Good friends of mine are moving from sunny Florida to my old stomping grounds, Michigan. They will be driving with two very large cats and will stopping at least once along the way. Finding hotels that welcome pets can sometimes be quite a challenge. Thankfully, they have planned ahead and shared their little tip with me.
If you will be traveling cross-country this summer with your pets check out Petswelcome.com. They provide a service that allows you to search for pet-friendly lodging just by entering your address and the address of your final destination. You can even specify how far of the main roads you’re willing to venture. Whether you’re looking for a hotel, bed & breakfast, or a cabin in the woods, chances are they can help you find it.
Their complete list of pet-friendly lodgings is also organized by major city. Two new sections, titled Big Dogs and Cool Cats, have just been added. Not all pet-friendly lodgings allow big dogs or cats, so make sure you check with the staff beforehand so you know what to expect. You can read comments about the listings left by other traveling pet owners. The database includes US and international lodgings.
Need an emergency vet while on the road? Petswelcome.com can help. A useful list of emergency veterinarians organized by state is available for free on their site.
What are your tips for traveling with Fido and Fluffy?
1 response so far ↓
1 KathyF // Jul 26, 2007 at 2:13 pm
My best advice? Move to England!
If you can’t do that, I advice you to take a short trip with Fido at least once before you make a longer trip. Let them get used to the car, to long distance travel, and to staying in hotels before you try a week-long trip. (Or as we did, move and stay in hotels and flats for 2 months.)
Be prepared to stop. Often. Bring plenty of bottled water and a drinking dish–car travel makes dogs thirsty. Bring two leashes in case one gets lost. Plan ahead for likely places to stop, using a travel guide to the area and a good map. (I like the Rough Guide series. We’ve found excellent hiking trails that were on our way, providing much needed exercise.)
Bring doggy first aid, like implements for tick removal. We discovered a tick on our dog on the way back from Scotland, and only had some whiskey to help with removal.
If you fly with a dog, read and reread the airline regs online first. And be prepared to find last minute accommodation if they deny your pet travel at the last minute. Never fly with a pet if the outside temperature is over 90F.
Always travel with reservations at pet-friendly places. A B&B or a cottage rental may be friendlier than a hotel. (These days, we only stay at cottages where we all have plenty of room and we don’t have to worry about muddy paw prints.) Find pet friendly restaurants in the area, or restaurants that have beer gardens (i.e., outdoor seating).
Our dog now knows what a “trip” is and what a “hotel” is. She eagerly looks forward to both.
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