Vacations Blog

I am really partial to my dog. In fact, I like him more than a lot of people. He can be an ice breaker, a conversation starter, a friend, a lifter of spirits, and a perspective-giver. He gets me outside and makes me a happier person.

So, when I go on vacation, it is only natural that I would want to bring the little guy along for the ride!

Especially when he gives me that doleful look that means he knows I am leaving and that he is being left behind…

Now, I know that the ‘pet-friendly hotel scene’ has greatly expanded over the last several years….but, I still find options frustratingly limited. I usually only find really upscale bed and breakfasts that welcome your pooch as well as the $1000 it costs to stay there, or I find the seedy run-down motels that probably already have wild animals living in them, so they don’t mind if your pet does too. Isn’t there a happy median here!

Thit is why I was really excited when I had to plan a last-minute trip to wine country that included my dog and came upon a terrific option! The Boon hotel and spa in Guerneville is a new establishment. It is located on the Russian river and is a wonderful eco-friendly hotel with friendly owners. For around $175/night….you can get a queen room with a private backyard, ipod docking station, linen robes, flat screen t.v., and wireless internet. You can also use their saline swimming pool and jacuzzi. The best part, your dog is very welcome there, too! I realize that $175 is not a “steal” but for wine country and the amenities offered…it is pretty darn good.

I am glad to see more pet friendly establishments like this popping up. They allow you to have a quality vacation and bring along your “best friend”…the best of both worlds!

From guest blogger Marsha Takeda-Morrison of Sweatpantsmom

In spite of the desperate pleas of my ten-year-old, we are not (yet) a dog family.  So it goes without saying that we haven’t had any occasion to find accommodations for man’s best friend while traveling, although I have plenty of friends who wouldn’t think of leaving home without Fido or Mr. Pugs.  I dedicate this post about finding pet-friendly lodging in Los Angeles to them.  Mostly out of admiration for their loyalty to their four-legged friends, but also in hopes that I’ll never have to hear the words, “Oops! Sorry about your couch.”

The first one that caught my eye is the Loews Hotel chain, because I read that they offer room service for pets.  I imagined a rawhide bone and a bowl of Alpo being delivered on a silver tray, and it doesn’t look like I was too far off the mark.  Here’s what their website says:

All pets receive their own gifts including a pet tag, bowl and a special treat to start their vacation. Owners receive a detailed brochure with information on hotel pet services — such as our Loews Loves Pets room service menu, local dog walking routes, and area pet services.

I’m curious as to what the “treat to start their vacation” might be, since the last time I checked most pets were always on vacation.

The Sofitel Hotel is also pet friendly, although their description is careful to say, “Pet Allowed” as in singular, not plural.  In other words, don’t show up with your sled and your 16 dogs on the way to the Iditarod.

If your pet is a hip scenester and likes to party like a rock star, then you’ll want to take him/her to the W Hotel in Westwood. How’s this for swank?  Their pet info page lists the following amenities:

• Custom W pet bed
• Food & water bowl with floor mat
• Pet-in-room door sign
• Special treat at Turndown

(Special treat at turndown?  Would that be a piece of mint-flavored kibble?)

I’ve seen celebrities there of the two-legged variety at the W, but I’ll bet your tabby would find some movie star feline to rub elbows with.  Your scratching post or mine?

You may bring Spot to the Four Points Sheraton Westside, but only if he’s been watching his little doggie waistline; they only allow pets up to 50 pounds.  Also, guests with pets are only allowed on the first level. So if you were hoping to slim down his paunch with some stair climbing, you’re out of luck.  Better stick to dogercise in your room, or better yet switch to Purina Lite a few days before your trip.

The Residence Inn in Burbank allows pets, and it appears most in the chain do as well. However, they do require a $100 non-refundable sanitation fee, which seems pretty steep; most hotels I’ve seen charge an average of $25 to $30 per night.  I guess the Residence Inn fee is only a bargain if you’re staying a few nights.  Otherwise it’ll cost you a paw and a leg. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

Photo: Stock.Xchng.com

New York hotels have a long and decadent history of pampering pooches. Exhibit A would be the now late and eccentric hotelier and billionare Leona Helmsley. Her white Maltese dog, aptly named ‘Trouble’, got itself willed $12 million in Helmsley’s will. And there’s no shortage of celebs and prima donnas who spend more on their pets in 1 night at a hotel than you would on your entire family while on vacation.

NYC even has a doggie playground – Canine Court – at the Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. Pet owners in NYC can go shopping at places like Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany’s, Brooks Brothers, Banana Republic and the Gap.

Goes without saying that the Big Apple’s hotels are falling over themselves to offer these pampered pets as much luxury as possible. So which hotel offers the most value for money, as far as being ‘pet friendly’ is concerned? That would likely be the Muse Hotel in NYC’s Theater District, near Times Square and Broadway.

The Muse is a Kimpton Hotel, and as such, offers all the standard pet friendly amenities availabel at all Kimptons. In addition, the Muse has a ‘pampered pooch’ package deal, starting at $249 per night. They wecome you with a basket full of doggie treats and food and water bowls. The Canine Court playground and Central Park are close by, so you can take your pets out for a frolic and fresh air whenever you want.

Info: 130 West 46th Street New York NY 10036; (877) 692-6873; www.themusehotel.com/; Photo copyrights – Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, LLC

There are hotels which allow pets, there are some which are ‘pet friendly’, and then there are the hotels which really and truly make your four legged friends feel at home. And then there’s the Diva – a hotel in San Francisco’s Union Square, which redefines what being a pet friendly hotel means.

Let’s see. Does your hotel offer a complimentary one-hour VIP dog walking tour highlighting the city’s best parks and hippest fire hydrants? No? That’s one leg up for the Diva. How about a VOSS water and a designer dog bowl? This isn’t even a contest anymore, but I like flogging a dead horse, so here’s some more ‘pet-friendly’ aspects of the Diva – deluxe overnight accommodations; a super-soft sheep skin throw rug for a luxurious nights sleep; a personalized “Sexy Diva” dog tag; a Petco amenity box filled with a red paw print bandana, dog biscuits and treats and two flavors of dog food.

All of this is what comes with the ‘Every Doggie is a Diva Package’. For more details about this and other packages and for more details about the Diva hotel, call (800) 553-1900 or visit their website.

For the record, the Diva is part of the Personality Hotels Group, which runs seven boutique hotels bunched around Union Square in San Francisco. Each of these hotels has a unique and eclectic (and eccentric) character. The ‘Every Doggie is a Diva Package’ is available at four of these hotels – Hotel Diva, Hotel Metropolis, Hotel Union Square and Kensington Park Hotel.

Personally speaking, these seven dwarfs offer a much more enjoyable experience than what any of the big San Francisco hotels will provide. There’s a lot more to the Diva in addition to being hyper pet friendly, but that’s another post for another day.

Photo copyrights – Personality Hotels; Hotel Diva - 440 Geary Street San Francisco CA 94102; (415) 885-0200; www.hoteldiva.com/

When it comes to pet friendly lodging, it pays to find the right place. Sure, a lot of hotels say they’re pet friendly, but when you show up with your canine or feline family member – does the front desk actually give you a warm welcome? With just a little up-front effort (mostly, asking the right questions), you can select a hotel that is truly pet friendly.

1. Know that you have more chain options than ever
Luxury trends in pet friendly lodging and hotels have trickled down into chain establishments. There are many hotel chains across the nation – from economy to upscale – that are pet friendly and worry free.

2. Non-chain? Look for a proprietor who’s also a pet owner
Your best bet here is a bed-and-breakfast where it’s made explicit that the owner loves pets. If treats are provided, the owners show photos of their cats, or mention is made of “fenced acreage for your dog to run,” you’ve hit gold.

3. Check the number of pets allowed
Some pet friendly hotels will only allow you to bring one pet inside – but what if you’re traveling with two? “Pet friendly” doesn’t always means “friendly to multiple pets.”

4. “Pet friendly” is a variable term
Dogs are the pets most often welcomed, but only under certain weight limits. Some hotels aren’t quite as happy to host cats, rabbits and other small animals.

5. “Pet friendly” may actually mean “a few rooms only”
Some hotels only dedicate a few rooms, or smoking rooms, to people traveling with pets. This is why it’s so important to find a sincerely pet friendly hotel!

6. Ask if there’s a pet fee, and how it works
Some places will allow your pet to stay for free, but others will charge a per-night, per-pet or per-stay basis. Is it a fee, or a refundable deposit?

7. Double-check all policies and fees before checking in
The rates or rules may have changed since you booked the reservation. Perhaps there’s a cleaning fee, or a deposit. Make sure that everything is mutually understood.

Here is a great resource for Pet Travel if you are interested in reading more!