Yorkshire one of the most pet-friendly areas, says survey

Rising numbers of holidaymakers are planning their break around the family VIP – Very Important PET.
Families across the country are splashing extra cash on ensuring their pet is part of the holiday fun.Families across the country are splashing extra cash on ensuring their pet is part of the holiday fun.
Families across the country are splashing extra cash on ensuring their pet is part of the holiday fun.

New research has found families across the country are happily splashing extra cash on ensuring their pet is part of the holiday fun, both at home and abroad.

The amount of money they are willing to spend can be significant: around half questioned by price comparison website MoneyPug said they would pay as much as £500 to ensure their four-legged friend wasn’t left out.

It’s good news for the travel industry across the north of EnglandManchester and York said to be among the top hotspots destinations for pet owners.

Of the 1,000 pet owners surveyed by MoneyPug, 30% prefer to spend between £51 and £100 for pet luxuries, with 18% inclined to keep pet purchases on a leash, spending no more than £50.

Regardless of the amounts pet owners want or need to spend, the UK’s £200 billion travel industry is said to be responding to demand, with more pet-friendly accommodation and pubs, restaurants, shops and other attractions also opening their doors to animal guests.

Pet travel by numbers

According to the research, an impressive 90% of pet owners say they travel with their animals regularly, while 63% say they’ve taken their pet on their travels at least four times in the past 12 months.

Most bring a dog, but cats, hamsters, and rabbits all made an appearance in the survey.

And when it comes to deciding where to travel, British pet owners appear to have no boundaries and appear happy to travel to near and far-away destinations.

MoneyPug says popular spots for holiday or work travel include York, Manchester, and Newcastle. Other UK destinations such as London, Cornwall and Cambridge also get high marks from pet owners.

The most pet-friendly cities based on responses include York, London, and Cornwall, while Paris, Alicante, elsewhere in Spain, Ireland, and Italy all come up as common travel locations for Brits and their furry friends.

Have pet, go travel

No matter where pet owners travel, Money Pug CEO Lee Whitbread says it’s important they stay safe.

“The travel industry has gone out of its way to make pet-friendly travel the norm, but accidents still occur. Pet insurance can help ease the burdens of the unexpected when travelling locally or overseas, putting pet owners at ease when away from home.”

Travellers also need to be aware that even though many cities are deemed welcoming to pets, not all businesses will be.

Checking beforehand with a destination – such as a shop, pub or restaurant – that its pet policy welcomes animals will ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for both pet and pet parent.

On the move with your pet? Check out travel and pet insurance – even holidays – at Money Pug.