Good tips- I’ll definitely ask the vet. Will also ask about the anti-anxiety/calming meds on an as-needed basis. She LOVES the car and trips and going anywhere with us. Being alone and any super loud sounds (4th of July, gun shots, etc.) are horrific for her.
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GREAT point about Ash Wednesday and Easter- I didn’t even think of that! That falls at the very tail end of our daughter’s 2 week school break, so we’ll definitely choose the first week.
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The actual city center is tiny. As in- walkable with a wheelie bag and a large tote from the central train station (where the trains from the airport arrive). Personally, I dislike being near the Red Light district (loud at night, despite a lot of attempts to police it, contain it, etc.) So download a map of Amsterdam and check the location of any apartment you are considering.
Your daughter is undervaluing her services ; ). It’s more than double that by me.
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In Amsterdam my daughter stayed near the Rijksmuseum just south of the core of the city center and thought it was a nice area and very walkable and safe. We stayed near the flower market in an NH hotel when we were there and really enjoyed having everything on our doorstep.
In Barcelona, we stayed in the Paseo de Gracia area***.*** Also very walkable and tons of shops, restaurants, etc…. Very lively neighborhood!
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We rented a houseboat through (I think) Airbnb and stayed on a canal.
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In Amsterdam, we liked the location of Hotel Roemer. (Two couples, two rooms - optional breakfast was about $20 each but we liked the convenience.) It was 10 min walk to Rijksmuseum and/or Van Gogh (we did both). Supposedly a 25 min walk Anne Frank museum, but the four of us took a taxi (or maybe Uber?). We did not take mass transit trams, but I’ve read they are simple to use even from the airport.
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Weather is likely to be better in Barcelona - average temp is at least 10 degrees higher and 5 vs 10 rainy days. In terms of what to see and do they are both great, but I think Barcelona has the edge. Amsterdam tulip time really is mid-April while Spain’s spring will be earlier making the gardens and parks more pleasant. Like others I was pleasantly surprised by the Picasso museum as he is not a favorite of mine. The Sagrada Familia is breathtaking inside. As an architect I happily visited every single Gaudi house. But their giant art museum on the hill has some amazing stuff and day trips to Girona, the Salvador Dali Museum and Montserrat were also wonderful. I think Barcelona out of tourist season is fine we were there in April and it felt very safe. (One very crowded day for the San Jordi festival.) Food is fabulous. If the younger ones like going to discos at 2 am I am told they are great!
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I’ve not been to Barcelona but love Amsterdam. My sister just spent a week there with her college student.
I would recommend you go with someone in your home for your dog. We also have another option of a dear friend who does dog care in her home. He knows her and likes it there. Our last trip she wasn’t available and we used a young woman that my friend recommended. He didn’t know her and he chewed his tail when she was at work. He ended up in a cone afterwards for a month. We also have now used my daughter’s mother-in-law. It’s a win win for everyone. She has a free place to stay and we have someone we know loves dogs.
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As much as I loved Barcelona, I adored Amsterdam. Friendliest people, fun things to see/do, easy to get around and most everyone spoke English well.
I’d pick Amsterdam.
As for your pup, I feel for him. And you. I also would look for someone experienced who lives close - try a couple of weekends while you’re still in town and see how it goes.
I love both Barcelona and Amsterdam. However, in March, Amsterdam is chilly and rainy, while Barcelona is drier and warmer.
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I often use weatherspark to compare. Places. MANY charts on temps, precip etc. I particularily like this format…
Amsterdam & Barcelona screenshots below (personally I’d prefer a little warmer/Barcelona)
Barcelona
link - Barcelona Climate, Weather By Month, Average Temperature (Spain) - Weather Spark
I have a friend who has pet sat for people through Trusted Housesitters. Might be something to look into, especially if you live in a city people would want to visit. She is great and has really enjoyed her experiences pet-sitting for people around the world.
I have used folks off Rover (hit & miss — it’s like AirBnB for pet-sitting with no real oversight, you just have to read the reviews very carefully) and I have used a local pet care service. It will be very expensive if you go with a professional, but you just need to factor that in to the cost of your trip. It would be more than $150 a day for overnight and some daytime visits with the local service I have used.
A really good friend and I have traded pet care for years. Her animals know me and my animals know her. That has worked well, but now she’s down to one elderly dog who usually needs someone to stay with her so sometimes her daughter’s boyfriend will stay if he’s not going on the trip.
We have a super duper crazy high anxiety weirdo Belgian Malinois that we have not been able to leave yet. She was a feral rescue and she just ain’t right. Oldest kid adopted her and then she came to live with us because apartment life was not right for this dog. (Sometimes 21 year olds do not listen to mom’s advice regarding pet adoption.) We also have 4 cats right now. So if we go somewhere we can take the weirdo anxiety dog we do and then my friend can take care of the cats easily, but this dog is just a LOT. I don’t know what we are going to do about Thanksgiving travel.
Anyway, yes I would definitely get a pet-sitter into your house unless you are lucky and have someone in your neighborhood who does in-home pet-sitting. My friend I trade animal care with had that situation for awhile and it was ideal.
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We have friends who have had good luck with Trusted Housesitters to watch their dogs. They live near Rocky Mountain National Park, so a good gig. These dogsitters have had their own dogs, which is great for them having pet-friendly lodging.
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We have a neighbor or a family friend take care of our dog when we travel. We pay in some fashion – gift cards mostly.
I have travelled a bit in Europe. Here is my advise. It will work great in Holland and almost as well in Barcelona. The real trick is to make your home base in a city near those two and travel in. Look up Leiden for Amsterdam. It is a mini college town Amsterdam minus the tourists and high prices. Easy train ride into central station while you sip on fresh oranje juice and munch on a breakfast pastry.
For Barcelona, I stayed in Valencia and did a day trip. Valencia had a lot of flooding recently so not sure how things are but I am sure there are similar more authentic experiences to be had with easy travel into Barcelona.
TrustedHousesitters.com has worked well for several of my neighbors over the last ~10 years
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Outside of Amsterdam is a 13th century castle that is also a hostel. My family has stayed their twice and it was so much fun!!
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My brother and his wife were Trusted Housesitters for a couple of years, first in the US and then in Europe. They have a high regard for the service and say the ratings make it easy to find a reliable person. They were not paid for housesitting, although I think there is a membership fee for users.
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I believe there is a fee to join Trusted Housesitters. We have thought about using it, but have been been able to get local family or pet sitters most trips . Our next long trip will be for 18 days skiing in the west beginning mid February. We are hoping to find someone to stay in our house with our 2 cats. Since we live in San Diego many people that we know in cold climates always talk about escaping winter, but we have never been able to get anyone to stay here during this trip we take each year.
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I got curious about the fees…
AI Overview
TrustedHousesitters has different annual membership fees for “Pet Parents” (homeowners) and “Sitters.”
Pet Parent plans range from $149 to $299 per year, while Sitter plans range from $129 to $259 per year
. The fees cover unlimited house and pet sitting for homeowners, and free accommodation for sitters, who do not charge a fee for their services.
Pet Parent (homeowner) plans
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Basic: $149 per year for unlimited home and pet care from verified sitters.
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Standard: $229 per year, including all Basic benefits plus free video calls with vets, dedicated member support, and a boosted listing.
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Premium: $299 per year, includes all Standard benefits plus home and contents plan, sit cancellation insurance, and a premium badge.
Sitter plans
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Basic: $129 per year for unlimited house sits.
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Standard: $169 per year, includes Basic benefits plus accident and third-party liability protection and dedicated member support.
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Premium: $259 per year, includes all Standard benefits plus sit cancellation insurance and two global airport lounge passes.
How it works
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Sitters do not charge a fee; they stay for free in exchange for pet and home care.
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Sitters are responsible for their own travel expenses to and from the sit.
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The membership fee provides access to the platform for a year, allowing users to connect with members worldwide.
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