We asked you to share your pet-friendly holiday recommendations via GuardianWitness. From beaches where you can bring your pets to welcoming staff in getaway retreats, here is a selection of the best tips
Sandy noses, sandy toesies.. Little Miss Grace takes a break from digging and chasing her frisbee on the beautiful beach at Wells-Next-The-Sea, Norfolk. Apart from the bit at the end, round the harbour (council-owned), this massive and stunningly beautiful beach is privately owned by Holkham Hall. Dogs are absolutely WELCOME here and therefore, we go every year. We absolutely love it here. We used to go to Cornwall, but they're so obsessed with Dog Control Orders and banning dogs there, we now holiday closer to home, where we are welcomePhotograph: PennyBunn/GuardianWitnessIt's behind you! An exhausting evening walk up to the top of Monte San Vicino, and Squirrel and Molly didn't even appreciate the view. Le Marche is a perfect place to travel with dogs, simply because of the breathtaking countryside and friendly locals Photograph: planetnatty/GuardianWitnessTyra enjoying Chatsworth House grounds: Chatsworth house Derbyshire are very accommodating for dogs: lovely to explore the grounds for dogs. Tyra was an angel ;) Photograph: ID3530552/GuardianWitnessMicro's first boutique beach retreat in Central Vietnam: A last minute invitation for a weekend away at Le Domaine Tam Hai left us without a pet sitter for our two month old kitten Micro and Bia Hoi rescue dog Lupo, so we loaded up the whole family (Micro travelled in a rat trap as Vietnam is short on pet carriers) on to two motorbikes and had our first real family holiday (two kids, a cat and a dog). Lupo and the kids canoe'd, whilst Micro decadently lounged by the pool being fed scraps by Domaine's bewildered, but welcoming staffPhotograph: misscvietnam/GuardianWitnessHector finds a sheep's carcass while on holiday in the Hebrides! We were on Luskentyre Beach on the Isle of Harris in the Hebrides. Fantastic beach for dogs... Lots of rabbit holes that kept Hector occupied for hours. And then he found this carcass... all in all the western islands of Scotland were very dog friendly! Photograph: wendytravels/GuardianWitnessBenji in cottage: Our elderly dog Benji, a bearded collie on holiday in Barra, Outer Hebrides. he's waiting for his dinner after a day on the beach adjoining the cottage (which also doubles as Barra airport). Accommodation is the excellent Number 9 Ardmhor Photograph: JackFate/GuardianWitnessGadget at Heldenplatz, Vienna: Austria is extremely dog friendly, although while you can take your pooch to the majority of hotels and restaurants, there is - bizarrely - a dog ban in many parksPhotograph: thoughtsofaturtle/GuardianWitnessMidge in Norway: Took Midge the english springer spaniel on a roadtrip to Norway. She coped with travel well and really enjoyed the sandy beaches on Lofoten Islands. Potential visitors should not forget to get a pet passport & jabs before entering Norway (& UK) Photograph: duro/GuardianWitnessIdyllic campsite on Mt Vardousi in Central Greece: A wonderful place to stop, for me and George the horse (notice the wonderful pastures) - often on our holiday traveling for three months and more than a thousand miles in the wilderness in Greece we found places we never wanted to leave. Photograph: pennyt/GuardianWitnessMy Border Collie jumps for joy (and for his ball!), loving his holiday: This is my other dog, Dexter, jumping for his ball on the beautiful beach at Wells-Next-The-Sea, Norfolk. We totally love it there. Dogs are so welcome and my two have such a wonderful time. I cannot understand the current persecution of dog owners by so many councils who are banning them from beaches despite public consultations showing that most people are against it. Cornwall is the worst, in my experience, and after holidaying there for many years, we now go to Norfolk. We feel more welcome there and at Wells, my dogs can run free and have a wonderful time. I recommend it wholeheartedly for the fantastic beach, gorgeous scenery, stunning pine woods, lovely accommodation and for the wonderful welcome you are sure to receive from the laid-back and lovely Norfolk folk!Photograph: PennyBunn/GuardianWitnessLotte's first holiday: Lotte on the beach at Applecross looking over to Skye and Raasay. The whole village is dog friendly including the holiday cottages and (excellent) pub. She even won 'Most Appealing Expression' in the dog show at the Highland Games, beating the local competition Photograph: Moira Malcolm/GuardianWitnessSage the mini Australian shepherd enjoys Watch Hill, Rhode Island: Many US beaches ban dogs from the beach from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Watch Hill is different. Dogs get access to the beach and dunes before 8am and after 5pm. So, for Sage the early ramble is the highlight of the vacation. She is never happier Photograph: Neil Kimberley/GuardianWitnessFrijol at the beach: Our dog, Frijol (bean) loved the beach at Pie de la Cuesta in Mexico. We stayed at a pet friendly hotel that accepts dogs and provides food and beds for them if you want. He loved running on the beach, sniffing sea snakes and puffer fish washed up on the sand, and playing with the other dogs, although he hates the sea and swimming. When we took him to a nearby lagoon, he tried to climb on my head to avoid swimmingPhotograph: sinmexico/GuardianWitnessOban and Tiree in Woolacombe: Massive beach which at one end is "no dogs allowed", is "dogs on leads" in the middle, and is "dogs have a great time and run about like maniacs" at the other end. Woolacombe Sands camp site super dog friendly too Photograph: ID4566687/GuardianWitness
