Did somebody say car ride?
If I learned anything from John Steinbeck it’s that there may be no better travel companion than a dog — and I don’t mean putting your dog in your purse and going to the supermarket. That’s not travel, that’s a cry for help. I’m talking a good ol’ road trip with a pooch that sits in the backseat with their tongue flapping out the window and their eyes on the prize (the prize in this scenario being adventure). A good dog is a trusted friend, a faithful guardian and the perfect road trip pillow. Dogs are family.
Which makes it hard to leave them behind on family vacations… but what if you didn’t have to?
A growing number of hotels are allowing dogs to stay overnight. Most of them require a set of fees or deposits, which is understandable, but some hotels offer full on pampering.
I recently stayed at the W Hotel in San Diego, which only charges $25 above the daily room charge per pet, which is one of the cheaper rates I’ve seen. There is a non-refundable $100 cleaning fee, but that seems fair. I love dogs but I wouldn’t want to stay in a fancy hotel covered in pet hair.
The question then, is where does Fido (or the cat for that matter) hang out during the day while the rest of the family does whatever it is they do?
If what they do is spend the day at the Disneyland Resort (about an hour and a half north of San Diego) they can have their furry companions enjoy the Disneyland Kennel Club. It’s like the Mickey Mouse Club, but without the matching sweaters.
The Disneyland Kennel Club costs $20 for the day (opens half an hour before the parks and closes half an hour after). Pets must have official vet records. Here’s more:
Granted, traveling with your pet may be a bit more hassle than you’re hoping for on your vacation, but it’s getting easier (and more affordable) all the time — even if they don’t fit in your purse.
Photo by Tricia Honea
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12 Responses
I’m honestly intrigued by this; especially about W Hotels. I remember a day when it was like $75 to bring your pet to a hotel and that was like at a highway hotel. However, one day, like a scene from Best in Show or maybe Beethoven, we’ll see a Great Dane escape from his master’s room, take the stairs up to the top floor where it crashes a sweet girl’s Wedding Rehearsal Dinner. Laugh now, but it’ll happen. At least that’s how I see it going down.
[...] Pet-Friendly Travel Keeps Getting Easier [...]
[...] Pet-Friendly Travel Keeps Getting Easier [...]
[...] Pet-Friendly Travel Keeps Getting Easier [...]
Spencer,
That would be a rehearsal dinner worth attending.
[...] posts:- San Diego Sans Leash Pet-Friendly Travel Keeps Getting Easier AKPC_IDS += [...]
[...] your travels with Charlie to be as worry-free as possible. Enter, the pet resort (for the record, Disneyland does something different) where your furry friend can get pampered and attended to like royalty [...]
[...] your travels with Charlie to be as worry-free as possible. Enter, the pet resort (for the record, Disneyland does something different) where your furry friend can get pampered and attended to like royalty [...]
[...] your travels with Charlie to be as worry-free as possible. Enter, the pet resort (for the record, Disneyland does something different) where your furry friend can get pampered and attended to like royalty [...]
[...] All rooms will feature the Signature W bed with goose down comforters and pillows, flat screen TVs, iPod docking stations, and Bliss Spa products in the bathroom. High speed internet access is available for $14.95/day and the hotel is pet-friendly. [...]
Good to know about the W! There are websites out there for pet travel that help travelers find stuff to do with their dog – attractions, restaurants, etc. that allow dogs in. Nice add-in to the Disney Kennel Club.
That picture of the two dogs made me crack up with laughter for some reason