TRAVELLING ACROSS EUROPE WITH OUR DOG | Charente Living

How to travel with a dog on trains in Europe? If you are interested in learning more, watch our experience here as we travel all the way from Finland to South West France on land. Get into the mood of travelling in Europe!
We have now arrived in the Charente and couldn't be happier to back in our peaceful place in rural France.
We are Robert and Jyrki - Irish and Finnish artists living in Helsinki, Finland. With no renovation experience, but lots of enthusiasm and passion we take on the big challenge of renovating a townhouse in rural France, and enjoy the lifestyle it has to offer. We bring you travel, lifestyle, interiors, renovation and more. Get inspired by the French way of life in beautiful South West of France!
Follow us also on our Instagram:
@charenteliving
Music by Epidemic Sound:
#france #oldhouse #diy #charente #renovation #frenchhouse #rural #countryside #farmlife #lifestyle #lifestylevlog #lifeinfrance #ruralfrance #charente #french #frenchvillage #village #villagelife #villagevlog #villagelifestylevlog #housetransformation #travel #train #europe #traintravel #travelwithdog

[@LimousinLife]

Hey guys, so lovely to see you again. What a great video detailing your journey with kitty. A real eye opener and very enjoyable. Have a great summer in the Charente and we look forward to your updates.

[@charenteliving]

Thank you so much! Happy you liked our travel video!

[@markclemens3409]

Based on her increased animation in the Angoulême station, one might say Kitty seemed to recognize she was getting close to the destination. We probably still don't fully understand canine cognition.

[@charenteliving]

Yes, she gets totally excited every time we arrive in Angoulême. She definitely recognises the place.

[@Susan-iy5fv]

Kitty is so sweet and gentle. I love how she looks back to see where her other daddy is. ❤

[@charenteliving]

Yes she is the sweetest doggie. Heh yes, she is always checking that all the family is together :)

[@libertyblueskyes2564]

What an adventure! Kitty needs no muzzle; she's as gentle and patient as her caretakers. Across Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and finally to France, epic travelogue. I enjoyed it with you three.

[@charenteliving]

We are happy to hear you liked the video. Yes, it was quite an adventure, and many more will come...

[@RonRobertson-lafrance]

Welcome back to Charente, and I'm happy to see a new video from you guys! That Montparnasse station is my main station for traveling myself, and I've been on the train from Karlsruhe to Paris East as well. It's funny about your comment on trains being late, particularly in Germany. That came as a surprise to me when I was there, nearly every train was late, sometimes by a lot. I'd thought they would be more on time than in France. But French trains, unless there's a strike, or something happens (like some idiot walking on the tracks, or whatever), are pretty much always on time. But, I can't imagine the journey from Finland to France with a pet like you guys did. Good job! I'm going to be in your general direction Friday for a few days, I'll wave at La Charente as I pass by. 🙂

[@charenteliving]

Yes, the German trains used to be on time some years ago, but not their schedules are a big joke really. It is really good to have travel insurance when travelling through Germany so that one gets all the new tickets refunded, as it is very likely that new tickets need to be bought due to the loss of the connections. Ah, nice you were in Charente. Hopefully you remembered to wave at us :)

[@christianeblanchard1486]

Bienvenue chez vous ! Je vous souhaite un bel été. Kitty est vraiment très agréable 😊

[@charenteliving]

Merci! Oui, elle est vraiment adorable :)

[@peterwhite9261]

Kitty is the perfect pet. She is an excellent traveler. Thanks for sharing. Welcome back to France.

[@charenteliving]

Thank you! Yes, she really loves travelling.

[@torxsal7008]

what a journey ! Fortunately everything went well and your dog is very calm and patient. Now have a good time with us in France!

[@charenteliving]

Yes, it was quite a trip. She loves travelling, so it's great she stays calm and easy all the time.

[@ThelmaLivesey]

What a good little dog Kitty is ❤how old is she? Hope you all enjoy the summer

[@charenteliving]

Yes she is the best travel company. She is 6 years old.

[@jbart5260]

Thank you for sharing your adventurous trek with Kitty. So nice to watch your channel, You both are good Dads!

[@charenteliving]

Thank you for your lovely comment. We are happy you liked watching the adventure.

[@LaReynedEpee]

Well done for trying to avoid flying. I've heard that there is going to be an effort to make long distance trips by train through Europe more joined up and efficient. Obviously they're not there yet!

[@charenteliving]

Yes, there are some efforts, but the practice unfortunately is still far from efficient though. Well, maybe soon...

[@kfx216]

Great to see what train travel entails as well as lots of little details one would only know from actually making the trip. What a great dog and fantastic dads to go on such a journey so she doesn't need to travel in freight. Love that you named your pup Kitty :) and glad to see you posting again!

[@celiaellen3408]

Welcome back. What a journey but great that Kitty is so calm & happy. Looking forward to seeing the projects you have plain and how the garden is looking. Enjoy the summer.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks for watching the video. Yes, Kitty was a calm and happy traveller. She loves to be on the road.

[@Ian-x7s7n]

Bienvenue a la maison ! Delighted to see you again. I do love your travelogues (it was something I did once upon a time). Looking forward to seeing the projects that you have in mind now that you are back.

[@charenteliving]

Merci! So happy to hear you like the videos!

[@jelsner5077]

Your dog is so precious! Enjoy your summer.

[@charenteliving]

She really is a sweetheart

[@davidlogan4329]

What an experience travelling with Kitty doggy from Finland to France by ferry, bus and train. Kitty is so very good being in the bag and so quiet. What a journey, what an experience. You three are incredible. Her toilet habits are incredible. So good to see you all. You must be so tired after such a long way! Take special care, David down under in far away Australia

[@charenteliving]

Yes, it is always such an adventure to travel with her through Europe, but we all enjoy it a lot despite the delays and some challenges. Yes, we were super tired after the trip, but we recovered quick under the Charentaise sun.

[@rodolfogarcia4359]

Your dog ia a very good traveler. Could she get certified as a therapy dog so not to have to pay an extra fee. Glad to see you back.

[@charenteliving]

She is really a great traveller. Yes, we have been thinking of that as she loves everyone and brings happiness to everywhere. So maybe we can claim that we and the other travellers urgently need therapy hahah.

[@beiderbecke1927]

Welcome back! I hate to travel, so all the details almost put me into a fetal position, but I truly felt a sense of arriving home when you were back in Charente. Relax, make some wonderful, simple meals, sip wine, and have no worries. Wish I were there to cook for you, but I'll be thinking of your when I'm in my kitchen. All the best to you both.

[@charenteliving]

Aww that's very lovely. We can almost smell the great food from you kitchen :)

[@francoisleyrat8659]

An extraordinary trip. Thanks guys!

[@charenteliving]

Thanks for watching and joining our trip through the video!

[@kefaad]

Hey guys , lovely to hear from you. Enjoy your summer!

[@charenteliving]

Thank you!

[@christiandouriaud5630]

Nice to see you again and thank you both for sharing this wonderful video of your trip to different and beautiful Nordic countries, I appreciate it.... I have excellent memories of Norway a few years ago. Welcome back in Charente...! See you soon. 👍🤩

[@charenteliving]

Thank you so much! Happy to hear that you liked the video and seeing the countries along our way to France.

[@nativetexson]

Good travelogue. I brought my dog from the US to France when I returned last year. He has been enjoying the travels in Europe. Like you mentioned, connections and requirements have to be confirmed to hopefully avoid unexpected costs. Welcome back-

[@charenteliving]

Thank you! Happy you liked the video. Oh wow, travelling all the way from the US to Europe with a dog is quite something.

[@lawrencebaker2318]

I am so happy to see you guys, again! Travel between Helsinki and the Charente is quite an ordeal, especially with a pup! She seems like an old pro at it! 🙂

[@charenteliving]

Oh yes, she really enjoys travelling and meeting new people on the way.

[@Celeste0415]

Hi guys, it’s nice to see you both again,Kitty as well! ❤ I’m looking forward to future videos ❤

[@charenteliving]

Happy to hear you liked to see us again!

[@jangriffiths8013]

Glad you're back!

[@charenteliving]

Happy to be back!

[@neilschipper3741]

❤🧑‍🤝‍🧑🐶 continue having a safe travels add adventures, thanks for sharing this information 👍

[@charenteliving]

Thank you very much! Will do!

[@deanviewofachateaumybandbi7899]

Life's a journey

[@charenteliving]

It totally is...

[@Neroli-Daydreaming-of-France]

Thankyou, I really enjoyed seeing your trip, especially as my family and I did part of the itinerary two years ago. We had a bit of a nightmare with all the late trains in Germany, but it’s still a great way to travel. Enjoy the summer ☀

[@charenteliving]

Happy to hear you liked the video. Yes it is a great way to travel. Sad to hear you had problems with the German trains too. It's very wise to have a good travel insurance which covers the extra tickets that are needed to be bought for the new connections.

[@flaviakaiser9204]

Guys, what an absolutely great video - I loved following your journey all the way from Finland through my home country Denmark and down to France. How well behaved Kitty is! Thank you so much for providing us with such fantastic content and hope you're enjoying your summer in Charente :)

[@charenteliving]

Thank you so much! We are very glad to hear you enjoyed the video. Ah lovely, you're from Denmark. It is such a lovely country and always a great pleasure to travel through it, especially after very complicated Germany... Yes, Kitty is a dream to travel with. Hopefully you had a very pleasant summer too, and warm and sunny Autumn.

[@aljore7807]

I'm happy for both of you, a good relationship with you and thank you very much for taking videos of the places you went to are so beautiful. My eyes are so full of sights. I hope you have many more places to visit and show here because I am so impressed with both of you. God bless. i live you both 🥰🥰🥰

[@charenteliving]

Thank you so much for such a beautiful message! We are very glad delivering these images of travelling to everyone around the world and getting you all along with us on our trips!

[@aljore7807]

@@charenteliving Yes, thank you also and post more more videos God Bless and keep safe

[@aljore7807]

🥰🥰🥰

[@markcampbell369]

Hola from Ecuador! It’s great to see a new video. When we moved abroad a decade ago, we flew with our cat - that seems so easy compared to Kitty’s trip!

[@charenteliving]

Hello boys! Yes, flying with a cat could be a bit easier than travelling with a dog along the railroads through Europe...

[@nattm6553]

Travel all over Europe by train was a BIG thing in the 1980 ties1990ties for us young people in the nordic countrys...For a small sum u did get the "magic" interrail ticket valid for 1 month .guarantee u unlimited freetravel 2nd class all over Europe. This was before EU so there where different money and border control in every country, i was 17 years old when i went on my first backpack interrail trip..all the way from Sweden down to Portugal with stops all over Europe incl u.k and up to france again and down to Italy .. still have the passport from 1993 with all the stamps from over 25 European country's and the memory's=)

[@charenteliving]

Yes that was such a lovely way to travel. I (Jyrki) did it myself too, travelling to Spain and Italy. Crossing the borders totally was so different back then...

[@richardjohnston9732]

This was really informative - Thanks very much - keep up the good work.

[@charenteliving]

Thank you! Happy to hear you liked the video.

[@michaelpinko1072]

Nice to see you’re back! Your trip is quite complicated! Enjoy your time back in France. Will you ever move there permanently?

[@charenteliving]

Yes it is rather complicated, but as we have done it now few times, it gets easier. We wish to stay more in France for sure. Do not know yet when would we move permanently.

[@fionahamilton5994]

Hello Very interesting to watch your video.We’re in the Uk but have a house in Fouqueure,Charente.Recently,from the UK,we booked tickets to go from Cherbourg to Italy by train.Booked it all through Trainline,stressful as you said,but all worked seamlessly.More expensive than flying but some great stop offs and beautiful scenery.

[@charenteliving]

Nice to hear you liked watching the video. Great that your trip went well. Yes, the sceneries must have been great on the route. Ah, Fouqueure is such a lovely town, came there for the big brocante in August.

[@jerrybarnes6611]

Just came across you vlog. Love Kitty ! And I am SO impressed with how you traveled with so little luggage. It made everything so much easier as you took stairs and escalators etc. - would have been hell with lots of luggage.

[@charenteliving]

Happy to hear you found our vlog. Yes, Kitty is such a star. Indeed, it would be so hard to travel with more luggage. We manage to travel very light as we have enough clothes and all the personal items both in Finland and France. So we only carry what we need on the route.

[@patthys5732]

What a journey ! You can avoid the metro by taking bus 91 : it starts at Gare du Nord and stops at Gare de l'Est , .., Gare de Lyon , .. Gare de Montparnasse.

[@charenteliving]

Ah that is so good to know! Thank you so much for this valuable information.

[@mariaetheridge8343]

Oh, I felt really sorry for poor Kitty - is that her name? You seem to manage the whole thing professionally but I still FELT for her! Some time ago I travelled with 2 boxer dogs from South Africa to Cyprus via Switzerland and I nearly died. I swore that I would never do that again... Enjoy your Charante summer!

[@charenteliving]

Yes, the biggest stress for Kitty are the German conductors on the train, who very often are rather rude and angry. She feels that and wants to get deeper in her bag. Otherwise she loves to travel and see new people and places.

[@adelinefinlay1582]

Kitty took it all in her stride! I’m sure she reacts to your calmness. Looking forward to seeing what you get up to in your time in France! Ps your front door looks like it’s been there forever,doesn’t it?

[@charenteliving]

Yes, Kitty is such a great traveller and loves to be on the road. And if we calm her, she certainly calms us down hehe. Yes, we also think the front door really looks like it has always been there.

[@TheCrowsNest1950]

Hi Robert and Jyrki, I totally understand nt flying with Kitty. We have two dogs and our first trip to France will be by boat from NY to Cherbourg. I'll get the 5 day crossing going and Scott may have the return. Traveling with pets is an added expense but leaving them for6 an extended time sometimes is not a practical option, that we understand. Mark & Scott

[@charenteliving]

Hey Mark and Scott! Wow that is quite a trip you're doing guys! How did it all go? Indeed, travelling with pets is something we always need to take into consideration already from the beginning when planning to take pets.

[@JohannaWeckman-sw7fd]

Trevligt att se er igen! Väldigt trevligt att få bekanta sig med er ljuvliga hund Kitty! Har ni tänkt på att resa från Tallin till Franrike? Ha en fin semester!

[@charenteliving]

Tack för att du tittade på vår video! Ja, vi har kontrollerat alternativen i Estland, men järnvägen genom Östersjön till Mellaneuropa är fortfarande dålig på väg. Förhoppningsvis får de det snart gjort.

[@charisoutofTexas]

It’s good to see you again! I hope you’ll have 5,000 subscribers soon. Do you have to provide Kitty’s vaccination record in each country? Wishing you well from Oklahoma.

[@charenteliving]

Yes, we're over 5000 followers now, yippee! We are always carrying Kitty's passport with vaccination certificates in it, but nobody has ever checked it at any border so far.

[@hispid1]

I spent a winter in Stockholm for work - its a stunning city - and also loved Copenhagen as my god parents were Danish. I was supposed to take the boat to Helsinki but weather closed in and i didn't make it. I get the train travel but gosh its a long trip.

[@charenteliving]

Yes, we love Stockholm and Copenhagen too. Although they are really expensive. Yes, the trip on the train really is long...

[@ukhairybear]

I would love to do a train trip like that as I am not a good flyer, I'm English but I live in Spain full time, if I go back to the UK its by car to Santander then ferry to Portsmouth, the problem now is there is only one ferry company and last year it cost me 1600 euros for a return journey with the car and me and as I am semi disabled and have to have a cabin, then I had petrol on top of that and I live in the south of Spain............................. I hope you have a great summer and look forward to the vids......😀😀😀

[@charenteliving]

Oh that really is an expensive return with the boat. Otherwise the connection from Santander would be very good. Let's hope they will add more connections and companies so that the prices would go down.

[@nadjaparssinen5085]

Sweethearts =)

[@charenteliving]

Kiitoooos Nadja!

[@gerardmcmahon5312]

When u said it cost 900 euro in fares, was that one way or return?

[@charenteliving]

That's in average the price of return for us