5 steps for travelling with your pet in a campervan

No more heart-rending goodbyes with your dog or cat when you go on holiday! We have THE solution for combining freedom and adventure with your pet: a trip in a campervan.

This road trip is an invitation to enjoy complicit moments and encounters with your four-legged friend. But how can you get organised with peace of mind before you leave? What essentials should you take on holiday with your dog or cat? How do you manage living together when travelling? Discover all WeVan’s tips for travelling with your pet on your road trip in a campervan.

When there are just a few weeks to go, get ready for your campervan trip!

Travelling in a campervan with your cat Photo Credit Clémence POLGE

 

A must before setting off in a campervan: make sure your pet is not averse to travelling or ill when you set off in a campervan. Do a few tests by getting them used to the harness and lead over short distances around your home. 

Make sure your dog or cat is in good health with a vet appointment. They will check their general state of health and make sure their vaccinations are up to date. You should be aware that you may be required to have a rabies vaccination in certain places, such as campsites.

If you plan to travel outside France on this road trip in a campervan, make sure you have a valid European passport for your dog or cat. This document is available from your vet. Your pet must be tattooed or chipped.

>>> Notre conseil : Our advice: add your contact details to their collar for direct contact.

Whether it’s feeding or parasite control, ask your vet for advice on taking your dog or cat away in a campervan and enjoy the adventure in the best possible way.

Preparing for your trip in a campervan: think of everything

An unforgettable trip with your dog in a campervan Photo Credit Julie Aumonier

 

Going on holiday with your pet requires a certain amount of organisation to ensure that everyone finds their place in the campervan and travels comfortably during this wonderful experience.

>>> Make it easy for them to get to their water and food bowls during the journey and at stops. At WeVan, we advise you to take their daily bowls with you so that they are not cut off from their everyday life and smells. 

Give them a cosy sleeping space for the night and day. Take along the bed they usually use so that they can keep their bearings even when travelling. And maintain a pleasant temperature inside the campervan at stops and on journeys.

What do our WeVan experts think are the most important things to take with you when you travel with your dog or cat?

- A lead and harness

- Bowls

- Dry dog food

- Enough water for the journey

- Their bed or plaid

- A litter tray for travelling with a cat in a campervan

- A shampoo and brush if they decide to venture out into the mud

- A few toys

- A first-aid kit for those little ‘ouchies’, such as different sizes of tick removers for your dog or cat

- Vaccination certificate and passport

- Poo bags to leave no trace of your visit

- A scratching post for your cat to prevent it from leaving its lovely claw marks on the armchairs. 

This part requires organisation to optimise the storage of your belongings. In the front, under the passenger seat or in the storage cupboards at the rear of the vehicle, campervans are very practical for storing everything. It’s down to you to organise your road trip with your pet. 

Will your dog or cat sit on the seats? We recommend you use protective covers or plaids to avoid damaging the campervan’s seats and rear bench during your hire. 

Advice from Hélène, our pet travel expert

It’s essential to plan a campervan to suit your needs and those of your pet. Bear in mind that if four of you are travelling along with your pet, you may feel cramped. 

For everyone’s comfort, at WeVan, the ideal way to travel with a campervan is for two people to travel with your pet. If you’re going away for longer, hire a 5 seat campervan. So everyone will feel comfortable on the journey. 

Speak to Hélène at the Basel-Mulhouse branch for a worry-free departure with your dog or cat.

 

Safety first for your pet on the road

All the equipment you need for a road trip with your dog in a campervan  Photo Credit Xavier @__x_a_v_i_e_r___

 

On journeys, make sure your dog or cat finds a place to sit and lie down comfortably. Take a break every two hours for them to have a little walk, stretch, drink water, smell all the new smells and do their business.

>>> Hélène, our expert on travelling in a campervan with your dog, suggests you move the campervan bench seat forward to create a cosy cocoon for your dog. Put them on their favourite mat, preferably a non-slip one, to prevent them from sliding. 

Travel safely with your dog using a harness or carrier. This can be very useful if you’re out during the day. One thing’s for sure: for their safety and yours, avoid letting them roam free in the passenger compartment during the journey.

Managing the temperature in your campervan on a road trip

 A road trip with your cat in a WeVan campervan - Photo Crédit Clémence POLGE

 

Whether it’s hot or cold, you’ll need to manage the temperature as best you can to ensure your dog or cat gets the most out of this trip in a campervan.

Beat the heat by parking in the shade. Use a sun shade and switch on the ventilation in your campervan so that your pet doesn’t suffer. Leave them a bowl of water so they can drink regularly, especially if you’re not there. And if the heat is too intense, run cold water over your dog. 

Do you have a cat? They won’t be too affected by the heat if they can stay sufficiently hydrated. But above all, don’t give them a shower — they won’t thank you for it!

>>> Our tip: there are small foldable mats you can put in the fridge to keep your pet cool when you’re travelling in a campervan. 

Are the mornings chilly or are you travelling in winter? Leave the stationary heater on to maintain a good temperature in the campervan, and put their blanket in a place that’s cosy and warm.

How do you manage being together when travelling in a campervan?

Travelling in a campervan with your dog Photo Credit Julie Aumonier

 

Travelling in a campervan with your dog or cat requires a few rules to spend time together happily. 

Here are a few tips to set off with peace of mind:

- Is dog or cat hair sticking everywhere in the interior of your campervan? Without worrying about it too much, don’t forget that essential brush to prevent it from taking over, and shake out your blankets and mattresses regularly. We can’t guarantee you’ll get rid of it altogether!

- If you’re going out, make sure your campervan is in a secure location in the shade. Make sure they have enough water available while you’re not there. In any case, don’t leave them for too long.

- During your weekend or campervan holiday, the choice of stops and activities on your trip will be dictated by your pet. Make sure you find out all about opening hours, hikes, campsites, restaurants and lead-only areas so that your trip goes off without a hitch. For a relaxing holiday, opt for the great outdoors! Your pets will find it hard to tolerate a museum visit without baulking. 

- Travelling with a dog or cat in a campervan means meeting other animals. Make sure you get on well with your neighbours and respect other travellers and their pets. But Hélène can assure you that you’ll have magical encounters with other owners and animals.

All in all, a trip in a campervan with your dog or cat is the promise of a brand-new experience, an unusual adventure and unforgettable moments.

What about WeVan?

Van life with your cat with WeVan Photo Credit Clémence POLGE

 

At WeVan, we love animals! However, before you hire your campervan, contact your WeVan branch to make sure that it accepts pets when you hire (each branch in the Network has its own policy on this). 

>>> Contact a WeVan branch <<<

 

When you return the vehicle, it must be in the same condition (hair, odours, etc.) as when it left the branch. Vacuum the seats, bench and floor of the campervan to remove all your four-legged friend’s hair. Don’t hesitate to wipe down the cupboards and worktop to remove the last traces of your dog or cat. Was their nose stuck to one of the windows? Clean the glass. Branches that accept dogs and cats in campervans have a cleaning policy for this. 

 

>>> Article written by Justine BOMARD