Traveling with a 19-month-old boy and a dog isn’t easy, doing so in the winter can be even more challenging for any experienced traveler.
There are extra questions to consider, such as what accommodations are dog-friendly? What requirements does the airline have for traveling with regular pets, or Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)?
Should you consider buying a seat for your toddler, even though he can fly for free? (the answer is yes, and especially on long flights and if you can swing it! If you can’t, ask the flight attendant politely if there are empty seats and see if they can accommodate. It’s worked for us a few times. On long flights, we buy him a seat, but cross our fingers and hope they will accommodate on the shorter trips).
What about car seats and Uber–what’s the latest with that? Keep reading.
With experience comes wisdom, or so the saying goes! Here are some of my recommendations:
Simplify. I cannot stress how much weight off your shoulders you’ll feel (figuratively and literally) when you have less stuff to carry. Think of the 80/20 Principle. You’ll only wear and use 20 percent of everything you packed. I bring 2 pairs of shoes for Carter, the ones on his feet and a second pair in case we lose a shoe somewhere (it’s happened!). What about distraction toys and gadgets? Do they really need an entire bag? You know your child best. Our experience has been that our son plays with maybe 2 out of the 5 things we bring, at most.
Get organized. Packing compression bags are a lifesaver for many reasons, I’ll share three: As soon as we arrive, I grab a bag and put it in a drawer. I keep a laundry bag near and add to it as we go. I then add that laundry bag into the new and empty compression bag and it’s so easy to just empty it in our laundry as soon as we get home. The clothes that do not get used get zipped back up when it’s time to pack.
And lastly, and this is genius! We were not sure if our bag was over the size limit, so when we got there and our bag was weighed, it was indeed over the limit, all we did was unzip the luggage (didn’t even have to lay it down), take one of the bags out, place it in our carry on (we always choose our son’s bag, in the event, our luggage is delayed or lost) and problem solved. In the past, I’d have to sit there, take and move individual items around or pay the hefty $50 fee for the second bag. So I said to my husband, “This is Carter’s bag. In the event, we need to take anything out, grab this bag.” Easy, easy!
I’ll share how I pack on a separate post.
Plan ahead. You should always plan ahead, but you must if you are traveling with a vegan child or any child (and dog, don’t forget the puppy!) for that matter, so plan ahead.
“People don’t plan to fail they fail to plan.”
What’s the weather like? We always look for vegan places to eat near the hotel where we’re staying. We like to take our dog with us to most places but in the winter you’ll want to be inside where it’s nice and warm and most restaurants will not let you bring your dog inside. So make plans to leave him in the room, although we don’t for more than two hours at a time. Another question to consider is if the hotel offers a shuttle? This is especially helpful for families and car seats! In most states, Uber will not provide a car seat and will more than likely not give you a “lift”, if they value company policies, safety, and state laws. So bring your own car seat if you’re planning on using Uber or Lyft.
Is the hotel pet-friendly and is there a fee? Many hotels in Calfornia will take your word for it when you tell them that your dog is an Emotional Support Animal, but please do not depend on this and bring all proper documentation, AFTER you have confirmed that they will accept your traveling companion. Be sure to get the name of the person you spoke with and ask if they can please add those notes to the reservation. I’d go as far as speaking with a manager.
Dogs and Flying. If this is your first time, please make sure you contact the airline directly. You will need to follow their instructions. So far, our experience has been pleasant but there have been times (LBC Airport – boo!) where a representative has requested that we provide documentation in print. I keep all his docs in a zipped bag and tucked away in my purse for easy reference.
Our documentation entails several forms (download from each airline website). I have with me an ESA letter and filled out form from a licensed practitioner, his veterinarian and a third form that indicates he is well-behaved and will not harm anyone.
These forms are different for each airline and you’ll have to have your doctor fill out each. If you travel a lot, like we do, print out the forms in advance from all major airlines, schedule a vet appointment and have them fill out and sign at his appointment. You’ll have to pay for another office visit if you need another form filled out so why not have them all ready the first time? The forms are good for a year and we get them done at the time of his annual checkup. Super convenient. Your vet might get annoyed, oh well, but do fill out as much as you can to speed up the process. I brought United, Jetblue, Delta, American, and Southwest, just in case.
This is for ESA animals and worth all the trouble, in our opinion because it means Charlie can fly for free and on my lap, which is most important. If you pay the fee, each time, I believe it’s $100 each leg and your pet will need to be on the ground, and perhaps even in a small kennel! Not my baby. No way!
Airlines and Airports are quite unpredictable. The Long Beach Airport personnel have been notoriously rude and unaccommodating, but we like it because of its simplicity: easy to park, easy to get your luggage and easy to get around via Uber or taxi.
With that said, avoid big airports such as LAX and SFO if you plan on using public drivers. You can get dropped off without a problem but it’s become a nightmare getting picked up at the airport. You have to take a shuttle to the Uber, Lyft and Taxi stations, form a super long line with all your belongings and children. This is not the way to keep them happy when they are tired from traveling. I believe private drivers can still pick you up and they are worth every penny.
All airports except LBC (boo again!) have been great about letting us bring as much plant-based milk and pre-prepared green smoothies we need for our vegan baby onboard. LBC, on the other hand, made us dump out his smoothie and milk over our last trip. It was really frustrating. The rude individual said the only way to get around that is to have a doctor’s note, so there you have it: bring a doctor’s note if your child is on a special diet as a backup.
Breathe Deep. Take a deep breath and relax. Know that no matter how much you plan, something is bound to go wrong. Use every experience as a learning opportunity and try not to have an unpleasant situation ruin your moment, or perhaps your whole day!
We took Carter tubbing, or we tried to. Once we got there he was more interested in other children than he was in the activity itself. The problem was, the other kids were older and not interested in this 1.5-year-old. When we removed him from the situation he cried, kicked and screamed. It almost ruined the moment. My husband and I were both upset and somewhat embarrassed by our toddler and his tantrum. We reminded each other that this trip was primarily for him, that he’s more than likely tired and that we need to consider his feelings before we worry about the opinions of others. While we don’t believe in letting our child run wild, we do believe in being sensitive to the fact that he is a baby! So relax mom and dad and enjoy the journey.
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Xo,
Iris
