Doggie room service… designer doggy beds…pet masseuses… plush doggie bathrobes… These are but a few of the amenities that are being offered, as major hotel chains are beginning to cater to the 65% of Americans that travel with their pets. At last count, there were over 25,000 hotels, bed & breakfasts, ski resorts, campgrounds, and beaches that are pet-friendly throughout the United States and Canada.
Our Host Alex Boylan and his dog Harley decided to spend their vacation in the Royal Pacific Resort in Orlando, which is part of the Loews Hotel chain. Loews Hotels has become one of the leaders in creating wonderful resorts for you and your pet. From the Pacific coast in San Diego to the mountains of Denver to Montreal, the Loews chain has 16 unique destinations for you and your pet to enjoy. As far as additional cost is concerned, make sure you check it out before you leave as it can vary anywhere between $25 and $200.
As Alex and Harley found out, there are many perks and amenities that can put your pet into pet paradise. Cool things like these…
A personalized note from the pet General Manager
Local dog-walking routes
Veterinarians on-site.
Pet shops
Groomers
A special bowl and treat to start off their vacation right.
Leashes and collars
Pooper scoopers
But if hotels are not your bag, BARk Magazine’s experts offer up some other suggestions that might take you in a different direction…
If a beach destination sounds like paradise to you, check out if the beach you are staying at is a “legal off-leash beach.” On the east coast you can check out Miami’s Dog Beach, but if you’d rather be on the Pacific side then Dog Beach near San Diego is a 38-acre off-leash heaven for you and your pooch.
How about camping? National Forests are usually more pet friendly than State Parks which require your dog to be on a leash at all times.
And last but not least… if you’re more the bed & breakfast type, there are many as well as Inn’s across the country that will welcome you and your pet with open arms. BARk Magazine recommends The Octagon House in Massachusetts, Vermont’s The Paw House Inn and The Crystalwood Lodge in Oregon, which has 3 different trout-stocked ponds for your pet to enjoy.
Wow…so many choices so little time…the days of having to put your pooch or kitty in a cold un-friendly kennel are long gone. Quite frankly, in some places our pet could have it better than we do…I mean, I’ve never gotten a personal note from the General Manager, have you?
HERE’S THE POOP
Our friends at Hill’s Science Diet have come up with some interesting tips to assure your pets comfort when taking them on a trip. So if you plan on traveling on good ole “terra firma” you might want to keep these in mind to assure your “land rover” is well taken care of…
Consult your veterinarian to make sure your pets are healthy before traveling.
Feed your pet several hours before departure so they won’t get motion sickness.
If you are going to use a pet carrier, let them play or sleep inside it. before you leave so they can get accustomed to their new environment.
Make sure you bring along your pet’s favorite food and toys from home.
Make sure that you stop for water and potty breaks often.
Make sure that you have proper ID for you pet before leaving home.
If on the other hand you’re hitting the open skies or the Seven Seas then you’ll want to remember these…
Make your arrangements well in advance and verify traveling regulations.
When buying a portable kennel for an airplane trip make sure that it is airline approved.
For boat travel, you can purchase pet life preservers.
Before taking a trip on a public form of transportation, always find out of you need to present a health or rabies certificate.
If a beach destination sounds like paradise to you, check out if the beach you are staying at is a “legal off-leash beach.” On the east coast you can check out Miami’s Dog Beach, but if you’d rather be on the Pacific side then Dog Beach near San Diego is a 38-acre off-leash heaven for you and your pooch.
Go to Top Dogs/Top Cats