How to Identify the Best Pet Friendly Extended Stay Accommodations
Traveling with your pet can be a great bonding experience. Especially on longer trips, neither you nor your pet want to be apart for too long.
However, not all hotels and vacation rentals are pet friendly. It’s important to do some research before you head out on your trip. But as long as you do your homework, there’s no reason you can’t bring your pet.
Here are some ways to ensure that your trip with your pet is hassle-free.
- Reading Reviews
Reviews are there for a reason.
Most people ignore reviews or don’t take them seriously.
You do need to be careful and filter out reviews that aren’t helpful. Some people just like to complain. The internet gives them a platform to do that.
Filter your search to include pet-related reviews. This is fairly easy with most travel websites, though not all search engines include this option. You might have to do a bit of homework.
Take the time to actually read the reviews. Look for ones that mention pets. If none of them do, it might be a sign that pet owners haven’t visited.
That doesn’t mean that the location isn’t pet friendly.
- Booking Service
It’s better not to worry about these things yourself.
Your time is valuable. You want to spend as much time with your pet as possible. To do so, see about outsourcing the time-consuming trouble.
Use a travel booking service. You can work directly with a travel agency or booking service to explain your needs.
Let them know that you are traveling with your pet and that a pet-friendly location is a top priority. They will make sure that the hotel or apartment you are staying in allows pets.
Using a booking service not only saves you time. It can also end up saving you a lot of money. Booking services have connections in the hospitality industry.
Even if you do work in hospitality, you probably don’t have the same arrangements that a booking service does. Besides, while you’re traveling, you shouldn’t have to do any work.
It’s also good to use a booking service if you are traveling for business. It is possible to take your pet along on business trips.
All it requires is a bit of extra planning.
- Good Area
Pet-friendly goes beyond the accommodation.
You want to make sure that your pet is going to be happy during the trip.
A huge urban area with confined spaces is probably not what your pet is used to. Pets need room to roam around and explore.
Of course, the space you need depends on the type of pet. Cats probably don’t need as much wandering about as dogs do. Given how curious cats are, you won’t want a place where your cat can easily get lost.
Dogs need to be walked every day. Check and see if there is a dog park near the hotel. If not, see if there is a good place for you to walk your dog.
Maybe even see if there is a dog walker you can hire.
- Being Prepared
There’s no way to ensure that everything will go perfectly.
In fact, you should plan for things not going the way you expect.
Come prepared and pack a pet travel kit. That way you have everything that you need. Always make sure to have your pet’s favorite treats.
There are little things you can pack to make a space more pet-friendly. Bringing along toys is a must for dogs and cats.
Bring a new toy or special treat to reward your pet for good behavior.
- Staying Flexible
Travel plans can change at the last minute.
Your flight might be canceled, or your hotel reservation might change.
Have a backup plan in case. Ask a friend if they can take care of your pet just in case you have to leave them behind.
Check with the local kennel or pet service to make sure they have availability. Be ready that you might have to pay a pet fee at the hotel or airport.
And be prepared to switch hotels in case you have to.
Conclusion
Traveling with a pet doesn’t have to be difficult. It takes some effort, but it’s worth it.
