Surfing lessons in San Diego, spa treatments and room service -- these all sound like elements of the perfect vacation. These five-star treatments are for four-legged traveling companions, giving new meaning to the phrase "a dog's life."
Hotels, resorts and travel destinations are going beyond being pet-friendly to offer luxury amenities and services for dogs who are also on vacation.
Pet Travel Popularity
Nate Berkus said on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" that one of his favorite hotels is the
Soho Grand in New York City.
The Soho Grand will outfit dogs' guestrooms with pet beds, litter boxes, food bowls and treats. It has a pet food menu through its room service and offers dog walkers, pet sitters and spa treatments.
For those guests who leave their pets at home, Soho Grand offers a companion fish.
The
Travel Industry Association said 14 percent of all U.S. adults -- or 29.1 million people -- said they have traveled with a pet on a trip of 50 miles or more one-way, in the past three years.
Dogs are the most common type of pet to take along, at 78 percent. Fifteen percent of travelers take cats with them, according to the TIA.
Most pet travel takes place in the summer, and a majority -- 76 percent -- of vacationers with pets drive, while 6 percent travel by air.
Len Kain, co-founder of the travel information site
Dogfriendly.com, said that an ideal vacation with a pet is a place where travelers and their pets can do a lot of activities together.
"Having a pet-friendly hotel is not enough unless you want to sit in your room the entire time. There should be an assortment of pet-friendly beaches, parks, attractions and outdoor cafes and restaurants. Parking should be reasonably practical or the public transit should allow your dog," Kain said.
Hotels With Pup-Friendly Perks
Loews Hotels touts itself as the most pet-friendly hotel chain. Guests get a list of dog-walking routes, a list of pet services at the hotel, and a list of local pet shops, vets and groomers.
Pet guests get a bowl and a treat. The hotel also offers guest items such as pet beds, leashes, collars and a video for pets.
When canines or felines check into
W Hotels, they get a welcome package that includes a pet toy, a treat, a W Hotels pet tag, cleanup bags and a list of local special pet services. They also offer birthday cakes, available through the hotel's concierge, and other items available such as pet first-aid kits.
Rooms are outfitted with a pet bed, water bowl and pet-in-room door sign, and they get a "special treat at turndown."
"When selecting a pet-friendly hotel, you need to be aware of pet fees. Some are daily pet fees and others are one-time fees. Other things to know is if the hotel has a weight limit for dogs and if the hotel requires dogs to stay in smoking rooms only," Kain said.
He stressed that it is not enough to know that the hotel calls itself pet-friendly.
"You should assume that your dog must be leashed on the premises and that dogs are not allowed to be left alone in the room unless you ask otherwise," he said.
International Travel
"International travel for pets is easier than it used to be because of quarantine rules of up to six months," Kain said.
He said it takes up to six months of planning and that air travel is recommended only for small dogs because larger dogs are not allowed to travel in the plane's cabin.
"Due to microchipping to track rabies vaccines, it is now possible to fly almost anywhere and take your dog with you out of the airport," Kain said.
The sky is not the limit for pets. Seafaring dogs can take to the seas aboard
Cunard Cruise Ships with its Pets On Deck program, which was expanded about a year ago.
Canine guests get a dog gift set that includes a coat with a Queen Mary 2 logo, a Frisbee, a name tag, a food dish, and a scoop.
Pet travelers also get fresh baked biscuits at turndown, gourmet cookies, fleece blankets, pet beds in two sizes, scratch posts and toys.
Choose Destination With Fido In Mind
Dogfriendly.com maintains a list of (slideshow of top 10 cities to go here) top 10 dog friendly North American cities and a top 10 list of top resort areas for dogs.
Kain said that when choosing spots, the site looks at:
- Whether the spot is appealing for people and their dogs.
- Whether public transportation system allows dogs.
- Area outdoor cafes that allow dogs.
- Whether the city is supportive of pet owners and those who travel with them.
Make Wise Decisions
He pointed out that small dogs are often allowed on local transit systems, but only a few cities such as Boston, Seattle and San Francisco allow larger dogs on their trains and buses.
Although strides have been made to accommodate travelers and their furry companions, there may be a long way to go.
Kain said the biggest complaint among pet owners is about intercity and air travel for larger dogs.
"Amtrak and Greyhound, despite its name, do not allow any dogs on their vehicles. Airlines do not allow you to buy a seat for your larger dog. Polling our audience indicates that over 50 percent of pet travelers would pay full prices or a premium to take their pets on an airplane, train or bus," Kain said. "Over 90 percent would loyally support any airline for all of their travel with or without their pets if they allowed them to take their pets in the cabin."
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