Hotel Travel with Pets

These days, more and more hotels are pet friendly, but that does not necessarily make it easy, on the pet, or you, to travel with pets.

If you’re facing a long flight, like from New York to Seattle, consider Pet Airways, a pets only airline. Go to www.petairways.comfor rates, and schedules. Planit Meetings loves Pet Airways, because they transport rescue dogs, to new homes, at a 50% or more discount, flying standby.

Romeo

Some hotels charge a $50 - $150, non-refundable pet fee, or have pound restrictions. Other hotels do not permit you to leave your dog in your hotel room alone, even if your dog is secure, in a crate. Find out about all the restrictions before you arrive to avoid unpleasant surprises, like hidden fees, and other restrictions, like not being permitted to keep the pet in your hotel room, if you're not there. Search for a smoke-free, pet-friendly hotel. Hotels that have smoking floors always put pets in smoking rooms.

After you’ve made your hotel reservation, call the hotel’s front desk, to request a quiet room, on a low floor, and also ask them to send via U.S. Mail, a printed copy of their pet policy. (Also, ask for a corner room, usually the best rooms, away from the elevator.)

Consider staying at a Kimpton Hotel. All Kimptons have always been dog-welcoming, with no pet fees, no pound limitations, or other restrictions. Further, the Kimpton Hotels, world-wide, offer great pet amenities, and even in-room dog massages and grooming, and complimentary dog-walking, at some Kimptons. Planit Meetings’ favorite pet-friendly budget hotel is the Red Roof Inn (but not all Red Roof Inns are pet-friendly, so call ahead). Their no-frills, no carpeting and upholstery rooms allow better cleaning...as in no carpeting for the inevitable dog-accident.

If you’re planning sightseeing, with your dog staying in his/her room, for long periods of time, consider doggie day care, for your pup, for some of the days, of your trip. Also consider putting off your dog’s grooming, for your vacation. Many groomers offer pick-up and drop-off; while you’re sight-seeing, your pup will be getting a necessary chore, out of the way, and will not be stuck in the hotel room all day, while you’re out exploring.

Learn where the city’s dog parks, pet-friendly cafes, good walking trails, are, before you travel. Hotel concierges are a great source of information. If the concierge at the hotel, where you will be staying, doesn’t know, call another hotel in the same zip code, and ask that hotel’s concierge.

Locate in advance the city’s vet E.R.

It goes without saying, even though restaurants and other establishments frequently have dog bowls by their door, bring your own collapsible water bowl. With most CVS stores carrying dog food, and other supplies, traveling with all your dog’s supplies is not the necessity that it once was, but do not forget an extra leash, and make sure the dog tags are secure on your dog’s collar.

Finally, as much as you love your dog, and how much you miss your dog, when you’re away, consider your dog first. Perhaps keeping your dog at home, with a very good pet-sitter, in your home. Recently, a Planit Meetings’ colleague, her family and their pet went to a lovely pet-friendly inn, for a long weekend. The dog did not get along with the inn-keepers’ dog, and further,  picked up a skin-irritant, hiking in the woods and fields near the inn, necessitating a couple of vet visits after. 


For Planit Meetings clients who travel to the Washington, DC area with their dogs, Planit Meetings offers complimentary pet care, and dog walking.


For questions about pet-friendly hotels and traveling with pets, email us:
susan@planitmeetings.com