When I finally decided to go to Zermatt, I contacted Beatrice at Paws on Trains to help plan our trip. I flew with George from London to Geneva to shorten the travel time. Thus, I could only bring one dog, not both. But from Geneva, I briefed Beatrice on what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go by train.
Having travelled so often with Darcy, and then George and Lulu, I could have done the planning myself, but it would have taken me days and days of planning and research, lots of phone calls, and a lot of hair-pulling, especially in countries where we have to pay for dogs to travel. It was a load off my to-do list when I handed it over to Beatrice.
Beatrice suggested hotels and planned our train journey. Once everything was finalised, Beatrice sent us our itinerary, the train tickets carefully packaged in a secure case, organised by day, along with all relevant information. And George even got his own personalised toy to take on the trip.
When we began our journey, Beatrice was always available at the end of the line for any questions. When we decided to change our itinerary, she helped us do so as well.
I’ll let Beatrice tell you about herself and her company, Paws on Trains, which helps UK residents plan their train journeys to France, Italy, and Switzerland.
I graduated with a degree in Aviation Management in London, and my entire career has been rooted in the travel industry. My path shifted toward rail, where I spent eight years working with major European carriers.
I first met May while I was working at the Switzerland Travel Centre, where I worked as a rail account manager. May’s European adventures with Darcy were so detailed and ambitious that our reservations team would always pass her itineraries to my team or me to piece together.
The idea of travelling with a dog by train was still largely unexplored, even among travel agents.
Over the years, however, train carriers in Europe have become increasingly pet-friendly. Countries like Italy, Switzerland, and France now warmly welcome dogs on board, with many operators actively encouraging travellers not to leave their four-legged companions at home for the holidays.
Paws on Trains came to life when I brought home my puppy, Benji, at Christmas 2021. Travelling suddenly came with some real challenges—and leaving him behind wasn’t an option.
Inspired by May’s travels, I wanted to introduce a new approach to pet-friendly travel—an area that is highly in demand yet incredibly complex for UK pet owners to navigate on their own due to strict laws and regulations.
Just a couple of months after officially launching Paws on Trains, I was approached by The Times, who were intrigued by my new dog-friendly travel concept.
Seeing Paws on Trains highlighted by such an iconic publication in their Easter Dog-Friendly special in 2022 was an actual pinch-me moment. It reinforced the idea’s potential and the positive impact it could have on the many dog owners who, like me, didn’t want to leave their pets behind when travelling.
Benji has since been my ‘business partner’ as we travelled across France, Switzerland and Italy to find and test the best dog-friendly locations, hotels and most scenic rail trips. Our focus is on creating a cost-effective yet luxurious holiday for clients who want to experience the comfort of ‘slow travel’ and explore beautiful destinations in Europe with their beloved dogs.
At Paws On Trains we build exclusive rail holiday packages with carefully selected rail itineraries and tried&tested dog-friendly hotels, ready for you to make unforgettable memories and let your four-legged friends conquer the world on your next family holiday together…
The continent is the perfect place for adventure, and travelling with dogs should no longer be a challenge: Switzerland, Italy, and France are among the pet-friendliest countries in the world, and they are hubs for unique hikes and easy, reliable train journeys.
Our dog-friendly breaks are designed to be as cost-effective as possible, and destinations are carefully selected with your pets’ comfort in mind. We aim to avoid busy and over-tourism spots.
Taking a dog on holiday abroad may sound like a tough job. That’s why we’re excited to introduce every pet owner to the possibility of hassle-free holidays with dogs from the UK across to Europe, never putting them through the stress and anxiety of being separated or left alone in the aeroplane cargo.
We know dog-friendly family holidays take planning. That’s why our rail experts have delved into all the details, so that you have everything covered for a stress-free holiday, with your pet travelling right beside you. You can travel directly from your home in a comfortable, pet-friendly taxi, or, for a more cost-effective option, meet your driver in Folkestone for a private transfer on Eurotunnel Le Shuttle. Our experienced drivers will ensure a leisurely, comfortable journey to Calais train station in France, where your European tailor-made rail adventure begins.
All our itineraries are available year-round, with flexible departures and no set dates!
Want to tailor-made your trip? We can include any other destinations of your choice in Switzerland, Italy or France, make it a longer or shorter vacation to suit you!
CONTACT US: holidays@pawsontrains.co.uk or 020 3488 8462
