Pet owners out there know the struggle all too well. You’ve been dreaming up the perfect vacation for a while, you’re all ready to book, you can’t wait to travel… there’s just one thing holding you back. Your dream will never become a reality until you’ve figured out what you’re going to do about the dog!

“To kennel or not to kennel?”

Sure, your first inclination might be to ask yourself, “Are there any dog kennels near me? Maybe I could try and board ’em there.” But if it’s high travelling season, chances are the decent dog kennels in Egypt have been booked for months. Not to mention, good dog kennels are expensive! Plus the more you think about it, something just doesn’t seem right about leaving a member of your family behind, locked in a cage with a bunch of strangers. (For the record, the one time we boarded our German Shepherd at Eastwind Kennels, we weren’t impressed; nor was our pup. He’s never been back.)

So what alternatives to dog kennels do you have?

You DO have options!

Good news my friends! You don’t have to leave your pup behind at any of the local dog kennels. You may be surprised to discover a number of hotels in popular travel destination across Egypt do welcome dogs – provided they are socialized, well-trained, and friendly. So with just a bit of extra planning, the WHOLE family can come along and enjoy that dream vacation with you!

The following resources will help you find pet-friendly accommodations for your next vacation.

The Dogs Network

The first resource to check out is The Dogs Network. This site provides information on pet-friendly hotels in Cairo and greater Egypt, as well as dog-friendly beaches in Sahel, Alexandria, Gouna, and Hurghada. Not only that, but they also share some great general tips for travelling with a pet, like what to pack and how to find a vet away from home.

AirBnB

Another option is to use the AirBnB community, and use the “pets allowed” feature as you search for your accommodations. You never know what kind of hidden gem you might come across here. Just make sure to clearly communicate with your host, make sure there aren’t any breed restrictions, and follow your hosts’ specific rules regarding animals on their property.

BringFido.com

Last but not least, BringFido.com is a resource you can use to search for hotels that allow dogs, anywhere around the globe! If you want, you can even book right from the website. Their database of dog-friendly hotels includes properties in Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Aswan, Dahab, El Alamein, Gouna, Quseir, Hurghada, and Luxor.

It never hurts to ask

Just because a property does not advertise itself as “pets welcome,” doesn’t mean there is no hope. Sometimes places are willing to admit pets on a case-by-case basis; they just don’t want the trouble an open door policy might bring, so they don’t advertise themselves as being pet friendly. This is especially true of many of the camps around Dahab or in Marsa Alam.

Therefore it never hurts to just email or call up the management to have a conversation about possibly bringing your well-behaved pet.

This strategy has worked well for our family vacations — and our giant German Shepherd (which goes to show that even big dogs can be accomodated!)

On our last trip, we stayed at one of these camps whose policy is to allow pets on a case-by-case basis. It simply took an inquiry email and a follow-up phone call to work things out. With a promise to adhere to their rules, our dog was not only welcome, but by the end of the week had the camp cook bringing him extra treats and meal scraps out to our table!

A few final reminders

Whether it’s a trip across town or cross-country, always bring along the supplies needed to ensure a comfortable, stress-free outing for you, your pet, and the other people and animals you may run into. Clean up after your pet, and never leave him or her unattended.

If your pet isn’t particularly well-behaved, consider investing in some training before you travel. While I’m not a big fan of the Eastwind Kennels for boarding animals, I do think they have some of the top dog trainers in Egypt, who might be able to get your pup prepped for travel! Another option for socialization training and/or short-term boarding is Kelabi Dog Boarding.

Finally please don’t be the jerk who tries to sneak a pet into a property that isn’t cool with animals; you’ll ruin things for everyone else!

If your just looking for some local spots around Cairo to hang out with your dog, check out our list of Top Dog Friendly Places in Cairo. 

Have any great stories of travelling in Egypt with your pet? If so, please share in the comments below!

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