Posts tagged "vacation"

If there's one thing that can sour a vacation, it's thinking about your furry friend caged up in boarding while you're laid out on the beach. In the past, it was hard to find a pet-friendly hotel, but these days it's hard not to find accommodations that welcome pets. According to an American Hotel & Lodging Association survey of 8,000 hotels in the U.S., 60 percent welcome pets. Here's a roundup of ten of the most easily found pet-friendly hotels in America.

Best Western: With more than 1,000 hotels nationwide that accept pets as overnight guests, you'll have no problem housing Fido at your next destination. Each has its own pet fee, ranging anywhere from free to $50 a night. Check with individual locations to find out what their fee is and if they have any size restrictions.

Choice Hotels: 2,500 accommodations within the Choice family, which includes Comfort Inn and EconoLodge, allow pets in their rooms. Since each hotel is individually owned, make sure to visit Choice's website for pet-friendly franchises.

Kimpton Hotels: For those with large dogs, this series of boutique hotels in 16 U.S. cities has no size or weight limits, plus there aren't any extra fees for bringing your pet with you. Some Kimpton properties host special events like pet costume parties and meet-and-greet cocktail hours. All hotels offer dog walking services and chew toys, and if you don't have a pet, they'll loan you a goldfish for your stay (housekeeping makes sure your new friend is well fed).

Hilton: Felines and canines are welcome at most Hilton Hotels & Resorts throughout the U.S. and Canada for a flat fee of $75. Only one pet is allowed per room and it must be under 75 lbs. At check-in, your four-legged friend will receive a Creature Comfort welcome package that includes organic treats and bio-degradable poop bags, and once in your room, your pet can cat nap on a Crypton Clean Pet Pillow designed by William Wegman. Concierge desks have lists of local pet-friendly activities including walking trails.

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.