Posts tagged "travel"

French Hotel Lets Guests Live the Hamster Life

by Kirsten Taylor (Subscribe to Kirsten Taylor's posts): Nov 19th 2009 3:00PM Filed Under: Small Pets, Traveling with Pets

The epitome of ridiculousness? Absolutely. But for those of you who think a vacation just isn't a vacation unless you get to act like a rodent, there is at long last a place for you: the hamster hotel in Nantes, France.

This unique establishment provides guests with the chance to play out their fantasies of living like a hamster, according to The (UK) Telegraph. The Hamster Villa, located in an 18th-century building, was designed by a pair of French architects to resemble a giant hamster cage. We don't get it either.

Visitors to the hotel sleep on hay bales and stretch their legs by running on -- what else? -- a giant hamster wheel. And forget snacking on baguettes and cheese during your stay in France. Guests at the Hamster Villa are given a treat of hamster grain, according to the Telegraph. Imagine, all this for just 99 Euros (about $147) per night.

The experience gives guests a chance "to become a hamster, eat seeds, change our way of life...come out of our daily routine," the villa's first guests told Reuters TV.

If this sounds like your idea of a stellar getaway, well, enjoy it. But please be a considerate hotel guest, and don't keep your neighbors awake by gnawing on your cage all night.

Going on Vacation with Your Pet

by Rebecca Quimby (Subscribe to Rebecca Quimby's posts): Jul 7th 2009 12:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Cats

"I hope I get a great tan." Photo: mikebaird/Flickr

Going on vacation doesn't have to mean dumping your best friend at the kennel. These days, there are tons of pet-friendly trips to bring your pooch along for, and they don't involve ruffing it at a campsite.

Some B&Bs, for example, welcome dogs. The Paw House Inn, in the mountains of Vermont, is a hotel for the dogs. The bed & breakfast caters to both two- and four-legged guests, offering such perks as a dog-park, an indoor playhouse, agility classes and even pet-friendly weddings. The pawesome hotel came to be after owners, Mitch and Jen Frankenberg, got frustrated that there was no where for their entire family (fur and all) to go together.

For posh pets there's the architectural masterpiece Hotel Monaco Portland. The luxe hotel offers a VIP package for visiting pets (no extra charges!) complete with a pet bed, food and water dishes, a toy and a treat. For a little extra kibble you can buy your pet some time with the hotel's pet masseuse or pet psychic, while you walk around downtown Portland.

The romantic Casa Laguna Inn & Spa, in Laguna Beach, CA, not only welcomes pets for $25 a night, but also features canine massage, for the pet who's stressed out from working like, well, a dog. The friendly hotel staff also have a list of pet-friendly restaurants you can bring your pup to with you. Best of all, your roughly nine minutes to Laguna Beach Dog Park.

Flying With Pets? Pack More Cash

by Maria Coder (Subscribe to Maria Coder's posts): Mar 27th 2009 12:57AM Filed Under: Traveling with Pets

Flying with your dog or cat just got more expensive. Spirit Airlines recently raised its fee for traveling with a pet by $14 each way, making the total from point A to point B an even $100 (double that if you're planning on coming back!).

American Airlines and Delta Airlines raised their pet travel fees last year too. In fact, the cost of a round-trip ticket for your pet -- on any airline -- is sometimes as much as a passenger ticket.

Why the heftier price tag? Some airlines say they need to charge pet travel fees to help keep passenger fees low, and that pets require extra care and handling that comes at a premium. JetBlue, which raised its pet travel fee to $100 each way last summer (a $50 boost round-trip) recently launched JetPaws. The program, which helps educate fliers on pet travel etiquette, issues frequent flier miles for its four-legged guests.

Want to get a leg up? Check out each individual carrier's website. You can also learn more about airlines rules and regulations at PetTravel.com.

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Miniature Dogs

Miniature Poodle
Miniature Poodles, like all Poodles, are excellent swimmers who originated as a water retrievers. All Poodles, Standard, Miniature and Toy are actually one breed, just different sizes. Miniature Poodles, who can be white, black, apricot or gray, are usually 15 inches or under, according to the American Kennel Club.

David McKelvey/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgmckelvey/3748491903/

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Dachshund
The Miniature Daschund, only 11 pounds or under, is not a separate classification of the Daschund -- it's just a smaller version of the Standard. The miniature dog, with its long bodies and strong sense of smell, are both hunters and lapdogs, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Schnauzer
The Miniature Schnauzer is of German descent and was originally bred to be a small farm dog. The most popular of the three Schnauzer breeds, the Miniature Schnauzer is a attentive, lively and a favorite among celebrities like Mary Tyler Moore and Bill Cosby. The strongly built miniature dog is between 12 to 14 inches, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Bull Terrier
Just like the playful Bull Terrier, the Miniature Bull Terrier, who originated in England, has a similar personality. Don't let its size fool you – the Miniature Bull Terrier is strong, energetic and audacious. Miniature Bull Terriers are between 10 to 15 inches and can be solid white or colored, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature American Eskimo Dog
The American Eskimo Dog is one of three separate categories of the American Eskimo Dog. Between 12 to 15 inches, the bright white dog is loving, protecting and sociable. Now a great companion dog, the miniature dog was once a circus dog, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Pinscher
Also known as the "Min Pin," the Miniature Pinscher is a German Breed whose ancestry includes the Daschund, Italian Greyhound and the shorthaired German Pinscher. The quick, curious dog is the perfect apartment dog. Despite its small size, the compact pooch makes a wonderful watchdog. The spirited miniature dog, about 10 inches to 12 1/2 inches, can be red, black, or chocolate with tan, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs