Discover the world on wheels. A unique way to travel with your dog!

Through their website and social media @sincodigopostal they explain how to convert a van into a camper (like the one they live in), provide lots of guides and travel itineraries, explain how to achieve this lifestyle and, of course, how to include our faithful four-legged companion in all these plans.

If you've ever thought about traveling in a van with your dog and venturing out to explore the world on wheels, take note of our colleagues' advice:

TRAVELING WITH A DOG IN A CAMPER

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Whether you want to rent a van or motorhome for a vacation or take the plunge and move into a camper, you've come to the right place!

If you keep reading, you'll find the answers to the typical questions that arise when traveling with a pet in a "mobile home": important information about your dog's comfort and safety in this type of vehicle, what alternatives exist when our pet can't accompany us on a trip, what activities in a camper or motorhome they enjoy most, and much more.

SAFETY AND COMFORT FOR DOGS IN A VAN OR MOTORHOME

The first question that comes to mind when traveling with our dog is how they can ride as a passenger comfortably but safely at the same time.

There are many ways to achieve both of these things, and although they vary slightly depending on whether the vehicle is yours or not, both are easy to do.

If the vehicle is rented (don't worry about this point, as many motorhome and van rental companies understand how important it is for us to travel with our pets and allow dogs in their rental vehicle fleet), the simplest solution is to purchase a harness and a seat belt.

The latter can be hooked onto the rear seat belt to secure your pet. Place a soft bed inside to minimize vibration from the moving vehicle and your pet will be comfortable and safe. If you don't have rear seats, the most comfortable and safest option would be a carrier (there are many styles, both fixed and foldable), and again, don't forget the bed.

If the vehicle is your own, you can anchor the pet seat belt to either an existing ring or with screws, and thus secure it perfectly to the harness. Or you can even prepare a carrier/kennel in the trunk.

What is important in all the above cases is a bed that reduces vibrations, and if you have previously impregnated it with your dog's scent in a place where they feel comfortable (such as their home or if they travel by car), they will recognize their scent and travel much more comfortably.

Another point for the dog's comfort both on the road and when stationary is to provide water (there are non-spill bowls that will prevent spillage on the road) and toys that are also impregnated with its scent (having played with them beforehand) and are within its reach, so that it will feel the space is safe.

with their scent (having played with them before) and within reach, so they will feel safe and more familiar with the space.

 

HOW TO KEEP OUR PET SAFE IN THE VAN OR MOTORHOME

Leaving our pet in the van or motorhome is something that causes a lot of doubt and discomfort. The first thought that may come to mind is that we are bad owners for leaving our pet behind. If done properly, your dog can be left in perfect conditions, comfortable and safe. For example, those of us who live in a van are not really leaving our dog in a vehicle, but rather in our home. But of course, there are always many things to pay attention to that you might not have to worry about in a brick-and-mortar house. Whether you are renting or living in your motorhome, here is what you should keep in mind:

1. For us, the company of our pet is a gift, so the times when it is left alone in the camper or motorhome are few and far between. We always look for ways to take it with us (we will summarize these tips and tricks later).

2. In winter, it will be much easier for your dog to stay comfortable, as the main disadvantage and danger is the temperature inside the van or motorhome.

3. If it is not winter and you have to leave your dog inside, you should: as far as possible, leave them in a 100% safe shaded area (a parking lot, under a bridge, etc.), you should also leave it ventilated, either with a skylight with a fan like the one we have, a skylight alone, or windows (remember that there is a type of lock you can put on windows so that they remain open but no one can break in).

If all that still seems insufficient, there are thermometers that will tell you the temperature inside the cabin via the internet and report the information to your mobile app. That way, you'll always know what temperature your dog is experiencing. When we do this, we try to leave the van as close as possible to where we need to go and visit it every hour. If we can't leave it relatively close, we go by bike so we can visit it again and check that everything is in order.

 

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR ALWAYS TAKING YOUR DOG WITH YOU

But the best way to enjoy a trip in a camper or motorhome is to be accompanied by our furry friend. That's why, after visiting more than 30 countries with Cuzco and having different experiences, we want to tell you what we do when we encounter different situations while traveling with our dog.

CUZCO ON A FERRY

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The first and simplest thing to do is to always look for plans and adventures that he can easily join in on: outings or trips to the countryside, guided city tours (always ask if the entire tour is outdoors or if there are any entrances to cathedrals, museums, etc.), open-air museums (such as trenches, castles, etc.).

As long as you're not traveling alone, you can take turns visiting places where dogs aren't allowed but you don't want to miss out on. We do this a lot. In art museums, Eduardo stays with Cuzco (since he attracts less attention), and in anything related to war (which Eduardo enjoys much more), I have fun walking with Cuzco.The next tip we'll share with you is very useful if you're traveling with your dog alone (but it also works if you all need to enter the place). It's as simple as checking the place on Google Maps before you go in, especially the outside: see if it has a garden where your dog can be safe and comfortable, places where it will be 100% in the shade, check if they have a security guard who can keep an eye on your pet, ask if they have a patio where it can stay for a few minutes, etc. This way, your dog will be comfortable, both because it won't be left waiting in the van or motorhome, and because you'll be able to visit it during your stay there.

KAYAKING ON AN ISLAND IN CROATIA

And one last tip is to always politely ask if dogs are allowed, if pets are welcome, etc. You'd be surprised how often you get a yes for an answer. We've done this many times, and when we left, we saw that the museum security guard had placed his chair next to Cuzco to keep him company. We have gone rafting in Montenegro, visited the BMW Museum in Germany, enjoyed coffee in shopping malls in Italy, and a long list of other incredible situations where Cuzco accompanied us.

ROAD TRIP CROSSING BORDERS IN A VAN OR MOTORHOME

Traveling by road is the solution for seeing the world without having to worry about our dog being in the hold of an airplane or bus, or putting him on a diet so he fits within the 15 kg limit allowed on trains.

As you know, in order to leave Spain, we must have a dog passport and the vaccinations required for entry into the country (which can be verified on the official website of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food). However, we would like to offer some advice based on our experience of crossing borders:

QUARANTINING WITH CUZCO ON THE BORDER BETWEEN RUSSIA AND NORWAY

Our first tip is to add a photo to your dog's passport. In Spain, it's not mandatory, but in other countries, it is required to identify the dog.

It also helped us a lot to know exactly which border we were going to cross with our vehicle, and to call there specifically to get the necessary information about the steps to take to cross with our dog and avoid any surprises.

These are the tips, advice, and aspects that help us most when traveling with our dog. But there are many more things to pay attention to, which we cover in much greater depth in our book “Guide to #VanLife: how to live and travel in a camper van," where we explain and recount how we managed to take Cuzco with us to countries such as Russia, Norway in the middle of winter, Turkey, Georgia, Albania, Mexico, etc.

WITH CUZCO IN METEORA (GREECE)

 

We sincerely hope we have encouraged you or contributed in some small way to your next trip with your pet. We are always delighted to share our adventures with Cuzco.