Holiday with your dog – going to Spain: Micro’s story
[su_dropcap style=”simple” size=”5″]M[/su_dropcap]y humans like to travel – and I love to be with them. I don’t mind travelling as long as I can cuddle with my humans. Ever since I can remember, my humans take me to far away (editor’s note: Spain) for the Summer holidays. I love the beach! No, really I loooove it. If the window is open, I try to jump out and run towards it… – but my humans don’t let me. I’ll still keep trying, though.
Last year, we had a change in programme of how to get there. The two previous years, we drove down the entire way – with a pit/hotel stop in the middle. This time, we were going to try the auto-train as my humans told me. This meant I had to go into the travel box during the night – I don’t like the travel box. I knew it was going to happen when I saw G fighting to get the stabilising rods into it. And then there was a different routine to packing – I know routines! My humans make a detailed list – even with colour coding.
(Editor’s note: yes, I was organised , there was some colour coding in lists going on. Actually I made 3 lists: 1 for the car (everything we would take: clothes, food, things for the holiday rental e.g. bedding, towels, kitchen wares), 1 for the train (over night packing , + 1 lunch, dinner and breakfast), and 1 for all food to take with us. My parents usually want us to bring them things from here as well, lots of things to keep in mind…)
We left home (for a change) not at the crack of dawn, but at sun rise, and drove down to the place where lots of dogs go and meet on a slightly artificial green (Editor’s note: Channel tunnel terminal at Folkstone). I love it there: lots to sniff and smell! I got to run around for a long time, and my humans got some breakfast. I don’t need that, in fact I wouldn’t even consider eating breakfast if it was right in front of me, not when there are sooo many things to smell!
hopped back into the car and was allowed to take a seat on the driver’s side in the tunnel. On the other side of the channel tunnel, I went back to M to cuddle and we drove on peacefully towards Paris, so they told me. We made another stop for lunch at le Château de Compiègne (Napoléon III´s summer residence), but I wasn’t allowed in the château. I think, it’s unfair, I’m a big dog, I know how to behave indoors. I wasn’t even allowed in the garden. Please, change that! Holidays with dogs are trending, we want to be included – and we can be well behaved. My humans weren’t going to take a risk in case I wasn’t allowed in the woods of Compiègne near the WWI train wagon, so we just stopped somewhere close to that location at a small lake. That was fun. I got to eat something, which I don’t consider to be essential, and then to play with the ball – though not long enough for me – which is absolutely essential. I had to go back in the car, and we drove on. My humans were a little stressed in Paris.
(Editor’s note: Apple maps weren’t really helping when driving through Paris. The app didn’t allow me to zoom out, and made us take funny turns and circle around the drop off station, but Google maps broke down completely. We managed to drop off our car with 15 minutes to spare at Paris Bercy train station .. not our most relaxed moment in time!)
Auto-train transports cars only. Before you leave your car, SNCF staff will inspect your car with you, and m
ake notes on your ticket – similar to a car rental check-in – so that you are insured for any damages that could happen during transportation. They will ask you which mode of transportation you have booked to get to your destination, and make a note (in case a car is not collected). SNCF website said they always want to see your other train/plane ticket, but they were fine with us saying which train we booked. I had everything in a travel folder – probably that looked organised enough. You will have to leave your car at the station, and staff will drive it onto the train. Then you walk off, or take a taxi or le métro or – if it’s not Paris – wait for the shuttle bus. SNCF has a very good website explaining how that works and a downloadable pdf infographic with all the shuttle times for all 12 cities – 13, if you include Paris – plus other recommendations like free breakfast partners, etc.)
So, there I was in Paris, guys, and it was – ehm…. different. Everything smelled different and everyone spoke French to me (which I love!), and so many people asked to pet me – which I like, when I like the person. We dropped our over-night backpack off at the station, where they liked me so much, they wanted to keep me there. Then we walked down to the river bank, where I found a few friends. But my humans were too scared to let me off lead to really run around – sigh. (Editor’s note: Micro is sometimes a big thrill junkie, and his eyes are notoriously bad. He has fallen into a river from a concrete bank before, and had to swim downstream so that we could fish him out. The Seine bank is quite abrupt – and steep. I could think about more agreeable things than jumping into the Seine to save the dog, without a second set of dry clothes. According to my research, Paris only has one dog park, but it would have been a ride in the métro and for that Micro needed to go into the travel box, which he’s not a fan of. We saw dogs coming out of the métro with no travel box in sight, but we didn’t quite have the nerve for it. We also found a lot of people didn’t care about the rules about keeping dogs on a lead along the Seine, and a lot of dogs where roaming freely, which is fine if they are careful not to fall down into the water…)
Paris was great: grass, ball, play, other dogs, lots of people who adored me – not bad for a first impression! When I just got used to it all, we walked back to the train station to pick up all our gear (unfortunately they didn’t forget my travel box – sigh). I’m a big dog, and I know that I need to be done with all my output before we board a train. So – I took care of that, but my humans did not get that information. I’m still working on teaching them how to speak dog.. they are slow to pick up cues. I’ll keep training them…Anyway, they took me out of the station moments before boarding so that I could relieve myself. I went along (maybe we could just go back to the river….?), but kept looking rather reproachfully at them and hinted I didn’t need to go (again). (Editor’s note: How would I know? It’s an overnight train with almost no possibility to go outside. Someone suggested to take pee pads just in case, but Micro was fine both times.) Then I had to go into the travel box – really, really didn’t like it. The SNCF ticket controller didn’t think I was there, as my travel box looks like a sports gear bag, so my humans open the flap to show him, but didn’t let me out (SIGH). They found their seats and off we went.
(Editor’s note: Last minute booking over the summer holidays is not recommended in retrospect, The trains were fully booked as we saw on the notice board, and they meant it. We opted for recliner seats – like they have on planes – rather than a compartment. It felt more like everyone was on a big trip going South. And you get pretty close to a lot of people. Doable, but not really relaxing. I would not recommend it with a bigger dog. We booked earlier this year and have a small compartment both ways for our upcoming trip. Also, the trains run differently this year. We will report about the differences when we return.)
I had no other option than to stay in my travel box. It’s comfortable enough, but I made my humans hug the bag the entire time we were on the train, so that I could sleep in peace. And then I was let out somewhere in the dark at another train station. And there were other dogs, but they didn’t want to play with me. I settled on one of my humans’ laps and slept some more until is was time to pick up the car. I got to explore a lot at the parking lot, and still no dog wanted to play with me. There was one very groomed black Scottish Terrier, who looked rather terrifying with this haircut – short on top and very long hair on his belly. I got a little scared, even though I like black dogs.
(Editor’s note: We arrived in Narbonne at about 5:55am and spent 3 hours at a semi-deserted train station – only semi, because everyone who got off at that spot to get their car back is there with you. A collective of people and dogs trying to stay awake before the first coffee shop opens at 7:00am. The shuttle to pick up the cars leaves at 8:45 or there about. You – technically – would be able to pick up your car by 9:00am. However, this is ‘le sud’ (the South) and everything runs slightly slower, as a lady from Paris pointed out to me while we were waiting for another 30 minutes. At least that gave us time to talk to people and find out that some have been using this train for a long time every summer and always to go Spain for the summer.)
So, after having explored the car pick-up location, we really picked up our car and drove on. I settled in to sleep some more for a few minutes and then we stopped at a gas station. Oh that was fun, lots of new smells, and a cat! I tried to make her play, but she wasn’t sure what I wanted. So we just kept looking at each other and walking past. I need to work on my cat skills. At home I have a cat friend who ignores me when I come close. I can totally live with that. Too soon, we had to go back into the car – again – and drive on. I got a little unnerved and didn’t want to cuddle any longer. So I curled up in the back of the car. (Editor’s note: The second travel day he always discovers that there is more to the car than just my seat/lap and uses the entire back seat to stretch out.)
We arrived at our house after a brief slumber and M’s parents were already there to greet me. I love them! They are funny. I love the place there, I’m allowed so many things, I can take myself out for a morning pee without a lead, totally grown up. I get to go the beach – even though rather early that year, but who cares, it’s THE BEACH! I get lots of tasty new snacks – I am very choosy with all sorts of food, it’s not easy to please me. I get to visit the vet, who is not scary here, and run around his office. I get to make new friends at THE BEACH and run around with them. And I get to spend so much time with my humans – I could get used to that.
Summary editor’s note:
Taking the auto-train is worth the planning ahead (dog or no dog). It’s surprisingly flexible to suit your needs, and cheaper than driving down (thanks to toll roads), including petrol and mileage on your car (about 800km /497miles less in total). You should book your auto-train tickets early, otherwise you will just break even with tolls and petrol – not counting the mileage. Once you’ve dropped off your car (which you can do the entire day that you’re booked to go) you’re free to do what you want. Explore the city, travel ahead – your choice. Technically, you don’t even have to pick up your car. If you’d rather go directly to your holiday destination, SNCF’s partner EXPEDICAR can get you a driver, who will drive your car there.
In town with dog
We obviously have only been to Paris and Narbonne with the dog. From our narrow range of exploring Paris, we found it more dog friendly in reality than on paper. Lots of ‘must haves’ were waved or disregarded, e.g. no dog was muzzled on any train we saw, while – on paper – it’s imperative. Micro didn’t have to travel in his travel box on the way back and lay stretched out in between us. It was about 30C in Narbonne when we travelled back, so exploring for all of us was more or less limited to trying to get something to drink and staying in the shade. For restaurants, it’s up to the proprietor to allow dogs or not, but there are lots of tables outside where your dog can be with you. Holidays with dogs are trending – a lot has changed since we first adopted Micro. Some places open up more, some – like our beach in Spain – limit access further, but – at the same time – there are more (louder) voices to defend your choice and let you take your dog with you. Keep an eye out for changes and explore. As always, good dog behaviour (as in no barking/annoying people) and good human behaviour (as in always clean up after your dog) goes a long way, and it helps if your dog is cute as well.
Night train in France with dog
The only thing I would not advise is a recliner seat when travelling with a bigger dog – i.e. any dog that can’t comfortably sleep on your lap or under your seat. There is simply not enough space and people (especially kids) walk through the carriage isle all night. All trains going South were booked solid. I doubt there would be space next to you on a recliner carriage, unless you want to make your dog a second person. SNCF doesn’t allow big travel boxes (similar to in cabin air travel), and you will need space for the dog to lie down. Booking a compartment where your dog can stretch out will be a better option. There also is a ‘women travelling alone’ option for booking compartments, which we will try out this year, and report back. But, you see, we liked it so much, we’re taking the train again this year.
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