Pets and island resorts
You would like to bring a pet, or leave one at home, and want to know the rules.
Most island trips are easier without a pet, and many resorts do not accept animals. If you want to bring one, four rules must all say yes: the road, the boat, the resort and the beach. Ask each in writing before you plan, and make a sitter plan as a fallback.
If you are still choosing a resort, our guide on how to choose an island resort is a good start. The island packing checklist helps with the rest of your list.
Why is a pet more complicated on an island?
A pet crosses several people’s rules on the way. The resort has a policy, the boat has a policy and the beach or the marine park may have its own. A yes from one does not mean a yes from the others.
The heat, the boat ride and unfamiliar surroundings can also be hard on an animal. Ask a vet whether the trip suits your pet at all.
Which four rules should you check?
Work through them in order, because the first no ends the plan.
| Rule | Who sets it | Ask |
|---|---|---|
| The road | You, the vehicle or the coach | Can the pet travel in the car or coach? |
| The boat | The operator | Allowed, in what carrier, any fee? |
| The resort | The resort | Allowed, where, any deposit or rule? |
| The beach | The resort or park | Where may the pet go? |
Our guide on check-in and check-out times helps with the timing if you do have a yes from all four.
What should you ask the resort?
If a resort says pets are accepted, ask for the full terms.
- Which animals and sizes are accepted?
- Is there a fee or deposit?
- Which rooms or areas can pets stay in?
- Are pets allowed in the restaurant, pool or beach?
- What about noise, leashes and cleaning?
- What is the plan if the pet becomes unwell?
If the answer is no, thank them and move to the sitter plan.
What if the pet stays home?
Most travellers choose this, and it can be a calm choice. Arrange care early, and give the sitter what they need.
- Written feeding times and portions.
- Medicine and doses, if any.
- Your vet’s name and number.
- Your contact details, and the resort’s phone number.
- A note that signal on the island may be weak, with a way to reach a person on the mainland.
Our guide on Wi-Fi and phone signal explains why this note matters, and the one on emergency contacts to save lists what to share.
What about assistance animals?
An assistance animal is not the same as a pet. A resort and boat operator may each have a policy, and the practical side, such as the path to the room, matters too.
Tell both early. Ask what documents they need, whether the animal can travel on the boat and what the route from the jetty looks like. Our guide on jetty-to-room distance and walking paths helps you ask for the route.
A better fit if…
A trip with the pet at home may be a better fit if:
- the resort or the boat does not accept animals.
- the journey is long and hot.
- you want a calm, simple holiday.
A trip with a pet may be a better fit if:
- the resort, boat and beach all confirm in writing.
- the pet is calm, healthy and used to travel.
- you have a plan if the pet becomes unwell.
What should you ask the resort in writing?
- Are pets accepted, and which kinds?
- What are the fees, rules and areas?
- Does the boat operator accept the pet?
- Which rooms are suitable?
- Who do I call if there is a problem?
With these saved, you will know before you pay, not after.
Common questions
Can I bring my dog or cat to an island resort?
Many resorts do not accept pets, and some do under conditions. We cannot confirm any one place. Ask the resort directly, and check the boat operator too, because the boat has its own rules. Do not travel until both agree in writing.
Do boats carry pets?
Operators set their own rules, and some do not carry animals or limit them to crates. Ask the boat operator, not just the resort, whether pets are allowed, what container is needed and whether there is a fee.
Are assistance animals treated differently?
They are a separate matter, and a resort may have its own policy. Tell the resort and the boat operator early, and ask what documents they need and what the route to the room looks like. We cannot declare any place accessible.
What if my pet stays at home?
Arrange care early, and leave written instructions, your contact details and a vet's number. Because phone signal on the island may be weak, tell the sitter how to reach the resort in an emergency.