About
Howdy y’all, we’re Kim & Frank
We’ve lived and traveled all over Europe & the United States with our senior chihuahua mix Robi for over four years now. He’s currently 11 years old (almost 12), but we’re hoping he’ll live forever.
That’s Robi in the photo thinking he’s Air Bud (not pictured: the dog treat that we’re secretly holding in our sweaty hands).
We adopted Robi from the shelter La Sonrisa Animal in Sevilla in 2021 shortly after moving to Spain. Robi’s commands are in Spanish, claro.
We’ve traveled with Robi to 100+ cities across 8 countries and counting!
Robi has lived on two continents and traveled all over Spain, Portugal, Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, the U.K. and the United States. He’s flown long-haul in cabin over the Atlantic between the E.U. and the U.S. four times now like a champ.
Robi is basically Mr. Worldwide, which is apt because his vet told us he has the personalidad of a pitbull. Dale!
With Robi, we’ve taken planes, trains, metros, buses, taxis, water taxis, rental cars, bike rides & exactly one kayak. We’ve stayed in hotels, Airbnbs, bed & breakfasts, hostels, cabins, lodges & even a castle.
We didn’t think it’d be possible to travel with our dog
At first, we thought it would be impossible to travel with Robi. But it felt even more impossible to leave him behind. He’s our baby. We can’t leave our baby behind! And we didn’t want to stop traveling…
So we researched. A lot. And then started traveling with Robi.
And here’s what we discovered…
Dogs change the way you travel — in the best way
Yes, bringing a dog adds a layer of complication. A bit more rules, a little less spontaneity. But the surprising trade-off? It unlocks parts of the world you’d never find on your own.
Your furry best friend becomes an adorable little compass pointing you toward new parks, hidden cafés, and spontaneous conversations with locals.
No matter where we’ve gone, folks have stopped to say hi because of Robi. He’s basically a walking icebreaker with a tail.
Those chats have led to local tips, incredible recommendations and a deeper understanding of each city we’re visiting.
Robi may not speak the language, but somehow he makes us more connected. Dog tourism = accidental cultural exchange program.
The science says it all
Fun fact: A 2025 University of Kent study found that dogs lower anxiety, depression, and loneliness while increasing happiness and purpose.
Researchers estimate these wellbeing benefits at up to £70,000 (about $90,000 USD) a year in life-satisfaction value.
So… what I’m hearing is bringing your pup along more than pays for the trip itself?? Dog math!
Dog travel isn’t just for service animals or wealthy retirees jetting off with designer purse-sized pups anymore (although Robi is pretty small and wishes we were wealthy retirees).
Like any proper millennial, our pet is our child (and plants are the new pets).
We’re here to show that dog-friendly travel can look different: more accessible, affordable, and adventurous.
How we can help you
We put everything we’ve learned right here because we know how confusing and stressful it can feel to hunt down information.
You’ll find a wealth of the most up-to-date resources to help you travel with your dog:
- Flying with your dog
- Pet passports & entry rules
- Where to stay
- How to get around
- What to do once you’re there
- And so much more
Always with our personal experience and honest opinions included.
If it helps you and your dog go somewhere together, we want to share it.
House sitting: a budget-friendly way to travel with a dog
From time to time, we also house sit (which usually means pet sit) in exchange for free accommodation when traveling – all while bringing Robi along!
Many people don’t know this is a thing and we’re here to tell you that we’ve done it several times in Ireland, Germany and the U.S. It’s one of our favorite ways to travel.
It has saved us a ton of money (especially in expensive cities), supports sustainable travel, and lets us experience neighborhoods and daily life in a way hotels and Airbnbs never could.
We’ve saved about $14,500 on accommodation
So far, we’ve housesat for 93 days and, based on my very rough calculations that you can see here, we’ve saved about $14,500 on lodging while traveling.
Staying like a local
Not to mention, it’s so refreshing to stay in a proper and well-loved home while traveling. Some hosts have even lent us their cars or bikes.
And all of our hosts have given us amazing local recs and advice we wouldn’t get on the internet.
Plus, Robi gets to socialize with different animals. Robi has stayed with dogs, cats and even a chicken!
If you want to bring your dog, we’re here to help
Discovering just how many places not only allow — but welcome — dogs has changed our travels. It’s more than you’d think. A lot more.
Getting to explore the world side-by-side with our best friend is truly the funnest thing we’ve ever done.
We hope our stories, guides, and recs help make that possible for you too.
Maybe we’ll even cross paths and Robi will sniff your dog’s butt.
We double dog dare you to explore the world!
♥️ Kim, Frank & Robi
A couple quick but important notes
One, Robi isn’t a service dog. He’s just a very determined little travel companion.
And two, because Robi is on the smaller side (8–9 lbs, depending on how many treats he convinces us to give him), most of our personal experience reflects what it’s like traveling with a small dog.
That said, we never want our big-dog buds to feel left out. We do our best to include accurate info on size restrictions or if a spot is especially great for large dogs.
Our goal: helpful guidance you can trust, no matter your dog’s size, from teacup to tank.
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