Many pet owners will understand the feeling: you're on holiday, having a wonderful time splashing your feet in the ocean or hiking through wildflower-filled landscapes, but you can't escape the niggling feeling that there's one thing that could make the moment even better – watching your pet enjoy it too.

And for an increasing number of pet-owning travellers, it's this sentiment that's driving them to include their dogs, cats and even ducks in their travel plans, no matter the cost, paperwork or logistical challenges. And an increasing number of hotels, tour companies and airlines around the world are all too happy to cater for this new set of VIPs, with specially tailored packages and perks that allow pets (and their owners) to tour cities, sample the culture and leave with unforgettable memories.

In the US, for example, canine visitors can now brush up on their history by joining an All The President's Pups Tour, a two-kilometre historical walking tour in Mount Vernon in Virginia. In London, meanwhile, a “canine concierge” at St Ermin’s Hotel can book a boat trip down the Thames, while at the Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa, California, dogs can sample a Barkuterie Board after taking a wine country tour.