We split out time between the US and Thailand. We have a chihuahua in the US (originally from Thailand) and typically leave him in the US with our son when we travel to Thailand. But we are considering taking him along on the next trip.

 

We like to fly from Boston to a European city, make a multi hour stop over to get some sleep, and continue on to BKK. This would be easy on the dog, but no one can seem to tell me about the European formalities. It seems to be easy enough to take the dog from the US to Europe, but when inquiring about the return trip from Thailand to Europe no one seems to know if he will be quarantined or allowed to enter the country. 

 

We currently are booked on Air France where he would be allowed in the cabin. On the return trip we have an 18 hour transit, during which we would like to clear immigration and stay at a hotel.

 

I know that we can get the dog into the US. My question is about France (which I assume is the same as other mainland EU countries). Will he be allowed to enter the country and stay at the hotel with us, or will he be held in quarantine in the airport? Only answer I've received so far is "sometimes yes, sometimes no".

Because Thailand is a rabies endemic country, bringing pets from there to Europe is difficult. For France (and probably rest of continental Europe), you have to have a rabies titer done at an "approved lab" (which likely will mean mailing the sample out of the country) 3 months before hand

 

See http://www.pettravel.com/immigration/France.cfm

 

You would do best not to transit anywhere

 

The one time I took a pet from US to Thailand and back I flew Korean Air with just few hour layover in Soeul.