Traveling With Your Pooch
By Sherril Steele-Carlin
Traveling with pets is becoming much more popular today, and luckily, there are many resources available to travelers who choose to travel with their dogs and cats.
Some Travel Tips
Make sure you take along pooch's favorite food, a toy or two, and their bed to help them feel more comfortable during the trip. Some dogs love to travel, and some will have to learn to love vacationing with the family. Taking along some of their favorite things helps them feel safer in new surroundings, and will help everyone have a better vacation experience.
Some Hotel Chains Accept Pets
Because more and more people are traveling with their pets, more nationwide hotels and hotel chains are accepting pets in their rooms. Usually travelers will have to pay an extra deposit to ensure their pet doesn't leave behind any mess in the room, and there may be a small additional charge for the pet in the room. Some of the chains accepting pets are the Super 8 Motels, Holiday Inns, La Quinta Inns, Residence Inns, and Rodeway Inns. Be sure to check with the hotel where you plan to stay to make sure they do accept pets. They may also limit the size or number of pets you can have in the room. It's a good idea to always make advance reservations when you are traveling with a pet.
What to do When You Get There
Once you've arrived at your destination, what can you do with your pet? Many local visitors bureaus and chambers of commerce offer tips for travelers with pets. There are also many Web sites that specialize in traveling with pets, where you can find tips on localities that are especially friendly to pets. (See the list of links below for some of my favorite links and publications.) Usually most cities and towns have dog parks where Fido can romp and play, and many areas also have special beaches for dogs. In addition, many parks have hiking trails and walking paths that welcome four-legged hikers, too.
Be Prepared, and Have Fun!
Traveling with your pet takes a little advance planning, but it can be done. Today, more and more locations welcome both your family and your pet. So when you hit the road this summer, don't leave your pooch at home, take him with you and enjoy the vacation even more with the entire family!