ships when it’s an itinerary trip – fur snouts are not welcome on all cruises. Only guide dogs are allowed to enter the ship’s restaurants accompanied by their owner. Otherwise, animals can only be walked outside on the outside deck.
Pets are allowed in the cabin except for the beds. All dogs must be properly leashed and guarded on board.
In the case of a pet to be taken on the itinerary, a transport agreement must be made when booking the trip, as a limited number of animals are taken on each cruise.
Pets are allowed to travel on Eckerö Line either on the car deck or in a cabin intended for pets, for which a seat must be reserved.
Tallink Silja
Viking Line
Eckerö Line
To the hotel with a pet
Finding suitable accommodation with your pet is usually not a problem, especially when traveling domestically. In many hotels, it is possible to stay with, for example, a cat or a dog for a small additional fee.
Nowadays, considering pets is a competitive advantage for hotels. For example, welcome treats may be left waiting for a furry guest in the room.
Hotels usually charge an additional fee of around 15–50 euros for pets. The easiest way to make a reservation is to deal directly with the hotel.
When choosing a hotel, you should take into account possible outdoor areas nearby. You should also find out if your pet is welcome in, for example, the hotel’s restaurant. It is the responsibility of the owner to assess whether the pet can be left alone in the room or whether it will become stressed in a strange environment.
When traveling with animals, cabin accommodation can also be a nice option if the Booking Terms allow bringing pets.
Below you can see the policies of popular hotel chains operating in Finland for staying with a pet.
Kämp Collection Hotels
Lapland Hotels
Scandic Hotels
Sokos Hotels
Strawberry
Rantapallo editor-in-chief Inka is always ready for an adventure. If he can choose for himself, he prefers to go on an active trip to the ends of the earth.
Read more
Source: www.rantapallo.fi
