Weekend road trip with my dog

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This weekend, the three of us hit the road: my boyfriend, my dog, and me, heading for the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium!

One of the best things about living in Valenciennes is how perfectly located it is for a quick European escape. Within just two hours of driving, you can cross three different countries... so of course we weren't going to miss that opportunity 😄

The stops on our little adventure

We picked three cities that were easy to reach and perfect for a relaxed weekend:

🇳🇱 Maastricht, Netherlands: a charming little city, ideal for strolling along the Meuse River.

🇩🇪 Aachen, Germany: full of character, with its thermal baths, historic city center, and unique atmosphere.

🇧🇪 Mons, Belgium: a lovely surprise! We absolutely loved the vibe and the many dog-friendly restaurants.

And yes, we did all of this in my tiny Citroën C1 (proof that you don't need a campervan to have a great road trip!).

If you're interested, I made a TikTok video showing everything we packed for our trip, especially for traveling with a dog. 🎒🐾

👉 mon tiktok

First Stop: Maastricht, a charming dutch break

We left Valenciennes around 10 a.m. and headed towards Maastricht. By noon, we were already enjoying a picnic in front of a castle.

Honestly, it was the perfect way to start our little road trip. I'd visited Amsterdam before, but Maastricht was completely new to me.

And wow... I immediately found that Dutch charm I love so much: peaceful streets, beautiful traditional facades, and bicycles absolutely everywhere.

A real favorite.

A Fantastic Dog-Friendly Hotel 🐶

We checked into EasyHotel Maastricht, a dog-friendly hotel that I can wholeheartedly recommend.

The staff were incredibly welcoming, not only to us but also to our furry travel companion (who clearly approved of the place judging by the photos 🐾📸).

We chose it because it was close to a park, perfect for bathroom breaks and little walks, and it also had secure parking nearby.

When you're traveling with a dog, those little details make a huge difference, and everything was incredibly convenient.

Slow travel and sunshine ☀️

We decided to wander without any real itinerary (slow travel, remember?).

Just enjoying the small streets, the good weather, and the relaxed atmosphere. Since the sun was shining, we treated ourselves to an ice cream near the hotel, one of those simple moments that instantly feels like vacation. For dinner, we kept things casual and grabbed a quick meal in the nearby park. Okay, confession time: it was fast food (oops 😅).

But honestly, nothing from the local cuisine really tempted us that evening.

Dutch gastronomy didn't quite win us over this time, but that's okay. The atmosphere was great, and that's what mattered.

A slow morning start

After a much-needed good night's sleep, we headed out for our obligatory morning walk with our dog.

It's one of those little rituals we absolutely love. The streets are still quiet, our dog is excitedly sniffing everything in sight, and we're still half asleep but already happy to be there.

Unfortunately, the sun had disappeared, so no outdoor café breakfast for us. Instead, we grabbed takeaway sausage rolls and generously filled sandwiches, enough to keep us going for most of the day.

Special mention for my British boyfriend, who was delighted to finally have a savory breakfast.

After months of living in France and eating croissants for breakfast, he felt like he'd finally rediscovered variety 😄

Second Stop: Aachen, comfort and german culture

Around 1 p.m., we got back on the road and headed towards Aachen. I'd wanted to visit for quite a while, and it definitely lived up to expectations

Practical Tip: The environmental sticker 🚗♻️

If you're planning to drive in Germany, be aware that many cities require an environmental sticker (Umweltplakette) to enter certain zones.

It usually costs between €5 and €15 depending on where you get it, but the good news is that it's valid for life.

I got mine at a vehicle inspection center and was lucky enough to meet someone who spoke French, which made the whole process much easier.

A Hotel we absolutely loved 🛏✨

We checked into the INNSiDE by Meliá Aachen, a dog-friendly four-star hotel that honestly left us speechless.

Everything was perfect:

• A spa for relaxing
• Just a 10-minute walk from the city center
• And most importantly, an incredible rooftop with amazing views

If you're traveling with your dog, I genuinely recommend this hotel. They've thought of everything to make both humans and dogs feel welcome.

Solo exploring under the Aachen sun

So, what was on the agenda?

Of course, Aachen Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But it was extremely hot that day, and we didn't want our dog's paws burning on the pavement. So we decided he'd stay at the hotel with his dad (safety first!).

Meanwhile, I headed out to explore the city on my own. Honestly, I don't mind solo exploring at all. When you work in tourism, scouting destinations is practically part of the job, right? 😄

I wandered around the lively city center, then settled into a lovely little café to jot down some notes for the blog (and cool down a bit).

Then came the real challenge: finding a reasonably priced souvenir magnet.

Seriously, if you know a good place in Aachen, let me know! 😂

Back to the hotel and a relaxing evening

Back at the hotel, I made the most of our beautiful room and the spa facilities.

A proper holiday moment. For dinner, we ordered Turkish food and enjoyed a cozy meal in our room. And honestly? It was fantastic.

If you're visiting Aachen, definitely give the local Turkish restaurants a try.

German Breakfast and Off to Belgium

The next morning, we enjoyed another savory breakfast.

Perfect for my English boyfriend, who was thrilled to find cold cuts, cheese, dark bread, and all the things he loves. Before leaving, we took one final walk with our dog and then set off for Mons in Belgium.

It's actually very close to Valenciennes, but strangely enough, we don't visit very often.

🇧🇪 Final Stop: Mons, the Unexpected geek paradise

Once we arrived, we explored the city center and discovered something we weren't expecting:

There are so many geek shops! Needless to say, we felt right at home among the figures, manga, collectibles, and games.

We also treated ourselves to a Belgian waffle because... well, you're in Belgium. It's practically mandatory 😋

Then, little by little, it was time to head back to France. We returned home with wonderful memories, a very happy dog, and already a strong desire to start planning our next weekend away. It was actually the very first time we'd ever taken our dog to hotels.

Normally, we stay with family or rent cottages, so we weren't entirely sure what to expect.

But honestly, we were welcomed warmly everywhere we went, and our dog absolutely loved the experience.

Three countries in three days... he definitely earned his international traveler status 🐶✈️

Thinking About Traveling With Your Dog?

If you're still hesitant about traveling with your dog, let me reassure you: it's absolutely possible, even for several days and even across borders.

To help make things easier, I've created a complete e-book packed with tips and advice for traveling with your four-legged companion.

You can find it right here!

And of course, I can also help you as a travel planner by creating a trip that's 100% tailored to your dog's needs 🐾.

This little road trip through the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium was simple, easy, and incredibly refreshing.

If you're based in Northern France like we are, it's the perfect weekend getaway idea that doesn't require hours and hours on the road.

Thank you so much for reading, and I'll see you very soon for another adventure! 💌

Ana – New Escapade