Traveling as a pet owner can often be a daunting task. Leaving your pet at home for an extended period of time brings a host of challenges, like trying to find a pet sitter or a boarding kennel. In addition to the added cost these services would add, leaving your beloved pet behind can be hard. After all, they are members of your family. While on the road, traveling with a pet can limit the options available to you when it comes to staying in hotels. It is important to know what to look out for to find the best pet-friendly hotels for your needs.
What Are Pet-Friendly Hotels?
What are pet-friendly hotels? As the name suggests, a pet-friendly hotel is a traditional hotel that allows visitors to bring their pets to stay in their rooms. Not all hotels are pet friendly, so it is important to research beforehand to ensure that four-legged friends are welcome.
There are various animal-friendly hotels ranging from over-accommodating and enthusiastic to simply tolerating pets that meet certain requirements. Just because a hotel claims that they are pet friendly does not guarantee they would be able to accommodate your specific needs.
Most pet-friendly hotels still restrict the type of pets they allow to stay. Usually, only dogs and cats are accepted. It is common for dog-friendly hotels to have some additional restrictions like the size, breed, and number of dogs.
The best way to ensure you and your pets are welcome to stay is to contact the hotel directly and inquire about their up-to-date pet policy.
Tip #1: Make Sure That Your Hotel Is dog-friendly
Travel is stressful enough as it is. You don’t want to book a hotel only to find out that they no longer accept pets. Pet policies can change, so just because you saw somewhere mention that a hotel is pet friendly doesn’t necessarily mean that they still have the same pet policy.
Additionally, some hotels do not visibly publish their entire policy in one easy-to-find place, so some extensive research might be needed. An excellent place to start is the hotel’s website.
You can quickly rule out hotels that do not allow pets to stay because they will clearly state no pets are allowed on their website. If a hotel’s website claims to be pet friendly, it doesn’t hurt to read the reviews and see if any other pet owners had anything to say.
Finally, the best option is to call the hotel directly, speak to the receptionist, confirm their pet policy, and ask about any restrictions they may have.
Tip #2: Do They Have Pet Restrictions?
Some hotels will have certain pet restrictions to try and curb issues like damage to the room, noise complaints, or disturbing other guests. Common pet restrictions that hotels will put in place include:
- Animal Type- Not every type of pet is always welcome at pet-friendly hotels. Dogs and cats are the most commonly accepted pets, but cats are not as widely accepted as dogs. If you have a pet, especially an uncommon or exotic pet, it is best to call ahead and ask if the hotel has an animal restriction.
- Pet Size- Some hotels limit the size of pets they allow, like maximum weight. The maximum weight limit can sometimes be as low as 11 pounds, so it is a good idea to find out if there is a size restriction, especially if you are the owner of a large dog.
- Dog Breed- Some hotels have restrictions on the breeds that they will allow to stay in their rooms.
- Number of Pets- Hotels will often have restrictions on the number of pets allowed in a single room at the same time. Usually, the number of pets allowed is two, but it is best to check with the specific hotel beforehand.
Tip #3: Find Out About The Pet Fee Before Checkout!
It is common for hotels to charge an additional pet fee for customers who stay with their pets. Conversely, many hotels will allow pets to stay for no additional fee. Every hotel’s pet fee is different, so it is important to understand everything you need to know about pet fees before booking your room.
If a hotel has a pet fee, they most likely charge you that fee per pet per night. Sometimes this fee, especially in luxury hotels, can be quite expensive. It is common for websites not to disclose the specifics of their pet fee, instead using the common phrase “Additional Fees May Apply.”
If this is the case, it is always a good idea to call the hotel directly and ask about the specifics of their pet fee.
Tip #4: Don’t Forget Your Pet’s Essentials
If you are planning on traveling with your pet and have booked a pet-friendly hotel room, it is important to plan and bring all of the essentials that will help your stay go smoothly. Here are some of the pet essentials to bring with you to a pet-friendly hotel:
Pet Bed
It is not very common for hotels to provide you with a pet bed for your room. It is a good idea to bring a bed for your furry friend to ensure their stay is as comfortable as yours!
Travel Crate
Many hotels require your pet to be crated if you leave it unattended in the room. It is a good idea to have a travel crate in these circumstances to allow you to step away from your room without having to worry about bringing your pet along with you.
Food Bowls
Not all hotels have food and water bowls for pets to use, so make sure that your pet doesn’t go hungry or thirsty by packing food bowls to bring with you.
Leash
This one is kind of a no-brainer, but you will need to walk your pet through the hallways of the hotel when you check in/check out as well as throughout your stay to give them exorcise and let them go to the bathroom. A leash is a must-have in these situations, even if your pet is extremely well behaved.
Litter Box
A fundamental truth: If pets need to go to the bathroom, they will find a place to go to the bathroom. Providing a place for your cat to use the bathroom will help you avoid any costly cleaning fees! If you are staying with a cat, bring a litter box.
Toys/Scratching Post
One of the biggest concerns of pets staying in a hotel room is the potential damage to the room. Limit the potential of your pet to chew or scratch an unwanted surface by providing them with things that stimulate them and that they know are okay to play with.
Tip #5: Use Online Tools To Find The Best Deals
Now that you know some of the things to look out for when planning a hotel stay with your pet, here are some helpful resources for you to use to make your planning a little easier. Below we break down both national and local Flagstaff booking resources and websites that are helpful tools when searching for hotels and motels that are pet friendly.
National Booking Resources:
- Bringfido.com– Bring Fido is a fantastic online resource that has a database of over 500,000 places to stay, play, and eat with your dog. Searching for a dog-friendly hotel is simple; all you have to do is type in your destination, and it will list nearby hotels that are pet friendly.
- Petswelcome.com– Pets Welcome is another great website to check out if you are planning a trip with your pet. They also allow you to search pet-friendly hotels by destination. They also offer a very helpful trip planning tool that makes mapping out road trips much easier by showing you pet-friendly options along your entire route from start to finish.
Flagstaff, Arizona Booking Resources:
- Discoverflagstaff.com– For people traveling to Flagstaff and for locals alike, this is an excellent resource for finding information on pet-friendly locations throughout the city. They list the many different options available like hotels, motels, inns, and bed and breakfasts that allow pets to stay.
- Flagstaff.com– This website is another amazing resource for pet lovers looking to experience the beauty of Flagstaff. Not only do they list multiple options for pet-friendly hotels, but they also have some additional resources like the best dog-friendly trails around the city.
Time To Travel With Your Companion!
Traveling can be an exciting adventure, especially if you bring along your four-legged friends. Traveling with pets does bring additional considerations, and you must be familiar with the many restrictions some hotels have regarding pets to ensure the best fit for you and your pets.
Do your research to ensure that you are familiar with the hotel’s most up-to-date restrictions and any fees they may require, and make sure you have all of the necessary items packed to provide your pet with a comfortable stay.
If you are staying in the Flagstaff area, check out the many resources available to make the most of your trip with your pet! While in Flagstaff, if you should need any pet care, contact us at Continental Animal Wellness Center, and we will be happy to help you in any way that we can!