Paul Salley and Brianna Feehan’s trip costs doubled to $3,000 from the original estimate of $1,500 simply because they chose to bring along their Golden Retriever, Koda.
Paul and Brianna, based in the U.S., adopted Koda in January 2023. As creative professionals, they spend 80% of their time traveling and producing lifestyle content. However, after some time, they realized they missed Koda too much during their trips and decided they couldn’t leave him behind anymore.
To accommodate Koda, they shifted their focus from international to domestic travel. Their first journey together was a road trip from Connecticut to Florida in April.
Traveling with Koda has led to additional expenses, particularly for accommodation. They’ve encountered pet fees ranging from $30 to $75 per night at hotels, while Airbnb typically charges around $50. For a week-long trip to Florida, Paul estimated their expenses would have been $1,500 without Koda, but bringing him along doubled the cost.
For longer trips, such as one lasting seven weeks, they set a maximum budget of $6,000. Despite trying to be frugal, they’ve had to prepare for unexpected costs. On one occasion, Koda fell ill, suffering from diarrhea 14 times during a drive, leading to over $1,000 in medical bills for blood tests and X-rays.
Brianna, Koda and Paul
“It was a lot of money, and we lost two or three days because Koda got sick; it was terrible,” Brianna recalls. Paul emphasizes the importance of pet insurance for anyone planning to travel with their pet, as unforeseen situations can arise.
Adjustments to their lifestyle were also necessary to ensure Koda’s comfort. They now avoid frequent moves and refrain from changing accommodations every night, as it would disrupt Koda’s routine, making it difficult for him to adapt or eat properly.
Their trips have also become longer. For example, their drive to Florida was initially estimated by Apple Maps to take 18 hours, but it ended up taking 24 hours due to more than 10 stops to keep Koda comfortable.
Not all destinations are pet-friendly. For instance, they once had to cut short a three-day trip in New York City and head to Los Angeles because they couldn’t find suitable accommodations for Koda. In contrast, Wyoming proved to be much more accommodating, with dog-friendly restaurants, beaches, bars, and shops. Los Angeles was also a good fit, although they eventually left early as they didn’t fully adapt to the city.
A Forbes Advisor survey conducted in June with 10,000 U.S. dog owners revealed that 33% of them travel with their dogs on planes, and 37% feel frustrated if they can’t bring their pets along. With the rising trend of pet travel, some airlines are making it easier for passengers to bring their pets onboard. For example, in March, American Airlines began allowing pets to fly with their owners.
Looking ahead, Paul and Brianna hope to take Koda on an international trip. Paul believes that a trip feels complete only when all three of them are together. Brianna finds it more relaxing to watch Koda enjoy himself. Before Koda joined their family, they would spend all day from sunrise taking photos, filming, and vlogging. Now, with Koda, they’ve learned to slow down and savor life more.
