Pet Travel Insider

Thinking about moving to France with your dog or cat? In this episode of the Pet Travel Insider Podcast, host Georgiana Strait talks with Cécile Gallet, founder and CEO of Haven in France, and Adam Melton, VP of Strategic Initiatives at Starwood Pet Travel. They cover the full relocation journey, from the first planning conversations to the moment your pet is settled in its new home.

Cécile explains why your pet should shape your relocation strategy from day one. That includes choosing pet-friendly rentals and temporary housing, finding a French vet, and registering with I-CAD, France's national pet identification database. Adam covers the travel side: EU rabies and microchip timing, airline breed restrictions, what the EU pet passport is (and isn't), customs clearance at Charles de Gaulle, and the last-minute "fire drills" that come from starting too late.

In this episode:

• Why the pet belongs on page one of your relocation plan, not page 20
• Pet-friendly housing in France: leases, landlords, fencing, stairs, and short-term rentals
• EU import requirements: microchip first, then a rabies vaccine at least 21 days old
• Breed restrictions for airlines and destinations, and why mixed breeds can cause problems
• The EU pet passport: when you can get one and why you don't need it to enter France
• How to plan for a smooth arrival, including customs hours, brokers, and connections through other EU airports
• I-CAD registration and your first French vet visit
• What to do with your travel crate once you land
• Ideal timelines: 18 months for the full move and at least 6 months for pet travel
• Budgeting for life in France with a pet, including French pet insurance
• Day-to-day surprises like unavailable food brands, emergency vet distance, and finding a pet sitter

Resources mentioned:

• Haven in France: haveninfrance.com
• Cécile Gallet on LinkedIn
• Starwood Pet Travel's France guide (rules, pricing estimates, client stories): starwoodpet.com/location/france
• Pet travel timeline tool
• Get a personalized quote: starwoodpet.com

Subscribe for more expert conversations on international pet relocation. Safe travels to you and your furry friends!

Italy has become one of the top destinations for Americans relocating abroad — whether it's digital nomads, retirees, or military families PCSing to bases like Naval Air Station Sigonella. But what does it actually take to bring your dog or cat with you?

In this episode, host Adam Melton sits down with Stefano Saija, CEO of ReloCat Italy, Starwood's destination partner for all pet moves to Italy. Stefano breaks down the full import process for pets coming from the U.S. — microchips, the 21-day rabies rule, health certificates, and the key difference between commercial and non-commercial shipments (and why that "5-day travel window" matters so much). He also covers which airports handle pet clearance, what military families moving to Sicily or Naples need to know, and the most common mistakes that cause delays at customs.

Then the conversation shifts to life in Italy with a pet: dog-friendly cafes and restaurants, the surprising reality behind Italy's "pet friendly" reputation, apartment hunting with animals, vet care costs, and why Italians might just be cat people after all.

Whether you're planning a move to Italy or just curious what pet ownership looks like on the other side of the Atlantic, this episode has the practical details and the cultural color to help you get there.

Planning a pet move to Italy?
Learn more and get a quote: https://www.starwoodpet.com/locations/italy

Connect with ReloCat Italy:
Website: relocat.it
Instagram: @relocatitaly
Email: [email protected]

Portugal has seen an 11X increase in US-to-Portugal pet relocation requests since 2021, driven by digital nomads and retirees chasing better weather, lower costs, and the D7 visa. In this episode of the Pet Travel Insider Podcast, host Adam Melton sits down with Diana DaCosta and Dr. Rita Afonso of Global Pets (a division of Global International Relocation) to break down exactly what it takes to bring a dog or cat into Portugal.

We cover:

• Portugal's pet import requirements: microchip, rabies vaccination, and USDA-endorsed health certificates
• Why Portugal's rules are stricter than the rest of the EU when it comes to owner/pet arrival timing, and how to avoid paying import taxes and duties
• What documentation customs accepts as proof of your flight (including screenshots of boarding passes)
• Life with a pet in Portugal: vet costs, pet insurance, emergency care, and pet-friendly housing
• Beyond pets: how Global International Relocation supports household goods shipping, visas and immigration, banking, and fine art relocation for Americans moving to Portugal

Links & Resources:

• Learn more about full relocation services (household goods, visas, immigration, and more): https://www.globalpets.pt/
• Ready to move your pet to Portugal? Visit Starwood Pet Travel for free resources and to request a quote

Whether you're relocating for remote work, retirement, or an adventure abroad, this episode gives you the on-the-ground insight you need to move to Portugal with your pet with confidence.

What really changes when you move abroad with pets — and what does life look like on the other side?

In this episode of Pet Travel Insider, your weekly travel podcast for pet owners and animal lovers, Georgiana Strait sits down with Carole Hobbs of Expatability and Adam Melton of Starwood Pet Travel to unpack the realities of expat life with pets — before and after the move.

Carole shares her firsthand journey living overseas for over a decade: moving to Tokyo as a trailing spouse with a young child and two cats, navigating life in Berlin and Pretoria, and eventually returning to the UK with a full house of pets and a teenager. It's a rare perspective that covers both sides of the expat experience — leaving and coming back.

Together, they explore what families don't expect before they move, how pets factor into major life transitions, and what it actually takes to build a sense of home in a completely new country. They also dig into the emotional side of relocation, identity shifts, and how priorities evolve once you're fully immersed in expat life.

Whether you're considering moving abroad with pets, already living overseas, or planning your return home, this episode delivers honest, lived-in travel insider advice from people who've been through it.

🎙️ Pet Travel Insider is hosted by Starwood Pet Travel — the international pet relocation experts. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Learn more at starwoodpet.com.

Thinking about moving your dog or cat to Australia? 🇦🇺🐾

Australia is one of the most complex pet relocations in the world — and in this episode of Pet Travel Insider, airline industry experts Adam Melton and Starwood Pet Travel Coordinator Sage Ingle break down exactly what the 7–8 month process looks like, from microchipping and identity verification to blood tests, import permits, quarantine, and flight logistics.

Whether you're planning your first international move or you've already begun the process, this episode will help you avoid costly mistakes and understand every required step — including parasite treatment protocols, rabies titer timing, and what quarantine at Mickleham actually looks like for your pet.

What's covered:

• Why Australia has stricter pet import rules than the EU or UK
• Microchipping, identity verification, and the 180-day rabies titer wait
• Import permits, RNAT declarations, and parasite treatments
• Flight options: Qantas direct vs. Qatar Airways through Doha
• Mickleham quarantine: 10-day vs. 30-day stays, medication rules, and release day logistics
• The most common mistakes that reset your entire timeline

This is the most thorough breakdown of Australian pet import requirements you'll find in any travel planning podcast — straight from the pet relocation specialists who do this every day.

🌐 Free resources + step-by-step guides: starwoodpet.com
📋 Request a pet travel quote: app.starwoodpet.com/quote-request
🎙️ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Planning to move your dog or cat to New Zealand? 🇳🇿🐾

New Zealand has some of the strictest pet import rules in the world — and in this episode of Pet Travel Insider, airline industry experts Adam Melton and Starwood Pet Travel Coordinator Sage Ingle break down exactly how the process works from the U.S., including microchipping, rabies titers, official veterinary declarations, quarantine bookings, parasite treatments, crate sealing, and flight logistics.

If you're preparing your pet for a relocation to New Zealand, this episode will help you avoid costly mistakes, understand the true timeline, and approach the process with confidence.

What's covered:

• Microchip requirements, rabies vaccine rules, and titer blood test timing
• The Official Veterinary Declaration (OVD) and how quarantine bookings work
• Dog-specific blood tests: Babesia, Brucella, and heartworm
• The "busy" 3 months — what's actually happening while you wait
• Final health exam, parasite treatment protocols, USDA endorsement, and crate sealing
• Auckland quarantine: facilities, vet checks, visitation rules, and release day
• Flight options: Air New Zealand vs. Qatar Airways through Doha
• Common pitfalls — rabies lapses, microchip mistakes, and how pets actually handle the journey

This is the most complete breakdown of New Zealand pet import requirements available in any travel planning podcast — straight from the pet relocation specialists who manage these moves every day.

🌐 Free pet travel guides: starwoodpet.com
📋 Request a quote: app.starwoodpet.com/quote-request
🎙️ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Moving your dog or cat from the U.S. to Europe? 🇪🇺🐾

In this episode of Pet Travel Insider, airline industry expert Adam Melton sits down with Starwood's Rosie Cann — an EU pet travel specialist — for a complete step-by-step breakdown of everything you need to get your pet safely from the U.S. to Europe, including specific requirements for Ireland and Portugal.

Whether you're relocating for work, following a partner abroad, or making a permanent move, this episode covers every stage of the process so you can travel with pets confidently and avoid costly mistakes.

What's covered:

• Microchipping, rabies vaccinations, and health certificate requirements for the EU
• Commercial vs. non-commercial pet import rules
• Choosing the correct travel kennel
• The USDA endorsement process (VEHCS) and final vet visit requirements
• Ireland and Portugal's unique import requirements
• Whether pet passports and quarantine are required
• EU customs clearance and direct flights vs. layovers

This is the most thorough EU pet shipping breakdown you'll find in any travel planning podcast — delivered by the airline industry experts at Starwood Pet Travel who handle these moves every day.

🌐 Free resources by destination: starwoodpet.com/locations
📋 Request a quote: app.starwoodpet.com/quote-request
🎙️ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Planning to move your dog or cat from the U.S. to the UK? 🇬🇧🐾

In this episode of Pet Travel Insider, airline industry experts break down everything you need to know about transporting pets from the US to the UK — from paperwork and health certificates to arrival, import logistics, and the most common misconceptions that trip pet owners up.

Whether you're relocating for work or making a permanent move, this episode gives you an honest, expert-backed look at what the process actually involves — and how to get it right the first time.

What's covered:

• High-level overview of US to UK pet travel requirements
• Common paperwork mistakes and how to avoid them
• Whether quarantine or a pet passport is required
• The UK import process and how long it takes
• How the final health certificate and USDA endorsement work
• How staffing cuts have impacted the USDA endorsement process
• Common misconceptions about sedation and post-travel adjustment

This is the clearest, most practical breakdown of UK pet shipping requirements you'll find in any travel planning podcast — straight from the pet relocation specialists who manage these moves every day.

🌐 Free pet travel guides: starwoodpet.com
📋 Request a quote: app.starwoodpet.com/quote-request
🎙️ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify