Here are some other things to consider.

1. If you are traveling to your new location by airplane, make sure you CHECK WITH YOUR AIRLINE to determine their requirements. When we moved from Minnesota the airline had a policy that pets could NOT fly in the cargo hold if it was going to be below a certain temperature on the day of the flight (seems to me it was 40 degrees for our airline at the time but this was years ago - in any case it is NEVER that warm in the winter in Minnesota).

NOTE: Airlines will likely require a bill of health from your vet! And if you can't get one (e.g., when we moved to California we had (and still have) a cat who was 20 at the time and there was no way the vet could provide a clean bill of health - this was a major reason for us deciding to drive, plus concern he might not survive the flight. BTW he is still with us 16 months later! Regarding temperature - we were NOT able to fly out of Minnesota with our dogs as planned so at the last minute we had to rent 2 cars and drive overnight to Ohio where we had family (and it was warmer in the winter) so we could fly from there as could the dogs. We also had 2 young girls at the time and lots of household stuff so the 14 hour drive, much of it in the fog, was a real treat!!

2. Also check with the airline about other special requirements (carrier - they all specify different types and sizes of carriers and won't let you fly if you have one that does NOT meet their requirements). Also find out what the airline charges - we spent $60 per dog when we flew back to Boston. Plus we had to buy new carriers that met the airline's size and weight requirements.

4. Be prepared for possible problems and make sure you have a back-up plan, such as contacting friends or family members who can assist with your pet while you transition, e.g., you need to leave them for a period while you leave then come back to get them (we left our dogs with family who later got them into their carriers and to the airport - bless them!);

5. Do some dry runs if you have not traveled with your pet. Obviously you can't fly or take a long trip, but if you are planning to take your pet in your car and have NEVER done so I recommend finding out how they react while in the car - some are frantic and others could care less. I know some people who need to drug their pets for travel so you will need to know about this and talk with your vet. Find out if you should put your pet in a carrier while in the car or not (another story - on the first day of our 7-day car ride to California we had our 2 cats in separate carriers - they yelled for 4 hours. The next day and for the rest of the trip we spread out towels on top of the luggage and let the cats find their way around the car [we had a jeep]. They were pleased to be able to lie where they wanted, be near us, use their litter box, have food and water in the back of the jeep, and EVERYONE was pleased the entire trip...well, mostly. They seemed reassured that they could be near us and we could pat them, although occasionally one would attempt to come up to the front seat).

6. If your trip will be overnight by car, make sure you get some information on where you will be staying and if the hotel accepts pets. Yep, you can lie and sneak them in, but why risk it? We found a huge number of places were pet friendly, although some did charge a small fee.  As an aside, we found that having AAA plan our trip was the best thing we could have done, since we didn't need to worry about the roads we would take and they provided many travel books for free which let us find hotels on the way that were pet friendly in areas where we wanted to be (e.g, on our side trips to the Grand Canyon and to Santa Fe). The other good thing about AAA, if you don't already know, is that your membership gets you great discounts on hotels.

NOTE: I doubt many hotels will give you a problem with the turtle/hamster in a cage routine, but you never know. Snakes may be more of an issue! Cats and dogs seem to meow and bark more when in a hotel which gives away their sneaking in...and most cats feel it necessary to scope out the windows and sit on the sill on the wrong side of the curtain to watch the world go by - sort of gives up the secret.

7. When traveling make sure you have plenty of your pet's food, water bowls, favorite toys, perhaps their favorite towel or bed if they use one, leashes (not OUR cats!), treats, and anything else that you feel will help them feel more at home. This will help in the car, in the hotel, and especially when you get to where you are going. It goes without saying that your pet may act differently when you arrive at your destination, and likely on the trip. Don't be too alarmed, unless they seem to be suffering - not drinking for example. If you are especially concerned you can probably find a vet along the way to take a look to make sure all is OK.

8. At your new home be prepared to have your pet act differently than in their old home - new smells, new surroundings, new noises. It will feel different to you and it will to your pet. I have found that having the pet in a small room for an extended time (hours, perhaps even overnight) such as a bathroom allows them to acclimate a bit at a time instead of being overwhelmed by a whole new house. This is especially true when your furniture arrives (if it is not there when you arrive). Not only do you want to protect your pet from the movers, boxes, and from escaping out the door (movers don't shut doors I have found) but they will likely be freaked out by all the commotion. I know people who have kenneled their pets while they were physically moving in - I generally don't like kennels and haven't done this, but if it works for you...

9. If you have kids you want to make sure you talk with them about the pets and what is going to happen, how you will al travel together, how the pets might feel with the move (nervous, not eating, unfriendly, clingy). They all react differently, but let's face it the kids are transitioning too - more on that in another post - and they will enjoy being part of the family planning for the pet's more to your new home!!

Hope this helps. I know it doesn't cover everything, and as I think of other stuff I will slip it in. Anyone with comments? Other experiences to share? 

 Some other resources are Pets Welcome, Dog Friendly (US and Canadian travel and city guides for all kinds of dogs), and Pet Vacations for more helpful tips and suggestions. Any other great resources you know of?