Summer vacations with Fido, Fluffy and maybe the kids, too, can stress out the budget. There’s a growing list of pet friendly hotels, especially in the budget category that will help stretch your travel dollars. These five top pet-friendly hotel chains are from Petside, the pet-friendly website that rates hotels and even cars with paws instead of stars.
Motel 6 earns its ‘four paw’ rating by welcoming pets at each and every one of its 900-plus locations. One pet is allowed per room, and no additional fee or deposit is required. The Motel 6 pet policy is also well established; the chain has been welcoming pets since 1962.
The four other hotels that rank in the top five pet-friendly budget chains are —
La Quinta Inns & Suites, Red Roof Inn, Best Western and Candlewood Suites.
Even if a hotel does not charge extra for the four-footed family member, it is important when you make the reservation to let them know you are bringing Fido or Fluffy. Some chains reserve particular rooms or areas for pets, such as on lower floors or rooms with an enclosed patio.
Check out the website DogFriendly.com for a list of dog friendly attractions in the 50 states.
Read my syndicated newspaper column Freewheeling for tips on how to keep your pet safe in the family car. Simply, pets should be restrained in a vehicle, either by a leash system or a protective cage. In a 35-mile-per-hour accident, a 60-pound dog can turn into some 2,700 pounds of deadly force – a projectile that can injure or kill the vehicle’s occupants, the dog or both. And never, ever, leave a pet in a parked, locked vehicle, because the built-up heat can kill your pet in a short time.
And the ASPCA has some great tips and advice if you are planning to take an airline flight with your dog or cat.
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