Pet-Friendly Paris
Maggie Espinosa and her “assistant” Marcel had no trouble using public transport in Paris.
Maggie Espinosa contributed this guest post.
What options does pet-friendly Paris offer? That was the question as my assistant and I deplaned in The City of Light. I was sure that man’s best friend was welcome, but I needed to know the details because I’m writing a travel guide app: The Privileged Pooch in Paris.
I was confident that I could count on Marcel to help me sniff out the truth – as only an inquisitive Bichon Frise can. In fact, my four-legged friend was raring to go, having slept on my lap most of the way between San Diego and Paris.
Our quest was to find pet-friendly Paris hotels, restaurants, activities, and boutiques – a task that would take several months. Such a lengthy visit required an apartment as home base, but a Parisian agent’s search for a pet-loving landlord had been in vain. Surprising I thought, given the city’s reputation.
VRBO.com proved more fruitful. My e-mails resulted in a Saint-Germain-Des-Prés house for the first month, and an Ile Saint Louis apartment, built in 1643, for the remainder of our stay. Renting a variety of pied-à-terres allowed me to experience different neighborhoods and provided space for visiting family and friends.
Twenty arrondissements make up the metropolis. These districts, covering roughly 41 square miles, are clumped into neighborhoods, such as the Marais, Montparnasse, Montmartre, Le Quartier Latin, and the aforementioned vicinities where I lived.
Twelve-year-old Marcel enjoyed riding in his Outward Hound.
Anticipating the amount of walking we’d be doing, I arrived with an Outward Hound backpack for 12-year-old Marcel. It was invaluable when riding the crowded metro, shopping the Clignancourt flea market’s 2,500 stalls, and traipsing the cobblestone streets in temperatures over 100° F. Unbeknownst to me, this canine mode of transportation is a novelty in Europe, and we elicited smiles and photo ops wherever we went.
Like true Parisiens, Maggie and Marcel toured Paris on a Velib.
Mon petit chien and I rented a bike at the Vélib’ kiosk in Bois de Boulogne, a 2,000 acre park on Paris’ western fringe. Marcel rode in the front basket and I provided the peddle power. Hundreds of rental stations throughout the city make this one of Parisian’s most popular ways to get around. Other parks are less pet tolerant. The three urban jardins – Luxembourg, Tuileries, and Palais Royal - provide a sliver of land where leashed dogs are permitted. Parc du Champ de Mars at the foot of the Eiffel Tower is less restrictive. Stringent rules are due to the residents not picking up after their dogs, but a newly imposed fine is helping to rectify the problem.
Pet-friendly Paris tours helped us acclimate to the city. The double-decker al fresco L’Open Bus supplied headphones with English commentary and encouraged guests to hop on, hop off at any of their 50 stops. Batobus boat shuttle on La Seine transported my sidekick and me to eight popular spots.
“Paris needs to be discovered on foot and subway” I’d been told by a friend. “There are little villages within the city.” Strolling les avenues at night was a magical light show. The pet-friendly Paris offerings unfurled as we ventured into new neighborhoods. Bon Marche department store’s Manicure Bar loved Marcel; piano recitals at local churches granted him a seat; and Tuk-Tuk automated rickshaw drivers zoomed us through gaggles of tourists.
Marcel enjoyed many Paris cafes, but Cafe de Flore was his favorite.
Cafes are ubiquitous, as is stellar cuisine. Most – all but a handful – welcomed Marcel. It was commonplace to see a Jack Russell terrier or Yorkie sharing charcuterie, meat plates, pommes frites, and other treats with their owner.
Deviating from a pet’s usual diet when traveling can have drastic consequences, so prior to our departure I shipped a bag of my buddy’s dog food to the rental. I also imprinted two collar ID tags with my Paris addresses and cell phone number in case Marcel wandered.
Our summer abroad was both fun and fruitful. Contrary to their reputation, the French people we met were gracious and hospitable. À bientôt they’d say…yes, you will see us soon.
Maggie Espinosa’s The Privileged Pooch in Paris app for iPhone, iPad, Kindle Fire, and Nook will be available soon. Check her website for details.
To learn more about pet-friendly travel, read Traveling With VIPs – an article I wrote for Ranch & Coast Magazine.
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Category: France, Pet-Friendly Travel
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Awesome, I hope to travel someday with my 3 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels & France is @ the top of our list. Marcel
is “SO CUTE”
Awesome! We used http://www.elitedestinationhomes.com the last time we were in Paris, and Ebbie (she’s a cat, but she loves cuties like you Marcel!) loved the rental they found for us. Great option for next time