Accommodation options in a dog trip

One problem you will often face when traveling with your dog is lodging. Here we will see the options we have as dog travelers. Obviously, the smaller your dog is, the easier will be for you to find a place where your dog is allowed. It is going to depend a lot on the country as well. While European or North American countries have many rules and are not very flexible, in other parts of the world, such as Latin America, there is usually room for exceptions. Within the "first world" countries, Spain is quite restrictive, for example, but France (at least in the Pyrenees and the Côte d'Azur) or the States have more dogfrienly hotels, where you will be allowed to stay for a small fee (sometimes not that small... but at least you have the option).My experience in South America was quite good. I always tried to avoid big cities as much as possible. First, because they are not my priority traveling, and second because it is easier to get accommodation for the dog in rural areas. Same thing when it is about of getting around.

Among the options are:

Room / Hostel / Hotel

As I already said, it will depend on the country in which you are traveling and the size of your dog. I have had to “fight” sometimes to get a place. Sometimes they end up letting your dog sleeping in your room, but on other occasions that is not possible (especially when it is a shared room). In these cases, the dog would sleep in reception or the garden (if there is one). Coqui has gone through all the options! Tips that can be useful for you: Explain that you have been traveling for several months in the country and that there have never been any problems; tell them that your dog sleeps in his/her own bed (if you do not have a bed tell them he/she has his/her own blanket or towel (never tell them your buddy will jump on the bed with you!); before they ask you, tell them your dog is very well-behaved and trained (always pees outside; never in a room); mention that you are just going to be in the hostel for sleeping so your dog is not going to be around. Well, whatever you think is good for getting their trust. You will develop cleverness as you gain experience.

My friend César and Cocaí sleeping in a seedy hotel in Santiago de Chile

Two gentlemen bought us a night in this awesome room that tasted like heaven in the cold and snow of Northern Arizona

While staying at the Lazy Lizard Hostel, Moab, Utah, we made good friends, such as Denali

Couchsurfing

Blessed is the one who created it. Just make an account and send requests to the hosts you like the most in your city of destination. It took me a long time to get in this beautiful community. In, fact in South America I did not even have an account. It was in Mexico where I started, where, by the way, it works great. I couchsurfed three times at the taco´s country, always contacting the host less than 24 hours prior to go to the city (one was even when I was already in town, and he accepted me five minutes later for that night) and worked perfect. In the USA it was not very easy, though.

Eder not only helped us with accommodation, he also ended up becoming one of my best mates in Mexico

In Monterrey, we were received by Pepe, the wey más chingón (in Englis: the fucking master) and Tecate, his crazy Chihuahua; two times: first one week, then one month :)

Making friends at Samuels´, Guanajuato, Mexico; Cocaí was already sleeping

Spontaneous Couchsurfing: staying with locals when they invite you

From settle down in the garden with your tent to sleeping on a couch or a bed. Everything is received as a godsend! I have stayed in many other houses, having used this way much more than the official Couchsurfing. None of these people will be forgotten because they all were great experiences.

Eugenia invited me to her home in Boca Manu, Peru; the best part was her jungle breakfasts: cuba style rice, spaguetti... By then Cocaí was about to be born

This family made me feel like a son and a brother to them; Merida, Mexico

Everybody on the couch! John and Shawn's home, Sooke, British Columbia, Canada

Airbnb

As many of you probably already know, this is a website where people who want to rent a room in their houses, sign up and offer it to the public. Rooms range from very affordable rates to more expensive than a hotel. The cool thing is that you can see which ones are dogfriendly. It is a good option, especially in countries where there are no many hostels (like USA for example). I have only used it once and actually not as such because I do not even have an account created on the website. Just before flying to Cancun, a friend of mine told me that he knew a girl who could accommodate me. She had a room for rent by Airbnb where I stayed for a few days. It was a very good experience, since Marisol, that was the name of the girl, was great and had a dog even nicer :)

Cocaí gave Jagger her toy in as a thank you for having her in his house a few days

This Spanish girl living in Sequim (Washington) gave us a ride and helped us with accommodation, but the room we slept was actually ready for Airbnb; Holy smoke, the Spanish Omelette she cooked... Not to mention she had Cola-cao!

Houses of friends

Traveling is an experience that brings you only positive things. We could say that almost exponentially... The more you travel the more friends you will make around the world and the more houses you will have to visit! I have visited friends in Spain, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, USA, Canada...

Romina's aunt house, at El Mollar, Argentina

At Aydalith and Agustin's home having, again (but this time I was the cook), a fantastic Spanish Omelette for dinner; Hermosillo, Mexico

My childhood friend Laucris welcomed me at her home in Santiago de Chile; Cocaí was not even an idea by then

Camping

A tent is the best ally for any dog backpacker. That is why this blog has a separate section only for camping. Now, we are going to talk a bit about campsites and wild camping in this section of Accommodation Options, but feel free to read more about the camping issue here. Usually, they will allow you without problems, and your dog is going to be happy. However, there may be some special places where dogs are not welcome, and you will have to beg them to let you stay. I do not like this, but sometimes you get too late to a place, or so exhausted, and you really need that place.

Cocaí and her brother Munaí at their homeland: Samaipata, Bolivia

Tuttle Creek Camground, at the foot of Sierra Nevada mountains, in addition to be stunningly beautiful is really cheap: 5 dollars/tent

Free/wild camping

Our favorite. Obviously you need a tent. Take it, you will not regret! No one will tell you anything about your dog, who will be immensely happy with the visual, auditory and olfactory stimuli of your new temporary home. And the feeling of waking up the next morning and seeing the place where you have spent the night is really worth it. Besides, it is free! Adventurous style and connection with the Pacha Mama. The tent will also allow you have a "roof" in extreme cases. For instance, if you get stuck at night on the road (not success with the ride), or if you come to a village at dawn and there is nothing open (or no dogfrienly places at all)... Well, set the tent in some square or park. I had to put the tent in a gas station in the middle of nowhere, near the border of Chiapas and Tabasco, Mexico. We did not get a ride in the whole afternoon and, finally, it got dark... Well, we slept there.

You can sleep at the beach...

... At the rainforest...

... In the snow...

... Or even at a gas station!