By William Coleman
The boom in staycations continues and now our four-legged friends are jumping in on the action. Caravan Sitefinder is experiencing a huge rise in demand for pet-friendly camping and caravan parks.
There are thousands of pet owners in the UK who love to take their pet with them when they go away. Despite the huge demand for dog-friendly sites, there are still many that don’t welcome four-legged friends.
Now, Caravan Sitefinder is seeing a large spike in search requests for this specific requirement. The figures suggest that 2021 will be Fido’s finest year, as more families opt for a UK holiday with their canine companions.
With over 4,800 pet-friendly sites in its listings, holidaymakers and their dogs can find the right location for their next staycation on the website.
Some sites have facilities in place just for furry friends, such as special exercise areas, dog-sitting services and guides to local dog-friendly attractions, restaurants and beaches.
On top of that, many sites even have separate washing machines and dryers just for pets’ bedding and accessories.
Michael Paul, owner of Caravan Sitefinder, said: “Many families hate being separated from their pets when they go away, but the staycation trend will mean far fewer sad farewells next year.
“Our website receives almost one million visitors a year, and in the past few months, the number of people searching for pet-friendly parks has more than doubled from last winter.
“We have thousands of parks which can solve their dog dilemma at a stroke, and parks and campsites are ideal places to stay as most are virtually traffic-free.”
Last year saw a rise in sales of dogs, as many households sought a lockdown companion. Following these pet purchases, Michael feels we are now seeing pet holiday searches as a direct result.
