Dog-years age done honestly, daily food portions, puppy schedules, exercise needs, vet-cost budgets, insurance maths and warm practical guides — ask a dog question and get a straight, careful answer in seconds. The full detailed report costs less than a cup of coffee: $2.95.
'Pet friendly' is the most optimistic phrase in travel, because it rarely means 'pet free'. Hotels commonly charge $20-60 per night per dog on top of the room, flights add $95-300+ each way depending on cabin or cargo, and the one-off extras — a new crate, a health certificate, a cleaning deposit — appear only at the end. This calculator adds the trip up properly: nights times the nightly pet fee, plus your one-off costs, giving a per-night and total figure for taking the dog. The verdicts then do the honest comparison — against boarding or a sitter at home, which is often cheaper and sometimes what the dog would prefer anyway.
Price out travelling with your dog — pet fees per night, transport extras and one-off costs — so the holiday budget does not get bitten by surprise pet charges.
Most pet-friendly hotels charge $20-60 per night per dog, and some add a one-off cleaning fee or refundable deposit on top. Always ask for the full fee structure in writing before booking — 'pet fee' can mean a total-stay charge or a per-night charge, and the difference is significant.
Work it out both ways: hotel pet fees plus any transport costs against a sitter or kennel at roughly $30-60 per night. For short trips with low pet fees, taking the dog often wins; for longer trips or flights, a sitter at home is frequently cheaper — and many dogs genuinely prefer their own sofa.
Water and a bowl, enough food for the trip plus a day, a lead and harness, the ID tag with your mobile number, vaccination records and any health certificate, and a recent photo in case of separation. Plan driving stops every 2-3 hours and never leave a dog alone in a car.
Every tool answers instantly from our own knowledge and calculators — no AI wait, no account. Honest estimates built on widely used dog-care rules of thumb, always warm, practical and educational — never a substitute for your vet. If your dog is unwell, injured or behaving oddly, ask a vet: we signpost, we never diagnose. Want the deeper, personalised version? Each has a $2.95 full report.