The Ultimate Guide to Finding Dog-Friendly Hotels for Your Next Trip

Dog News
By Angela Park

Are you planning to go on vacation somewhere cold and snowy this holiday season? It’s a good thing that you’re with your dog, as not everyone is lucky enough to bring their pets with them when traveling. But behind all these, we must recognize that it can sometimes.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Make sure to scan the internet for the perfect pet hotel that can accommodate your dogs. But how can you find the perfect place that can help you feel at ease? That’s when certified dog trainer Melissa Goodman of Mission Pawsitive enters the picture.

Goodman often travels and stays in hotels with her trusty dog, Aspen, so she can definitely be trusted when it comes to selecting the perfect pet-friendly hotel. She offered some advice in her most recent social media post; let’s see the tips that we can pick up for our next trip.

First of all, Goodman discusses a hotel located in San Diego, California, that she often stays in together with Aspen. She described the hotel as having spacious rooms that can possibly fit your dog’s playpen and crates. There’s also a pet relief area with rooms that open out, plus a walking path that covers the hotel to the courtyards. The hotel also has green spaces, which Aspen can enjoy. 

Aspen exploring the spacious hotel rooms (📸: Screenshot from @missionpawsitive)

The pet-friendly hotel is a short drive of just 20 minutes to the center of the city. As Goodman explains in her caption, the hotel doesn’t just allow dogs, but they actually created one with the owner’s pets in mind. 

With this, there are plenty of things to consider when looking for a pet-friendly hotel, but quality outdoor space, spacious hotel rooms, and plenty of dog-friendly features and amenities must stay at the top of your list. Ideally, a quiet hotel is perfect so your dog can properly relax without those random noises that might keep them crazily barking and up all night.

Green outdoor areas where Aspen can run around. (📸: Screenshot from @missionpawsitive)

Goodman also flashes an important reminder to bring things that remind your dog of home. It can be their blanket or favorite toy. You can also bring along a crate, but it’s important that your dog has mastered crate training beforehand. It’s completely normal to bring a lot of things when having your dog on board. As Goodman said, Aspen has brought way more stuff than she does. 

RELATED: Don’t Let the Holidays Overwhelm Your Pup: 4 Tips for Pet Owners

Traveling With Your Dog 101

A woman and a dog in a hotel (📸: RossHelen)

Traveling with your dog this holiday season? The American Kennel Club shares a guide on how to travel with your dog so that both of you will have a safe and easy travel without stressing each other out. Go make a list and tick out all of the boxes to make sure that you’ve complied with each one:

  • Health and Safety – Before traveling, make sure you’ve brought your dog to a veterinarian to ensure that they are safe to travel. Make sure that all of their vaccinations are up-to-date, and take the certificate or health records in your bag as you travel. You should also be ready for emergencies by keeping a list of veterinary clinics around your destination and their contacts. 
  • Dog Crates – Like what Goodman is talking about, dog crates are the perfect must-have when traveling with a dog as they keep your dog safe in the car or for airline travels that most probably would require dog crates. The crate should have a dog crate pad, dog toy, and water bottle inside. Here are the features to look out for when purchasing a crate:
    • Large enough that they could stand, sit, and lie down according to your dog’s size
    • Strong handles and grips
    • Leak-proof bottom with absorbent materials
    • Ventilation on opposing sides plus exterior rims
    • “Live Animal” label
  • Dog Identification – Make sure that your dog has identification like a sturdy dog leash plus a collar complete with identification tags. 

RELATED: Dogs Take Center Stage as Nativity Characters This Christmas

From The Club

I never thought that there was a dog-friendly hotel out there that caters to the needs of our pets. Indeed, Goodman was right when she said that the hotel doesn’t just allow dogs, as it actually looks like they were created for dogs and their owners. As much as I love my dogs, I never thought of bringing them cross-country to travel, but after learning about pet-friendly hotels, I just had second thoughts about it.