Hound hospitality - travelling with your dog

Travel America, Sept-Oct, 2003 by Pat Woods

As security concerns linger, more people travel by car and take their pets along. Hitting the road with furry friends helps you see the world through new eyes.

The number of owners Wavering with dogs increases each year, according to Robyn Peters, publisher of the bimonthly newsletter DogGone ($25 a year; 888-364-8728, www.dogonefun.com). "Besides avoiding separation anxiety, taking your best friend gives peace of mind knowing you are there to handle emergencies," Peters says. "You get 24-hour bonding when you explore new places together"

Peters' 16-page newsletter includes destinations, lodging options, restaurants, beaches, dog parks, ski places, and tours, plus travel pointers and grooming tips. A recent issue featured a dog chapel in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

While researching The Dog Lover's Companion to Florida, authors Robert McClure and Sally McClure discovered Key West is very dog-friendly. Pooches can join their owners at most restaurants with outdoor seating. Dogs accompanied by owners can climb the 100 stairs at the Lighthouse Museum. The Key West aquarium welcomes dogs on leashes.

Other titles in the Dog Lover's Companion series from Avalon Travel Publishing cover the San Francisco Bay Area, Boston, California, New England, New York, Texas, and Washington D.C.--Baltimore. Log on to www.dogloverscompanion.com.

Knowing that pets arrive with creditcard carrying humans, savvy hoteliers have jumped on the bandwagon. Furry guests are welcomed with special treats, designer beds, litter boxes, and walking and pet sitting services. At check-in, owners receive mess pick-up hags, plus a list of groomers and vets.

Fido or Fluffy's best chances of a warm welcome are at independent, mom-and-pop motels and at higher-end chains like Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, and Wyndham, according to Robyn Peters. Many upscale hotels tend to roll out the red carpet for pets with special packages. Budget and medium-priced chains, on the other hand, are "iffy," she says. About one-third of AAA-rated lodgings are identified as pet-friendly with a dog icon in AAA Tour Books.

According to Chris Kingsley, president of dogfriendly.com, B & Bs and privately owned motels are becoming more pet-friendly. His site lists 14,000 animal-friendly lodgings and hosts a bulletin board.

Eugene, Oregon, and surrounding Lane County (800-547-5445, www.TravelLaneCounty.com) boast a long list of pet-friendly lodgings, including Residence Inn by Marriott, Comfort Suites, Shilo Inn, La Quinta Inn, and Motel 6. Owners can exercise Fido at three off-leash parks and bathe him at Suds "Em Yourself, a self service dog wash.

Westward Look Resort in Tucson, Arizona, offers 80 acres of lush Sonoran Desert nestled in mountain foothills. While walking pets, owners can study 240 species of identified desert plants. Owners can choose from the upscale "Puppy Love" package or pay a nonrefundable pet lee. (800-722-2500, www.westwardlook.com.)

Dogs are welcome at Del Mar Beach in Carlsbad, California. You can find California beach roles at www.petswel come.com. For a list of nearby pet-friendly lodgings, contact (800) 227-5722 or www.sandiegonorth.com.

Cats and dogs are welcomed on rental houseboats that ply the waters of beautiful Lake Powell in Arizona and Utah--with a $25 pet fee on boats with carpeting. Call 800-528-6154 or visit www.lakepowell.com.

Several web sites list thousands of pet-friendly lodgings, dog parks, restaurants, and attractions. To research your destination, visit www.petswelcome.com, www.dopark.com, www.dogfriendly.com, or www.doggone.fun.com.

Numerous books also provide a plethora of pet travel information. Titles include Vacationing with Your Pet: Eileen's Directory of Pet Friendly Lodging in the U.S. and Canada by Eileen Barish (800-638-3637, www.travelpet.com).

Robyn Peters reminds readers that pet friendly does not necessarily mean free. Approximately one-third of hotels charge extra for pets and may require a refundable damage deposit. And some hotels say pets cannot be left alone in the room.

"Since pet policies change frequently, avoid unpleasant surprises by calling ahead to verify pet policy and charges," Peters says. "Observing the rules and cleaning up after your best friend will encourage more places to open their doors to pets."