Brooklyn Bridge, 2022
This blog was born from a cross-country move from Washington State to Florida in 2016 — three dogs, a truck, and 3,753 miles of highway. Only after we pulled it off did I realize how many pieces had to fall perfectly into place. Organizing and planning came naturally to me, and seeing how amazed people were by what we'd done, I realized I could help others in a similar situation.
That first move turned into a second, and then a third. Seven years, three moves, five dogs — and eventually a one-way flight to Málaga, Spain. ReviewTrip grew out of all of it. We share the experiences, the lessons, the logistics, and the life — from cross-country road trips to relocating across the Atlantic.
"Seven years, three moves, five dogs. The moving became the story."
Read the full origin story in our retrospective: Seven Years, Five Dogs, Three Moves: The Story of Two Wanderers and Their Pack.
The Roadmap
Your Complete Pet Relocation Guide
The Foundation & Preparation
- Cross-Country with Three Dogs — Washington to Florida The move that started it all. What we learned driving 3,753 miles with three dogs in December 2016.
- Cross Country (Almost) with Two Dogs — Florida to Colorado 1,902 miles, a trailer, a brand new puppy, and the only bar between Dallas and Shreveport.
The International Journey — USA to Spain
- Decision & Timeline Solidifying the plan to move three dogs from the US to the EU.
- Flights & Crates USDA certs, cargo vs. cabin, airline reviews, and the final flight.
- Legal Barriers & Bans Breed restrictions, quarantine rules, and the PPP license.
- Life After Landing Getting the EU Pet Passport, sourcing food, and the cost shock of a new country.
All our pet relocation resources in one place — checklists, flight maps, breed restrictions, trusted hotels and more: Pet Relocation Resources.
Rio de Janeiro — one of our favorite views in the world
Travel Tips & Life in Europe
Now we pass on trip reviews, travel tips, itineraries, and anecdotes for fellow travelers. Whether you're planning for leisure or out of necessity, I hope you find something useful here.
- European Vacation Roadmap Step-by-step planning for budget-friendly, multi-city itineraries — skip the tour packages and plan your own.
- The Carry-On Commitment Why we only travel light and how you can master the packing list.
- The Inaugural European Rail Odyssey Milan, Venice, Vienna, Cologne, Amsterdam — the trip that started our love of European rail travel.
- Second European Rail Odyssey Milan, Lake Como, Lucerne, Salzburg — our return to the rails, two years later.
- 🐾 Video: Planning a European Road Trip with Dogs Step-by-step guide to finding and booking dog-friendly hotels and making multi-country travel work with your pets.
What's the biggest worry you have about your move? Tell us in the comments below.
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Thanks for stopping by and sharing!