Dog Friendly Santa Fe, NM: 7 Tips for Traveling with Your Pet

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Dog friendly Santa Fe is the perfect destination if you’re a pet owner who wants to explore a new city while bringing your furry friends along for the adventure.

With plenty of pet-friendly hotels, restaurants, and outdoor spaces, Santa Fe makes traveling with pets a breeze.

So, in this blog post, you’ll learn seven tips for tail-wagging fun in Santa Fe so you can make the most of your trip with your beloved pet.

Whether you’re looking for hiking trails or dog-friendly dining, we’ve got you covered.

So read more below, pack your bags, grab your pup, and get ready to discover all that this historic city has to offer!

CONTENTS — In this article, you will learn about how dog friendly Santa Fe can be your best travel destination when traveling with your furry friend, including:

Tips for Traveling with Pets to Santa Fe, NM
1. Always Start With the Hotel
2. Keep Your Pet Documents With You
3. Be Respectful to the People Around You
4. Befriend Other Pet Owners in Santa Fe
5. Know the Pet Policies
6. Pack Your Pet Essentials
7. Try Local Pet-Friendly Cuisines
Final Thoughts on Dog Friendly Santa Fe
Next Steps

Tips for Traveling with Pets to Santa Fe: A Guide for Pet Owners

As the second oldest city in the United States, Santa Fe (New Mexico) offers a rich history and heritage that you’ll surely love.

The moderate climate, amazing scenery, and unique ambiance of the city attract a lot of tourists from around the globe, including pet lovers.

It’s always a treat to take a trip to Santa Fe with your pets.

Well, traveling with your four-legged companions is much easier right now compared with the past. You can find a lot of restaurants and pet friendly hotels in Santa Fe.

That’s great news because you won’t have a hard time going around the city with your pet.

If you plan to travel with your furry friend to Santa Fe, here are a few traveling tips to make your trip easier.

1. Always Start With a Pet-Friendly Hotel

Booking pet-friendly accommodations should always be your first priority when you have a pet in tow. Exploring the city will be much easier when you know you have a place to stay once the day is done.

Pet-friendly hotels in Santa Fe are everywhere.

But you need to be very meticulous when choosing a place to stay. At minimum, a pet-friendly hotel should be able to accommodate your pet’s basic necessities once you get to the hotel. And some pet-friendly hotels will even offer a free gift for your pets!

You’ll want to make special note of pet-related hotel fees as well.

Some hotels will ask you to make a one-time payment for your pets, while others will ask you to pay per night.

If it doesn’t suit you, don’t be afraid to look for other options. There are so many hotels right now that don’t have an additional pet fee, so do your research.

2. Keep Your Pet Documents With You All The Time

Santa Fe is not very strict with pet documents unless you come from a different country. They will be needed if you are traveling by air, though.

For domestic travel, make sure you have a recent health certificate from your pet’s veterinarian. Usually, it should be within 30 days of your trip and states that your pet is safe for travel. Also bring a copy of your pet’s vaccinations.

International travelers may also need a valid CDC Rabies Vaccination, Microchip Record, and a CDC Dog Import Permit or reservation at a CDC-approved animal care facility. (Otherwise, they may need a 28-day quarantine.)

Always have a copy of all your pet documents with you when you travel.

In some instance, officials will take the original copies, so make extra copies.

These documents are very important as they are proof that your pets are healthy and fully vaccinated.

Pet documents will also be very handy if you have to bring your pet to a veterinarian during your stay in Santa Fe. (But we hope you don’t have the occasion to do so!)

3. Be Respectful to the People Around You

As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to be sensitive to the feelings of people around you. Not everyone loves dogs (or your flavor of pet) and not everyone is comfortable around them.

Although Santa Fe is a pet-friendly city, it doesn’t mean that every citizen and tourist will love your pet.

You know how your pet acts when there are other people around, so if they tend to be aggressive with unknown people, make sure that you let the other people around you know.

This helps prevent unnecessary accidents.

If someone asks you to keep your pet away from them, be respectful and don’t get angry right away. The best thing to do is respect their wishes.

After all, they don’t know what a love-bug your pet is! But that’s not the point.

4. Befriend Other Pet Owners in Dog Friendly Santa Fe

Nothing beats a pet-friendly recommendation directly from a Santa Fe pet owner.

When you are walking your dog in the streets of Santa Fe or you’re playing with them in the park, you will meet a lot of pet owners in the area.

Try to befriend them. They can likely offer some amazing tips and advice when going around the city!

Those familiar with the region can share amazing restaurants with a dog menu, and they might suggest some great vets in the area if you want to bring your dog for a checkup.

You can do all this online, but it’s always better to get advice directly from people who know the city very well.

5. Pet Policies!

Before we forget, pet policies are very important when you’re traveling by air. We talked briefly about the documentation requirements, above.

Recognize that airlines are very strict with the requirements around traveling with pets. So, you need to know how they handle pets and their requirements.

Make sure that you fulfill any airline-specific requirements a few weeks before your target trip to Santa Fe. Preparing all the paperwork required takes some time, and you want to make sure they’re in order well in advance.

So, ask the different airlines about their pet policy.

Will they allow large dogs?
Where will the dogs be placed?
Can you bring a small dog into the cabin?
What if it’s an Emotional Support Dog?
Do you have to pay extra for your dogs?

The answers to these questions will help you ensure you don’t have any problems bringing your pet on the flight.

6. Pack Your Pet Essentials for Dog Friendly Santa Fe

Pet-friendly hotels usually provide bowls, beds, and toys for your dogs. But it’s always better to bring your own with you on the trip.

Even though it’s one more thing to pack (a few, actually), it will offer your pet comfort and familiarity.

If you use flea and tick medicines, it’s also very important to bring them on your trip to Santa Fe.

Finally, always bring extra food with you for your dogs. Some hotels don’t offer free food and treats for dogs, so you might as well bring your own.

Store small amounts in a zip-lock bag that you keep in your carry-on bag. That way, if there are delays, you’ll be prepared.

Then, check the larger bag of food in your luggage. Alternatively, you can make the grocery store or pet store your first stop from the airport to stock up on arrival.

7. Try Local Pet Friendly Cuisines

Pet Cusines 1 | Enjoy Travel Life — Pet Friendly Cuisines

One of the best ways to bond with your pet during your trip to Santa Fe is by trying out the local pet-friendly cuisine.

Many restaurants in the city welcome your furry friend. There are pet-friendly dining options for you and your pet to enjoy together!

Whether you’re in the mood for Southwestern cuisine or international fare, Santa Fe has plenty of pet-friendly dining options to choose from.

Some restaurants even have outdoor patios where pets are welcome to join their owners. 🙂

Final Thoughts on Dog Friendly Santa Fe

Now that you know these tips, you can have great fun exploring Santa Fe with your pet — as long as you are fully prepared.

Just figure out where you plan to go in the city, and make sure that you follow a pet-friendly itinerary.

It’s hard to imagine a better travel companion in dog friendly Santa Fe!

About Jackie Gately, editor-IN-CHIEF

I'm Jackie Gately, your travel confidante and the creative force behind Enjoy Travel Life, awarded the "Best Casual-Luxury Lifestyle Blog (USA)" in Travel and Tourism by LUXlife Magazine for four consecutive years.

With 25 years of published expertise, I'm a seasoned writer, editor, and photographer curating inspiring travel guides and lifestyle tips for empty nesters. I hope to kindle your spirit of exploration, encouraging you to overcome obstacles and turn your dreams into reality.

Learn to minimize your pre-travel angst and maximize the joy of exploration with insights from my experiences. Let's make every adventure a celebration of this exciting phase of life! 

Follow my social channels for more inspiration.

Next Steps

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