With the summer travel season just around the corner, it’s not too early to start nailing down hotel reservations in the places you plan to visit. These days, finding a dog-friendly hotel is as easy going to the Internet and searching “dog-friendly hotel” and the name of your destination.
Or is it?
In more than five years of continuous research, the staff at DogTrekker.com, recognized as Best Dog-Travel Website in Bay Woof’s 2014 and 2015 Beast of the Bay Awards, has found that the spectrum of “dog-friendly” hotels ranges from those that merely tolerate pets (often for a hefty fee and with breed restrictions) to those that roll out the red carpet with treats, amenities and enthusiastic staff recommendations on dog-friendly things to see and do at the destination.
How to tell the difference? If you really want to drill down on exactly how dog-friendly the property is, it’s a good idea to pick up the phone and talk to a live person on the ground. Some hotels charge fees by the day, some by the stay, and their websites don’t always distinguish. Some impose breed restrictions and/or size limits but can’t necessarily explain why, even when you call to ask. (Insider tip: some properties will waive the rules if you plead a good case for your well-behaved pet.) Many hotels, for good reason, prohibit leaving dogs alone in the room—a restriction that also poses restrictions for their owners. And some hotels set aside only their least desirable rooms for guests with four-legged friends in tow.
Even when those issues are clarified, there’s more to consider before hitting the “submit” button and packing the car.
Room location
A ground-floor room opening directly to the outdoors is more practical than one requiring an elevator trip or long trek down a hallway. Be sure to request one.
• What about chow time? Will you order in, find a restaurant with a dog-friendly patio, hire a pet sitter while you duck out for a meal? The main consideration is not to be caught unleashed by rules that prohibit unattended pets in hotel rooms.
Amenities
Hotel-provided dog beds are nice amenities in theory, but be prepared to pay top dollar if that dog bed gets shredded by an anxious pet. Your pup will be more comfortable with familiar bedding brought from home.
Furniture
“Leave no trace” principles are not just for camping. If you allow your dog on the furniture at home, avoid raising housekeeping’s hackles by requesting sheets to cover the furnishings in your hotel room. Or, bring your own from home.
Day care
If considering temporary care for your dog (while you visit a tourist attraction, for example), ask the hotel staff well in advance to provide a list of recommended pet sitters or doggie daycare providers. Be aware that a temperament evaluation as well as vaccination records may be required before placing your dog in another person’s care, and that pets not spayed or neutered may be turned away.
Doing your homework in advance will make life easier and ensure a great stay for you and your best furry friend.
For those of us on the run, the best resource for travel with pets is the recently released free DogTrekker mobile app. DogTrekker.com vets every pet-friendly California hotel in its listings every year and now has a free smart-phone and tablet mobile app to make it easier for dog travelers to find out on the spot where to stay and safely play with their dogs. Tech for pet lovers is a hot new field, so watch this space for convenient new apps and resources in the coming months.
Janet Fullwood is senior editor of DogTrekker.com, former travel editor at the Sacramento Bee and pet mom to Bodie, a bodacious Brittany; and Bonnie, his English pointer sidekick.
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